Lafayette Cemetery Tours and Activities

Lafayette Cemetery showing a cemetery
Lafayette Cemetery
Lafayette Cemetery showing a cemetery, landscape views and flowers
Lafayette Cemetery showing a cemetery and flowers
Lafayette Cemetery which includes a memorial and a cemetery


Step back in time at this atmospheric testament to New Orleans’ long and diverse history.

Located in the city’s Garden District – which is itself a National Historic Landmark – Lafayette Cemetery is named after the original settlement on the banks of the Mississippi that was gradually swallowed up by its more dynamic neighbour, New Orleans. Step back in time as you enter the gates and start to explore the rows of tombs and crypts that line its peaceful avenues.

The cemetery, like the cosmopolitan city it serves, is a melting pot of denominations and nationalities, with immigrants from over 25 countries sharing their final resting-place with their fellow citizens. From simple “ovens” or wall vaults to ornate family tombs and flamboyant monuments, the graves are as varied as their occupants, with epitaphs that tell of plague and war and chronicle the city’s Creole past and multicultural present. Look out for the shared crypt of New Orleans’ destitute orphan boys and the memorial to the deceased woodmen of the world.

Lafayette has been the inspiration for the gothic novels of Anne Rice, as well as the setting of films such as Interview with the Vampire and Double Jeopardy. Notorious for ghostly sightings, sudden chills and strange scraping noises, it’s said to be one of the most haunted burial grounds in the USA, a reputation that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Over the years subsidence has caused some of the monuments to sink precariously into the ground, while ancient tree roots coil eerily around lichen-covered headstones, adding to the spooky feel.

Lafayette Cemetery and its sister site to the north are maintained by the Save Our Cemeteries Group, which runs one-hour tours every day except Sunday, when the cemetery is closed. The St. Charles tram stops nearby. Don’t forget your camera and be prepared for some surprises! Then head across the road to revive your spirits with a meal at Commander’s Palace, one of New Orleans’ favourite Colonial-style restaurants.

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Top Lafayette Cemetery Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Hyatt Regency New Orleans

4 out of 5
601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
Maison St Charles

Maison St Charles

3 out of 5
1319 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Maison St Charles
New Orleans Marriott

New Orleans Marriott

4 out of 5
555 Canal St, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Marriott
Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Qtr - Astor by IHG

Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Qtr - Astor by IHG

4 out of 5
739 Canal Street at Bourbon, New Orleans, LA
Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Qtr - Astor by IHG
The Pontchartrain Hotel

The Pontchartrain Hotel

4 out of 5
2031 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
The Pontchartrain Hotel
Holiday Inn FRENCH QUARTER-CHATEAU LEMOYNE by IHG

Holiday Inn FRENCH QUARTER-CHATEAU LEMOYNE by IHG

3.5 out of 5
301 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA
Holiday Inn FRENCH QUARTER-CHATEAU LEMOYNE by IHG
Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter

Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter

4 out of 5
124 Royal St, New Orleans, LA
Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter
The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

5 out of 5
130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA
The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Le Méridien New Orleans

Le Méridien New Orleans

4 out of 5
333 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA
Le Méridien New Orleans
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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