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St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans, LA
SightseeingIconicHistory Buff

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Basin St at St. Louis St, tour check-in at 501 Basin St · New Orleans, LA

Why you should go…

Opened in 1789, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 holds many thousands of burials in a single block of above-ground tombs on Basin Street, one block beyond the French Quarter. You can only enter on the official guided tour, offered in partnership with New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries, which checks in across the street at Basin St. Station and lasts about 55 minutes. Inside are the tomb believed to hold Marie Laveau, the grave of Homer Plessy and a pyramid tomb actor Nicolas Cage bought in 2010.

  • #historic cemetery
  • #guided tour
  • #above-ground tombs
  • #marie laveau
  • #french quarter

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    History Buff

    Cemetery Tours NOLA

    $25–$50

    Guided walking tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans's oldest cemetery and resting place of Marie Laveau.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    Quirky Fun

    New Orleans Storyville Museum

    $25–$50

    French Quarter museum with immersive exhibits on New Orleans vice history and the Storyville red-light district.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Quirky Fun

    French Quarter Phantoms

    $25–$50

    Guided ghost, history and voodoo walking tours through the French Quarter and beyond.

    0.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Louis Armstrong Park

    Free

    A Tremé park honoring jazz, where you can stand in historic Congo Square and see a 12-foot statue of Louis Armstrong.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    French Quarter

    Free

    Wrought-iron balconies, jazz spilling out of doorways, and 300 years of history in one walkable grid.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    St. Louis Cathedral

    Free

    The oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in the United States anchors Jackson Square.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this