Garden District Walking Tour
Description
The Garden District is known for its grand mansions. It is a place where opulence meets allure. Towering Oaks shade the streets and vibrant Mardi Gras Parades line the Avenue. This area is a true spectacle. - Since the early 1830s, the Garden District has been the hub of beauty, drama, deception, and wealth, creating an enduring mystique. - Through the gates of Lafayette Cemetery, see the graves, hear about our family tomb days and why we share an Egyptian belief. - See how the gardens play a large role in our houses not flooding. - You will see homes of celebrities and those used in films and tv shows and we will let you in on a few secrets too. - At the end of the tour, your tour guide will happily give you insider tips on where to eat, what to see and where to enjoy. - After the tour, you'll receive follow up information on the Garden District, in case you want to learn about even more. - So come explore this captivating neighborhood with us, where every home has a story.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Buckner mansion is over 18,000 square feet and was built for Cotton king, Henry Buckner. It's notorious for being the home used in American Horror Story, Coven.
We will explain our unique burial procedures and tell you about the history of the cemetery and the families there. This cemetery is currently closed to the public so we view it through the iron gates.
Home to the wealthy and our major Mardi Gras Parades, this is where opulence and history meet in New Orleans. You will see the famous home of Anne Rice, where the Mayfair Witches resided in novels. You will see where Mark Twain attended parties and where films and tv shows you love were filmed. You will pass by and learn about the celebrity owned homes as well. Sandra Bullock, Nic Cage, John Goodman, Trent Reznor and NBA star Zion Williamson just to name a few.
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
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Due to uneven terrain this tour is not recommended for those with mobility challenges
Reviews(35)
Our Garden District tour with Walter Thomas was fantastic! We started indoors with a history lesson about Louisiana and New Orleans which set a great tone. Then we headed outdoors to see the grand old mansions and beautiful homes. Walter's knowledge of the history of the homes and their architecture was great. The homes are the star, but the time and effort that Walter put in to make our tour great is what brought them to life!
Thank you so much for this beautiful review of our Garden District Walking Tour. I love how you described the experience from start to finish, especially that indoor introduction. It really does set the tone and gives context to everything you see once you step out among those incredible homes. You said something that means a lot to us, that the homes may be the stars, but it was Walter who brought them to life. That is exactly what a great guide does. He takes something already stunning and layers it with meaning, history, and personality until it becomes unforgettable. We are so grateful you joined us and took the time to share this. We would love to welcome you back for another walk through New Orleans whenever you return.
We had a great time on our Garden District tour with Walter. He had a wealth of information about the area and had even owned a home along our route. He was very professional and courteous. He was so kind to take us to his favorite restaurant after the tour. When Walter found out we were going to the Jazz Festival, he gave us food recommendations and their locations at the festival. He took the time to email us recommendations for restaurants after our tour. Would highly recommend this tour!
Thank you so much for this thoughtful review of our Garden District Walking Tour. I love hearing how much you enjoyed your time with Walter. Having someone guide you through a neighborhood he has personally lived in adds such a meaningful layer, and it really shows in the way he shares the history and details. It is wonderful to know he went above and beyond, from walking you to one of his favorite restaurants to helping you navigate Jazz Fest with food recommendations. That kind of care and attention is exactly what we hope every guest experiences, and those follow up emails are just another way we try to make your entire trip better. We truly appreciate the recommendation and would love to welcome you back for another tour the next time you are in New Orleans.
My 17 year old daughter and I took the Garden District tour and it was a wonderful way to start our trip. Walter, our guide, was a wealth of knowledge and started out by telling us all about the rich history of New Orleans before our tour while sitting comfortably at the meeting spot inside The Rink shopping center. He even gave us history on The Rink itself which was very interesting. On our tour we started at the cemetery gate, where Walter explained all about the way people are interned in the mausoleums. Very interesting! We continued on to see all of the gorgeous mansions and Walter not only explained the different types of architecture but also the history of the owners both past and present. After the tour Walter sent us his personal recommendations on restaurants and foods to order and we also received a great list from the owner as well. We couldn't have been happier with this tour and our amazing guide Walter. We will definitely book with company agian!
Thank you for joining us on the Garden District Walking Tour! We’re so glad you and your daughter had such a wonderful start to your trip with Walter. He truly has a gift for bringing the city’s history, architecture, and stories to life in a way that feels personal and engaging. We love that you enjoyed the time at The Rink, the cemetery insights, and all the details about the homes and their owners. And those post tour recommendations are always a favorite touch. We can’t wait to have you back with us again next time you’re in New Orleans! 🖤🌿🏡
Me and my daughter had a tour with Walter, who was absolutely wonderful! We would definitely recommend this tour to all of our friends traveling to New Orleans!
Thank you for joining us on the Garden District Walking Tour! We’re so glad you and your daughter had a wonderful time with Walter. He truly makes the experience special. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you both again soon! 🖤🌿🏡
Awesome walking tour of the Garden District. Walter was extremely informative, friendly, professional and knowledgeable. We spent the most enjoyable morning exploring the Garden District. Walter knew all about houses, plants, gardens and owners. He was entertaining and extremely helpful. This tour was one of the highlights of our visit. We learned so much and just had the best time.
Thank you so much for joining us on the Garden District Walking Tour and for such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear Walter made your morning so enjoyable. He truly has a gift for bringing the Garden District to life, from the architecture and lush gardens to the stories of the families who shaped it. It means so much to know this was one of the highlights of your visit and that you walked away having learned so much while having a great time. That’s exactly the experience we strive to create. We’d love to welcome you back next time you’re in New Orleans. There are always more stories waiting just around the corner. 🌿🏡🖤
Experience the beauty of the Garden District with a walking tour strolling the tree-lined streets and seeing the beautiful mansions. Learn history, architecture, stories and a few legends! Walter was our guide. He is personable, knowledgeable and full of details. I would highly recommend Walter and this tour.
Thank you so much for this lovely review of our Garden District Walking Tour. You captured the experience beautifully. Those tree lined streets and stunning mansions really do create such a special backdrop for the stories, history, and architecture that make this neighborhood come alive. I am so glad to hear Walter made such a strong impression. His personable nature and attention to detail are exactly what we hope every guest experiences. It means a lot that you would recommend both him and the tour. We would love to welcome you back to explore even more of New Orleans with us next time.
Lacey was great. She was very informative of the history of not just the Garden District, but of New Orleans as a whole. She made the tour interesting by including information about pop culture and other fun facts. The tour itself was about 2 hours, and a little over 1 mile of walking. Highly recommend and we look forward to visiting the Garden District again soon.
Thank you so much for joining us. Lacey has a wonderful way of connecting the bigger story of New Orleans to the homes and streets of the Garden District. I am so glad you enjoyed the mix of history, pop culture, and fun facts along the way. That balance keeps the Witches Coven Garden District Walking Tour both informative and engaging. We truly appreciate the recommendation and would love to see you again when you come back to visit the Garden District. There are always more stories waiting beneath those oaks. ✨
Walter Thomas was an EXCELLENT guide! He was knowledgeable and kind. I will definitely tour with him again next time I am in NOLA
Thank you so much for this kind review of our Garden District Walking Tour. Hiring Walter was one of the best things I ever did. He truly is an excellent guide, and I love hearing that his knowledge and kindness stood out to you. That combination makes all the difference when you are walking through a neighborhood as layered and historic as the Garden District. We would absolutely love to have you tour with Walter again the next time you are in New Orleans. There are always more stories waiting to be told.
It was a great tour, very informative and architecture focused, factual, no made up stories, and it was very engaging. And a great way to really see and experience the neighborhood.
Thank you so much for sharing this about our Garden District Walking Tour. I love that you appreciated the architecture focus and the commitment to real, documented history. That matters to us. The Garden District does not need embellishment. The homes, the people who built them, and the stories tied to them are fascinating all on their own. It is wonderful to hear that it felt engaging and that you truly experienced the neighborhood rather than just passing through it. That is always the goal. To be able to slow down, look up at the columns and ironwork, and really understand what you are seeing. We are so glad you joined us and hope you will come explore another corner of New Orleans with us next time.
This tour was by far my favorite during our time in New Orleans! Our guide, Walter, was absolutely amazing. From his pre-tour history lesson, to his knowledge about the area, to his laid-back and friendly personality, he really made this a unique and unforgettable experience. If I could have spent all day walking around with him, it would have been a delight.
Thank you so much for this incredible review of our Garden District Walking Tour. Hearing that it was your favorite experience in New Orleans truly means the world to us. Walter has such a natural way of setting the stage before you even take your first steps down those oak lined streets. That pre tour history lesson always adds depth, and his easygoing personality makes it feel less like a formal tour and more like a fascinating walk with someone who genuinely loves what he’s sharing. I completely understand wanting to spend the whole day exploring with him. There is always one more story, one more architectural detail, one more layer of history waiting around the corner. We are so grateful you chose to walk with us, and we would love to have you back for another adventure the next time you’re in New Orleans.
