New Orleans Main Sites Self-Guided Driving Tour: French Quarter to City Park
Places: 20 POIsDistance: 25.93 miDuration: 1h:46m
Tour #2550
About this English self-guided 1h:46m driving tour in New Orleans
Welcome to New Orleans, the Crescent City, where history, culture, and music flow together like the mighty Mississippi itself. I’m your guide today, and we’re about to take a driving journey through one of the most unique cities in the world.
Before we get started, a quick heads-up: some users previously experienced routing issues with this tour. Due to the busy, narrow streets of the French Quarter, along with frequent road closures and temporary traffic pattern changes, we’ve recently modified the route to improve the overall experience. We’re continuing to evaluate it, and if you encounter any issues along the way, please let us know through the app—your feedback truly helps.
Keep in mind, you can always continue the tour even if a specific point of interest becomes inaccessible. Simply choose to start the tour from the next available POI, and the app will automatically route you there so the experience can continue smoothly. For example, starting the tour from POI 8 will skip the French Quarter entirely if it’s closed due to an event, parade, or other celebration.
As we make our way through town, you’ll drive through the French Quarter with its colorful balconies, hear echoes of jazz from Tremé, and roll past grand oak-lined avenues where streetcars still clatter along. We’ll discover elegant mansions in the Garden District, pass historic cemeteries, and enjoy the calm beauty of City Park and the lakefront.
This city is more than Mardi Gras and beignets, though you’ll catch a glimpse of those too. New Orleans is about resilience, creativity, and a rhythm that never stops, no matter what life throws its way. Every neighborhood has a story, every street corner hums with tradition, and every stop on this tour will help you understand why locals say New Orleans isn’t just a place—it’s a way of life.
So buckle up, drive carefully, follow the navigation instructions closely, and get ready to experience the Big Easy from behind the wheel. Our journey begins in the heart of it all—the French Quarter.
The striking red building you’re passing on your right is the New Orleans Jazz Museum, housed inside the historic Old U.S. Mint.
This museum celebrates the city where jazz was born, telling the story of legendary musicians, classic recordings, and the deep cultural roots of this uniquely New Orleans sound. Inside, you’ll find instruments, memorabilia, and rotating exhibits that trace jazz from local streets to global stages.
Place #2
Distance: 0.06mi
1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
LaLaurie Mansion
Welcome to Royal Street.
Just after the crossing, the taller building on your left is the LaLaurie Mansion, one of the most infamous homes in New Orleans.
Built in the early 1800s, the mansion was once owned by Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a wealthy socialite. In 1834, a fire at the house led authorities to discover enslaved people who had been severely abused, sparking public outrage even by the standards of the time. A mob later attacked the house, and LaLaurie fled the city without ever standing trial.
Today, the building is a private residence. While much of its reputation is shaped by legend, its documented history alone has made it one of the most talked-about locations in the French Quarter.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1New Orleans Jazz Museum
Place 2LaLaurie Mansion
Place 3The French Quarter – Driving Through
Place 4Iconic St. Louis Cathedral
Place 5Bourbon Street
Place 6Bourbon Street – History & Legends (60s)
Place 7Dauphine Street
Place 8Louis Armstrong Park
Place 9National WWII Museum
Place 10Garden District Mansions
Place 11Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Place 12New Orleans – City Story
Place 13Audubon Park
Place 14Treme neighborhood – the birthplace of jazz
Place 15Esplanade Avenue
Place 16City Park
Place 17North Side of City Park
Place 18Lake Pontchartrain & Lakeshore Park
Place 19University of New Orleans
Place 20Milneburg Lighthouse
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How to take a UCPlaces tour
Taking a UCPlaces tour is fun and easy.
Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
That's it, you're ready to go!
When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.
How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [Android / iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (for iOS users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).