New Orleans French Quarter: Haunted walking tour with guide

4.30

(43 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the way the streetlights hit the old bricks along Royal Street — everything looked a bit softer, almost blurred, like the city was holding its breath. Our guide, Marcus, had this slow Louisiana drawl that made every story feel heavier somehow. We started near St. Louis Cathedral, and I remember catching the smell of something sweet and fried drifting from a nearby café. It mixed with that damp river air — not unpleasant, just… New Orleans.

I’d heard about the haunted French Quarter walking tour before but didn’t expect to actually feel anything. But when we stopped outside LaLaurie Mansion, Marcus lowered his voice and told us about Madame LaLaurie’s parties — and what happened upstairs. I caught myself glancing at the windows even though I knew better. Someone in our group shivered (maybe it was just the breeze), and for a second nobody said anything. That silence stuck with me more than any jump scare.

We wandered down Pirates Alley next, where Marcus pointed out an old lamp and told us about Pere Dagobert — apparently people still hear him singing late at night. He laughed when I tried to pronounce “Dagobert” right (I definitely didn’t). The whole time, people passed by on their way to Bourbon Street, but it felt like we were in a different world — quieter, older. At one point I touched the iron fence outside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel; it was cold and rough under my hand.

I’m not sure if I believe in ghosts after all that, but there’s something about hearing these stories right where they happened that gets under your skin. Maybe it’s just how New Orleans is — full of shadows and music at once. Anyway, I still think about that window at LaLaurie Mansion sometimes.