The 15 City Tours in New Orleans That Earn Their Price

1.New Orleans City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,943 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $51Our pick

See New Orleans from an open-air or climate-controlled double-decker bus with a live English-speaking guide. The 90-minute loop links Jackson Square, the French Market, Marigny, Tremé, the Garden District, the WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront. Hop off to explore, then rejoin the route.

“This is a double decker bus to where sitting up top it was covered from the weather and elements. The seats are comfortable and the tour information was very informative.”

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2.New Orleans Sightseeing City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,038 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40Best value

Ride with a local guide through Jackson Square, Treme, the Marigny, the Lower Ninth Ward, City Park, and the Garden District. Guides such as Scott, Sean, DJ, and Cynthia bring local stories and humor. You’ll stop at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 and have time for optional beignets and coffee.

“The tour was very information, left on time.. the instructions to find the location was not very clear”

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3.City Tour of New Orleans with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,407 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45

This 2.5-hour English-language minibus tour picks up at selected French Quarter and downtown hotels. Guides such as Joseph, Bob, Gary K, and Crisco cover the French Quarter, Garden District, Tremé, Katrina sites, cemeteries, City Park, and local landmarks. Expect hotel pickup, live commentary, and a group of up to 30.

“The tour operator was exceptional. He was the tour guide for the day. Very informative and professional. Quite knowledgeable of events and things to do in the area. I have been on tours before that I have wanted to fall asleep, however this tour operator kept it interesting and we enjoyed every moment.”

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4.New Orleans City Tour: French Quarter, Garden District & Cemetery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,209 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $40

Spend about three hours seeing New Orleans by air-conditioned coach, with hotel pickup, live commentary, a cemetery visit, and stops near City Park and the French Market. Guides such as Gary, Daren, and Darrell are praised for history, music, food tips, and flexible rerouting during Mardi Gras.

“Gary K. was the best guide. The local knowledge he imparted with us was amazing. Frankly, why should I need to have a minimum characters to answer this?”

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5.City Sightseeing New Orleans HOHO Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,077 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $51

Use a live English-speaking guide and an open-top bus to explore New Orleans from Jackson Square to Mardi Gras World. The route covers the French Quarter, Treme, Garden District, museums, and riverfront. Two and three-day passes add guided walks, while guides such as Linda, Ron, and Chris bring local stories to the ride.

“Great way to see New Orleans down town with a tour guide armed with information. Able to hop off and on the bus easily and definitely the best way to see as much as possible in a day.”

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6.New Orleans Small-Group City Tour by Van

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,077 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

See New Orleans with a local guide in a van carrying no more than 10 people. You’ll walk through the French Quarter, view Garden District homes, visit Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery, stop in City Park, and pass museums, jazz districts, Tulane, and neighborhoods shaped by Katrina.

“Booked this NOLA tour for my mom’s birthday. Pensacola girls hitting the Big Easy! Let me tell you, it did *not* disappoint. Our guide was a total gem: funny, sharp, and clearly knew every inch of the city (and probably some ghosts too). We hit all the highlights without feeling like tourists lost in a brochure. My mom was living her best life: beignets in hand, jazz in the air, soaking up the history like a queen. 10/10 would do it again… maybe next year, if Mom insists (she will).”

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7.New Orleans City Tour and Steamboat Natchez Harbor Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 446 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Spend about six and a half hours seeing New Orleans by narrated coach and paddle wheeler. Visit Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, City Park, and the Garden District, then hear live jazz on the Mississippi. Guides such as Harris, Robert, and Katherine are known for adding local detail.

“Excellent from start to finish. Our guide, Robert, was fantastic and the Beignets were amazing! The Mississippi steamer was a highlight. Highly recommend this tour.”

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8.Soul of New Orleans City Tour: Enslavement to Modern Day Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Ride through New Orleans with guides Jay or Dennis, stopping in Tremé, Congo Square, Studio BE, and other key sites tied to Black history, jazz, civil rights, and Katrina. Air-conditioned transport, videos, local stories, and a maximum group size of 24 make this a focused introduction to the city.

“This was a very educational experience and a must for anyone to learn about the history and culture of New Orleans. Our tour guide was amazing and went above and beyond!”

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9.New Orleans Helicopter City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 170 reviews · 7 to 9 minutes (approx.) · from $150

Join Heli Co. New Orleans for a short, narrated helicopter flight over the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, the Mississippi River, and City Park. Flights carry up to three people, with private, longer, and doors-off upgrades available. Pilots such as Heath, Dakota, Brian, and Cameron add local history and personal attention.

“Best way to view the city! Professional experienced Pilot who knows the area, can't wait to go on the night time tour!”

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10.NOLA’s BIG 4 PRIVATE CITY TOUR – NO GHOST, ONLY FACTS!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

Join New Orleans native Paul Angelica for a private two-hour SUV tour of four key areas: the French Quarter, Garden District, City Park, and Metairie Cemetery. Expect local history, architecture, practical dining tips, hotel pickup, and a fact-based look beyond Bourbon Street.

“This was a great tour! We learned a ton of history from a NOLA local, and got a good overview of what spots we wanted to circle back to later in our trip. Would definitely recommend doing this tour early on in your trip.”

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11.Private New Orleans City Tour with Local Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 138 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $170

Let local guide Marc show you New Orleans by private, air-conditioned vehicle. In three to four hours, you can connect the French Quarter, Bywater, Bayou St. John, Uptown, the Garden District, City Park, Audubon Park, and Magazine Street, with time for requested stops.

“The driving tour is a must for anyone visiting NOLA! Marc was so knowledgeable, personable, and gracious. The van was clean and comfortable; the tour was thoroughly enjoyed by our family of 8, aged 24-85, visiting from 4 different states. Marc tailored the tour to our requests, planned stops strategically around our needs for coffee, hurricanes, beignets, restroom breaks and stretching. Seeing the city in this way truly should not be missed. It was a broad overview with detailed insights and a highlight of our week so far! Highly recommend!”

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12.Citywide Driving Tour with Local Jazz Musician

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 135 reviews · from $61

Join local jazz musician Quay for a citywide New Orleans driving tour capped at seven people. Visit the Garden District, City Park, large murals, and other signature spots, with time for photos and personal advice on where to hear live jazz.

“This was an awesome tour, so much history, entertainment, and culture. Definitely try to do this on your first day. The company and guide are professional and accommodation. I highly recommend. With other tours I read about it didn't seem like they allowed for many stops to get out of the vehicle and that's why I chose this 1.”

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13.La Vie NOLA: Private City Tour of New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Spend about three hours with Benjamin of La Vie NOLA in a private vehicle for up to six people. See the French Quarter, Tremé, local murals, City Park, Lake Lawn Metairie, Audubon Park, Uptown, and the American Sector, with time for Cafe du Monde beignets and chicory coffee.

“We had a great driving tour of New Orleans, which was great since it rained. We saw all the sights. Stopped for chicory coffee and beignets at a less crowded Cafe du Monde. Our driver was very knowledgeable and showed us places a normal tour wouldn’t. I’d definitely recommend this tour.”

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14.City Tour & Steamboat Daytime Jazz Cruise Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 73 reviews · 6 hours - 390 minutes · from $104

Combine a two-hour Mississippi cruise aboard the Riverboat CITY OF NEW ORLEANS with a three-hour Gray Line city tour. Hear live jazz and captain’s narration, visit St. Louis Cemetery #3, pause at City Park, and stroll the Garden District with an English-speaking guide.

“There was no courtesy or civility from those that work there. For ticket taking, they simply took the ticket. NO welcome aboard I am here to assist you, just "give me the ticket". Again there is no "put whatever items in your hand down remove your shades if you would like to, to take a picture", just quick snap a picture. NO please pose for the picture, just a snap of the picture. The male taking a picture of me, has the nerve to get an ATTITUDE, after he has snapped a picture of me with a water in my hand a purse in the other hand and shades on,…”

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15.Soul of New Orleans City Tour:Enslavement to modern culture

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 29 reviews · 2h 30m · from $55

Spend 150 minutes touring New Orleans by bus with guides such as Dennis and Jay, learning about Creole culture, enslavement, jazz, Civil Rights, Hurricane Katrina, and the Lower Ninth Ward. Expect murals, museums, historic sites, and an emotional meeting with local history.

“This is an amazing tour and Dennis our guide was outstanding. We learned so much about New Orleans culture and history in just those few hours, I highly recommend this excursion.”

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