New Orleans Attraction Tours: What to Book Ahead
Some New Orleans attractions can be joined on arrival, while others fill days ahead or admit only pre-arranged groups. Sorting them by lead time makes the trip run smoother.
Book first: Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall, at 726 St Peter Street, sells tickets online in advance only, and each ticket is good for one 45-minute set. Children are admitted, photography is not allowed and the room is acoustic. Prices start from about $25. Open the official calendar to see which dates have seats.
Book early: guided cemetery visits
Two historic cemeteries can be entered only on guided tours. At St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where Marie Laveau’s family tomb stands, licensed groups depart Basin Street Station at 501 Basin Street roughly every 15 minutes between 9:00 and 15:45. Each walk lasts about 45 minutes and adult prices run from about $25 to $33 depending on the seller. Details are on the New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries site .
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District reopened on 1 October 2026. The Preservation Resource Center and Save Our Cemeteries lead small groups of 16 or fewer in morning sessions of 75 to 90 minutes. Reserve at prcno.org . The format is history, not entertainment.
Book a few days ahead: river and swamp
The Steamboat Natchez sails daily from the Toulouse Street Wharf. Daytime sightseeing adults pay about $43 and children about $21, and the Sunday brunch and evening dinner jazz cruises cost more. For swamp boats, the Jean Lafitte pontoon tours cost about $29 to $35 if you drive and $56 to $65 with hotel pickup. Compare river and swamp tours on Viator when planning dates.
Book for peak season: Whitney Plantation
Whitney Plantation in Wallace, about an hour west, is a museum of slavery and is closed on Tuesdays. Hours are 9:30 to 16:30 with last entry at 15:00, and advance booking is recommended on whitneyplantation.org .
Walk-up attractions with tiers
At the National WWII Museum, adult general admission starts from about $37, while the theaters and guided packages add to the price, so decide which add-ons you want before the queue. Mardi Gras World costs about $22 for adults and $14 for children and is open from 9:00 to 17:30 daily. The Cabildo and the Presbytère on Jackson Square are about $11 for adults. The Sazerac House gives tastings and an introduction to Peychaud’s Bitters.
Practical rhythm
Cluster the attractions by area: the Warehouse District has the WWII Museum and Mardi Gras World, while Jackson Square holds the Cabildo and Presbytère. A $3 Jazzy Pass or $1.25 streetcar rides connect them. Book flexible slots from mid-August to mid-October, when hurricane season peaks, and early for Mardi Gras Day on 9 February 2027. For routes between stops, see sightseeing in New Orleans .
Reserve Preservation Hall and your cemetery slot before anything else, then slot the museums around them.