City Sightseeing New Orleans HOHO Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

New Orleans reveals itself in layers, and this bus tour gives you a quick look at most of them. In about 90 minutes, you can pass Jackson Square, the French Market, Treme, the Garden District, the National World War II Museum, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront without wrestling with directions. The live English-speaking guide is a major part of the experience, with guides such as Linda, Ron, Chris, and Oreal known for mixing facts with jokes and useful local tips.

I like two things right away: the open-top views make it easier to see balconies, churches, oak-lined avenues, and the Superdome, while the 1, 2, or 3-day ticket lets you set your own pace. I also like the route’s practical spread across the city, especially for a first day when you want to learn where everything sits.

The main drawback is the short operating day. Buses begin around 9:30am, leave the route by late afternoon, and stop running by about 5:30pm, so this is a sightseeing and transport aid, not an evening service. Some passengers also find the live commentary hard to hear, especially from the back or lower deck.

Key points to know before you board

• A 90-minute full loop gives you a useful first look at New Orleans before you decide where to spend more time.
• The French Quarter, Treme, Garden District, museums, and riverfront all appear on one route.
• Live narration replaces the usual recorded headset, with guides sharing history, humor, food tips, and local stories.
• Two-day tickets include a Garden District walking tour, while three-day tickets also include a French Quarter walking tour.
• Buses arrive about every 30 minutes, but the final departures are early enough to require careful planning.
• Mobile and printed vouchers work at any stop, and the buses are wheelchair accessible.

Why this bus is useful on your first New Orleans day

New Orleans is easy to enjoy on foot in small sections, but those sections do not always connect neatly. The French Quarter, Treme, Garden District, Warehouse District, and riverfront each have a different feel, and a taxi or rideshare between them can add up quickly.

This route gives you a simple overview. I would use it early in your stay, as several people found it helped them choose where to return later. Sit through one complete loop if you can. You will see the broad shape of the city, hear the basic stories, and spot the streets and museums that deserve a closer look.

The bus also works as a limited daytime connection between major sights. A 1-day ticket is best for a quick orientation or a packed visit. The 2-day pass gives you more breathing room and adds the Garden District walk. The 3-day pass is the most useful option if you want both walking tours and plan to visit several districts rather than remain in the French Quarter.

The service is not designed for late dinners, nightlife, or long museum visits. The last departure from any stop is listed as 4pm, and the final tour ends around 5:30pm. Leave extra time to return to a stop, especially if you get off near the end of the route.

Jackson Square, the French Market, and Esplanade Avenue

The route begins at 700 Decatur Street, near Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. This is an excellent place to start because you are already beside several of New Orleans’ most recognizable sights.

St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States, and its pale facade gives Jackson Square much of its identity. Nearby, you can stop for beignets and cafe au lait, browse the City Sightseeing shop, or begin exploring the French Quarter on foot.

Stop 2 brings you to the French Market Colonnade, French Market, and flea market. This is a practical stop for food, souvenirs, local produce, and a little people watching. The market is a good place to break the route, though you should keep an eye on the time if you plan to eat and shop before catching the next bus.

The Esplanade Avenue stop broadens the picture beyond the most polished parts of the Quarter. From here, you are close to the route toward Marigny and Bywater, including Frenchmen Street music clubs, Crescent Park, JAMNola, and Bywater Brew Pub. The bus does not replace a night out on Frenchmen Street, but it helps you understand how that area relates to the French Quarter.

Treme and Basin Street: New Orleans beyond the postcard

Stop 4 covers Treme, St. Augustine Church, and the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. This is one of the most meaningful parts of the route because it points you toward the city’s African American history and longstanding cultural traditions.

The stop is useful for orientation, but do not treat it as a complete visit to Treme. The bus gives you context and access, while the strongest experience comes from getting off and spending time on foot.

Basin St. Station follows, linking the Treme area with the central city. The stop is also practical for reaching nearby attractions and changing your sense of scale. From the top deck, you can watch the architecture shift as the bus leaves the older Quarter streets and moves toward Canal Street.

The live guide matters here. Instead of a fixed recording, the commentary can respond to the route and the passengers. Guides such as Linda, Chris, and Ron have been singled out for making the ride both informative and lighthearted. If you have trouble hearing, sit nearer the guide or the front of the bus, since one weakness reported by passengers is uneven sound from farther back.

Canal, Bourbon, Royal, and Chartres Streets

Stop 6 is the main French Quarter gateway, covering Canal Street, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Chartres Street, and nearby hotels. This is likely to be one of the busiest stops, but it is also one of the most useful.

Bourbon Street is famous for nightlife, while Royal Street is better suited to a slower look at antiques, crafts, galleries, and historic buildings. Chartres Street leads you toward the older core of the Quarter and back toward Jackson Square. Use this stop when you want to explore rather than simply view the district through a bus window.

The route also calls at Caesars New Orleans, formerly Harrah’s Casino, and the American Italian Cultural Museum and Italian Piazza. These stops may appeal to particular interests, but they are less essential for a first ride than Jackson Square or the French Market.

At 1100 Poydras Street, you are near Lafayette Square and Gallier Hall. This is another useful transition point between the historic center and the downtown area. The bus helps you cover ground, but the broad route means you should not expect a detailed stop-by-stop walking tour at every location.

The Garden District and St. Charles Avenue

The Garden District section is one of the strongest reasons to choose a 2-day or 3-day pass. Stops along Magazine Street and St. Charles Avenue put you near the area’s grand homes, shops, and oak-lined route.

The ticket includes a guided Garden District walking tour with the 2-day and 3-day options. That changes the value of the longer passes. You are not only paying for extra bus days, but also for a more focused look at one of New Orleans’ most distinctive neighborhoods.

Stops 11 through 15 cover Magazine Street, the Garden District, and several points along St. Charles Avenue, including Louisiana Avenue and St. Andrew Street. You can use these stops to split the neighborhood into smaller visits instead of trying to cover everything in one walk.

Magazine Street is useful for browsing shops and finding places to eat, while St. Charles Avenue gives you the grander view of historic homes and streetcar surroundings. The provided details do not promise that the bus ticket includes a streetcar ride, so do not treat this as a streetcar pass.

The Garden District is also where pacing matters. You may find yourself wanting to stop for a meal, browse Magazine Street, and take the walking tour. On a 1-day ticket, that can consume much of the operating window. The 2-day ticket makes more sense if this area is high on your list.

Museums, the Superdome, and the downtown edge

The route calls at the National World War II Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Confederate Civil War Museum. This cluster gives you several strong indoor options, useful during hot or wet weather.

At stop 10, the National World War II Museum is the headline attraction. Admission is not included, so plan for a separate ticket and enough time if you want more than a quick look. The bus is helpful here because it drops you near the museum without requiring a long walk from the French Quarter.

The route also passes the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, originally called the Louisiana Superdome. It is home to the New Orleans Saints and is described as the world’s largest fixed dome structure. You may choose to get off near the downtown stops, though the ticket does not include entry to the stadium or any other attraction.

This part of the ride shows how much New Orleans is more than its historic center. The museums and sports district add useful variety, but the spread of sights also means you need to choose carefully. Trying to visit several museums, the Garden District, and the French Market in one day will feel rushed.

Mardi Gras World, the Arts District, and the riverfront

Stop 16 serves the Convention Center and Mardi Gras World. The route does not include attraction admission, so you will need a separate ticket for Mardi Gras World if you want to go inside.

The Arts and Warehouse District stop covers Julia Street, galleries, the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, and nearby shops. It is a good place to leave the bus for art, shopping, and a change of pace from the Quarter’s older streets.

Stop 18 reaches the riverfront, close to the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, VUE Orleans Observation Deck, Audubon Aquarium, and Insectarium. This is one of the most practical stops for combining the bus with another paid attraction. Again, admission is separate, but the bus cuts down on the need to arrange transport between districts.

The riverfront is also a good final section of the loop because it brings you back toward the French Quarter and the original stop at 700 Decatur Street. The route has two listed drop-off points, including Jackson Square, so check with the guide before leaving if you need to finish at a particular location.

What the live guides add to the ride

The best part of this experience is not simply the elevated seat. It is the human commentary.

Guides have included Linda, Ron, Chris, Mary, Sydney, Bill, Lita, Tamara, Deidre, Logan, and Colin at different times. Their styles vary, which can be a strength. One guide may focus on history, another on food and neighborhoods, and another on jokes and local stories.

That variety also means the experience is not perfectly uniform. Some passengers have found the narration difficult to hear, and the bus does not provide foreign-language audio translation. If you need clear commentary, board early and choose a seat close to the guide.

A live narrator can also give timely advice. Deidre and other guides have helped people identify places to eat, while Logan recommended a restaurant that became a successful dinner stop. Treat suggestions as useful leads, not a substitute for your own plans.

Price, ticket length, and practical value

At $51 per person, the 1-day ticket is not cheap if you only want a ride around the French Quarter. You can walk much of that area for free, and the bus does not include attraction admission, meals, or hotel pickup.

The value improves when you use the route for several districts. A full loop, a few well-chosen stops, and live city commentary can save separate transport costs. One person used the bus instead of several rideshare trips, which is the right way to think about the ticket.

The 2-day pass is the sensible middle choice if you want the Garden District walking tour and prefer not to rush. The 3-day option suits a longer stay, especially if you want both included walking tours and plan to return to several neighborhoods.

Mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted, and you can redeem them at any stop. Bring cash and identification, as requested in the booking information. Pets and smoking are not allowed.

Buses are wheelchair accessible. The service generally runs every 30 minutes, but schedules can change on special dates. It does not operate on several February, April, November, and December dates, and there are earlier finishes around Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. Check the exact date before you commit to a packed itinerary.

Who should book this New Orleans bus tour?

I would choose it for a first visit, a short stay, or anyone who wants a clear overview before deciding which neighborhoods deserve more time. It also suits families and older visitors who may not want to cover the full city on foot.

The 1-day pass works for orientation and a few carefully chosen stops. The 2-day pass offers the best balance for many people because it adds the Garden District walk without requiring a long commitment. Choose 3 days if the French Quarter walk and a slower schedule matter to you.

I would skip it if your entire visit is confined to the French Quarter, if you mainly want nightlife after dark, or if you dislike fixed operating hours. It is also not a replacement for paid museum visits or a proper neighborhood walk.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to see the shape of New Orleans quickly, hear a real guide, and move between the French Quarter, Treme, Garden District, museums, and riverfront with less planning. Start early, take one full loop, and save the last bus for a little earlier than you think you need.

For most first-time visitors, I would pick the 2-day ticket if the budget allows. It gives you time for the bus route and the Garden District walking tour without forcing every stop into one long day. Choose the 1-day option for a quick overview, and the 3-day pass only if you will make real use of both walking tours and repeated rides.

FAQ

How long is the complete bus tour?

The full bus tour lasts about 1.5 hours when you remain on board for the entire loop.

How often do the buses run?

Buses generally run about every 30 minutes.

What time does the first bus leave?

The first departures from stops 1, 5, 6, and 17 are between 9:30am and 9:40am.

What time does the last bus leave?

The last departure from any stop is at 4pm, and the final tour ends around 5:30pm.

Are guided walking tours included?

The Garden District Guided Walking Tour is included with 2-day and 3-day tickets. The French Quarter Guided Walking Tour is included with the 3-day ticket only.

Are attraction tickets included?

No. Admission to museums, Mardi Gras World, the aquarium, the observation deck, the casino, and other attractions is not included.

Can I use a mobile voucher?

Yes. Mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted and can be redeemed at any stop along the route. The voucher is valid only for the date selected when booking.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The buses are wheelchair accessible. Pets and smoking are not allowed.