Cemetery No. 1, 55 Minutes

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Walking Tour runs through Basin St. Station / Cemetery Tours New Orleans. Rated 4.5 across 4,684 reviews. Runs 55 minutes. From $25.

Overview

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 cannot be entered on your own. The site only admits visitors as part of a guided tour, with a cap on how many people go in each day, so booking ahead is the practical way to guarantee a slot. This 55 minute walk is run by Basin St. Station, whose visitor center sits a short walk from the French Quarter and doubles as the check-in point and the end point of the tour.

Once inside, a guide leads the group through the cemetery for about 45 minutes, pointing out the final resting places of some of the city's best known residents. Groups are limited to 20 travellers, and the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, with service animals allowed. Reviewers repeatedly praise the guides as knowledgeable and entertaining.

The tour suits first time visitors who want the history explained rather than a self guided wander, and it works for families and for travellers with limited mobility. It is short enough to slot into a morning, though many reviewers warn that the site gets very hot, so timing and preparation matter.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Basin St. StationArrive at 501 Basin St, New Orleans, and enter the Visitor Information Center to find the Cemetery Tours Desk. The station is walking distance from the French Quarter, on the City Sightseeing Double-Decker route at stop 5, with an adjacent public parking lot available at hourly, daily and overnight rates.
2. Guided walk in the cemeterySpend 45 minutes inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with a guide, admission ticket included. The walk covers the tombs and the stories of the people buried there.
3. Return to meeting pointThe tour ends back at Basin St. Station, where it began.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things will shape how much you enjoy this walk, mostly around heat and check-in logistics.

• Beat the heat. Reviewers mention the heat over and over, even on morning tours. Bring water, an umbrella, and light clothes. The site does have misting stations and cooling areas, and one reviewer noted a fan was provided.
• Know where to check in. Check-in is at the Basin St. Station Visitor Information Center, not at the cemetery gate. One reviewer went to the gate first and had a confusing start, so head straight to the tours desk inside the station.
• Pace and group feel. The group is capped at 20 travellers and the walk lasts under an hour, so the pace is manageable for most people. Reviewers describe guides who welcome questions and allow time for photos at the tombs.
• Photography. Several travellers mention good photo opportunities among the old tombs and crypts. Reviewers also describe guides who allow time for questions and pictures during the walk.
• Accessibility. The listing states the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, service animals are allowed, and most travellers can participate. Public transportation is nearby if you are not staying within walking distance.
• Tips for your guide. Gratuity for the guide is not included in the ticket. If the guide does a good job, which reviewers say is common here, bring some cash.

Common issues. The heat is the single biggest complaint, with multiple reviewers advising against hot summer days and recommending spring or fall instead. One reviewer found the check-in instructions unclear and had a poor experience at the cemetery gate before locating the right place, and another found their guide dry and uninterested. A third noted their guide spoke too fast to catch everything. The tour also depends on good weather, and cancellations for poor conditions come with a choice of a different date or a full refund.

Before You Book Anything