Lafayette Cemetery No.1
Lafayette Cemetery No.1
4.5
Monday
8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
The burial site for many of the people who lived in the mansions of the surrounding Garden District.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Garden District
Head to the Garden District for the full-on New Orleans experience replete with quaintly clanking streetcars, proudly grandiose antebellum mansions, picture perfect avenues lined with live oaks loaded down with Spanish moss, and a wealth of beautiful churches and many more architectural marvels. Even a brief excursion here makes plain why it’s called the Garden District. So, when you visit be sure to give yourself ample time for admiration at a languidly slow pace befitting such gentile strand of riverside living and to allow you to maximize each opportunity to stop and smell the roses – and whichever other blooms you might come across. While taking it all in, you’d do well to dine at one of the city’s most beloved destinations for regional cuisine. Gourmands from far and wide (and right round the corner) swear the age-old Commander’s Palace is the best restaurant in town – and have been doing so since it opened back in 1880.
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Attractions
624 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,855 reviews
Excellent
1,483
Very good
1,012
Average
304
Poor
37
Terrible
19
Becky870
Carol Stream, IL637 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
We had a wonderful tour of the cemetery. As others have said it is a little on the pricey side but if you bundle it with the hop on hop off tour you can save some money. I didn't think we would have time to see it so we didn't bundle which I am mad at myself about. Our guide was fantastic and he didn't rush us through the tour. Due to previous events of vandalism you can only enter with a tour guide.
Written December 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberts69
Northampton, UK18,938 contributions
Feb 2023
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is a historic cemetery in the Garden District neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was founded in 1833 and still in use today and was included in the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1972, for its architectural and social-historical importance. Unfortunately the cemetery has very limited opening hours and so when I visited I could not walk around the cemetery but that said it was still an interesting place to see even just from the gates!!
Written March 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrueTexasTraveler
Amarillo, TX979 contributions
Jun 2019
This is a fantastic stop if you want to see a classic New Orleans cemetery and read some great graveside history. There is no charge to get in, and while there were a good amount of people there when we stopped, it wasn't too crowded. There are people at the entrance who offer to give tours if you don't just want to look around on your own.
Written May 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brandon K
Flagstaff, AZ2,043 contributions
Jan 2020
We stopped by while in the Garden District, and we were hoping to get a tour. It turns out that paid access to the cemetery is going to be the only way in for the future, but the graves were being repaired from damage coming from public access. You can see the little paths and walkways through the locked gates, and many tours still meet there but discuss the cemetery from the gate only.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
drwatson32
Shawnee, OK1,577 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Our tour guide, Will, did a good job explaining the history and facts about New Orleans burials. Very interesting! The admission price is a little high at $25 for adults, in my opinion, but I enjoyed the guides commentary. Check out Marie Laveau's tomb and the tomb Nicholas Cage has purchased as well.
Written June 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cliff L.
Eastvale, CA46 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
This is our first time to NO and of course we wanted to visit the cemetery. We got a ride down just to learn it’s closed for remodeling. Apparently if you have a tour guide you can go in but outside of that, you can only look through the four entrance gates. It looks amazing and I wish I got to experience it.
Written October 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
torontoshutterbug65
Toronto, Canada110 contributions
Dec 2019
I thought this was a great tour, with tonnes of information and super interesting. The only complaint I have is that our tour was for 1 hour, I think they should be at least 1.5 hours and the number of tours that visited was 5-6, kinda tripping over one another. (we were the first tour of the day I am sure it gets busier as the day goes on)
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tara Austad
Battle Creek, MI42 contributions
Feb 2020
Though it's very touristy, there is a reason. There is a lot of history to be learned from this cemetery, and not just Marie LaVeau. We had an amazing guide name Mikko, and he was very passionate and knowledgeable about NOLA history - I learned a lot more than I thought I knew coming into the tour! Beautiful old tombs - a must visit for anyone!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanya T.
Illinois1,713 contributions
Aug 2019
We took a stroll through the Garden District and stumbled upon this cemetery. Parts of the headstones are newer, the I was most impressed with the architectural detail and worn appeal of the older ones. We did not have a guide and entrance is free. You can pretty much walk up and down the pathways at your own pace, pause when need. I am not sure if anyone famous is buried here, but ohhhh the stories that could be told.
Written April 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hunter H
Olney, IL261 contributions
Dec 2019
We could look through the fencing, but it was closed for maintenance when we came by the cemetery. We parked a few blocks away and walked around the garden district. You could look into the cemetery, so check before you go. It's free to get in.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi can you tell me if the Lafayette 1 cemetery is open to the public please. We are hoping to go next year. Thank you
Written November 30, 2023

Alexis
Are people able to enter the cemetery without a tour guide?
Written March 8, 2020
The cemetery is completely closed to the public at this time.
Written March 15, 2020
Is Lafayette Cemetery #1 currently closed for repairs? "Tours by Foot" website say it's closed.Visiting New Orleans mid March and it's one of the historic places I want to visit.
Written February 21, 2020
Lafayette No. 1 is currently closed due to repair. Sorry.
Written March 1, 2020
I will be in Nola Feb 2-5 is this cemetery actually open? I’m confused I see tours offered but then I also see some tours that say closed to the general public? I don’t want to pay for a tour only to stand outside of the gates I’d like to actually go inside with a guide if possible. Thx
Written January 25, 2020
When I visited in May 2019 Lafayette Cemetery was open, free, and self guided. However St Louis Cemetery could only be entered with a guide. People confuse the two. Lafayette Cemetery, Anne Rice's Lestat's haunt is in the Garden District while St Louis famous for Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen's tomb is near Basin Street. There is a good visitor center on Basin Street near the cemetery. They can tell you the details but will probably suggest the $25 tour. Go online and shop around for tours. You can find some for about $10 but they don't begin and end in the cemetery. A little walking is necessary but the guides give a lot of info as you walk. Enjoy! Both cemeteries have the above ground tombs as well as the wall vaults. You can't go wrong with either one.
Written January 26, 2020
Has the cemetery re-opened after it was closed for repairs? Can you still visit on your own if it has opened back up? Planning for a trip in March. Thanks!
Written January 4, 2020
Cemetery is closed for repairs at this time.
Written March 2, 2020
Is this cemetery still closed to the public?
Written October 31, 2019
I was told by the locals when I was there that it was to open back up prior to Nov 1. I do not know the current status since I do not live there.
Written December 5, 2019
My husband and I have a planned trip to New Orleans for the first time in November. I would love to visit this cemetery as I'm a huge "The Originals" fan. We prefer to tour things ourselves, without guides, but I was wondering if this is safe? I've read safety tips that recommend not visiting cemeteries unless on a tour due to pickpockets/people hiding behind graves. Thanks!
Written July 10, 2019
We went during the day- fairly busy. Never felt threatened. Just like in any strange city- be aware of your surroundings There were several guided tour groups going in and out. We actually walked the entire way from our hotel.
Written July 13, 2019
Pets are not permitted in the cemetery unless they are service animals. They don't want pets using the cemetery as a restroom
Written March 18, 2019
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