City Sightseeing New Orleans HOHO Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

New Orleans is a city best understood in pieces, and this open-top bus route links those pieces without asking you to decode the streetcar system or pay for a series of rides. You pass from the French Quarter to Tremé, the Garden District, the Arts District, and the riverfront while a live English-speaking guide fills in the stories.

I like the 18-stop route, which reaches far more than Bourbon Street, and I like the human touch. Guides such as Linda, Ron, Colin, Bill, Mary, and Deidre have made the ride funny and useful, with restaurant tips and local details mixed into the history. The main drawback is timing: buses run only until late afternoon, and some riders have found the live commentary hard to hear from certain seats.

Key points to know before you book

• Live guides replace the usual recorded headset, with guides such as Linda, Ron, and Colin offering different personalities and stories.
• The 1.5-hour loop reaches 18 stops, from Jackson Square and the French Market to the Garden District, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront.
• Two-day tickets include a Garden District walking tour, while three-day tickets also add a French Quarter walking tour.
• Buses run about every 30 minutes, with first departures around 9:30 to 9:40am and the last departure at 4pm.
• The $51 starting price makes most sense for a first full day, or for a longer pass when you plan to use the bus as both sightseeing and transport.
• This is an orientation tour, not an attraction pass. Museum, cathedral, aquarium, casino, and other admission fees are extra.

Why this bus works well in New Orleans

New Orleans looks compact on a map, but its best-known areas have different moods and require real walking between them. The French Quarter is easy to explore on foot, yet the Garden District, Magazine Street, the National WWII Museum, and Mardi Gras World are spread out.

That is where this service earns its place. You can ride the full loop first, mark the places you want to return to, then use the bus for selected stops. I would take that first circuit early in your visit. It gives you a useful sense of direction and helps you decide how much time to give the French Quarter, the riverfront, or the long stretch along St. Charles Avenue.

The bus tour itself lasts about 1.5 hours if you stay aboard. Open-top seating gives you wide views of buildings, streets, and the famous streetcar corridor, though New Orleans weather can be hot, rainy, or surprisingly cool. Bring water, sunscreen, and a light layer. The upper deck is best for views, while a lower seat may make more sense if you want to hear every word from the guide.

The live narration is a real advantage. Instead of plugging in headphones and hearing the same script as everyone else, you get a guide who can add a joke, point out something on the street, or answer a quick question. Different guides bring different styles. Linda has been praised for energetic storytelling, while Ron and Colin are known for mixing facts with humor and personal attention.

The tradeoff is sound. One rider found the commentary difficult to hear, and that can happen on an open bus with city traffic around you. Sit near the guide when possible, and ask politely if you miss an important point.

Stop 1: Jackson Square and the heart of the French Quarter

The main starting point is at 700 Decatur Street, by Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. This is the strongest place to begin if you are new to New Orleans.

Jackson Square puts you beside one of the city’s most recognizable views: the cathedral, historic buildings, artists, and the broad open space facing the Mississippi River. St. Louis Cathedral is still an active place of worship and is described as the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States.

You are also close to beignets and café au lait, the French Quarter’s classic breakfast pairing. The City Sightseeing shop and ticket office are here too, making this a practical place to redeem a mobile or printed voucher.

Royal Street and Bourbon Street are within easy reach. Royal Street is the better choice for antiques, crafts, art objects, and small museums. Bourbon Street offers a louder, more nightlife-focused experience. I would use this stop for the French Quarter itself, then return later for a guided walk if you have the three-day pass.

Stops 2 to 4: French Market, Marigny, Bywater, and Tremé

The French Market stop is one of the most useful on the route. Market stalls offer local produce, souvenirs, keepsakes, and flea-market finds. It is a good place to browse without committing to a formal attraction, and it connects naturally with Jackson Square on foot.

The next section reaches Esplanade Avenue, Marigny, and Bywater. Frenchmen Street is known for its music clubs, while Crescent Park gives you a different angle on the river. You may also find JAMNola and a Bywater brew pub near this part of the route.

This is an important stretch because it shows New Orleans beyond the most photographed blocks. The bus lets you see the shift from the French Quarter into neighborhoods with a different look and pace. Hop off if you have a specific stop in mind, but remember that the route is not a late-night music shuttle. The last departures are in the afternoon.

Stop 4 serves Tremé and Lafitte, near St. Augustine Church and the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. These places add cultural and historical context to the ride. As with the French Quarter, the bus gives you an introduction, but you will need extra time on foot to explore properly.

Basin St. Station, stop 5, is another useful transfer point. The first buses leave from this stop between about 9:30 and 9:40am, along with stops 1, 6, and 17.

Stops 6 to 9: Canal Street, the riverfront edge, and downtown

Canal Street is a practical stop for the central French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Chartres Street, and nearby hotels. If your accommodation is in this part of town, you may find this a more convenient starting point than Jackson Square.

The route then reaches Caesars New Orleans, formerly associated with the city’s casino district, and the American Italian Cultural Museum and Italian Piazza. These stops show how varied the city’s downtown area is, but attraction entry is not part of the bus ticket.

Stops 8 and 9 serve Poydras and Loyola, Lafayette Square, Gallier Hall, and St. Charles at Lafayette. This is a useful area for architecture and civic landmarks. The bus also gives you a break from walking on broad downtown streets, which can feel tiring in humid weather.

I would not treat every stop as a must-get-off point. The value comes from choosing two or three areas that match your interests. If you jump off at every corner, you may spend much of the day waiting for the next bus rather than seeing New Orleans.

Stops 10 to 12: museums, Magazine Street, and the Garden District

Stop 10 is near the National WWII Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Confederate Civil War Museum. The WWII Museum alone can require several hours, so plan carefully if you want a serious visit.

The bus ticket does not include museum admission. That is not a flaw, but it matters when you compare the $51 cost with your full daily budget. You are paying for transport and narration, not bundled entry.

The route continues to Magazine Street and the Garden District. Magazine Street is known for shops, food, and local browsing, though the listed stops cover different sections, including 2727 Magazine Street and 3137 Magazine Street. Check the exact stop location before getting off, especially if you have a particular shop or restaurant in mind.

The Garden District is one of the best reasons to choose the two-day pass. That option includes a guided Garden District walking tour, giving you more than a passing view from the bus. The tree-lined streets, grand homes, and St. Charles Avenue are easier to appreciate at walking speed.

Stops 14 and 15 continue along St. Charles Avenue at Louisiana Avenue and St. Andrew Street. This is a scenic part of the ride, and the open upper deck is especially useful here. You can see more of the avenue without arranging a separate taxi or rideshare.

Stops 16 to 18: Mardi Gras World, the Arts District, and the river

Stop 16 serves the convention center and Mardi Gras World. The Mardi Gras attraction is a separate paid experience, but the bus makes reaching it simple.

The Arts and Warehouse District stop covers Julia Street, galleries, shops, and the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk. The nearby National WWII Museum area makes this section a good fit for an art and museum day.

The final riverfront stop serves the Creole Queen paddlewheeler, the VUE Orleans observation deck, and the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. Again, admission costs are separate. Still, having one route connect these attractions is useful, particularly if you are building a full day around the river.

The route returns to 700 Decatur Street. The published stop information gives two possible starting or drop-off references at this address, so confirm the exact boarding point when you redeem your voucher.

Choosing between the one, two, and three-day passes

At $51 per person, the one-day ticket is easiest to justify if you use it for a full circuit plus several hops. It is especially useful on a first day, when you want orientation and do not yet know which parts of New Orleans deserve more time.

A one-day plan could look like this:

• Ride the full loop in the morning.
• Get off at Jackson Square or the French Market for lunch and walking.
• Continue to the Garden District or Magazine Street.
• Finish near the Arts District or riverfront.

You should not expect to complete a museum visit, a long meal, a Garden District walk, and several French Quarter stops in one day while also catching every bus. Pick your priorities.

The two-day pass adds breathing room and includes the Garden District guided walk. This is my preferred choice for many first visits, especially if you want both sightseeing and practical transport. Use one day for the French Quarter, Tremé, and the riverfront, then use the second for the Garden District, Magazine Street, and museums.

The three-day pass includes the French Quarter guided walking tour as well. It works best if you want a slower visit, plan to enter several attractions, or prefer not to cram the city into one long day. The extra days only provide value if you actually use the bus. A three-day pass is not automatically a bargain for someone who plans to walk around the French Quarter and take only one loop.

Timing, bus frequency, and practical limits

Buses run about every 30 minutes. That is reasonable for a sightseeing service, but it still requires patience if you miss one. The first departures from key stops are around 9:30 to 9:40am, the last departure from any stop is at 4pm, and the final tour ends around 5:30pm.

Do not begin a late afternoon museum visit assuming the bus will still be circulating afterward. You can get stuck waiting or need another way back. The service also has special closures and shorter hours on selected dates, especially around Mardi Gras, major holidays, and late November and December. Check the operating calendar for your exact date before paying.

Mobile and paper vouchers are accepted, and you can redeem them at any stop along the route. The voucher only works on the date selected at booking, so a casual change of day is not covered.

Buses are wheelchair accessible. Pets and smoking are not allowed. Bring cash and a passport or other identification, as requested in the tour information.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your New Orleans plans are still shifting.

How the price compares with the experience

The $51 price is not cheap for a ride around town, but the calculation changes if you use the bus several times. A full loop, multiple hops, live commentary, and the included walking tour on longer passes can make it worthwhile.

The strongest value comes from convenience. You are not arranging separate rides to Jackson Square, the Garden District, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront. You also get a city overview from guides who can add context and restaurant suggestions. One guide, Logan, has even been praised for a useful dinner recommendation, which shows the kind of practical help a live narrator can provide.

The weakest value comes when you use the bus only once and spend the rest of the day in the French Quarter. Much of that district is walkable, and attraction tickets are extra. You should also remember that the service finishes early compared with New Orleans nightlife.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to first-time visitors, families, older visitors, and anyone who wants a gentle introduction before tackling the city on foot. It is also useful for people staying outside the French Quarter who want an organized way to reach several sightseeing areas.

The live guide suits you if you enjoy stories, jokes, and local suggestions. It may be less suitable if you need commentary in French or another language, since the tour is conducted in English and translation options are not listed.

If you are focused on nightlife, late dinners, or a tightly scheduled museum itinerary, the early finish may frustrate you. You also need to be comfortable with some noise on the open bus and the chance that a guide may be harder to hear from the back.

Should you book the New Orleans HOHO bus?

Book it if you want to get your bearings quickly, see several sections of New Orleans, and use the bus more than once. I would choose the one-day pass for a first overview, the two-day pass for the best balance of sightseeing and value, and the three-day option only if you want both walking tours and a slower schedule.

The live narration, broad route, and Garden District coverage give this more character than a simple ride around downtown. Just start early, sit close to the guide, plan around the 4pm last departure, and budget separately for museums and other attractions.

FAQ

How long is the complete bus tour?

The full bus tour takes about 1.5 hours when you remain on board.

How often do the buses run?

Buses run approximately every 30 minutes.

What time does the first bus leave?

The first departures from stops 1, 5, 6, and 17 are between 9:30am and 9:40am.

What time is the last departure?

The last departure from any stop is at 4pm, and the final tour ends at about 5:30pm.

Is a guide included?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

Does the ticket include attraction admission?

No. Admission to museums, the cathedral, the aquarium, Mardi Gras World, the observation deck, and other attractions is not included.

Which ticket includes the Garden District walking tour?

The Garden District guided walking tour is included with two-day and three-day tickets.

Which ticket includes the French Quarter walking tour?

The French Quarter guided walking tour is included with the three-day ticket only.

Are mobile vouchers accepted?

Yes. You may use either a mobile voucher or a printed paper voucher, and vouchers can be redeemed at any stop along the route.