New Orleans Cemeteries
"Cities of the Dead"
Only in New Orleans, which is unique in so many ways, could cemeteries be major tourist attractions. However, because the city is built on a swamp, the deceased have to be buried above ground here in elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums. Over time the cemeteries, with elaborate sculptures and other decorative artwork embellishing the tombs, have come to come to resemble small villages. They are known by the nickname of “Cities of the Dead.”
The most famous cemetery, St. Louis Cemetery #1, is walking distance from the French Quarter and the Downtown area. Located on historic Basin Street, it is the burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings. The many “X’s” scrawled on the tomb attest to the power she is believed to wield, even long after her death. Many other New Orleanians who achieved world fame are buried there as well, including 19th century chess champion Paul Morphy, Homer Plessy of the landmark Supreme Court segregation decision Plessy vs. Ferguson, and members of Impressionist artist Edgar Degas’ New Orleans-based family.
Other interesting cemeteries include nearby St. Louis #2 with its tombs of famous New Orleans musicians, St. Louis #3 near Bayou St. John, Lafayette Cemeteries in the Garden District, and Greenwood and Lake Lawn/Metairie cemeteries on the city’s western edge. Some of these “Cities of the Dead” can be visited on guided tours, several of which are listed below.
| New Orleans Cemetery Tours (Sponsored listings appear first in yellow) |
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Bloody Mary's Tours
144 S. Hennessey St., New Orleans, LA 70119 [Map It]
(504) 523-7684
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, Limo Tours, History Heritage Tours, Romantic Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Carriage Tours
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Cajun Encounters Swamp, City, & Plantation Tours, LLC
55345 Hwy 90 , Slidell, LA 70461 [Map It]
(504) 834-1770, (866) 928-6877
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Flatboat Tours, Swamp Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Plantation Tours, Specialty Tours
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Cajun Pride Entertainment
110 Frenier Rd. , LaPlace, LA 70068 [Map It]
(504) 467-0758, (800) 467-0758
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Flatboat Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Plantation Tours
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Celebration Tours
1229 St. Thomas St., New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 587-7115, (888) 587-7115
Available Tour Type/s: Van Tours, History Heritage Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Plantation Tours, Specialty Tours
Description: See & experience all New Orleans has to offer. Learn about history, food, music & jazz, culture architecture, and Katrina recovery. Tours are in small vans to navigate through the French Quarter & Garden District. Tour guides are local with over ten ye
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Destination Management/Hospitality Enterprises
610 S. Peters St., New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 524-5030
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Walking Tours, Riverboat Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Specialty Tours
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Good Old Days Tours
1229 St. Thomas St., New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 523-0804
Available Tour Type/s: Airboat Tours, Flatboat Tours, Swamp Tours, Romantic Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Carriage Tours, Specialty Tours
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Gray Line Tours
2 Canal St., Suite 2500, New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 569-1401, (800) 535-7786
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Walking Tours, Riverboat Tours, Flatboat Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Culinary Tours, Cocktail Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Plantation Tours, Specialty Tours
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Haunted History Tours
723 St. Peter St. , New Orleans, LA 70116 [Map It]
(504) 861-2727, (888) 644-6787
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, History Heritage Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Garden Tours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Specialty Tours
Description: These are the yours you've heard about! As seen on A&E, History Channel, Discovery, Bravo, and recommended by The Travel Channel as "The #1 Tour in New Orleans! - A Must Do!" This is the premier walking tour on French Quarter Haunts and the paranormal. Real hauntings! Real history! And...bring the camera! 90% of our tour participants capture paranormal activity in their photos. Also, see the tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau (the 2nd most visited tomb in the country) in New Orleans oldest burial ground, St. Louis cemetery #1. And...tour the elegant, lavish, and historic antebellum neighborhood on our daily tours of the Garden District. Tours are mildly theatrical, hugely historical, extremely entertaining! Private group tours are also available. School groups are our specialty! Call for complete information on these and other five star tours offered daily and nightly in the French Quarter and the Garden District.
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Hidden Treasures Ltd.
1915 Chestnut St., New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 529-4507
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, Van Tours, History Heritage Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours
Description: Small specialized tours concentrating on the history of the city, architecture, and interiors of 19th century homes. 
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Historic New Orleans Walking Tours, Inc
2727 Prytania St. Suite 8, New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 947-2120
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, History Heritage Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours
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Latin A Tours
4703 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie, LA 70001 [Map It]
(504) 779-5961
Available Tour Type/s: Van Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, Mardi Gras Tours, French Quarter Tours, Plantation Tours, Specialty Tours
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Le Monde Creole Tour
(504) 568-1801
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, History Heritage Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours
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Le Tour Shop
638 St. Peter St., New Orleans, LA 70116 [Map It]
(504) 581-6815
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Walking Tours, Riverboat Tours, Airboat Tours, Flatboat Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Garden Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Plantation Tours
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Louisiana Swamp Tours, LLC
9706 Barataria Blvd., Crown Point, LA 70072 [Map It]
(504) 689-3599, (888) 307-9267
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Airboat Tours, Flatboat Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, French Quarter Tours, Plantation Tours, Specialty Tours
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Machu Picchu Travel Services
442 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 561-9050
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Walking Tours, Van Tours, Airboat Tours, Limo Tours, Vespa/Scooter Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, Romantic Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Garden Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, Mardi Gras Tours, French Quarter Tours, Carriage Tours, Plantation Tours, Specialty Tours
Description: On our tours, you can visit the French Quarter, the Warehouse District, and the Garden District, see the "Cities of the Dead", take a Swamp Tour on a relaxing pontoon boat ride or an adventurous airboat, and be captivated by the historical plantations.
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Magic Walking Tours
327 Belleville St., New Orleans, LA 70114 [Map It]
(504) 588-9693
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, History Heritage Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours, Specialty Tours
Description: Founded in 1992, Magic Tours is highly respected for a commitment to historical accuracy and providing a top-notch, unforgettable experience. 
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New Orleans Spirit Tours
621 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70130 [Map It]
(504) 314-0806, (866) 369-1224
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, History Heritage Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Haunted Tours
Description: Daytime Cemetery & Voodoo Tours. Nightly Ghost & Vampire Tours. Group rates and Custom Tours. Visit famous St. Louis Cemetery #1 and a real Voodoo Temple. Explore the Haunted French Quarter. Learn about our unique culture and history. All tours begin a
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Old River Road Plantation Adventure, LLC
1717 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112 [Map It]
(504) 671-8687, (866) 671-8687
Available Tour Type/s: Bus Tours, Riverboat Tours, History Heritage Tours, Swamp Tours, Romantic Tours, Night Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, Multi-LanguageTours, French Quarter Tours, Plantation Tours
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Save Our Cemeteries, Inc
501 Basin St., New Orleans, LA 70112 [Map It]
(504) 525-3377, (888) 721-7493
Available Tour Type/s: Walking Tours, Cemetery Tours
Description: Save Our Cemeteries, Inc., offers authentic, accurate, guided tours throughout two of New Orleans oldest and most historically significant cemeteries, St. Louis No. 1 and Lafayette No. 1.
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VIP City Tours
2314 Iberville St., New Orleans, LA 70119 [Map It]
(504) 329-2489
Available Tour Type/s: Van Tours, City/Neighborhood Tours, Cemetery Tours, French Quarter Tours
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