New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo & Cemeteries After Dark
No city wears its supernatural side quite like New Orleans, where French Quarter hauntings, voodoo tradition and above-ground cemeteries all sit within a few blocks. Spend an evening exploring the spookier corner of the city with expert guides. Here is how to plan a night of ghosts, voodoo and cemeteries — with the top-rated tours to book.
At a glance
- 1Dusk ghost walk of the French Quarter
- 2Voodoo history & Marie Laveau
- 3St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
- 4Vampire lore after dark
Start with a French Quarter ghost walk
As the light fades, a haunted-history walking tour is the perfect introduction. Guides lead you past the LaLaurie Mansion, the Sultan's Palace and other addresses with dark reputations, weaving documented history with the ghost stories that grew around them. Most walks last around two hours and cover an easy mile of the Quarter. Adults-only and pub-crawl versions add bars along the route for those who want a drink between tales.
Voodoo: religion, not costume
New Orleans voodoo is a living Afro-Caribbean spiritual tradition, not a Halloween prop, and a good voodoo tour treats it that way. Guides trace its West African and Haitian roots, the role of figures like Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, and how the faith blended with Catholicism in the city. Expect stops at historic temples and shops, plus honest explanation of gris-gris, altars and ritual — with the myths cleared away.
Cemeteries and vampire lore
New Orleans buries its dead above ground in ornate tombs, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 — resting place of Marie Laveau — is the most famous. It can only be visited with a licensed guide, so book an official cemetery tour rather than trying to enter alone. To round out the night, vampire-themed walks lean into the Quarter's Anne Rice legend and its 19th-century tales, blending folklore with real social history from around $25.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in New Orleans — prices per person.
