Explore Historic New Orleans: Hidden Garden District Tour

Discover one of New Orleans’ most beautiful and historic neighbourhoods – the Garden District. Wander past grand antebellum mansions, see the Lafayette Cemetery and explore the hidden gems and diverse stories that shaped this community. Cross into the Irish Channel to see shotgun-style homes and learn about the immigrants who built the city.

Highlights

• Pass by Lafayette Cemetery and learn about New Orleans’ above-ground tombs and burial traditions.
• Stroll past the Garden District’s iconic antebellum mansions and hear stories of the families who lived there.
• Discover hidden gems like historic firehouses, Creole cottages and literary landmarks.

Welcome to the Garden District, a neighbourhood where history, architecture and culture combine to tell one of New Orleans’ richest stories. Once a vast plantation, this area was divided into large residential lots in the mid-1800s, creating streets lined with beautiful gardens and some of the finest examples of antebellum architecture in the United States.

Your guided tour begins in the heart of the Garden District. As you stroll along oak-shaded streets, admire the grand mansions that have made this neighbourhood famous. Learn about the families who lived here, the architects who designed these homes and the events that shaped this region over the centuries.

View Lafayette Cemetery from the gates – one of the oldest cemeteries in New Orleans. Although entry is currently restricted, your guide will explain the city’s unique above-ground tombs and multiple-burial traditions, shaped by New Orleans’ low-lying geography. As you observe the historic vaults from outside, you’ll hear stories of the people buried here and the rich history they represent.

After leaving the cemetery, you’ll travel off the beaten path to explore some of the Garden District’s hidden gems. Visit 1843 Barthelemy Rey House, the 1875 Soria-Creel House and Fire Station #23 – a relic from when this neighbourhood was its own town. If there’s time, you might even stop by the building where F. Scott Fitzgerald once lived before publishing his first novel. Each site reveals a layer of the neighbourhood’s past – from literary connections to local industry to the city’s fight against fires.

Stop outside Commander’s Palace, one of the most iconic restaurants in the United States. Its Victorian architecture makes it a favourite setting for weddings, celebrations and visitors seeking classic New Orleans dining.

Your tour then continues past more historic homes, many of which have Hollywood or music-industry connections, as the Garden District is often used as a filming location. Along the way, you’ll hear about the tensions between the quiet residential nature of the neighbourhood and the city’s lively cultural scene – including why the City Council had to introduce noise ordinances!

Crossing Magazine Street, you’ll step into the Irish Channel, once the city’s working-class hub. This neighbourhood was settled in the early 1800s by Irish immigrants drawn by jobs in shipping, brewing and industry. In contrast to the Garden District’s mansions, here you’ll find the iconic shotgun-style houses that tell a very different story about life in 19th-century New Orleans.

You’ll then stop at a local spot in the Irish Channel for a short break and the chance to buy a refreshing drink before continuing.

Finally, stroll back past more picturesque homes as your tour finishes near the streetcar line. Before you go, your guide will share personal recommendations for more local sights, restaurants and bars to enjoy during your stay.

This tour is perfect for travellers who want to go deeper into the Garden District’s story – beyond its postcard-perfect homes – and discover the real history, the diverse people and the hidden corners that make this one of New Orleans’ most fascinating neighbourhoods.

We reserve the right to change both the route and places visited within the tour.