Voodoo And Vampire Themes

New Orleans Haunted Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Historic FQ Tour runs through The Witches Brew Tour Company. Rated 4.5 across 3,221 reviews. Runs 1.5-2 hours. From $33.

Overview

The Witches Brew Tour Company runs this walk through the French Quarter with one clear focus: the ghost, Vodou and vampire stories attached to real buildings. You meet at the Witches Brew Gallery & Oddities Shop on Exchange Place and set off with a local guide for an immersive storytelling experience. The route passes the outside of Muriel's Restaurant, the Old Ursuline Convent, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, the LaLaurie Mansion and the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, ending outside Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar.

Nothing is entered. Every stop is viewed from the street while the guide tells the tale behind it, from the bloodletting and leeching once practiced at the Pharmacy Museum to the rumors that surrounded Jacques Saint Germain, who was rumored to be a vampire. The LaLaurie story gets its own grisly telling at the mansion itself. Along the way the guide covers the traditions of Vodou as a religion practiced in New Orleans, not just as spooky set dressing.

The tour runs an hour and a half and suits travellers who want history and legend mixed together at a walking pace. Reviews repeatedly single out the guides as the reason it works, calling them knowledgeable storytellers who bring the legends to life. It is an outdoor tour that runs in all weather, and it is dog friendly.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Exchange PlaceThe walk starts at 311 Exchange Pl, at the Witches Brew Gallery & Oddities Shop. The exact meeting point can vary depending on the option booked, so check the listing before heading out.
2. French Quarter walkA guided walking tour through the historic French Quarter, with stories of ghosts, magic, vampires and Vodou from your guide.
3. Muriel's and the conventThe route passes outside Muriel's Restaurant at Jackson Square and the Old Ursuline Convent.
4. Pharmacy MuseumSee the exterior of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, where bloodletting and leeching took place in the 19th century. Entry is not included.
5. LaLaurie MansionStop outside the mansion to hear the story of Madame LaLaurie and the house's dark history.
6. Optional breakAbout an hour in, there may be a 10-minute restroom and refreshment break. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket.
7. Tour endsThe final stop is outside Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, with drop-off points on Royal St or at Jackson Square.

What To Expect From The Tour

This is an outdoor walking tour, so a little preparation goes a long way toward enjoying the full hour and a half.

• Wear walking shoes. The listing recommends comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. You will be on your feet for the whole tour, outdoors on French Quarter streets.
• Choose group size. Two options exist at booking: a tour capped at 28 participants and one capped at 15. Several travellers said the smaller group made it easier to hear the guide and felt more personable, so consider that when picking an option.
• Bring cash. The listing lists cash among what to bring. There may be a restroom and refreshment break partway through, and beverages are otherwise not included.
• Dogs welcome. The tour is dog friendly, per the listing, and you are welcome to bring your own beverages. That makes it one of the more flexible options for travellers with a pet in tow.
• It runs rain or shine. The tour operates in all weather conditions, though in rare circumstances it may be canceled due to severe weather. Bring a poncho or umbrella if the forecast looks doubtful.
• Guides vary. Every Witches Brew tour is unique and itineraries may vary depending on your guide. Reviewers often mention the guides' storytelling and depth of knowledge, but the specific stops and style can shift from one departure to the next.

Common issues. The main trade-off is group size: the standard option allows up to 28 participants, and some travellers say smaller groups would improve hearing and flow. Reviews that chose the 15-person option generally found it easier to follow the guide. This is also an outdoor tour that runs in all weather, so a rainy night means a wet walk, and severe weather can occasionally force a cancellation. No site entries are included, so anyone hoping to go inside the Pharmacy Museum or the Voodoo Museum will need to arrange that separately.

Before You Book Anything