City Sightseeing New Orleans HOHO Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

New Orleans rewards a good first look. This open-top bus tour gives you a useful sweep of the Crescent City, from Jackson Square and the French Market to the Garden District, the Superdome, and the Arts District. I especially like the live English-speaking guides, who add local stories and humor instead of sending you around with a recorded headset. I also like the freedom to hop off, explore, and catch another bus later.

The main catch is the clock. Buses run about every 30 minutes, but the final departure from any stop is at 4pm and the complete service ends around 5:30pm. That makes this a strong daytime sightseeing tool, but not evening transport. Some passengers also found it difficult to hear the guide, and one review described the bus as older than expected.

Key points at a glance

• Live guides make the loop personal: Guides such as Linda, Ron, Chris, Bill, Mary, and Oreal have been praised for mixing useful facts with jokes and local suggestions.
• The route covers more than the French Quarter: You can reach Tremé, Bywater, the Garden District, Magazine Street, the National WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront.
• The full loop takes about 1.5 hours: Ride it first to get your bearings, then choose stops for a closer look.
• Longer passes include walking tours: The Garden District walk comes with two and three-day tickets, while the French Quarter walk is included with the three-day option.
• The $51 price works best over several stops or days: A one-day ticket is less compelling if you plan to stay only in the French Quarter.
• Plan around early closing: Buses begin leaving the main starting points around 9:30am to 9:40am, with service ending much earlier than many evening plans.

Why this bus is useful on a first day

I like hop-on hop-off tours most when a city is spread out, and New Orleans fits that need. The French Quarter is easy to explore on foot, but the Garden District, Magazine Street, the National WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront sit farther apart. This route links those areas without asking you to work out every connection yourself.

The bus also gives you a basic map in your head. You pass streets you may want to revisit later, hear why certain areas matter, and get a feel for how the French Quarter relates to Tremé, Bywater, the Central Business District, and the Garden District.

I would start with one full loop if you can. It takes about 90 minutes, and you do not need to get off at every stop. Several people found the tour most useful as an introduction, then used the pass to return to places that caught their interest.

The open-top deck gives you broad views and better chances to see architecture, street activity, and big landmarks. Still, New Orleans weather can be hot, wet, or both, so bring water and consider a hat. The lower seating area may be the more comfortable choice during strong sun or rain.

Stop 1: Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral

The route begins at 700 Decatur Street, by Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral. This is the best starting point for a first visit because you are already at the heart of the French Quarter.

Jackson Square brings together the cathedral, historic buildings, artists, musicians, and a view toward the Mississippi River. St. Louis Cathedral is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and is described as the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States. The stop also puts you close to beignets and café au lait, the City Sightseeing ticket office, and many of the Quarter’s narrow streets.

I would not rush this stop. If you have one day, ride the first loop before returning here on foot. If you are using the bus mainly as transport, this is still a practical place to begin and end.

Stops 2 to 4: French Market, Esplanade Avenue, and Tremé

The French Market stop takes you to a long-running market area with produce, souvenirs, flea-market finds, and local goods. It is a good place to browse rather than a formal museum visit. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket, so allow extra money if you plan to eat here.

The Esplanade Avenue and Marigny Bywater section brings a different mood. Frenchmen Street is known for music clubs, while Crescent Park gives you a riverfront walk. JAMNola and a Bywater brew pub are also listed near this part of the route. I like this section because it shows you parts of New Orleans that can be missed if you spend your whole day around Bourbon Street.

Tremé and Lafitte offer another change of tone. Nearby points include St. Augustine Church and the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. This stop is particularly useful if you want the guide’s explanation of the city’s neighborhoods and traditions before exploring on foot.

The practical issue is time. You cannot see the market, Bywater, Tremé, and the French Quarter properly in one short hop-off visit. Pick one area for a close look and treat the rest as orientation.

Stops 5 to 7: Basin Street, Bourbon Street, and the riverfront side of downtown

Basin St. Station is a major route point and one of the first places to watch for a returning bus. Stops around Canal Street connect you with Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Chartres Street, and many Canal Street hotels.

Bourbon Street is the famous nightlife corridor, but I would not use it as your only picture of New Orleans. Royal Street is a better daytime wander, with crafts, antiques, art objects, and museums. The bus makes it easy to compare the two, then continue toward the modern business district.

The Caesars New Orleans stop adds the Harrah’s casino, the American Italian Cultural Museum, and the Italian Piazza. These are useful choices if you want indoor attractions or a break from the Quarter’s busy streets. Attraction admission is not included, so check the cost before you hop off with a fixed budget.

Stops 8 and 9: Lafayette Square and St. Charles Avenue

At 1100 Poydras Street, you are near Lafayette Square and Gallier Hall. This area shows New Orleans beyond the old Quarter, with broad streets and important civic buildings.

The next stop, at 545 St. Charles Avenue, begins a particularly worthwhile stretch. The St. Charles streetcar corridor is famous for its grand homes, mature trees, and long avenue views. The bus lets you see the area without committing to a full walk immediately.

If you choose the two or three-day pass, the included Garden District guided walking tour adds real value here. The bus gives you the overview, while the walking tour lets you slow down and focus on the architecture and neighborhood details. The Garden District walk is not included with the one-day ticket, so this is one of the clearest reasons to consider a longer option.

Stop 10: Museums in the Arts and Warehouse District

The National WWII Museum is one of the route’s strongest stops. The bus brings you close to the museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Confederate Civil War Museum.

You should not plan to visit all of these in one hop-off. The National WWII Museum alone can take a substantial part of your day, especially if you read displays carefully. If that museum is a priority, get off early and use the bus later only if your timing allows.

This area is also useful for art and culture. The Ogden and Contemporary Arts Center give you alternatives if you want regional art or modern work rather than a large military museum. Again, admission costs are separate from the bus ticket.

Stops 11 to 15: Magazine Street, the Garden District, and St. Charles Avenue

The route makes several stops along Magazine Street and St. Charles Avenue, including 2727 Magazine Street, 3137 Magazine Street, 3338 St. Charles Avenue, and 2020 St. Charles Avenue. That spacing tells you something important: this is not one quick attraction stop. It is a long area with several possible walks.

Magazine Street is a good choice if you prefer local shopping, cafés, restaurants, and neighborhood browsing to major ticketed sights. You can get off at one point, walk a manageable section, and rejoin the route later. Keep an eye on the time, since the last buses leave much earlier than the city’s restaurants and music venues begin their evening.

The Garden District stop is the natural place to use the included walking tour on a two or three-day pass. On a one-day ticket, I would either ride through it for the views or choose one focused walk. Trying to combine the Garden District, Magazine Street, the WWII Museum, and the French Quarter in one day will feel rushed.

The St. Charles Avenue stops also make sense for visitors staying outside the Quarter. The route can serve as a sightseeing ride and a practical way to connect with the central parts of the city, although it should not replace a normal evening transport plan.

Stops 16 to 18: Mardi Gras World, Julia Street, and the Mississippi River

Mardi Gras World is one of the most distinctive stops. It connects you with the city’s parade culture and enormous festival floats. Admission is not part of the bus ticket, but the location is convenient if you want to add it to your day.

The Arts and Warehouse District stop near Julia Street brings you to galleries, shops, and the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk. This is a useful contrast with the older architecture of the French Quarter. You can make the bus route your link between traditional New Orleans and its newer art and retail areas.

The final riverfront stop is at 2 Canal Street. Nearby sights include the Creole Queen paddlewheeler, VUE Orleans Observation Deck, and the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. These are separate paid attractions, so you will need to decide if you want a quick look from the outside or a longer stop with admission.

The route returns to 700 Decatur Street. If you get off at the riverfront late in the afternoon, do not assume you can catch a final bus back. The last departure from any stop is listed as 4pm, and the whole operation finishes around 5:30pm.

What the guides add to the ride

The strongest part of this experience is the human commentary. Guides including Linda, Ron, Chris, Bill, Mary, Sydney, Deidre, and Oreal have been praised for telling stories, explaining local history, and offering suggestions for places to eat.

Linda, also called No Line Linda, has been singled out for practical tips and an entertaining style. Chris was a favorite for one passenger who used the service several times, while Bill was praised for useful local details and an engaging manner. These names are not a guarantee of who will be working on your departure, but they show the style of commentary you can expect: personal, light, and less mechanical than a recorded soundtrack.

The drawback is sound quality. One passenger found the guide hard to hear, and another noted there was no foreign-language translation option in French. If English is not comfortable for you, or if you need every word, sit as close to the guide as possible and avoid relying only on the audio during traffic noise.

Is $51 a fair price?

At $51 per person, value depends on how you use the pass. A one-day ticket makes sense if you plan to ride much of the route, hop off at several distant areas, and use the live commentary as part of the experience. It is less convincing if you only want to travel between two nearby French Quarter points.

The two and three-day options are easier to justify for a slower visit. You can split the city into sections instead of racing between the Quarter, Garden District, museums, and riverfront. The included Garden District walking tour comes with both options, and the three-day ticket also includes a French Quarter guided walking tour.

Some people used the bus to avoid paying for multiple rides with app-based cars. That can improve the value, especially if you plan to visit several listed areas. I would compare the ticket price with your likely transport needs, not just the number of attractions you might see.

Timing, tickets, and practical details

Buses leave the main starting points around 9:30am to 9:40am. They run about every 30 minutes, and the bus tour itself takes roughly 1.5 hours for a full circuit. The final departure is at 4pm, with the complete service ending at about 5:30pm.

You can show a mobile voucher or printed paper voucher, and vouchers can be redeemed at any stop along the route. The voucher is valid only for the date selected at booking, so check the date carefully.

The buses are wheelchair accessible. Pets and smoking are not allowed. Bring cash, along with a passport or identification card as requested in the tour information.

Service has special closures and shorter hours on several dates, especially around February events, April dates, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Stops 1 through 4 also close on the listed April dates. Check the operating calendar before you build a museum or meal reservation around the bus.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the booked date, and the reserve-now-pay-later option can help if your plans are still changing.

Who should book this New Orleans bus tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors, families, older visitors, and anyone who wants a clear introduction before choosing where to spend more time. It is also useful if you want to see several separate districts without arranging every ride yourself.

The two or three-day pass suits a relaxed itinerary best. The one-day pass is better for a broad overview, especially if you begin early and accept that you will see some stops from the bus rather than explore them fully.

I would hesitate if your plan is mainly late-night music, Bourbon Street, or long meals. The buses finish too early for that. I would also think twice if you dislike open-top buses, need multilingual commentary, or want quiet transportation with no traffic delays.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want orientation, live local storytelling, and easy access to far-flung neighborhoods on your first days in New Orleans. Start with a full loop, then use your ticket selectively. The Garden District and French Quarter walking tours make the longer passes the better buy for a three-day visit.

Skip it if you plan to stay almost entirely on foot in the French Quarter or need evening transport. For most first visits, though, the route does a good job of showing how much more there is beyond Bourbon Street, and the live guides give the ride personality that a recorded tour often lacks.

FAQ

How long is the complete bus tour?

A full circuit takes about 1.5 hours if you remain on the bus.

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. The full service ends at about 5:30pm.

Is a guide included?

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

Are attraction admission fees included?

No. Tickets for attractions, along with food and drinks, are not included.

Which walking tours come with the longer passes?

The Garden District guided walking tour is included with two-day and three-day tickets. The French Quarter guided walking tour is included only with the three-day ticket.

Can I use a mobile voucher?

Yes. Mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted, and they can be redeemed at any stop along the route. The voucher is valid only on the date selected at booking.