THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Discover New Orleans beyond the tourist trail with VIP City Tours’ private city and cemetery tour. Experience jazz hotspots, historic neighborhoods, and the city’s unique aboveground cemeteries on this immersive 2.5-hour journey.
Discover New Orleans beyond the tourist trail with VIP City Tours’ private city and cemetery tour. Experience jazz hotspots, historic neighborhoods, and the city’s unique aboveground cemeteries on this immersive 2.5-hour journey.
Book with VIP City Tours
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by VIP City Tours · New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a city that defies easy description—a vibrant blend of history, music, cuisine, and culture shaped by its unique geography and storied past. VIP City Tours offers an immersive, private experience that takes you deep into the heart of this complex urban landscape. Setting out from the French Quarter, the tour unfolds over 2.5 hours with up to 24 passengers, offering an intimate look at some of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods and haunting cemeteries.
The journey begins amid landmarks like Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and the bustling French Market, places steeped in centuries of Creole and Cajun influence. This is not just a city tour; it’s a guided narrative of New Orleans’ spirit, threading through the lively streets along jazz-lined Frenchmen Street where venues like The Spotted Cat and Snug Harbor host genuine local musicians nightly.
Beyond the music scene, the tour ventures into Treme’s Louis Armstrong Park, birthplace of jazz, then glides down Esplanade Avenue to appreciate diverse architectural styles—from Creole cottages to stately Greek Revival mansions. Yet, the emotional core of the tour lives within New Orleans’ famous cemeteries. These “cities of the dead” feature aboveground tombs, a cultural response to the city’s high water table, and stories preserved and maintained by organizations like Save Our Cemeteries.
After a break at Morning Call Café with beignets and chicory coffee, the route continues along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Here, travelers witness the long Causeway Bridge and learn about the levees and pumping systems that shape the city’s survival, especially after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. The final leg tours the elegant Garden District with its historic mansions and streetcars, finishing past the National WWII Museum and various statues.
VIP City Tours offers a thorough, authentic portrait of New Orleans—its challenges, resilience, and vibrant culture—making it an essential experience for visitors wanting to understand not just the city’s sights, but its soul.
easy.
2–3 hours.
Suitable for all fitness levels; minimal walking required inside cemeteries
The New Orleans Private City and Cemetery Tour accommodates up to 24 passengers.
Yes, hotel pickup is available within the French Quarter and the Business District.
The tour is suitable for ages 3 and up.
Photography is allowed outside and inside some cemeteries, but please respect any no-photo signs.
Yes, there is a break at Morning Call Café where restrooms are accessible.
The tour operates rain or shine; please dress appropriately for the weather.
New Orleans’ aboveground cemeteries evolved out of necessity due to the city's high water table, becoming unique ‘cities of the dead’ rich in cultural lore.
Local nonprofits like Save Our Cemeteries work to preserve these historic resting places, maintaining their structural integrity and cultural significance.
VIP City Tours is a New Orleans-based tour company specializing in city and cemetery bus experiences led by licensed driver-guides. The company operates climate-controlled buses and offers both public and private options, including private city and cemetery tours accommodating up to 24 passengers. As a small company run by New Orleans locals, VIP City Tours emphasizes authentic local knowledge and historical context. Guides combine storytelling with on-the-ground perspective to navigate neighborhoods such as the French Quarter, Treme, the Garden District, and Uptown. Several itineraries include visits to St. Louis Cemetery #3 and stops in iconic areas, plus a coffee and beignet break at Café du Monde on select tours. The fleet and guides focus on comfortable, informative experiences. Tours range from approximately two hours to two hours and fifteen minutes depending on the itinerary. Private groups receive a focused experience tailored to group size and interests, while public bus tours provide an accessible introduction to the city’s architecture, music history, and cultural highlights. VIP City Tours is described in company materials as one of the oldest and most trusted bus tours in New Orleans. That local heritage and a team of passionate historian-guides are central to the company’s approach to sharing New Orleans’ layered history and vibrant culture.
Book with VIP City Tours