Marie Laveau's Story, Told Between Jackson Square and Congo Square
A guided walk through New Orleans Voodoo history, from Marie Laveau to Congo Square, that never goes inside a cemetery.
This is a walk about New Orleans Voodoo as history and religion, led by Witches Brew Tours from its gallery on Exchange Place. The listing builds it around Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, and around the French, Spanish, African and Caribbean influences that shaped the French Quarter. The guide does the telling. You cover about a mile between stops.
Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours. The listing puts the distance at about one mile at a leisurely pace, with a guide licensed by the City of New Orleans. Tips, food, drinks and admission to any place visited are not included, and the operator describes the tour as BYOB. Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
New Orleans French Quarter, Voodoo and Culture Walking TourGuided walk, 1.5 to 2 hours, about one mile, all ages. Tips, food and drinks not included.www.viator.comCongo Square Is on the Route; the Cemeteries Are Not
The listing names six stops: the French Quarter streets themselves, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Voodoo Authentica for the history of New Orleans Voodoo and Marie Laveau, Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park, and the former red-light district just outside the Quarter. At Congo Square the guide talks about the large gatherings held there in the 1800s, including Voodoo rituals. The operator's own list is close to the listing's and adds its gallery and a stop it calls Marie Laveau's house. It also says each tour may deviate.
Burial customs are part of the talk. The listing states that this walk does not enter any cemeteries. If standing at a tomb is the reason you are booking, know that first.
Creole Cottages, the Pontalba Buildings and the Cathedral
The listing sets aside an hour for the French Quarter streets themselves: shotgun houses, Creole cottages and townhouses, and Spanish colonial buildings. At Jackson Square the guide covers the first settlements and the Pontalba Buildings, which the listing calls the first apartment buildings in the United States. At St. Louis Cathedral the subject is the fire that burned down most of the city.
The walk finishes at Jackson Square; it does not loop back to Exchange Place. You end beside the cathedral, in the middle of the Quarter.
About a Mile on Rough Sidewalks, With One Break
The listing ticks stroller access and rates the walk suitable for all fitness levels. It also marks it as not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and warns that French Quarter terrain is a challenge for guests with mobility issues. The operator's own page lists the tour as not wheelchair accessible. It says the streets are in poor condition and hard going with scooters, wheelchairs and strollers, and that staff will do their best to accommodate anyone who books.
There is one break midway for refreshments and the restroom. The operator says that break is taken at a location known for sightings. Tours go out rain or shine, and the listing asks you to bring water because summer heat can lead to dehydration.
Who Should Book, and Who Should Think Twice
Every age can book, and every booking needs an adult. The operator lets children five and under go free, and the listing prices ages 6 to 12 and 65 and over at their own rates. The operator advises discretion because murder, enslavement and torture are discussed. Weigh that before bringing younger children.
The operator caps each tour at 28 guests and says parties over 10 may be split; the listing takes up to 9 travelers per booking. Departures that miss the operator's minimum of six guests may be canceled with a full refund. Reservations matter here: the operator says the city limits how many guests each guide can lead, so it staffs from its booking list and does not guarantee space to walk-ups.
📍 Check in at Witches Brew Gallery, 311 Exchange Place. Arrive 30 minutes before the start; late arrivals are not taken and not refunded. As of October 21, 2026, both the listing and the operator's calendar showed the tour at 11:00 AM. Changing a booking carries a five-dollar fee, which the operator applies per person on third-party bookings. Tips are extra, and the operator's guidance for those who tip is five to ten dollars a person.
Then it is Marie Laveau, Congo Square and up to two hours of French Quarter stories, finishing in Jackson Square.