New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour: Mansions and Lafayette Cemetery

2h45

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By walk

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About this activity

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Garden District, St Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130-5968

Your tour begins in the French Quarter, where you'll board a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and travel to the quieter and more genteel Garden District. This elegant historical area, known for its marvelous examples of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture and lovely gardens, was once the site of a number of plantations. Learn from your guide how in the 19th century it was sold off piece by piece primarily to wealthy Americans who built the lavish mansions that still dominate this district.

See mansions belonging to local author Anne Rice, actress Sandra Bullock, actor John Goodman, and former New Orleans Saints' quarterback — and father of Peyton and Eli — Archie Manning. Stop for an exclusive tour of a stately Garden District home built around the end of the American Civil War in 1865.

Admire an unusual cast-iron fence resembling a row of cornstalks and learn the legend of how a southern colonel had it made in the mid-1800s to comfort wife, homesick for Iowa.

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Stop At: Lafayette Cemetery No.1, Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

Stop to walk around Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, the oldest planned cemetery in New Orleans. With the elaborate tombs and statuary, you'll see why these above ground cemeteries are called "Cities of the Dead."

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Women's Guild of the New Orleans Opera, 2504 Prytania St # 70130, New Orleans, LA 70130-5902

This is the only Garden District tour to go inside an exquisite historic Garden District mansion.

Duration: 15 minutes

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Included

Transport to and from the Garden District by air-conditioned coach
Local guide
Light refreshments
Entry/Admission - Lafayette Cemetery No.1
Entry/Admission - Women's Guild of the New Orleans Opera

Not included

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Cemetery closed on some holidays, Saturday afternoons and Sundays
In order to help protect the French Quarter from vehicular traffic, it is requested that you please walk, if possible, to the convenient tour departure point — just a short stroll from most downtown hotels
Wheelchair Access: If the guest needs a wheelchair lift equipped bus, then special arrangements need to be made with the supplier. This must be arranged 48 hours prior to tour date. Contact details will be on your voucher.
Alternate Routes: Due to uneven and narrow paths, alternate routes may be necessary for guests traveling in wheelchairs.
Home Tour: Due to the historic nature of the building, the New Orleans Opera Guild home is not wheelchair accessible.
The audio system may not be used during inclement weather
Child rates apply to those under the age of 6 who occupy a seat. Lap children under 6 years ride for free

Features

Tourism

85%

Cultural

70%

Sport

25%

Nightlife

20%

Reviews

4.6

304

Illya K

5 | 2019-09-23

We learn a lot about the history of the NOLA and Garden district. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Will recommend this tour.

Leah H

4 | 2019-08-12

Midge was great. Very knowledgeable. I would have loved to see more homes, but time restraints AND extreme heat!

Jennifet N

5 | 2019-07-30

Our guide, Midge was wonderful and knew so much history! We had an eclectic group and she took care of all of us.

Terri A

5 | 2019-07-03

The Garden District is a section of New Orleans with absolutely beautiful homes, all built long ago, some even before the Civil War. It was fun to see the homes of Sandra Bullock, John Goodman, and the childhood home of Peyton and Eli Manning. The lawns were lush and beautifully landscaped. On this specific tour, we were able to go into one of these magnificent homes. The furnishings and decor were original and ornate. A bus then transported us to Lafayette Cemetery. Our guide was so interesting and knowledgeable. She answered questions you didn’t even know that you had. I’m so happy that I booked this tour as I got to see an area of New Orleans I knew nothing about and came away with a much deeper understanding of New Orleans history and culture.

LTKgroup

4 | 2019-07-03

Our tour guide, Sandi W, was fantastic. Shared her extensive knowledge with us and her enthusiasm for life in NOLA which increased our enjoyment of the tour. We (all four of us) would be happy to take additional tours with Sandi. And, she made certain, as we were talking on a hot day, that everyone drank plenty of water.

Betty C

4 | 2019-04-24

Sandy is a knowledgeable guide. Her stories of her own southern upbringing and experiences and her sense of humor made for an entertaining and creditable tour. Our only disappointment was that Lafayette Cemetery was closed the day of our tour (Good Friday), so we did not get as much information as we desired and had to make a trip back to the cemetery on our own.

emdobson

5 | 2018-10-15

I recently went to New Orleans with my mom and sister in law and we thoroughly enjoyed this tour.Midge was our guide and was full of interesting New Orleans history and explaining the architecture of the mansions.I would highly recommend this tour and would do again if i go back to NO.

Christian C

5 | 2018-09-12

The tour was definitely worth every penny. Our tour guide, Daniel, was so friendly and informative. The houses were just gorgeous and the opera guild house was just beautiful inside!

Cynthia D

5 | 2018-09-10

Our guide Midge was excellent, she was full of information about the Garden District. Saw homes we wouldn't haven seen if we hadn't gone on this tour

Boruch W

5 | 2018-07-15

Beautiful way to enjoy New Orleans in the spring

Eric K

4 | 2018-07-11

Tour was lovely. Saw many stately homes, including the ones belonging to well known celebrities. Tour of the old opera house was special. The cemetery tour was enjoyable, albeit hot! Only problems- the street traffic drowned out the guides commentary at times. The guide also didn't watch her flock too well- an elderly, handicapped woman tripped and fell, with the guide completely oblivious to the situation. Thank goodness she wasn't hurt. That being said, this is probably the best of the Garden District tours.

Joyce A W

5 | 2018-04-13

Our guide for the tour, Marcia, was excellent. She was informative, charming, and had a sense of humor. My daughter and I had a limited amount of time in New Orleans. This tour covered exactly what we wanted to see - mansions and a cemetery. Marcia gave us key details about the exterior of the homes we were viewing from the street. I especially enjoyed the interior tour of the home owned by the Opera Guild. Although a brief stop at Lafayette Cemetery, Marcia was able to give more than enough information regarding the history and reasons behind the cemeteries in New Orleans. We were able to get a feel for another area of New Orleans other than the French Quarter. I just wish we had had the time to visit the shops and restaurants in the Garden District. Be certain to wear sturdy shoes as some of the sidewalks on this tour need repair. We were also able to see some other areas of the town such as Irish Lace and the Business District from the bus.

nsgbrown

5 | 2018-03-21

Had a really great tour guide. Got to see close up from the street the homes in the area along with the history. The Womens Opera House was a real treat to tour.

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