New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 622 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour worth booking?
New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour is a 2.5-hour experience in New Orleans, United States, from $55 per person. It scores 76 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 622 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 76 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (622)
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- From
- $55 per person
Discover where jazz was born, explore the neighborhoods that shaped it, and experience New Orleans' best live music with a local expert.
What you get
About this experience
Discover where jazz was born, explore the neighborhoods that shaped it, and experience New Orleans' best live music with a local expert.
What's included
Included
- Discover local favorites beyond the typical tourist trail
- Get insider recommendations to continue your night like a local
- Enjoy a complimentary drink at an authentic local music venue
- Learn how jazz was born in historic Congo Square and Tremé
- Support local musicians and venues with every booking
- Experience live music chosen for the night's standout performances
- Follow a passionate local expert through New Orleans' music history
Not included
- Additional drinks, food
- Tips/gratuities for your guide and the musicians
What you'll see and do
Louis Armstrong Park
Step into the birthplace of jazz at Louis Armstrong Park, where the story of New Orleans music begins. Explore the historic Tremé neighborhood and discover how the rhythms, traditions, and cultures that came together here helped shape one of the world's most influential art forms
35 minutes here
Congo Square
Stand in legendary Congo Square, where enslaved people and free people of color gathered to share music, dance, and traditions. Hear how these powerful cultural exchanges helped lay the foundations for jazz and shaped the sound of New Orleans.
15 minutes here
Explore the historic French Quarter with a local music expert and uncover the people, places, and stories behind New Orleans' musical legacy. Along the way, discover hidden corners and local insights that bring the city's jazz heritage to life.
10 minutes here
Bourbon Street
Go beyond the party scene to discover the musicians, venues, and musical collaborations that helped shape New Orleans' sound. Keep an eye out for spontaneous street performances that make every night in the city unique.
30 minutes here
Frenchmen Street
Your evening may lead to Frenchmen Street, New Orleans' legendary live music district. Rather than following a fixed route, your guide chooses the night's music stop based on where the most exciting performances are happening, making every tour a little different.
30 minutes here
French Quarter
Settle in with a complimentary drink and experience live music selected by your guide for the night's standout performance. Whether it's a beloved local institution or an unexpected hidden gem, this is your chance to experience New Orleans' living music culture like a local.
30 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
New Orleans
Louis Armstrong Park (Entrance to the park, under archway), 701 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
A central location around the French Quarter area
Options you can book
Private Jazz Tour
Premium Private Jazz
Small group Jazz Tour
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Intrepid Urban Adventures - USA
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Is this tour eco-friendly? This tour is carbon neutral and operated by a B Corp-certified company committed to using travel as a force for good.
- How much walking is involved? This walking tour covers approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through Tremé, Congo Square, and the French Quarter. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Is this tour suitable for children? Participants must be 21 years or older due to venue requirements and the inclusion of an alcoholic beverage. Valid photo ID may be required.
- Will we hear live jazz music? Yes. The tour includes visits to authentic local music venues where you can enjoy live performances by talented New Orleans musicians. Venues and performers may vary.
- Do I need to know jazz to enjoy this tour? Not at all. Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or simply curious about New Orleans culture, your guide will bring the city's music, history, and neighborhoods to life in an engaging and accessible way.
- By joining this tour, you will be helping to contribute to the livelihoods of local musicians in the jazz clubs we visit, allowing them to earn a decent wage and continue doing what they love to do.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 619 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
619 verified traveler reviews for New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Very knowledgeable guide!
Great experience! Our guide was very knowledgeable about a wide variety of New Orleans history and culture!
via Tripadvisor
Jazz history tour- adam
Adam was fantastic! Very informative and excellent recommendations
via Tripadvisor
great Jazz tour
Adam was very knowledgeable and friendly!
via Tripadvisor
Very good
The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. 100% recommend if in New Orleans
via Tripadvisor
Awesome tour
It was awesome! Katherine was an amazing tour guide too. We got to learn about Louis Armstrong and all these other iconic jazz artists.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $55 to $659
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 218
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 76
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New Orleans.
How much does New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $55 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New Orleans usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 2.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New Orleans is not rushed.
Is New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 76 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 622 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in New Orleans, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour?
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Around 218 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New Orleans can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New Orleans and add a light layer if any part of the 2.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does New Orleans Jazz History and Live Music Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New Orleans within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in New Orleans?
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New Orleans runs on licensed guides, and it shows: the city requires certification for tour guides, so the floor is higher here than most US cities. Ghost and cemetery walks, French Quarter food crawls, plantation history day trips and swamp boat runs make up the bulk. We rank on whether the operator handles cemetery access properly, since St. Louis No. 1 needs an authorised guide. On Outty we rank every New Orleans experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation, New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure, New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
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February to May and October to November. August is heat and storm season. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in New Orleans?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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