The Bad Broads Tour of New Orleans

New Orleans has no shortage of ghost walks, but this one changes the question from who haunts the French Quarter? to which women shaped its darkest chapters? Over 90 minutes, you follow stories of Voodoo Queens, brothel owners, murderous madams, and high-society killers through the streets where they lived and died.

I like the women-centered history, which gives familiar French Quarter sights a fresh angle. I also like the small-group design, at least when the advertised limit of nine is observed. Guides such as Rhody, Dalton, Uma, and Jamie are praised for strong storytelling, humor, and lively delivery.

The main caution is the walking pace and crowd control. One group had about 30 people and struggled to hear the guide, while another dealt with disruptive participants. Wear good shoes, arrive early, and understand that this is a story-led walk, not a theatrical show with drinks or frequent indoor visits.

Key points at a glance

• A darker women’s history of New Orleans: Hear about female serial killers, Voodoo Queens, brothel owners, and scandalous murderesses.
• A 90-minute French Quarter route: Begin at 809 Royal Street and finish near Jackson Square.
• Two famous names anchor the walk: The route includes the LaLaurie Mansion and the former home of Marie Laveau.
• Strong guides make the difference: Rhody, Dalton, Uma, Jamie, Ana, Elaine, Christian, Luis, and others are praised for humor and storytelling.
• Expect real walking: The route moves through city streets at a steady pace, with little time to linger.
• Best for ages 16 and up: Anyone under 18 must attend with an adult, and the tour is conducted in English.

What makes the Bad Broads Tour different

The French Quarter is often presented through grand architecture, jazz, food, and ghost tales. This walk takes another route. It puts women at the center, including women who were feared, admired, condemned, or pushed aside by conventional accounts of New Orleans.

That focus matters because the stories are not only about ghosts. They touch on money, crime, sex work, religion, violence, social rank, and the limited choices available to women in earlier New Orleans. You hear about women who ran businesses, controlled brothels, practiced Voodoo, committed violent acts, or became legends after death.

The tone is dark, but not solemn from start to finish. Guides use humor to keep the walk moving, and the best ones know when to lighten a grim story without making light of the people involved. Rhody is especially praised for mixing energy, wit, and respect. Dalton is described as funny and well prepared, while Uma is credited with bringing the stories to life.

This is not a museum tour. You do not spend most of the time studying objects or entering historic rooms. The French Quarter itself is the setting, and the streets, courtyards, balconies, and old facades provide the atmosphere.

Starting at 809 Royal Street

You meet your guide at 809 Royal Street on St. Ann Street, about 15 minutes before the scheduled start. The meeting point sits in the French Quarter, so give yourself time to find it on foot, especially if you are arriving from another part of New Orleans.

The tour starts on time. That sounds simple, but it matters in the French Quarter, where crowded sidewalks and busy evenings can slow you down. Arriving early also helps you hear the opening explanation and settle into the group before the walk begins.

The route lasts about 90 minutes. You should be ready to remain outside for the full period, walking from one story site to the next. A drink is allowed, which can be useful in warm weather, but no beverage is included in the price.

The operator lists a maximum of nine people. That size should make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions. One reported experience, however, had roughly 30 people, and the guide became hard to hear. Group size may vary, so I would confirm the expected size when booking if a quieter walk matters to you.

Madame LaLaurie and the French Quarter’s darkest stories

One major stop is the LaLaurie Mansion, associated with Madame Delphine LaLaurie, one of New Orleans’ most notorious women. You stop outside and hear about her reputation, the crimes linked to her household, and the ghost stories that grew around the building.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes. Admission is not included, but this is not a ticketed mansion visit. The value comes from the guide’s account and the chance to see the building as part of the surrounding street, rather than from an interior tour.

This is also where expectations matter. If you want to enter historic homes, inspect rooms, or see exhibits, this walk will not provide that. You get a street-level account, with the mansion as a powerful visual reference.

The LaLaurie material is grim. The tour is intended for adults and has a minimum age of 16, which fits the subject matter. You should expect stories of abuse, violence, and death rather than light folklore alone.

Marie Laveau’s former home

The route also pauses at the Marie Laveau House of Voodoo, connected with Marie Laveau, one of the best-known figures in New Orleans spiritual history. The stop is brief, about five minutes, and admission is not included.

Even with limited time, this stop helps show how the tour balances famous figures with the wider story of women in New Orleans. Marie Laveau is not treated as a side note. Her name carries the spiritual and cultural weight of the city, and the guide uses the location to place her within the French Quarter.

You should not expect a long visit or a formal presentation inside the site. The appeal is the guide’s explanation and the setting. If Marie Laveau is your main interest, you may want to pair this walk with another activity focused specifically on her life and legacy.

Murder, brothels, and women outside the usual history lesson

The most unusual part of the tour is its range of characters. You hear about the city’s first female serial killer, brothel owners who insisted clients paid, Voodoo Queens, and women from high society tied to murder scandals.

These stories work best when you listen for the social detail beneath the shock. A brothel owner is not only a colorful criminal figure. She also reflects a world where women could gain money and authority through businesses that respectable society condemned. A Voodoo Queen is not merely a spooky character. She represents the way religion, healing, community influence, and outsider status became tangled in the public imagination.

The guide’s approach shapes how much you take from these stories. Strong guides add context, answer questions, and explain which details belong to documented history and which have become legend. The tour includes ghost lore, so you will hear tales of victims said to remain near the places where they died.

I like this mix because it avoids a standard list of famous buildings. You are not simply told that a house is old or haunted. You learn how a particular woman became connected to that place and why her story still follows it.

How the guides shape the experience

This is a guide-dependent tour. The route and subjects are set, but the quality of the evening depends on voice, pacing, timing, and the guide’s ability to manage a group.

Several guides receive especially strong praise for their presentation:

• Rhody, also referred to as Rhodesia, is described as energetic, funny, thoughtful, and full of useful detail. Her humor is said to lighten the darker material without becoming offensive.
• Dalton is praised for adding intellectual humor and explaining events clearly.
• Uma is credited with making the stories feel alive and keeping the walk moving at a good pace.
• Jamie brings enthusiasm and welcomes questions while adding extra details along the route.
• Ana, Elaine, Christian, Luis, and Christine are also singled out for charm, strong storytelling, or an ability to answer questions.

That list is useful when you book, but you may not be able to select a particular guide. I would treat the names as examples of the standard to hope for, not as a promise that one person will lead your departure.

Good storytelling is especially important here because much of the experience happens on ordinary streets. The guide has to create a sense of place with words. When the delivery is lively, a short stop outside a building can become memorable. When the group is too large or noisy, even a well-prepared guide can struggle.

Walking conditions and group size

This is a city walk, not a slow promenade. You move between stops at a steady pace, and one account describes the group moving quickly without finding the route difficult. Still, you should wear comfortable shoes and avoid treating this as an activity for dress shoes or uncomfortable sandals.

The French Quarter can be noisy. Music, foot traffic, traffic, and other tour groups may compete with the guide’s voice. A reported group of 30 made hearing difficult, and the walk ended about 25 minutes late because of delays and crowd problems.

The operator says the group maximum is nine. If that limit is followed, it should help with questions and sound. The tour always starts on time, but one departure was delayed while a late party arrived. Arriving 15 minutes early is the best way to avoid missing the beginning and to reduce pressure on the guide.

Disruptive behavior can also affect the evening. One particularly bad departure involved loud talking, smoking, and a confrontation between participants. That appears to be an extreme case, not the normal experience, but it is worth knowing that a walking tour cannot fully control the behavior of every person in the group.

Is the price fair?

One booking comment refers to a price of $35, though prices can change. At that level, I would judge the tour as a fair purchase if you value a guided story walk and the chance to hear a different side of the French Quarter.

You are paying for a local guide, a planned route, and 90 minutes of interpretation. You are not paying for food, drinks, entry to the LaLaurie Mansion, or a private room inside the Marie Laveau location. The admission ticket is listed as free for the main walking portion, and the two named sites do not include separate admission.

The value rises when the group is small and the guide is engaging. It falls if you expect a large number of buildings, interior visits, or a theatrical production. One person felt the content did not justify the full 90 minutes and wanted a drink included. Drinks are not part of the tour, though you may bring your own beverage.

For a first evening in New Orleans, the tour can also help you get your bearings in the French Quarter. It ends near Jackson Square, so you can continue your night nearby. That location is practical, but the exact end point may shift slightly with crowds and the guide.

Who should book this walk?

I would choose this tour if you enjoy dark local stories, overlooked women’s history, and walking tours that use real places as their stage. It suits couples, friends, solo adults, and families with older teenagers who can handle mature subjects.

It is also a good choice if you have already seen the standard French Quarter sights and want a new angle. The route can make familiar streets feel different, especially if you have heard the usual architecture and music commentary before.

I would think twice if you dislike ghost stories, graphic crime, or stories that blend documented events with legend. You may also prefer another activity if you have limited mobility, dislike standing, or want a relaxed pace with long stops.

The minimum age is 16. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation. Most people can take part, but the supplied information does not promise a fully accessible route or seating, so ask the operator if you have specific mobility needs.

Booking and cancellation details

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided when you book.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Canceling or changing the booking within 24 hours means no refund, and the cut-off is based on local New Orleans time.

Should you book the Bad Broads Tour?

Book it if you want a fresh, women-focused view of New Orleans and you are happy to learn through stories told outdoors. The LaLaurie Mansion and Marie Laveau stop give the route memorable anchors, while the lesser-known women provide the real point of difference.

I would book earlier rather than later and check the expected group size. Arrive 15 minutes ahead, wear shoes made for walking, bring water if needed, and keep your expectations clear: this is a 90-minute French Quarter storytelling walk, not an indoor museum visit or a pub crawl.

FAQ

Where does the Bad Broads Tour begin?

The tour begins at 809 Royal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. You should meet the guide on St. Ann Street 15 minutes before the scheduled start.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends near Jackson Square. The exact end point may vary slightly depending on the guide and the crowds.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What does the tour focus on?

The walk focuses on the women who shaped New Orleans, including murderous madams, Voodoo Queens, brothel owners, female serial killers, and high-society murderesses.

Does the tour visit the LaLaurie Mansion?

Yes. The itinerary includes a 15-minute stop at the LaLaurie Mansion, where you learn about Madame LaLaurie. Admission is not included.

Does the tour visit Marie Laveau’s home?

Yes. The walk includes a brief stop of about five minutes at the Marie Laveau House of Voodoo, identified as her former home. Admission is not included.

How old do you need to be?

The minimum age is 16. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The supplied tour details do not state that the route is wheelchair accessible. It is a walking tour, so contact Ghost City Tours in New Orleans directly if you need specific accessibility information.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refundable.