New Orleans' French Quarter tours are refreshingly honest—almost all group walks, mostly under $100, and consistently well-rated (4.6-4.9). The real fork is theme: history, cocktails, food, or a wider city loop that pairs the Quarter with the Garden District and cemeteries. Prices run from $28 for a history walk to $95 for a cocktail crawl.
My steer: for straight history, the $28 walking tour is the value and quality leader (4.9 over 1,184 reviews). For a broader first-day orientation, the $40 city tour adds the Garden District and a cemetery with an equally strong track record. The cocktail and food tours are specialist picks—excellent for what they are, but you're paying for the drinks and tastings, not the walking.
#1Editor's Choice
French Quarter Historical Sights and Stories Walking Tour
The best history walk and the value leader—it's not close.
★★★★½ 4.9 (1,184 reviews)·from $28·2h 00m·
At $28 this 2-hour walking tour is both the cheapest history option and the most proven, with a 4.9 across 1,184 reviews—the deepest track record in the category. It covers the French Quarter, French Market, St. Louis Cathedral, and the riverfront with real storytelling. For most first-time visitors, this is simply the tour to book.
★★★★★“Scott was an excellent tour guide. There wasn’t a question he could not answer and despite the thunderstorms off and on he managed the tour fantastically. Would definitely do again.”
— Verified traveller
Where you'll go: French Quarter · French Market · St. Louis Cathedral · Mississippi River
What's good
- Outstanding 4.9 across 1,184 reviews
- Cheapest tour on the list at $28
- Focused, story-rich walk through the Quarter's core
What to know
- No food or drink included
- Standard group walking format
Best for: Anyone wanting the Quarter's history done well and cheaply.
Skip it if: You specifically want food, cocktails, or a wider city loop.
#2Best for Drinkers
New Orleans Cocktail History Walking Tour in the French Quarter
A cocktail-history crawl through the birthplace of the Sazerac.
★★★★½ 4.9 (374 reviews)·from $95·3h 00m·
This 3-hour cocktail history tour rates 4.9 across 374 reviews and walks Chartres and Royal streets with drinks and the stories behind them, for $95. It's the priciest tour here, and rightly so—you're paying for the cocktails and a specialist theme. New Orleans is a cocktail town, so this lands well for the right traveler.
★★★★★“What an absolute wonderful tour. Our guide John was amazing, we would do this tour again and would love have John guiding us. We had a small group and quickly all became friends.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- 4 cocktails
- 4 venues
- Local Guide
Where you'll go: French Quarter · Chartres Street · Royal Street · St. Louis Cathedral
What's good
- Strong 4.9 over 374 reviews
- Cocktails and their history included
- Perfectly suited to NOLA's drinking heritage
What to know
- Most expensive tour on the list
- Adults-only theme; not for a general history seeker
Best for: Cocktail enthusiasts who want to drink through the Quarter's history.
Skip it if: You don't drink or want a straightforward history walk.
#3Best City Overview
New Orleans City Tour: French Quarter, Garden District & Cemetery
The broadest tour: Quarter, Garden District, and a cemetery in one.
★★★★½ 4.8 (1,955 reviews)·from $40·3h 00m·
This 3-hour city tour (4.8, 1,955 reviews) is the most-reviewed option in the category and ventures well beyond the Quarter into the Garden District, a historic cemetery, and City Park, for $40. That review depth plus wide coverage makes it the best single tour for getting your bearings across New Orleans on day one.
★★★★★“Tanya was so knowledgeable and was very polite and helpful while guiding this tour. She navigated the crowed streets like a champ. Very grateful she’s was our guide!!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local licensed tour guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Where you'll go: French Quarter · Garden District · St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 · City Park
What's good
- Huge 1,955-review base at 4.8
- Covers the Quarter plus Garden District and cemetery
- Affordable at $40 for the ground covered
What to know
- Less deep on the Quarter itself than the dedicated walk
- 4.8 just shy of the history walk's 4.9
Best for: First-timers who want a full-city overview, not just the Quarter.
Skip it if: You want to focus solely and deeply on the French Quarter.
#4Most Relaxed
New Orleans French Quarter and More Carriage Ride
A one-hour carriage ride—charming, but short and light on content.
★★★★½ 4.8 (549 reviews)·from $65·1h 00m·
This 60-minute carriage ride (4.8, 549 reviews) trots past the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, and the French Market for $65. It's a relaxed, romantic way to see the Quarter without walking, but at $65 for an hour it's pricey per minute, and a carriage covers less and explains less than the walking tours.
★★★★★“The driver was very knowledgeable and friendly. The experience was amazing. We were able to visit several historic sites and places.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Mule-drawn carriage ride
- Recommendations for nightclubs, jazz, museums, and other must-sees in New Orleans
Where you'll go: French Quarter · St. Louis Cathedral · French Market · The Cabildo
What's good
- Effortless, seated way to see the Quarter
- Solid 4.8 across 549 reviews
- Romantic and easy on the feet
What to know
- Only an hour for $65—steep per-minute
- Less depth than a guided walk
Best for: Couples or anyone who'd rather ride than walk.
Skip it if: You want depth, distance, or better value for your time.
#5Best Food Tour
French Quarter Food Tour: 5 Classic Bites and NOLA Stories
Five classic NOLA bites with the stories behind them.
★★★★½ 4.8 (434 reviews)·from $81·2h 30m·
This 2.5-hour food tour rates 4.8 across 434 reviews and pairs five classic New Orleans tastings with neighborhood stories around Jackson Square and the French Market, for $81.10. It's a well-reviewed way to eat your way through the Quarter; as with the cocktail tour, you're paying for the food, not the mileage.
★★★★★“There is walking, but it is spaced out. Try not to eat a big breakfast if you’re going in the afternoon. The food is amazing.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Savor 5 food samples, including beignet, gumbo and Po'boy
- Enjoy a local English-speaking guide
- Stories and history of New Orleans' multicultural roots
- Visit to The French Market, America’s oldest public market
Where you'll go: Jackson Square · French Market · French Quarter
What's good
- Solid 4.8 over 434 reviews
- Five classic local tastings included
- Combines food with genuine Quarter history
What to know
- Higher price reflects the food, not the touring
- Fixed tastings may not suit picky eaters
Best for: Food lovers wanting to taste the Quarter's classics.
Skip it if: You've eaten already or want a pure history walk.
#6Best Active Tour
New Orleans French Quarter and Garden District Bike Tour
A bike tour linking the Quarter and Garden District.
★★★★½ 4.8 (111 reviews)·from $55·3h 00m·
This 3-hour bike tour (4.8, 111 reviews) rolls from the French Quarter through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and the Lower Garden District for $55. It covers more ground than a walk at a moderate price, but with just 111 reviews it's the least-proven of the well-rated options, and biking isn't for everyone in the NOLA heat.
★★★★★“I’ll start off my saying we booked the garden district tour but ended up on the French Quarter and City Park tour - and it turned out to be a wonderful day.
Our guide, Chip was a knowledgeable and highly engaging guide with a great knack for story telling and the knowledge to be able to answer all our questions
The group was small and we visited many local landmarks and historical places
The ”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Comfortable bike with basket
Where you'll go: French Quarter · Lafayette Cemetery No.1 · Lower Garden District
What's good
- Covers Quarter and Garden District under pedal power
- Reasonable $55 price
- Solid 4.8 rating
What to know
- Smallest review base among the strong options (111)
- Biking in the heat/humidity isn't for everyone
Best for: Active travelers who want to cover more ground than walking allows.
Skip it if: You'd rather walk, or want a more proven tour.
#7Premium option
New Orleans French Quarter Walking and History Tour
A decent history walk that the $28 leader clearly outclasses.
★★★★½ 4.6 (187 reviews)·from $29·2h 00m·
At $29 this 2-hour walking tour covers much the same ground as the category leader—French Quarter, French Market, Jackson Square, the Cabildo—but sits at 4.6 across just 187 reviews. Priced a dollar above the 4.9-rated, 1,184-review 52219P1, it's simply the weaker of two very similar history walks.
★★★★★“This is a great way to be introduced to the French Quarter. We learned a lot about the history of New Orleans in the time that we had with the guide. He has great knowledge about the city.”
— Verified traveller
Where you'll go: French Quarter · French Market · Jackson Square · The Cabildo
What's good
- Covers the Quarter's key historic sites
- Low $29 price
- Standard 2-hour format
What to know
- 4.6 is the lowest rating in the category
- A dollar more than the far better-reviewed 52219P1
Best for: Travelers who can't get a spot on the top-rated history walk.
Skip it if: The 4.9-rated 52219P1 is available—book that instead.
Before you go
- Do a $28–$29 history walk first for context, then explore Royal and Chartres streets on your own — the Quarter is small and very walkable.
- The cocktail tour is 21+ and evening-focused; the food tour is daytime and family-friendly — choose by what you're after.
- Above-ground cemeteries often require a licensed guide to enter, so book the cemetery tour rather than trying to visit St. Louis No. 1 solo.
- Mornings are quiet and pleasant; Bourbon Street gets loud after dark, so time your walking tour early.
- Summers are hot and humid — food and history tours are more comfortable in the morning or as the sun drops.
- Wear comfortable shoes; the Quarter's historic brick and flagstone sidewalks are uneven.
How I ranked these
For French Quarter tours I weighted three things: what you actually get for the money (group size, what's included, special access), the rating balanced against how many reviews back it up — a 4.9 from 200 people isn't the same as a 4.6 from 15,000 — and price for what's on offer. Ratings, review counts and prices shift over time, so always check the live booking page before you pay.
Good to know
Are the French Quarter walking tours worth it, or should I just wander?
The Quarter is compact and walkable on your own, but the historical walking tours (from ~$28) unlock the stories behind the Creole townhouses, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral that aren't obvious from the street. For a first visit, a ~$28–$29 history walk gives context; after that, wandering Royal and Chartres streets on your own is a pleasure.
What's the difference between the cocktail tour and the food tour?
The Cocktail History walking tour (~$95) is drink-focused — the Quarter is the birthplace of the Sazerac and the cocktail's early history — and typically includes tastings at historic bars, so it's 21+ and skews evening. The Food Tour (~$81) covers 5 classic NOLA bites (think beignets, gumbo, po'boy territory) around Jackson Square and the French Market. Pick by appetite.
Do the cemetery and Garden District tours actually go inside the French Quarter?
They start from or include the Quarter but range beyond it — the city tour (~$40) pairs the French Quarter with the Garden District and a historic cemetery, and the bike tour (~$55) reaches Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. New Orleans' above-ground cemeteries (the 'cities of the dead') often require a licensed guide to enter, which is part of why these tours exist.
Is the carriage ride a good way to see the Quarter?
The mule-drawn carriage ride (~$65) is a relaxed, narrated loop past St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market, and the Cabildo — nice if you want to rest your feet and get oriented. It covers less depth than a walking tour and moves at the carriage's pace, but the storytelling and atmosphere are the draw, especially in the evening.
When should I visit the French Quarter to avoid the rowdiest crowds?
Mornings are calm and good for walking and food tours; Bourbon Street's party energy ramps up at night. If you want history and architecture without the bar noise, go early. Avoid Mardi Gras and festival weekends unless the crowds are the point — hotels and tours book out and prices climb.
Prices are "from" prices in USD and change with date and availability. Last updated August 2026.