Top 12 New Orleans Scandalous History Tours

1.New Orleans Lewd Spirits Haunted Tour with Bar Stops

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 823 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37Our pick

This adults-only, two-hour walk mixes haunted tales, adultery, murder, brothel history, and French Quarter bar stops. Guides including Delvin, Dane, Anderson, and Adelle bring different comic styles to the route. You buy your own drinks and walk in all weather.

“I don’t think there could have been a better tour guide. Animated stories, friendly, funny. I loved the stories and the “lewd” history. The stops were great. Not places we would have seen in the main arteries. Delvin was an awesome guide and if you take this tour, I would ask for him!”

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2.The Bad Broads Tour of New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 298 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Walk the French Quarter with a guide such as Rhody, Dalton, Uma, or Jamie, and hear dark, often overlooked stories about New Orleans women. The 90-minute route covers Madame LaLaurie, Marie Laveau, murder, Voodoo, and ghost lore, ending near Jackson Square.

“We had Rhody as our tour guide and she was amazing! Very knowledgeable and told us so many interesting facts about the different stops. I couldn’t help but go home after and just research more and more because the history was so shocking and interesting! 10/10 recommend!!”

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3.Saints and Sinners Walking Tour in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 136 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $21Best value

Walk New Orleans’ French Quarter with a guide such as Erin, Wolfy, Hope, or Angela, hearing stories of saints, brothels, pirates, gamblers, and killers. The adults-only, 2-hour tour starts with a Hurricane drink offer at Voodoo Lounge and ends at Jackson Square.

“We wanted to take this tour most of all, out of the multitudes of tours available in NOLA. It sounds amazing! Turns out it's even better than you hope it will be! Angela was our guide and she was the best guide ever! Seriously. I used to be a trail guide, she's the best. She's extremely knowledgeable, hilarious, and has an electric personality that makes you wish the tour was 3 hours long so you could hang out with her more! Definitely going to come back for her tour again!”

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4.New Orleans Brothels, Bordellos, and Ladies of the Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37

Join a small group at Café du Monde at 6 pm for a two-hour walk through the French Quarter. Guides such as Karen, Christine, Loretta, and Dannell connect women’s lives, port culture, slavery, French rule, and Storyville, with optional bar stops along the way.

“Great tour and tour guide. Had a very good evening. New Orleans has a LOT of History to offer. Very much worth the money.”

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5.New Orleans Storyville Museum All Access Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $27

Step into a re-created Storyville, New Orleans’ former red-light district. Your self-guided all-access ticket covers exhibits on gambling, prostitution, brothels, and early jazz. Allow one to two hours, read at your own pace, and note that entry is limited to adults 18 and older.

“Great little museum with easy to understand history of the city! Great spot to spend an hour or so if it’s cold/raining, easily accessible location.”

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6.New Orleans Voodoo, Storyville, Treme, Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Spend 2 hours and 15 minutes walking from Storyville through Tremé with a licensed guide such as David Higgins or New Orleans Nate. See Congo Square, Louis Armstrong Park, historic churches, and the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. Expect strong music and local history, though voodoo coverage can vary.

“A substitute for the original guide was made. He talked about music and musicians not voodoo as was described in the write up. He was good although a little hard to hear at times.”

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7.French Quarter Saints & Sinners History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 56 reviews · 1h 45m · from $22

Walk the French Quarter with an English-speaking guide through stories of Catholic devotion, Marie Laveau, voodoo, witchcraft, vampires, crime, and forgiveness. Meet at The Voodoo Lounge on North Rampart Street. The tour lasts 105 minutes, costs $22, and welcomes wheelchairs.

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8.1.5-Hour Infamous Women Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 12 reviews · 1h 30m · from $34

Walk through the French Quarter with an English-speaking guide and hear stories of Voodoo priestesses, murderous madams, high-society women, and Madame LaLaurie. This small-group, adults-only tour lasts 90 minutes and visits former Gallatin Street brothel territory and the LaLaurie Mansion.

“Wonderful Tour. Great stories about some very interessting women in New Orleans. Dalton was ab amazing guide. Absolut recommendation.”

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9.Brothel History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $37

Join Karen of 2 Chicks Walking Tours for an adults-only, small-group walk through New Orleans prostitution history, from the city’s founding to Storyville. You’ll visit landmarks and former brothel sites, stop at two bars, and finish near Bourbon Street. Drinks cost extra.

“Karen was great! New her history & we enjoyed the tour.”

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10.Lewd Spirits Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $37

Join Unique NOLA for a two-hour, English-language walk through the French Quarter, with stops at three bars, grisly tales, and stories of adulterers, prostitutes, and killers. Guide Delvin is funny and entertaining, but expect strong language and plenty of standing. Drinks cost extra.

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11.Voodoo, Storyville, and Treme Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $30

Walk from Backatown Coffee through former Storyville, the Bienville Basin Apartments, Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square, and Treme. An English-speaking guide explains Voodoo, Marie Laveau, jazz, Catholicism, and the War of the Pews. Expect a serious amount of walking and an optional museum visit.

“The tour guide did not turn up & did not even cancel in advance. Spoilt our day….”

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12.Storyville Red-Light District Museum: All Access Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $35

Step into New Orleans Storyville Museum for a self-guided look at the city’s former red-light district. See recreated Basin Street scenes, brothel interiors, sex-crib displays, artifacts, and exhibits on gambling, prostitution, vice, and early jazz. Admission is for adults 18 and older.

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