French Quarter crime, cocktails, and ghosts. I love how this tour pairs true crime with an EMF meter moment and keeps you moving with a professional storyteller. You also get a guided pass through major French Quarter anchors like Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral, plus stops tied to infamous names and cases. One consideration up front: drinks aren’t included, so you’ll want to plan your own pace.

If you’re the kind of person who likes your New Orleans with a side of sketchy details, this is built for you. It mixes pirates, convicted felons, and ladies of the night energy with voodoo and Louisiana folklore stories, and it aims right at the French Quarter. If you’re specifically expecting heavy voodoo content, keep an open mind, since the story mix can land differently depending on your guide.

Key things I’d circle before you book

• Real EMF meter used as a ghost or paranormal detector during the walk
• True crime stops tied to LaLaurie Mansion and other notorious French Quarter locations
• Zach and Addie case included, with a tragic 2006 murder-suicide story
• Sultan’s Palace stop tied to a mass murder that remains unsolved
• Voodoo, ghosts, vampires, myths, and Cajun superstitions are part of the planned theme
• Starts outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, at the courtyard gate on Bourbon Street

What You’re Really Signing Up For, Booze Style

This is not a polite history lecture. It’s a 2-hour French Quarter walking tour that leans hard into true crime past and present, then adds the supernatural angle with a real EMF meter. The core idea is that you learn the neighborhood story while the night is already in motion, not after the last bar closes.

You’ll hear stories tied to famous landmarks and infamous crimes, including places that have become part of New Orleans folklore. And because it’s run by licensed tour guides and professional storytellers (with a track record of hosting tours for over a decade), the delivery is meant to keep you engaged instead of stuck in “facts only” mode.

The theme is booze and mayhem, but there’s an important mismatch to handle: the tour does not include drinks. The experience may feel like it’s built around an adult night out, yet you’re still responsible for what you buy on your own.

Where the Tour Starts, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Courtyard Gate

Plan to meet right on Bourbon Street at 941 Bourbon Street, outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. The key detail is where you stand: the tour does not start inside the bar.

Instead, meet your guide on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar. This matters because French Quarter corners can be chaotic, and you do not want to arrive late to a group that’s already forming.

Arrive a few minutes early. Check in is only allowed before departure, and the operator can refuse service if someone is extremely intoxicated in a disruptive or disrespectful way. In plain terms, keep your night fun, not sloppy.

How the French Quarter Route Plays Out in Real Life

The route is built around walking between recognizable French Quarter landmarks and crime-related stops. You’ll cover a lot of “names you’ve seen on postcards” ground, then connect those landmarks to darker stories.

You should expect a mix of:

• Stops where the guide explains the case or legend
• Pass-bys where you get context tied to movies and celebrity locations
• Paranormal moments where the EMF meter becomes part of the show

This format can be a win for people who like variety. You are not just doing one long stretch of “standing and listening.” You’re also not doing a sit-down museum style event.

One caution from the experience details: the number of stops can feel limited to some people. If your top priority is lots of different locations with multiple house-to-house moments, you might want to set expectations that this is more “guided storytelling route” than “thick itinerary with frequent front-door access.”

Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Cabildo, and Presbytere

A major part of the tour centers on the Jackson Square area and nearby landmark buildings, including the St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere. If you’ve never stood in this area in person, you’ll get why it’s such a magnet for stories. It’s a central stage for the French Quarter’s public life, so it also makes sense as a backdrop for the tour’s talk about how the neighborhood became what it is.

Here, the guide’s job is to connect architecture and place to narrative. You’re not just seeing buildings. You’re hearing how the city developed, and how old-world chaos and modern life sit in the same streets.

Also pay attention to how the storytelling is framed. The tour explicitly mixes New Orleans past and present true crime, so even in this classic public-square zone, the stories are meant to feel current, not dusty.

St. Anthony’s Garden and the Ursuline Convent Area

You’ll also pass through or near St. Anthony’s Garden and visit the area connected to the Ursuline Convent. These kinds of stops are often where tours can slow down into “pretty place photos.” Here, you’re still in theme, so you should expect the guide to tie these locations back to supernatural folklore and the city’s legends.

This is one of the reasons the tour works better for some people than for others. If you like New Orleans as a culture machine, where faith, superstition, and street life overlap, these stops can feel perfectly aligned with the theme. If you just want chilling stories with zero focus on how the city grew, you may want to skim your own expectations and focus on what the guide says in each moment.

LaLaurie Mansion, the Stop That Sets the Tone

Let’s talk about the one everybody remembers: the LaLaurie Mansion, described as the most haunted house in New Orleans. Whether or not you treat it as literal, it functions as a major narrative anchor for the tour’s tone, because it’s a place name that carries a heavy reputation.

The tour’s approach here is not subtle. It takes you to the location tied to a haunting reputation and pairs that with the crime details the guide is there to explain. Then, it keeps the mood going with the paranormal layer.

You should plan to hear this kind of stop in the middle of the night. If you’re the type who gets uncomfortable with intense subject matter, take stock early. This tour is designed to cater to dark history and true crime enthusiasts, so the stories aren’t toned down for “light sightseeing.”

The Sultan’s Palace Stop and the Unsolved Mass Murder Angle

Another major location is the Sultan’s Palace, described as a gorgeous mansion where the largest mass murder took place in New Orleans, and the crime remains unsolved. This is a clear example of how the tour mixes landmark sightseeing with a specific true crime hook.

That unsolved element is important. It gives the guide room to keep the tension running, and it also fits the tour’s broader theme of past crimes that never fully stop echoing.

If you like your scary stories with a “case file” feel, this is one of the likely highlights. If you prefer ghost stories first and true crime second, it can still work, but you’ll want to pay attention to how your storyteller connects the two themes.

Zach and Addie, the French Quarter Tragedy Story

The tour also includes a stop tied to a tragic French Quarter event from 2006: the story of Zach and Addie, described as one of the most infamous murders in New Orleans history and focused on heartbreak.

This is where the tone can feel especially serious, because the story is presented as an infamous case with emotional weight. It’s also a reason to pace your own night. The tour is built around an adult-themed “learning is intoxicating” vibe, but your listening experience will depend on how alert you stay.

If you want cocktails for the mood, plan to buy them. If you’re hoping to have the tour do that for you, you’re out of luck. Drinks are not included.

Movie Filming Spots and French Quarter Celebrity Addresses

The tour route also includes pass-bys tied to Hollywood. You’ll see where Hollywood stars decided to call home in the French Quarter and where unforgettable movies were filmed as you pass by.

This part matters more than it sounds. It helps keep the night from becoming purely grim. It also makes the tour feel like a living neighborhood, not just a list of scary names. Even if you’re not a movie buff, you’ll probably recognize the concept: the French Quarter has been staged and re-staged, and the tour uses that to keep the storytelling varied.

Voodoo, Cajun Superstitions, and Paranormal Lore

Here’s the theme promise: you’ll learn about Cajun superstitions and Louisiana folklore, including myths and legends tied to voodoo, ghosts, and vampires. The tour is designed to connect the city’s legends to the places you’re standing near.

Now for the practical side: one person’s expectation is another person’s experience. Some people may feel the voodoo content lands harder, while others may feel the tour shifts more toward general life-story context. If voodoo is your top priority, treat the start of the tour like a chance to set your mental lens. During the first storytelling segment, listen for how much time is going to be spent on voodoo and whether it becomes a recurring thread.

The EMF meter is the tour’s biggest paranormal prop. When it’s introduced, it turns the story into an interactive moment instead of a monologue. If you like the idea of “testing” the legend while you walk, that piece is a real selling point.

The EMF Meter Moment, and How to Handle the Rules

The tour uses a real EMF meter, described as a ghost or paranormal detector. That turns it into a show-and-tell experience, and it’s one of the main reasons this tour stands out from a standard true crime walk.

Two rule notes you should know:

• Video recording and audio recording are not allowed.
• The paranormal equipment must be returned, and there is a $250 fee for lost or damaged equipment.

Those are small details until you realize you might feel tempted to film. If you want to capture the night, plan on photos without video and keep your audio expectations under control.

Also, old New Orleans streets are uneven. The operator notes they are not responsible for injuries due to old, uneven streets. Wear shoes you trust. You’ll get more out of the tour if you’re not spending it watching your step.

Cocktails and the Drinks Mismatch, Plan Your Own Pace

The tour description has “boozy” energy, and the experience is framed around learning with an adult drink in hand. But the listing clearly says drinks are not included.

So here’s the practical move: treat the tour as a night out that happens to include guided storytelling. Buy your drink before you need it, or budget time to grab something on Bourbon Street before the meeting time.

You’ll also want to match your alcohol level to the story intensity. There’s a policy that extremely intoxicated participants who are disruptive or disrespectful may be refused service. Even without that rule, your own brain will do better if you keep a steady pace and avoid getting too loud too early.

Price and Value, Is $23 for 2 Hours Fair?

At $23 per person for a 2-hour walk, the value depends on what you expect.

You’re paying for:

• A licensed guide and professional storytelling
• An interactive paranormal element with a real EMF meter
• Access to a route that includes major French Quarter landmarks such as Jackson Square, the St. Louis Cathedral area, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere
• Stop-and-story coverage that includes LaLaurie Mansion and other infamous locations tied to true crime

Because drinks are not included, it’s not a “cheap entertainment with cocktails included” deal. It’s more like a guided show where the theme is alcohol and darkness, and you supply the beverage yourself.

It still can be a strong value if you love story-driven tours, especially those that blend true crime with paranormal theatrics. If you want a tour that goes deep into voodoo rituals specifically, or you want more time at more locations, you might feel the route is tighter than you hoped.

Guide Quality, the Difference Between Okay and Great

One of the most helpful clues you can take into this booking decision is that guide performance seems to matter a lot. Some people mention guides like Cody and Coty as friendly and dynamic, and those names pop up in positive experiences tied to local history and good storytelling.

That suggests the tour lives or dies by delivery. If you do book, arrive early, ask questions when appropriate, and keep your expectations flexible. The tour is designed for interaction, and a good storyteller can make the same stops feel far more alive.

Who This Walk Suits Best, and Who Might Skip

This tour is a strong match for you if:

• You enjoy true crime as a way to understand place
• You like paranormal curiosities, especially when there’s a prop like an EMF meter
• You want a French Quarter walk that includes both landmark stops and “what happened here” narratives

It may be less ideal if:

• You need a heavy voodoo focus, not just folklore sprinkled around the route
• You’re expecting lots of major locations with frequent stops and lots of time at each one
• You prefer history without intense or dark crime subject matter

Also, if recording content is important to you, note the no video and no audio recording rule. That can matter for souvenir-making.

Should You Book This French Quarter True Crime and Paranormal Tour?

Book it if you want a 2-hour French Quarter night where the guide connects places to true crime, folklore, and paranormal theatrics, and where the EMF meter gives you something interactive instead of passive listening. The $23 price can feel fair when you’re paying for professional storytelling plus a route that hits Jackson Square and the LaLaurie Mansion area.

Think twice if you’re coming for guaranteed, detailed voodoo content every stop. It’s part of the theme, but the story mix can feel different depending on your guide. Also, since drinks are not included, plan your own alcohol strategy before you start, then keep it balanced so you can actually enjoy the darker stories.

If you’re the type who likes New Orleans best when it’s a little haunted and a lot human, this one will likely land well.

FAQ

How long is the New Orleans Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour?

It lasts 2 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $23 per person.

Do you get drinks included on the tour?

No. Drinks are not included.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street. Tours do not meet inside the bar.

Is video or audio recording allowed?

No. Video recording and audio recording are not allowed.

Does the tour use paranormal equipment?

Yes. A real EMF meter, described as a ghost or paranormal detector, is used during the tour. There is also a $250 fee for lost or damaged paranormal equipment, and the equipment must be returned to staff.