St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
4.5(4.4K)google
4.1(264)yelp
HistoryFolk CultureGuided TourEerie & Haunted
Overview
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is New Orleans' oldest and most famous burial ground, renowned for its unique above-ground tombs necessitated by the city's high water table. Established in 1789, this sprawling 'City of the Dead' features thousands of crumbling, ornate vaults and historic mausoleums. It is the final resting place of notable historical figures, most famously the legendary Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, attracting countless visitors intrigued by New Orleans' distinct and mysterious funerary architecture and supernatural folklore.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 1 hour
Best TimeExcellent year-round, with the earliest morning tour slot (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM) being highly superior. This is New Orleans' oldest and most legendary 'City of the Dead' above-ground cemetery. Since 2015, entry requires a licensed guide; the early morning tour avoids the intense brick heat and offers a tranquil environment.
Getting ThereLocated at 421 Basin Street on the northwestern edge of the French Quarter. No parking is available nearby. The recommended approach is riding the Canal Street Streetcar (Red Line) to the Basin Street at Canal stop, then walking north along Basin Street for exactly 3 blocks (about 4 minutes) to the historic cemetery entrance gate.
Travel Tips
- To prevent vandalism, local ordinances strictly ban unescorted independent walk-ins; entry is accessible exclusively via licensed, official guided tours.
- The whitewashed stone tombs amplify solar heat with zero canopy cover; bring full hydration kits, as the historic site lacks restrooms and water fountains.
- Leaning on, climbing, or touching crumbling historic brick crypts is entirely illegal; transit police issue heavy citations for desecration or littering.
Reviews
Positive
- This famous 'City of the Dead' features unique above-ground white marble tombs, filled with a mystical, melancholic, and historic Gothic aesthetic with huge visual impact.
- The resting place of NOLA's Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau; her tomb is covered in scratched 'XXX' marks, radiating a heavy, mysterious historical and cultural vibe.
- Since regulations enforce entry strictly via registered tour guides, the interior is highly orderly and secure, letting you quietly listen to family plot histories.
- Perfectly situated on the French Quarter edge for easy walking; tours conclude within an hour with tight layouts, a premier first stop for unique Southern burial culture.
Heads up
- The biggest complaint is the total elimination of free self-guided entry; forcing a steep paid tour ticket leaves many casual drop-by tourists feeling low value.
- The cemetery interior consists entirely of white stone vaults and concrete pathways with zero trees or canopy shade; midday summer tours face brutal exposure and heat waves.
- The tour pace depends heavily on your guide's mood; some rush the walk to make their next scheduled slot, severely compressing time left for taking individual photos.
- The surrounding neighborhood outside the cemetery gates has a poor reputation for safety with heavy loitering and car break-ins; drivers should avoid street parking.