New Orleans City Bus Tours & Cemetery Sightseeing

The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, established in 1718 as the original city of Nouvelle-Orléans. Our city tour takes you through its cobblestone streets, past the ornate cast-iron balconies of Royal Street, along the bustling energy of Bourbon Street, and into the heart of Jackson Square. Your guide will explain the French, Spanish, and Creole architectural influences that shaped the Quarter — and why the buildings you see today are mostly Spanish Colonial rather than French, a detail most visitors never learn without a knowledgeable guide.

Jackson Square is the historic center of the French Quarter and the city itself. Anchored by the St. Louis Cathedral — the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States — the square is surrounded by the Cabildo (where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803), the Presbytère, and the Pontalba Buildings. Our guide will share the history of Andrew Jackson's controversial legacy and the square's transformation from a military parade ground to the vibrant gathering place it is today.

Originally established as a Native American trading post before 1791, the French Market is the oldest public market in the United States. Our tour passes through this open-air marketplace where you can see vendors selling local produce, handmade crafts, hot sauce, and New Orleans souvenirs. The market stretches six blocks from the Café Du Monde to the edge of the Marigny neighborhood, and your guide will point out the architectural details that tell the story of its 230-year evolution.

Since 1862, Café Du Monde has served its famous beignets and chicory coffee to generations of locals and visitors. Located at the edge of Jackson Square, this open-air café is one of the most photographed landmarks in New Orleans. Your guide will explain the French origins of the beignet, why chicory was added to New Orleans coffee during the Civil War, and the best times to visit if you want to avoid the line after the tour.

The Garden District is the crown jewel of New Orleans residential architecture. Our guided bus tour takes you past the antebellum mansions that line St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street — Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian homes built by the American newcomers who arrived after the Louisiana Purchase and chose to build uptown rather than live among the Creole families of the French Quarter. Your guide will point out the homes of famous residents past and present, including Anne Rice's former residence and the house used in filming 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'

Magazine Street stretches six miles from Canal Street through the Lower Garden District, the Garden District, and uptown. Known for its eclectic mix of independent boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants, Magazine Street represents the local, neighborhood side of New Orleans that most tourists never see from the French Quarter. Our city bus tour gives you a guided introduction to the street's highlights so you know exactly where to return on your own.