New Orleans French Quarter Architecture Walking Tour
Description
Discover the history of New Orleans through its architecture on a 2-hour walk around the French Quarter. Enjoy a leisurely stroll with a local guide to explore the many building styles prevalent in this neighborhood, with special attention to the history and the features of French and Spanish architecture. Hear the stories of the 18th and 19th century architects and families who made their mark on this unique area. Buildings included in this tour range from Creole Colonial buildings such as the Ursuline Convent and Madame John's Legacy to the 20th Century Louisiana Supreme Court. Your group will be no more than 14 people allowing for a more intimate, personal experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our guide will give you a intro to New Orleans history to start your tour.
The guide will discuss main buildings that line this park, including the Cathedral, Cabildo and Presbytere. The history of the Pontalba Buildings is discussed as well.
Our guide will tell the story of this building from its humble beginnings as a wooden parish church to the incredible Cathedral you see before you.
Our guide will discuss the historical era, significance and building style of the Cabildo.
The guide will share the history and current status of the Presbytere.
Chartres Street stops include buildings with historic significance that span from our Spanish Era into the American Period.
Royal Street is another great strolling street full of shops and restaurants. On this street, our guests will learn more about how to identify different types of buildings. Guests should leave this tour with a better understanding of how our history shaped our buildings and take this knowledge back home with them to rediscover their own hometown buildings.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 1 year
- Umbrella, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended
Reviews(327)
Allison was very knowledgeable and we very much enjoyed the 2+ hours that she spent showing us the beautiful architecture and history of the French Quarter. We could tell she knew what she was talking about and had some good insights into the local culture and history.
Our tour with Janet was wonderful. She’s funny and informative and answered all my questions. She even walked me through the history books at a shop and gave me recommendations because I mentioned that I wanted to find some local history books! Highly recommend.
Thank you for your wonderful review! Janet has a gift for bringing history to life, and we're delighted she was able to answer your questions and even help point you toward local history resources. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words. Thank you for joining us!
Tour was great ! Phant was phant—astic! Very knowledgeable and love’s her city and sharing it’s history!
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so happy you enjoyed your tour with Phant. Her passion for New Orleans, its history, and its architecture shines through in every tour. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thanks for exploring with us!
Our guide Guy was great. He was knowledgeable and we enjoyed our time with him. We learned more than we even expected to learn. Highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted that Guy helped make your experience both enjoyable and educational. One of our favorite things to hear is that guests learned even more than they expected. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
Incredible tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable. She was truly an expert. Her name is Allison, and if I return for another tour, I will absolutely be booking with her.
Thank you for the amazing review! Allison's expertise and passion for New Orleans architecture make her a favorite among guests, and we're thrilled she made such an impression. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. We'd love to welcome you back for another tour on your next visit!
It was great experience. Phant very knowledgeable with good sense of humor. I would be happy keep her as my tour guide for more theme.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're delighted that you enjoyed your tour with Phant. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and sense of humor make every tour memorable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her, and we'd love to have you join us again for one of our other tours in the future!
This was a very enjoyable walking tour and very informative. Our guide gave us in-depth background information on the establishment of the French Quarter and old New Orleans, as well as the various characters in history that influence the shape of the area. Most importantly we really learned to distinguish the various types of architecture styles that have been built in the area. It gives me a different perspective when I walk through the French Quarter.
Thank you for your thoughtful review! One of our goals is to help guests see the French Quarter with new eyes, so we're especially pleased to hear that you'll now recognize and appreciate the different architectural styles as you explore the city. Thank you for joining us, and we're glad the history and architecture helped deepen your understanding of New Orleans.
We’ve taken many historic architecture tours over the years, and this was one of the best! The guide Caroline’s native New Orlinean background, Masters in Education, and teaching experience was evident in her ability to distill complex local history as expressed in the architectural traditions of the Quarter. She is pleasant, approachable, and makes time for questions. On the tour, she illustrates each style with multiple examples, related local history, and a set of picture illustrations she shows during the discussions. An educational and enjoyable experience and great introduction to the French Quarter, this tour went beyond our expectations and was well worth our time!
Thank you for such a wonderful and detailed review! Caroline's passion for New Orleans history and architecture, combined with her educational background, allows her to make complex topics engaging and accessible. We're thrilled that the tour exceeded your expectations and that you found her visual materials and explanations helpful. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Caroline. Thank you for choosing to explore the French Quarter with us!
My daughter and I had a great tour. Our guide was very informative and I learned a great deal more about architecture that I did not known. It was fun to have all the different architecture styles and history pointed out to us on the tour. Many cool things were broughr to light, that I had overlooked before.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're delighted that you and your daughter enjoyed the tour together. One of our favorite things to hear is that guests leave seeing the neighborhood in a completely new way and noticing details they may have passed by before. New Orleans architecture tells such a fascinating story, and we're glad the tour helped bring those different styles and their history to life. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you both back for another tour in the future!
It was a nice walk through the area. We spent a lot of time standing around and the pace of the tour was really slow. I was disappointed with how little architecture was discussed. It wasn’t worth the money or time.
Thank you for your feedback—we’re glad you enjoyed the walk through the neighborhood. We’re sorry to hear the pacing and focus didn’t meet your expectations. Our tours are intentionally designed to be slower-paced and discussion-based, allowing time to closely observe architectural details and explore the stories behind the buildings. We understand that style isn’t the right fit for everyone. That said, we’d love the opportunity to give you a different experience—please feel free to reach out to us directly, and we’d be happy to invite you back for a complimentary tour with another guide.
