New Orleans Garden District Tour: Private Mansion Access, Lafayette Cemetery & Local Praline Maker

Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of New Orleans with a guided tour through the beautiful Garden District, a celebrated Historic National Landmark. Experience a glimpse of life in New Orleans by tasting a sweet praline and hopping on the streetcar. Enjoy a leisurely stroll under the great oak trees while taking in the magnificent mansions and learning about their former owners. Finally, step back in time by entering an older mansion and sipping a cool drink on the porch.

Start the day with a sweet introduction to southern culture. Visit a historic praline-maker's shop to try for yourself this confectionary treat locals love. Then, hop on a nearby streetcar traveling down St. Charles Avenue for your first glimpses of stately mansions in the Garden District that date back to the late 19th century.

Now it’s time to explore this beautiful neighborhood on foot. Gaze upon magnificent mansions with ornate balconies and leafy ferns as your guide tells stories of the former owners and interesting facts about southern architecture. Next, stop at Lafayette Cemetary No. 1*, one of the U.S.’ most historic graveyards. Learn who’s buried here and about the challenges maintaining a cemetery below sea level.

Back on St. Charles Avenue, you’ll enter one of the best-preserved Southern mansions* and enjoy a cool drink on the porch. By the end of the tour, you’ll have discovered a beautiful corner of New Orleans and learned about its rich, but complicated history.

*Access to the cemetery is currently prohibited to all guests. A full cemetery tour will be given from outside the gates. Access to the Elms Mansion may occasionally be unavailable. In this case, you will receive an extended Garden District tour.