Tour New Orleans oldest cemetery and find out why the graves of the deceased are built above ground. Hear tales of the past and witness these old and crackling tombs up-close!
This cemetery has been active since 1833, with burials still occurring to this day! See these elaborate vaults and learn why people came to be buried here. Full of history and an eerie aesthetic, these guided tours are a perfect way to explore New Orleans’ past.
Know before you book:
- This tour is conducted outside, dress weather appropriate
- Terrain is uneven
- It is recommended to arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour begins
Highlights:
- Tour the oldest cemetery in New Orleans
- Learn the history of the cemetery from a knowledgeable guide
Nearly 200- years old, Lafayette Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans! Take a guided tour of this old and interesting graveyard and learn its unique past. See the graves of notable New Orleans’ elites and find out what areas were used in the filming of TV shows and movies!
Have you ever wondered why New Orleans bury their dead above ground? The elevation of this city is a negative number, the only way to keep the dead in place was to build cemeteries above ground, thus the tradition of raised cemeteries in New Orleans took hold! Book a tour and learn more of this city’s unique above-ground burial custom!
Lafayette Cemetery is located in the Garden District neighborhood of New Orleans. Explore New Orleans’ oldest and most fascinating graveyard!
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Prices 2021
Lafayette cemetery tour prices depend on the length of time and tour inclusions. A basic 1.5-hour lafayette cemetery No. 1 tour will cost around USD $20.00. Or, if you can add on a garden district tour and the price will be USD $40.00.
Compare prices across the ticket providers below:
Times
Lafayette cemetery tours are offered daily in the mornings and afternoons and can be booked for 1.5-hours or 3-hours.
Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Best Time to Go
The best time to book a New Orleans Lafayette Cemetery tour is in the morning. It will be slightly less crowded which will allow for a more enjoyable experience.
Classic Lafayette Cemetery Tour
This tour focus’ on the Lafayette cemetery exclusively. It lasts approximately 1.5-hours’.
Guests will receive a comprehensive and historically accurate guided tour from a local.
Lafayette Cemetery Tour Plus Garden District Tour
Combine a Lafayette cemetery tour with a Garden District walking tour for a unique New Orleans experience. Marvel at the antebellum homes while learning about this historic neighborhood from your knowledgeable tour guide.
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 Walking Tour
Explore Lafayette Cemetery, New Orleans’ best-known above-ground burial site, and the location of scenes from many films and TV shows.
See the lavish above-ground vaults and tombs of the families that once lived in the surrounding Garden District mansions. Learn about New Orleans’ unique burial system and see some of the more remarkable tombs and funerary symbols.
- Local guide
- Entry/Admission into Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food and drink
This tour is provided through a non-profit organization whose mission is to save and preserve New Orleans cemeteries. Not only will you receive a comprehensive and informational tour, you’ll also contribute to preserving New Orleans’ cemeteries for future generations.
Check Price & BookNew Orleans: Garden District & Lafayette Cemetery Tour
Start your tour with a walk through the Garden District. Learn the rich history of the area and how it fits into the overall story of New Orleans. Admire houses and mansions of various styles, from the Italianate to the Gothic, Romanesque and Greek Revival. See the homes of the authors, poets, actors, and artists who have made the Garden District their home. Be mesmerized by the towering Southern live oak trees, majestic Crepe Myrtles and stunning magnolias. New Orleans’ Garden District possess a beauty and character that sets it apart from other cities.
Next, you’ll visit the city’s oldest municipal cemetery, Lafayette No 1. Learn about the above ground burial practices of New Orlean from your knowledgeable tour guide. Hear tales of the yellow fever epidemic that left 8,000 dead in one year.
- Local guide
- Walking tour of New Orleans’ Garden District
- Entry/Admission into Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food and drink
The tour lasts approximately 2-hours, with a walking distance of 1-mile.
Check Price & BookNew Orleans Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery Small Group Walking Tour
This small group walking tour of Lafayette cemetery and the Garden District provides for a more intimate New Orleans experience. In this small group setting you’ll be able to ask as many questions as you’d like.
Walk through Lafayette cemetery, one of the most unique cemeteries in New Orleans and the United States. Pursue through tree-lined streets and past grand antebellum homes at leisure while learning about the historic neighborhood from your local guide.
- Local guide
- Small group walking tour of New Orleans’ Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Entry/Admission into Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food and drink
Group size is kept to under 12 guests to make for a fun, personal experience.
Check Price & BookNew Orleans Garden District Walking Tour: Mansions and Lafayette Cemetery
Experience the best of New Orleans’ Garden District on the only tour that will take you inside a Garden District mansion. Follow your tour guide on a 3-hour tour of the Garden District and Lafayette cemetery.
See mansions belonging to author Anne Rice, actress Sandra Bullock, actor John Goodman. Next, follow your guide through the elaborate above-ground tombs at Lafayette Cemetery.
Your tour will conclude with light refreshments at Magazine PoBoy Shop before you are transferred back to the French Quarter.
- Local guide
- Transport to and from the Garden District by an air-conditioned coach
- Walking tour of New Orleans’ Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Entry/Admission into Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Light refreshments
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food
Included in this tour is round-trip air-conditioned coach transfer from the French Quarter to the Garden District, where you will begin your walking tour.
Check Price & Book
Specification: Lafayette Cemetery Tour
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Photos: Lafayette Cemetery Tour
Anonymous –
Absolutely wonderful walking tour. Our tour guide, Jackie Bullock went out of her way to take us off the beaten path and show us all of the hidden gems around the beautiful garden district. Her knowledge and insight was impressive. Jackie was warm and friendly, and took the time to answer all of our questions, and provide helpful recommendations during our trip, making our visit to new Orleans that much better. I can’t say enough good about this tour. Jackie also made sure to text us the night before with helpful reminders and clear instructions on where to meet her the next morning seeing lost people looking for their tour guide is a common sight around town. When they say small group tour they mean it. This tour consisted of just our guide, my wife Casandra and myself, so it was super intimate. We met Jackie at a wonderful boutique coffee shop to start our tour. We then were taken through Lafayette Cemetery, where she pointed out spots that movies like Interview with a vampire, and Double jeopardy were filmed. She also gave unique histories of the cemetery itself, and those buried within it’s walls. We learned about the customs, and significance of many of the structures. After that we got a tour of the garden district. Jackie pointed out historically significant structures, as well as the actual homes of the so many celebrities that live in the area. We learned about the history of the area, and the myriad of architectural influences of the magnificent homes. By the time we were done, although we came all the way from Canada, we felt like family. So much history, so much beauty. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. Best walking tour I have ever been on.