Haunted New Orleans: Ghosts, Voodoo, Haunted Hotels & Things to Do
Few cities in America wear their haunted history as openly as New Orleans.
Beneath the balconies and gas lamps of the French Quarter are centuries of stories involving restless spirits, historic cemeteries, mysterious mansions, Voodoo traditions and buildings where guests still report things they can’t quite explain.
Here, the paranormal isn’t tucked away in some forgotten building on the edge of town. You can sleep in allegedly haunted hotels, walk centuries-old streets after dark, visit locations connected to famous ghost stories and join nighttime tours devoted entirely to the city’s supernatural side.
But New Orleans is also a city where real history and paranormal folklore have become deeply intertwined. Some stories are well documented. Others have changed considerably through generations of retelling.
At Go Ghostly, we want both.
The history. The legends. And most importantly, the places you can actually experience for yourself.
Here’s how to plan a haunted getaway to New Orleans.
In This Guide
- Why New Orleans Is So Famous for Ghost Stories
- The Most Haunted Places in New Orleans
- Best Ghost Tours in New Orleans
- Haunted Hotels in New Orleans
- Plan Your Haunted New Orleans Getaway
- When Is the Best Time to Visit Haunted New Orleans?
- Why Go Ghostly in New Orleans?
- Ready to Plan Your Haunted New Orleans Getaway?
Why New Orleans Is So Famous for Ghost Stories
New Orleans has the kind of history from which ghost stories seem almost inevitable.
Founded in 1718, the city has lived through centuries of epidemics, fires, hurricanes, wars and political upheaval. French, Spanish, African, Caribbean and American influences have all shaped the city, creating a culture unlike almost anywhere else in the United States.
Then there’s the architecture.
Much of the French Quarter is filled with historic buildings, narrow streets, hidden courtyards and balconies that can feel dramatically different after dark. Some of the buildings now operating as hotels, restaurants and bars have stood for generations.
New Orleans also has its famous above-ground cemeteries. Because of the city’s burial traditions and distinctive tombs, places such as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 have become closely associated with the city’s supernatural image.
And then there is Voodoo.
Louisiana Voodoo is a genuine religious and cultural tradition with deep African and Caribbean roots — not simply the collection of curses, dolls and sinister rituals often portrayed in horror movies. Nevertheless, Voodoo history and folklore have become inseparable from the popular image of haunted New Orleans, particularly through stories surrounding figures such as Marie Laveau.
Add centuries of deaths, disasters, crimes, legends and countless stories passed between generations, and New Orleans has accumulated an extraordinary paranormal mythology.
Today, you don’t have to look very hard to find it.
Haunted hotels, ghost tours, historic mansions, cemeteries and legendary locations are scattered throughout the city — making New Orleans one of America’s best destinations for an entire paranormal getaway.
The Most Haunted Places in New Orleans
New Orleans has no shortage of locations with ghost stories attached to them, but a handful have become particularly famous. Some are tied to documented tragedies, while others owe much of their reputation to legends that have grown over generations.
LaLaurie Mansion
Few buildings in New Orleans have a darker reputation than the LaLaurie Mansion in the French Quarter.
The mansion is associated with Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a wealthy socialite whose horrific abuse of enslaved people was exposed after a fire at the property in 1834.
Over time, stories of screams, apparitions and other unexplained activity became attached to the building. Today, the mansion remains one of the most frequently mentioned locations on New Orleans ghost tours.
The property is privately owned, so visitors should admire it from the street rather than attempting to enter.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Opened in 1789, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of New Orleans’ oldest surviving cemeteries and home to the tomb traditionally associated with legendary Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau. A visit inside requires an authorised guided tour; the official walking tour listed on Viator includes cemetery admission.
Check official cemetery tour dates ↗
Affiliate link: Go Ghostly may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Check dates, meeting instructions and cancellation terms before booking.
Its maze of above-ground tombs has helped make it one of the city’s most recognizable historic sites.
Over the years, visitors have also reported apparitions and other strange experiences around the cemetery, adding another layer to its already considerable mythology.
Hotel Monteleone
If you’d rather sleep somewhere with a ghost story, the historic Hotel Monteleone deserves a place on the list.
Operating in the French Quarter since the 19th century, the hotel has accumulated numerous paranormal stories. One of the best-known involves a young boy named Maurice Begere, whose spirit is said to have been encountered around the hotel.
Whether or not anything supernatural is happening, the Monteleone gives paranormal travelers something especially appealing:
You can spend the night inside the legend.
Want the full story? Read our guide to the haunted Hotel Monteleone.
The Andrew Jackson Hotel
Another French Quarter property associated with ghost stories is the Andrew Jackson Hotel.
Stories connected with the site frequently involve children, with guests reporting sounds resembling children playing or laughing when no obvious source can be found.
Like many New Orleans hauntings, separating later folklore from the property’s documented history isn’t always easy.
But if you’re looking for a historic place to stay with paranormal stories attached, that’s part of the appeal.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel
The Bourbon Orleans Hotel has accumulated its own collection of reported apparitions and unexplained encounters.
Stories include sightings of a young dancer, mysterious figures and unexplained activity in guest areas.
Its location between Bourbon Street and Royal Street also puts you directly in the French Quarter, making it an excellent base for exploring other allegedly haunted locations after dark.
Want to know what might be waiting inside? Read our complete guide to the haunted Bourbon Orleans Hotel.
Best Ghost Tours in New Orleans
New Orleans is one of those cities where the haunted history isn’t confined to a single building. Much of it is scattered throughout the French Quarter, which makes a walking ghost tour one of the easiest ways to experience several legendary locations in a single evening.
Tours commonly explore stories involving haunted hotels, historic mansions, old courtyards, murders, unexplained deaths, Voodoo history and some of the darker chapters of the French Quarter’s past.
Depending on the tour you choose, you may hear stories connected with places such as the LaLaurie Mansion, Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Jackson Square and other historic buildings throughout the Quarter.
Book the 6-in-1 Haunted Combo Tour
New Orleans Ghost Adventures offers a 90-minute guided walk through the French Quarter that combines ghost stories with local legends about vampires, pirates, witchcraft and Voodoo, alongside tales of the city’s darker history. The advertised route includes landmarks such as the LaLaurie Mansion and Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. It’s an option for travelers who want several strands of New Orleans folklore in one walking tour.
Before booking: The Klook listing notes substantial walking and stairs and says the tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible. Check the current itinerary, meeting point, available dates and cancellation terms before reserving. Do not assume access inside the buildings mentioned.
Affiliate disclosure: Go Ghostly may earn a commission if you book through the Klook link below, at no extra cost to you.
Ghost Tours After Dark
If you have the choice, book an evening tour.
New Orleans is atmospheric during the day, but the French Quarter feels completely different after dark. Narrow streets, iron balconies, hidden courtyards and centuries-old buildings provide exactly the setting you’d hope for from a haunted walking tour.
Some tours focus heavily on ghost stories, while others combine paranormal legends with true crime, vampires, Voodoo traditions or New Orleans history.
Choose the Right Tour
Not every New Orleans ghost tour offers the same experience.
If paranormal stories are your priority, look for a tour specifically focused on ghosts and haunted locations. If you’re more interested in the darker history behind the legends, consider a tour combining historical events with paranormal folklore.
And if you’re staying in the French Quarter, many walking tours begin close enough to reach on foot.
Go Ghostly tip: Take your ghost tour early in your trip. You’ll discover locations you may want to return to and explore on your own before you leave New Orleans.
Haunted Hotels in New Orleans
One of the best things about planning a paranormal trip to New Orleans is that the haunted experience doesn’t have to end when your ghost tour does.
Several historic hotels have developed their own supernatural reputations, meaning you can spend the day exploring haunted New Orleans and then sleep inside one of its ghost stories.
Hotel Monteleone
Located on Royal Street in the French Quarter, Hotel Monteleone has been welcoming guests since the late 19th century.
Its paranormal folklore includes mysterious elevator activity, unexplained apparitions and the story of Maurice Begere, a young boy whose spirit has reportedly been encountered inside the hotel.
The property is also famous for its rotating Carousel Bar, giving you plenty of reasons to visit even if Maurice decides not to make an appearance.
Read our full guide: Hotel Monteleone Hauntings, History & Where to Stay
Bourbon Orleans Hotel
The Bourbon Orleans Hotel has one of the most fascinating histories of any hotel in the French Quarter.
Before becoming today’s hotel, the property was associated with a theatre and ballroom and later served the Sisters of the Holy Family as a convent, school and orphanage.
Its paranormal legends include ghostly children, a mysterious Confederate soldier and a solitary dancer reportedly seen beneath the chandelier in the historic Orleans Ballroom.
And yes — you can actually stay here.
Read our full guide: Bourbon Orleans Hotel Hauntings, History & Where to Stay
Where Should Paranormal Travellers Stay?
If the paranormal side of New Orleans is a major reason for your trip, I’d strongly consider staying inside the French Quarter.
You’ll be close to many of the historic buildings and locations associated with the city’s ghost stories, while numerous walking tours operate in and around the Quarter.
Hotel Monteleone and Bourbon Orleans are particularly good Go Ghostly choices because you’re not simply booking accommodation near the haunted attractions.
The hotel itself becomes part of the trip.
Looking for more places where you can sleep with the ghosts? Explore our guide to 15 Haunted Hotels You Can Actually Stay In.
Spend the evening exploring New Orleans.
Take a ghost tour after dark.
Return to your historic hotel.
Then turn off the lights and see whether you still feel quite as skeptical as you did that morning.
Plan Your Haunted New Orleans Getaway
New Orleans is particularly easy to turn into a paranormal weekend because so many of its famous haunted locations are concentrated in and around the French Quarter.
You don’t need to spend every hour chasing ghosts, either. Some of the best trips combine the city’s supernatural side with its food, architecture, music and history.
Day 1 — Explore the French Quarter
Spend your first afternoon getting familiar with the French Quarter.
Walk Royal Street, explore Jackson Square and wander the surrounding historic streets. You’ll pass buildings and locations that appear repeatedly in New Orleans ghost stories — and you’ll probably see several places you’ll want to investigate later.
After dinner, take your first walk through the Quarter after dark.
The same streets can feel remarkably different at night.
Day 2 — Cemeteries, History & Ghosts
Use your second day to dig deeper into the history behind the legends.
Visit one of the city’s historic attractions or take an authorized cemetery tour. If St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is on your list, check current access and tour requirements before visiting, as entry rules can change.
Then save the evening for a New Orleans ghost tour.
You’ll hear some of the city’s best-known supernatural stories while actually standing near the buildings and streets where they’re said to have happened.
And when the tour ends?
Head back to your allegedly haunted hotel.
Day 3 — Follow the Stories That Interested You Most
Your final day is a good opportunity to revisit the places that caught your attention.
Maybe that’s the exterior of the LaLaurie Mansion.
Maybe you want to spend more time exploring Royal Street.
Or perhaps you’d rather forget the ghosts for a few hours and enjoy the food, music and architecture that make New Orleans worth visiting even without its paranormal reputation.
That’s one of the advantages of choosing New Orleans for a haunted getaway.
The ghost stories can shape the trip without becoming the entire trip.
How Long Should You Stay?
For a first paranormal trip, three nights is a great starting point.
That’s enough time to explore the French Quarter, experience a ghost tour, visit historic locations and spend a few nights in one of the city’s legendary hotels without rushing through everything.
Stay longer and you can start exploring beyond the best-known French Quarter stories.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Haunted New Orleans?
New Orleans works as a paranormal destination throughout the year, but the experience can feel very different depending on when you visit.
Fall — Best for the Haunted Atmosphere
If you’re building the trip around ghosts, legends and spooky history, October is hard to beat.
Halloween season brings extra attention to the city’s supernatural side, and ghost tours and haunted experiences fit naturally into an autumn trip.
The trade-off is popularity. Halloween weekends can be busy, so hotels and popular tours are worth arranging well in advance.
Winter — Great for Exploring
Winter can be an excellent time for travelers who want to spend hours walking around the French Quarter without dealing with peak summer heat.
The cooler weather also works particularly well for walking tours and exploring historic neighborhoods.
Just remember that major events — especially the Mardi Gras season — can dramatically change crowds, hotel availability and prices.
Spring — Great Weather, Plenty Happening
Spring combines warmer weather with plenty of activity throughout the city.
It’s a good choice if the paranormal side is only part of your trip and you also want to experience New Orleans’ food, music and outdoor atmosphere.
Summer — Hot, Humid and Atmospheric
Summer in New Orleans can be intensely hot and humid.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit, but long daytime walks may be less comfortable. Consider exploring indoors during the hottest part of the day and saving your ghost tours and French Quarter wandering for the evening.
There’s something appropriately atmospheric about exploring New Orleans after a summer storm, though.
Go Ghostly Pick
For a trip primarily focused on haunted New Orleans, we’d choose fall for maximum atmosphere or winter for more comfortable exploring.
But the real advantage of New Orleans is that its haunted history doesn’t disappear when Halloween ends.
The ghosts are here all year.
Why Go Ghostly in New Orleans?
New Orleans represents almost everything we look for in a Go Ghostly destination.
It has genuine history stretching back centuries.
It has beautiful historic architecture and neighborhoods that become even more atmospheric after dark.
It has famous ghost stories, unusual legends and locations connected to some genuinely dark chapters of the city’s past.
And most importantly:
You can experience it yourself.
Stay inside a historic hotel with its own paranormal stories.
Walk through the French Quarter after dark.
Join a ghost tour and stand outside buildings you’ve just heard stories about.
Explore the history behind the legends during the day.
Then return to your allegedly haunted hotel and see whether those stories feel quite as easy to dismiss once you’re lying in bed.
Maybe you won’t encounter anything unusual.
Maybe every mysterious sound will have a perfectly ordinary explanation.
Or maybe New Orleans will give you one experience you can’t quite explain.
Either way, this isn’t somewhere you simply read ghost stories about.
New Orleans is a ghost story you can travel to.
Ready to Plan Your Haunted New Orleans Getaway?
New Orleans is one of those rare destinations where you don’t have to go far to find the next strange story.
Book a room in a historic French Quarter hotel, spend an evening wandering streets that have been collecting legends for centuries, explore the history behind places like the LaLaurie Mansion and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, and save at least one night for a ghost tour after dark.
Whether you’re coming for the haunted hotels, Voodoo history, cemeteries, architecture or simply the chance to experience one of America’s most atmospheric cities, New Orleans makes it remarkably easy to build an entire trip around the unusual.
Start planning your haunted New Orleans getaway:
Stay somewhere haunted. Take a ghost tour. Explore the French Quarter. And leave a little room in your itinerary for something you can’t explain.