City Sightseeing New Orleans HOHO Bus Tour & Bookable Extras

New Orleans reveals itself in layers, and this open-top bus is a quick way to see those layers before choosing where to spend your time. The route links the French Quarter, Tremé, the Garden District, the Arts District, and the riverfront, while a live guide adds stories that a recorded headset cannot match. I especially like the live narration and the chance to use the bus as both a sightseeing ride and practical transport.

I also like the 30-minute service, which gives you room to get off for a museum, meal, or walk without losing the whole day. The main drawback is the early finish: buses stop running by late afternoon, and some passengers have found the guide hard to hear from certain seats. Plan your stops carefully, and sit close to the guide when you can.

Key points to know before you ride

• The route covers 18 useful stops, from Jackson Square and Bourbon Street to the National WWII Museum, Garden District, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront.
• Live English guides tell the story, with guides such as Linda, Ron, Chris, Bill, Mary, and Deidre praised for their humor and city tips.
• The full loop takes about 1.5 hours, making it a useful first ride before deciding where to hop off.
• Buses run about every 30 minutes, but the last departure from any stop is at 4pm and the full service ends by 5:30pm.
• Two-day passes include a Garden District walking tour, while three-day passes add a French Quarter walking tour.
• Attraction admission is not included, so budget separately for museums, Mardi Gras World, the aquarium, and other ticketed sights.

Why this bus works well on a first New Orleans day

New Orleans is easy to picture as one compact French Quarter, but the city spreads well beyond Bourbon Street. The bus helps you connect districts that feel quite different: old Creole streets, Tremé, the long sweep of St. Charles Avenue, the Garden District, the Warehouse District, and the riverfront.

I would take one full loop early in your visit. You can stay aboard for the 1.5-hour ride, listen to the guide, and mark the places that deserve a closer look. After that, you can hop off at Jackson Square for the cathedral, at the National WWII Museum for a major museum visit, or in the Garden District for a slower walk among grand homes.

The live guide is a major part of the value. Names change by departure, but guides including Linda, Ron, Chris, Bill, Mary, Deidre, Sydney, and Ellen have been singled out for clear stories, humor, and useful food suggestions. One guide, Linda, is known for the nickname No Line Linda, while Chris has been praised for adding extra detail after the main ride.

That personal touch matters in New Orleans. A recorded commentary can name a building, but a live guide can explain why a street matters, point out a detail as you pass, or suggest where to eat later. The quality can vary by guide, and you may have trouble hearing if you sit too far back, but the live format is more engaging than the usual earphones.

Following the route from Jackson Square to the French Market

The main starting point is at 700 Decatur Street, close to Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. This is an excellent place to begin because you are already in the center of the French Quarter, with beignets, coffee, galleries, and historic streets nearby.

Stop 1 serves Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, beignet shops, and the City Sightseeing ticket office. The cathedral is one of the city’s defining landmarks and is described as the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States. You can combine the ride with a short visit to the square, then walk toward Royal Street for antiques, crafts, art, and museums.

Stop 2 reaches the French Market and its colonnade. The market area is useful for browsing produce, souvenirs, and local goods, and it gives you a change of pace from the bars and restaurants of Bourbon Street. Allow extra time here if you want to browse rather than simply take a quick photograph.

Stop 3 serves the Marigny and Bywater area, including Frenchmen Street music clubs, Crescent Park, JAMNola, and a Bywater brew pub. Frenchmen Street is one of the better stops for live music, though the bus runs only during daytime hours. If music is your goal, use the bus to get oriented, then make your own evening plans separately.

Tremé, Basin Street, and the downtown core

Stop 4 reaches Tremé and Lafitte, with access to St. Augustine Church and the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. This stop adds important context to a route that might otherwise focus too heavily on tourist landmarks. Tremé is tied closely to New Orleans music and Black cultural history, so the guide’s commentary is particularly useful here.

At Stop 5, Basin Street Station offers another useful link into the city. Stops 6 and 7 bring you toward the best-known downtown addresses: Canal Street, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Chartres Street, Harrah’s Casino, and the American Italian Cultural Museum.

This section is where the bus saves the most effort. You can hop off near Bourbon Street, then walk the surrounding streets without arranging another ride. You can also use the bus to reach the riverfront or return toward Jackson Square after exploring.

The route does not turn every attraction into a formal entry. That is important. The pass gets you near major sights, but museum and attraction tickets cost extra, as do food and drinks. Think of the bus as your transport and orientation tool, not a package covering every admission.

Stops 8 and 9 serve Poydras and Loyola, Lafayette Square, Gallier Hall, and St. Charles Avenue. This is the start of the city’s more formal downtown architecture and the route toward the Garden District.

The National WWII Museum and the Arts District

Stop 10 is one of the strongest practical stops on the route: the National WWII Museum. Nearby you will also find the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Confederate Civil War Museum.

You could easily spend several hours in this part of town, especially at the National WWII Museum. For that reason, I would not try to combine every nearby museum with a full day of hopping on and off. Pick one main visit, then use the bus for the remaining areas.

Stops 17 and 18 cover the Arts and Warehouse District and the riverfront. Julia Street is known for shops and galleries, while the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk gives you an indoor shopping option. Stop 18 is near the Creole Queen paddlewheeler, the VUE Orleans Observation Deck, and the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium.

This last section gives the ride a useful finish. You can see the riverfront, plan a paddlewheeler trip, or visit the aquarium on a separate ticket. The bus does not replace a dedicated attraction visit, but it makes the city’s spread easier to understand.

Seeing the Garden District along Magazine Street

Stops 11 through 15 take you along Magazine Street, St. Charles Avenue, and into the Garden District. The addresses include 2727 Magazine Street, 3137 Magazine Street, 3338 St. Charles Avenue, 2020 St. Charles Avenue, and the corners of Louisiana Avenue and St. Andrew Street.

Magazine Street is a good place to get off if you want shops, restaurants, and a more local street atmosphere. The route gives you several chances to choose your own stopping point rather than forcing you into one central drop-off.

St. Charles Avenue brings a different mood, with its long avenue and historic homes. The Garden District is best enjoyed on foot, so do not treat these stops only as photo opportunities from the top deck. The two-day pass includes a guided Garden District walking tour, which adds real value if architecture and local stories matter to you.

The three-day ticket also includes a guided French Quarter walking tour. That makes the longer passes more than repeated bus rides. You get extra time for museums, markets, and meals, plus guided walks in the two districts most first-time visitors want to understand.

Mardi Gras World and the riverfront

Stop 16 serves the Convention Center and Mardi Gras World. Mardi Gras World is a separate attraction, so admission is not part of the bus ticket, but the stop makes it easy to include in your day.

This is a good example of how to use the route sensibly. You can stay on for a broad look at the area, get off for Mardi Gras World, then continue toward the Arts District or riverfront. Check the clock before leaving the bus, since a late afternoon stop can leave you waiting after the final service.

The riverfront stop links several attractions in one area, including the Creole Queen, VUE Orleans Observation Deck, and Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. If you are building a day around one of these, confirm its opening hours separately and leave enough time to return before the buses finish.

Timing, ticket length, and the real value of $51

The listed price is $51 per person, with one, two, and three-day options available. At that price, a one-day ticket makes sense if you plan to complete the loop and get off at two or three distant areas. It becomes less convincing if you only want to ride around the French Quarter, where much of the center is walkable.

I see the best value in the two-day ticket for a relaxed visit. You can use the first day to orient yourself and explore the French Quarter, then use the second day for the Garden District, museums, Magazine Street, or Mardi Gras World. The included Garden District walking tour helps justify the longer pass.

The three-day ticket suits a slower stay or anyone who prefers not to rush. The added French Quarter walking tour gives you another structured experience, and the bus can help with longer journeys between districts. One buyer used a three-day pass to reach several separate activities, which is a sensible strategy if your plans line up with the route.

Buses begin leaving Stops 1, 5, 6, and 17 around 9:30am to 9:40am. They run about every 30 minutes, with the last departure from any stop at 4pm and the final tour ending at 5:30pm. Those hours are the chief limitation. This is a daytime sightseeing service, not an evening transport option.

Start early. If you get off at the National WWII Museum or spend time in the Garden District, do not assume another bus will still be available late in the day. The service may also have altered hours or closures on certain February, April, November, December, and holiday dates, so check the date-specific schedule before paying.

What the ride feels like in practice

The open-top deck gives you broad views and helps you spot architectural details above street level. On a hot or rainy day, conditions can be less comfortable, and the open deck is not equally appealing in every weather pattern.

A live English guide rides with you. Guides have been praised for being funny, friendly, and full of useful city information. Some, including Linda, Chris, Ron, Bill, and Mary, have made a strong impression with personal stories and practical suggestions.

Sound is the main comfort issue to watch. One passenger found the guide difficult to hear, while another noted that buses can feel old and that foreign-language translation was not available. Sit near the guide, and consider staying downstairs if traffic noise or weather makes the upper deck less pleasant.

The buses are wheelchair accessible, and both mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted. You can redeem a voucher at any stop along the route, though it is valid only for the date selected when booking. Pets and smoking are not allowed, and you should bring cash and a passport or ID card.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. The meeting point can vary by option, so check your confirmation rather than assuming every departure begins at 700 Decatur Street.

Who should book this New Orleans bus tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors, families, older visitors, and anyone staying outside the French Quarter. It gives you a fast sense of the city and removes some of the guesswork from reaching the Garden District, museums, Tremé, and the riverfront.

It also suits repeat visitors who want a simple way to revisit several districts without arranging separate rides. The live guide makes the ride feel more like a city introduction than a basic shuttle.

I would be less keen on it for a short evening-only visit or for someone who plans to spend the entire day within the central French Quarter. Walking may be enough there, and the bus does not operate late.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want a broad first look at New Orleans, value live storytelling, and plan to visit areas beyond the French Quarter. The two-day pass is the best balance for many visitors because it adds the Garden District walking tour without forcing a packed schedule.

Choose one day if you are organized and mainly want orientation. Choose three days if you want time for museums, separate attractions, and both included walking tours. Start early, sit where you can hear the guide, and treat the bus as a base for exploring rather than the whole New Orleans experience.

FAQ

How long does the complete bus tour take?

The full bus tour takes about 1.5 hours without getting off.

How often do the buses run?

Buses run about 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 5:30pm.

What is included with the two-day ticket?

The two-day ticket includes the hop-on-hop-off bus tour and a guided Garden District walking tour.

What is included with the three-day ticket?

The three-day ticket includes the hop-on-hop-off bus tour, a guided Garden District walking tour, and a guided French Quarter walking tour.

Are attraction entry tickets included?

No. Attraction tickets, food, and drinks are not included.

Can I use a mobile voucher?

Yes. Mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted and can be redeemed at any stop along the route.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The buses are wheelchair accessible.