New Orleans: French Quarter Vampire Tour & Movie Sites

4.61

(653 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I almost bailed on the New Orleans Vampire Walking Tour because my friend forgot her jacket and it was one of those sticky nights where you can’t tell if it’s rain or just the city sweating. But we made it to St. Louis Cathedral by 8:30pm anyway, just as our guide—he called himself Marcel, cape and all—started waving us over with this dramatic flourish. I thought it’d be cheesy, but he was actually hilarious (and knew way too much about police reports from the 1800s). The French Quarter at night feels different—like the bricks are holding their breath or something.

We wandered past Jackson Square and I kept catching whiffs of sweet pralines from somewhere nearby. Marcel told us about the Carter Brothers (apparently real-life murderers turned local vampires?) while someone in our group tried to pronounce “St. Germain” right—Li laughed when I tried to say it in French, which probably wasn’t even close. At one point we ducked into this dimly lit tavern that claims vampires hang out there. It smelled like old wood and cloves, and honestly, I half-expected someone in fangs to pop out from behind the bar.

The tour stopped at Boutique Du Vampyre—a shop for “the undead,” but mostly full of candles and jewelry made by local artists. The owner gave us a look like she knew secrets she wouldn’t share with tourists. We also saw spots where they filmed Interview With a Vampire; Marcel pointed out a window Tom Cruise supposedly leaned out of (it looked smaller than in the movie). There were moments when Royal Street went quiet except for distant jazz—kind of eerie but beautiful too.

I didn’t expect to get goosebumps hearing stories pulled from old diaries and city archives, but here we are. The whole thing felt more playful than scary, though I still think about that flicker of candlelight in the boutique window as we walked away. So yeah, bring a jacket—and maybe some garlic if you’re superstitious.