Most New Orleans ghost tours pass by the locked gates of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. They photograph the entrance, tell their stories from the street, and move on. The Official Nighttime Walking Tour is the only officially authorized after-dark experience inside the cemetery — permitted exclusively through the Archdiocese of New Orleans and offered every Saturday night, with select Friday nights during peak holiday periods.Â
What Sets the Official Night Tour Apart
Ghost tours are a genuine part of what makes New Orleans a compelling travel destination, and many of them are entertaining. But the experience they offer and the one the official nighttime tour offers are not the same. Most haunted and ghost-themed experiences in the city are multi-stop walking or bus tours moving through the French Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods — and when they reference St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, they do so from outside the gates. Since 2015, the Archdiocese of New Orleans has closed the cemetery to unguided visitors to protect a fragile and historically significant site, and access after dark is carefully regulated under the same restrictions. That distinction matters if stepping inside is actually what you are looking for.
What Happens Inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 at Night?
The Nighttime Walking Tour begins at Basin St. Station at 501 Basin Street, directly across from the cemetery entrance. Check in at the Cemetery Tour Desk, pick up your gate pass and wristband, and make use of the visitor center’s restrooms, seating, and the Basin St. Cafe before you head out. Groups are capped at 20 guests per departure and tours leave every 15 minutes, so there is no waiting in a crowd and no feeling rushed once you are inside.
A licensed local historian leads your group through the pathways of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, established in 1789. Stops include the tomb of Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen whose story remains one of the most compelling in New Orleans history; the Musicians Tomb of the Barbarin family, whose contributions to New Orleans jazz were so significant that their tomb still holds reserved vaults for local musicians today; the pyramid-shaped tomb of Nicolas Cage; and the oven vaults and society tombs that represent two centuries of the city’s Creole and African American cultural history.
The tone throughout is historical and cultural. The evening experience is centered on the place itself, one of the most significant historic sites in the American South, after dark with a guide who knows its stories.
Booking Your Spot
Night tours are priced from $49 per person. With departures capped at 20 guests and availability limited to select Friday and Saturday evenings, spots go fast — particularly on Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or in person at the Cemetery Tour Desk at Basin St. Station on the day of your visit, but same-day availability is never guaranteed. Booking ahead online is the only reliable way to secure your slot.
Reserve your spot at cemeterytourneworleans.com/tour/night-tour/.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you actually go inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 at night?
Yes. The Official Nighttime Walking Tour is the only officially authorized after-dark experience inside the cemetery, made possible through an exclusive arrangement with the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Is the night tour a ghost tour?
No. The nighttime tour focuses on the historical and cultural significance of the cemetery.Â
When is the night tour offered?
On select Friday and Saturday evenings, from 7 to 9 PM. Tours depart every 15 minutes and each departure is capped at 20 guests.
How long does the night tour last?
Approximately 55 minutes.
How much does the night tour cost?
Night tour tickets start from $49 per person. You can book online at cemeterytourneworleans.com/tour/night-tour/.
Do I need to book the night tour in advance?
Tickets can be purchased online in advance or in person at the Cemetery Tour Desk at Basin St. Station on the day of your visit. Each departure is capped at 20 guests and Friday and Saturday evening slots fill up quickly — same-day availability is not guaranteed. Booking online ahead of time is the safest way to secure your spot.
