New Orleans: French Quarter Walking Tour

French Quarter Historic Walking Tour

This 2-hour guided walking tour explores New Orleans' French Quarter, ideal for history and jazz enthusiasts.

Description

The tour starts outside 529 St. Ann Street, at the former Louisiana Welcome Center located in the lower Pontalba Rowhouse next to Jackson Square (to the left of the square when facing the river). Jackson Square was historically a parade ground and now features musicians, tarot card readers, and street performers.

The route follows downriver along the old French Market to the Ursuline Convent, the oldest building in the Mississippi Delta from Colonial times, once occupied by courageous nuns in the early 1700s. The walk passes the home of legendary jazz musician Danny Barker and then reaches a former macaroni factory in the lower French Quarter, reflecting the influence of Sicilian immigrants on the city’s history.

You will see the house of Vincente Nunez, a Spaniard responsible for the Great Fire of 1788 that destroyed 80 percent of the city. The tour also visits former slave market sites and discusses Jean Francois Merieult, a Creole businessman and slave trader. After a stop at Preservation Hall, a key site for traditional jazz, the tour concludes in Jackson Square with a story about Madame de Pontalba, a French baroness and influential businesswoman known for her architectural legacy.

Highlights

• Watch how the famous Beignet pastries are made at Cafe du Monde
• Learn how New Orleans has protected itself from hurricanes and the impact of Hurricane Katrina
• Visit the house on Chartres Street where the Great Fire of 1788 began
• Explore the former St. Louis Hotel and Exchange, a site where thousands of Africans were sold into slavery
• Discover the important role of banjo player Danny Barker in preserving traditional jazz

Includes

• 2-hour guided walk through the French Quarter
• Meeting point in front of 529 St. Ann Street, near Jackson Square (left side as facing the river). The oyster restaurant Fives Bar now occupies this storefront

Excludes

• Food and drink

Important Information

• Please wear solid shoes and suitable clothing. The tour operates rain or shine.
• Meeting point: in front of the former Louisiana Welcome Center at 529 St. Ann Street, now Fives Bar, located mid-block to the left of Jackson Square when facing the river.
• St. Ann Street is a pedestrian zone in this block; it's half a block from Chartres Street at St. Ann.
• Look for your licensed 504Tours guide at the meeting point.

Cancellation Policy

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

For best experience, book in advance and arrive 10 minutes early. Bring comfortable walking shoes and a rain jacket if needed. Morning tours offer cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.