Top French Quarter Tickets & Passes: Reviews & Recommendations

Thinking of visiting New Orleans’ famous French Quarter? It’s almost impossible to fully take it all in without a bit of planning. One choice everyone wrestles with is deciding what tickets and passes are truly worth it. That’s why I’ve created this guide, which offers insights into several options to assist you make the most of your trip.

1. New Orleans CityPASS: A Comprehensive Option

So, the New Orleans CityPASS could be just what you are looking for if you want to see several top attractions. This pass lets you save money, it seems, on admission to places such as the Audubon Aquarium, the Zoo, and the National WWII Museum.

It usually works like this: You buy the pass, and that grants you access to a set number of attractions, often at a discount. In a way, it works by helping tourists get into places without needing to buy individual tickets, it feels. Plus, it lets you see quite a few landmarks if that sounds like something you’d do. Many people consider the CityPASS useful if they want a structured approach to sightseeing in New Orleans.

Pros: Discounts on multiple attractions; good, maybe, for first-time visitors; could offer a structured way to explore.

Cons: Might not be worth getting if you only want to visit a couple of places; it also sort of pressures you into a schedule; there are occasionally long lines for pass holders, as I understand.

Read our full review: New Orleans CityPASS Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (CityPASS)

2. Go New Orleans Explorer Pass: Create Your Own Adventure

For visitors seeking flexibility, the Go New Orleans Explorer Pass can be helpful. Instead of a fixed set of attractions, this pass lets you choose the attractions that interest you. You usually get a specific number of credits, and each attraction “costs” a set number of credits, more or less.

Maybe one of the best parts is that it puts you in charge of your itinerary. Is that what you want? It also typically covers more than just tourist traps; the Explorer Pass sometimes covers off-the-beaten-path tours and neighborhood gems, more or less. Anyway, it seems that, if your style of travel is spontaneous, this pass is probably worth a look.

Pros: Offers flexibility; potentially includes some hidden gems; it is, in a way, good for folks with specific interests.

Cons: Might require careful planning to maximize value; you might overspend if you pick expensive activities; understanding how the credit system works takes time, very much like most other things.

Read our full review: Go New Orleans Explorer Pass Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Explorer Pass)

3. Swamp Tours: Get out of Town

Although maybe not technically a French Quarter “ticket,” swamp tours can offer a quintessential Louisiana experience. A lot of these tours depart from the French Quarter or nearby, making it easier for tourists. You probably board an airboat, and a guide leads you via bayous. Tours often highlight local wildlife, from alligators to birds, and of course they talk about regional history, naturally.

I took a swamp tour a while back, and it proved that, even right outside the city, there’s a whole ecosystem to experience. Very cool, actually! For something interesting beyond the normal city tourist activities, this can really broaden the scope of a visit.

Pros: Unique experience; often educational and very interesting; they are sometimes near the city, or right next to the city even.

Cons: Can be weather-dependent; some tours may feel “touristy”; could require a ride to the departure point, so bring money for a cab.

Read our full review: Swamp Tours New Orleans Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Swamp Tours)

4. French Quarter Walking Tours: Intimate Exploration

These tours offer an in-depth look at the area’s history and culture, and do that on foot. Guided walking tours usually concentrate on spots such as Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and hidden courtyards. Guides narrate stories about everything from the area’s Creole past to ghost stories, depending on what you picked. Quite a few tours cater to particular interests, if you’re wondering.

A walking tour helped me find streets and details that I would definitely have missed. Very true. Because you go at walking speed, that can improve how closely you look, and with that you see much more. I think they can prove worthwhile, mainly if you love absorbing places at an easier pace.

Pros: Delivers an up-close experience; helps you learn; it could be suited to a more relaxed experience.

Cons: Your enjoyment is really weather dependent; you might have to stand for extended periods of time; the quality differs quite a bit with the tour guide, typically.

Read our full review: French Quarter Walking Tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Walking Tours)

5. New Orleans Ghost Tours: Spooky Tales and History

Given its long past and sometimes difficult history, New Orleans gets referred to as one of America’s most haunted cities. These tours walk the streets at night, mostly, telling accounts of hauntings and past events. Quite a few focus around alleged vampire sightings, stories of voodoo, and sometimes information concerning notable murders.

Ghost tours aren’t just fun—a good guide incorporates elements of local history for a full explanation, really. They are actually very interesting ways of connecting with New Orleans. This sort of exploration really shines if you appreciate history and maybe the odd unexplained thing.

Pros: Quite entertaining, it sounds; delivers an alternate view into the area; that kind of thing is suited to those with curiosity of all things paranormal.

Cons: May be disturbing, I hear; some might appear hokey; the quality probably hinges on the storyteller.

Read our full review: New Orleans Ghost Tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Ghost Tours)