Movie and TV Show Tour of New Orleans

New Orleans has played itself, and plenty of other places, on screen for decades. This two-hour French Quarter walk links familiar scenes from The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, NCIS: New Orleans, Chef, Your Honor, AHS, and many other productions with the real streets and buildings behind them.

I like two things right away: the route uses major sights such as Jackson Square rather than hiding the film locations in distant corners, and guide Trevor McQueen brings photos and videos that help you match a movie shot to the actual view. The tour also adds local stories about voodoo, civil rights, architecture, and New Orleans folklore.

The main consideration is the weather. You’ll walk for about two hours on city streets, and New Orleans heat can make the route feel longer. Wear supportive shoes, bring water, and remember that admission to several historic buildings is not included.

Key points at a glance

• The Originals and Interview with the Vampire connections: The French Quarter route has plenty for supernatural fans, along with stops tied to other film and television productions.
• A small group of up to 16 people: The size gives you a better chance to hear the guide and ask about a favorite show.
• Trevor McQueen’s visual storytelling: He uses photos and videos, and can point out the camera angle or facade used in a scene.
• A tour that is also a French Quarter history walk: You’ll hear about pharmacies, voodoo, early civil rights, architecture, witches, and vampires.
• A manageable but active route: There are eight stops over roughly two hours, with pauses for photos and occasional breaks.
• Good value at $30: You get a focused introduction to New Orleans screen locations without paying for a vehicle or a long sightseeing production.

Why this film tour works in the French Quarter

The best movie location walks do more than point at a building and name a show. They explain how the place works on screen, then give you a reason to care about it when the cameras are gone. This New Orleans tour has that advantage because almost every stop carries its own story.

You begin near Royal Street and finish in Pirates Alley, so the route remains inside the French Quarter. That keeps the walking practical and gives you a useful orientation to one of the city’s most historic areas. You are not simply crossing town between isolated filming spots.

The tour also avoids requiring you to know every production in advance. If you have watched The Originals or Interview with the Vampire, you’ll have plenty of familiar material. If you have not, the buildings, streets, and city stories still give the walk a clear purpose.

The guide’s role matters here. Trevor McQueen is repeatedly praised for keeping the pace comfortable, explaining both film work and New Orleans history, and adjusting the conversation to the group’s interests. He has also shown participants photos of productions filmed around town, which is useful when the original interior is private or the filming setup is no longer present.

Starting on Royal Street: crime, medicine, and movie sets

The meeting point is 400 Royal Street, near the LA Supreme Court building. From there, the walk heads toward Napoleon House before reaching the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.

The opening section sets the tone. In only a couple of blocks, the stories can move from true crime to circus history to vampires. That mix is very New Orleans: serious history sits beside theatrical folklore, and a movie location may be an ordinary working street one moment and a supernatural setting the next.

The Pharmacy Museum is the third stop. It occupies the site of the first licensed pharmacy in the United States, giving the film tour a strong historical anchor. You can see the exterior during the walk, but admission is not included, so plan for an extra charge if you want to go inside.

This is a good example of the tour’s wider value. You are not only learning where a camera stood. You are seeing how a real historic building can supply atmosphere for a production, while also learning why the building matters to New Orleans itself.

Jackson Square: the tour’s biggest shared stage

Jackson Square gets about 30 minutes, the longest stop on the route. That makes sense. It is one of the most recognizable areas in the French Quarter, and more than a dozen film projects have used the square and its surrounding views.

Here, you’ll have time to connect several productions with the streets, facades, and open spaces around the square. You should also have room for photos, questions, and a closer look at the setting rather than a quick point-and-go stop.

I especially like this part for people who are not committed film fans. Jackson Square is a major New Orleans sight in its own right, so the visit still pays off if you have not seen the shows being discussed. The movie details become an extra way to notice the square.

The exposed location can also be the warmest part of the walk. One tour group stopped for water and ice cream in this area, and the guide has allowed time for people to rest. That flexibility is useful, but you should still arrive prepared for sun and heat.

Voodoo Authentica and the difference between fact and fiction

The stop at Voodoo Authentica lasts about 10 minutes. The surrounding area has been used for more film projects, but the main purpose here is to separate actual voodoo traditions from the simplified or sensational versions often shown on screen.

That distinction is important on a movie tour. Film and television frequently use New Orleans as a shortcut for mystery, ghosts, spells, and danger. A good guide can show you where the fiction draws from local traditions and where it takes liberties. This stop gives the tour a chance to do exactly that.

You then reach a halfway point. The details of that break can vary, but the route is designed with pauses rather than a nonstop march. That makes the walk easier for people who want to take pictures or need a brief rest.

Old Ursuline Convent and the start of the horror loop

The Old Ursuline Convent Museum is a short five-minute stop, but it carries unusual architectural importance. It is described as the only pre-fire building remaining in New Orleans.

That fact gives the building weight before the tour even turns toward horror stories. From here, the guide begins the tour’s horror loop, with stories about witches and vampires. The supernatural material is fun, but it works best because it follows a real building with a long connection to the city’s past.

Admission is not included. You can still take part in the exterior discussion without going inside, but budget extra if you want to visit the museum. The short stop also shows that not every location receives a long presentation. Some are quick visual references that support the larger story.

Starling Magickal Occult Shop and a civil rights connection

At Starling Magickal Occult Shop, the tour returns to filming locations and supernatural themes. The shop gives the route a more modern, atmospheric stop, while the buildings and streets around it continue the French Quarter setting used by productions.

Across the street is Homer Plessy Community School. That creates one of the tour’s more useful shifts in subject. Instead of staying with vampires and occult stories, you’ll hear about early civil rights in New Orleans.

I like this change of pace. It keeps the walk from becoming a list of spooky references, and it reminds you that the French Quarter’s real story is much broader than what appears in supernatural dramas. The film connection gets you looking, while the local history gives the view more meaning.

Admission to the shop is not included. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, enough time for the guide to connect the location, nearby filming, and the civil rights story without making the tour feel overloaded.

Madame John’s Legacy and the architecture behind the scenes

Madame John’s Legacy is the second-oldest building in the French Quarter, according to the tour information. It burned during the Great Fire and was rebuilt in 1788.

The building has appeared in several film projects, which makes it a strong example of why location tours are worthwhile. Its appeal is not just that a production used it. Its design, age, and survival through fire help explain why filmmakers continue to find useful settings in New Orleans.

This is another exterior-focused stop, with admission not included. The presentation lasts about 10 minutes. You’ll get the most from it if you pay attention to the actual details of the building, then compare them with the way film crews frame its doors, windows, and facade.

Boutique du Vampyre and the supernatural favorites

Boutique du Vampyre is one of the major stops for fans of vampire stories. The guide ties the area to more vampire history and filming references, making it a natural highlight for anyone following The Originals or Interview with the Vampire.

The stop is about 10 minutes. That is enough for a focused explanation, though fans who want every scene dissected may wish the entire tour lasted longer. One particularly enthusiastic participant wanted more than two hours of material, which is easy to understand when the subject includes several favorite series.

The good news is that the supernatural content is spread across the route. You are not waiting until the final few minutes for vampire references. The earlier stops at the convent, Voodoo Authentica, and nearby streets build toward this section.

Pirates Alley Cafe and the final screen setting

The walk ends at Pirates Alley Cafe in Pirates Alley. This is also the listed ending point, so you should not expect to return to Royal Street.

Pirates Alley has no shortage of film connections, making it a fitting final stop. After two hours of moving through the Quarter, the alley gives the tour a compact, atmospheric finish. It is also a useful place to continue exploring on your own, though the tour itself ends there.

The route’s beginning and ending points are close enough to keep the experience centered in the French Quarter, but they are not the same location. If you have another booking afterward, allow time to orient yourself at the end rather than assuming you will finish where you started.

What the $30 price really buys you

At $30 per person, this is a reasonably priced walking tour, particularly for a small group capped at 16 people. You are paying for a guide who can connect many productions with one compact area, not for entry to the museums or shops along the route.

The strongest value comes if you have a short stay in New Orleans. In two hours, you get film locations, Jackson Square, historic buildings, folklore, and a basic sense of how the French Quarter fits together. A vehicle tour might cover more ground, but it would not give you the same close look at facades, alleys, and street-level details.

The price is less attractive if you want extensive interior access. Admission is not included at the Pharmacy Museum, Old Ursuline Convent Museum, Starling Magickal Occult Shop, or Madame John’s Legacy. Think of the $30 as the fee for the guided walk and interpretation, with optional extra costs if you enter certain sites.

Walking comfort, weather, and group size

The route is about two hours and is not recommended for people who cannot walk long distances. It is described as slow-paced, with many stops, and several participants found the pace comfortable. Still, you should wear proper walking shoes rather than casual footwear that looks good but offers little support.

New Orleans heat is the main practical challenge. One person enjoyed seeing the city on foot but found the weather and wrong shoes uncomfortable. Plan for water, sun protection, and a little patience if the day is hot.

The maximum group size is 16. That is small enough for questions and direct conversation, especially when the guide is showing photos or videos from a phone or tablet. The tour is also near public transportation, service animals are allowed, and most people who can manage the walking can participate.

Confirmation arrives at booking. The activity requires good weather, and a poor-weather cancellation gives you the choice of another date or a full refund. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Who should book this New Orleans film walk?

This is a strong pick for fans of The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, American Horror Story, NCIS: New Orleans, Chef, Your Honor, King Creole, and A Streetcar Named Desire. The tour also covers productions beyond those titles, so you may leave with a list of films and shows to watch later.

You do not need to know every production. The route remains worthwhile if you simply want a guided walk through Jackson Square and the French Quarter with an unusual theme. The guide’s general city history, architecture, voodoo explanations, and civil rights discussion keep the experience useful for a mixed group.

It is less suited to anyone seeking a seated presentation, extensive museum time, or a full-city tour by vehicle. It is also a poor fit if you dislike walking in warm weather. Families, couples, solo visitors, and small groups can all make good use of it, especially if everyone is willing to share the route’s mix of film trivia and local history.

Should you book Hollywood South Tours?

Book it if you want to see New Orleans through the screen while still learning about the city beneath the movie images. The $30 cost is fair, the group size is restrained, and the route includes several of the French Quarter’s most recognizable places.

I would book this early in a New Orleans stay, especially since it is often reserved well ahead of time. You’ll gain a useful sense of the Quarter, and you can return later to the locations that caught your eye. Bring comfortable shoes, water, and realistic expectations about optional admission fees.

Skip it if you need a ride between locations or cannot comfortably walk for two hours. For film fans and curious first-time visitors who want a lively, local introduction to the French Quarter, this is an easy tour to recommend.

FAQ

How long is the Movie and TV Show Tour of New Orleans?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $30 per person.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans, near the LA Supreme Court building.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour ends at Pirates Alley, near Pirates Alley Cafe, in the French Quarter.

Which films and shows are connected to the tour?

The route includes connections to The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, NCIS: New Orleans, American Horror Story, Chef, Your Honor, King Creole, A Streetcar Named Desire, and other productions.

Is admission to the museums included?

No. Admission is not included at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, Old Ursuline Convent Museum, Starling Magickal Occult Shop, or Madame John’s Legacy.

Is the tour suitable for people who cannot walk long distances?

No. It is not recommended for people who cannot walk long distances. Most other participants can take part, and the route includes multiple stops.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered another date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.