The Spookiest Places in New Orleans

The Saint Roch cemetery, in New Orleans, makes for a chilling visit
The Saint Roch cemetery, in New Orleans, makes for a chilling visit | © Beth Dixson / Alamy Stock Photo
Rebeca Trejo

New Orleans is known as one of the most haunted destinations in the United States. Founded in 1718, it has been the sight of natural disasters, famines, wars and disease, leading to deaths that have shaped chilling ghost stories, hauntings and supernatural events ever since. Here’s our pick of spooky places that are worth a visit in the Big Easy.

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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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The LaLaurie Mansion

Building

© Chris Brown / Alamy Stock Photo

The LaLaurie Mansion was built in 1832 on Royal Street by Madame Delphine LaLaurie to live in with her third husband, two daughters and household slaves. It is perhaps one of the most terrifying locations in New Orleans. Delphine, born during the Spanish colonial period into a white Creole family, became infamous in April 1834 when, after responding to a fire, rescuers found several bound slaves in the attic showing signs of severe malnourishment and mistreatment. Following the discovery of this torture chamber, LaLaurie fled to France with her family and left behind a French Quarter landmark that has been preserved through the hair-raising stories of those who died here. Today, ghost tales and haunting accounts surround the mansion, now a private residence and you can take a tour when you visit.

Hotel Monteleone

© Judie Long / Alamy Stock Photo

An imposing structure at the Royal and Iberville Street intersection, Hotel Monteleone is an 1886 French Quarter landmark simultaneously famous for being one of the few family-owned hotels in the country, and a premier spot for apparitions and paranormal activity in New Orleans. Inside this 15-story, Beaux Arts-style boutique hotel, which holds four generations worth of history, guests have reported seeing everything from children roaming the halls to staff members tending to their duties. The building’s most notorious story, though, involves its 14th-floor roaming resident Maurice Begere, a mischievous young boy who lost his life to yellow fever at the hotel during the 1890s, and now desperately searches for his deceased parents, Josephine and Jacques Begere.

Charity Hospital

Building

Founded in 1736 by a grant from French sailor and shipbuilder Jean Louis, the Charity Hospital, in Downtown, was a medical facility where the city’s poverty-stricken community could seek healthcare. One of the oldest operating hospitals in the US, and once a symbol of pride among New Orleans residents, it is now an unrecognizable site, abandoned in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Charity was flooded after the levees failed and water reached the basement generators, leaving the hospital unable to operate. Legend has it that the ghosts of the founder as well as those who died here still haunt the halls.

The Gardette-LaPrete Mansion

Building
Built in 1836 by Creole plantation owner Jean Baptiste LaPrete, the Gardette-LaPrete mansion is the site of one of the most gruesome mass slayings in New Orleans history. In the 1850s, it was rented out to a wealthy man from Turkey who moved in with a large entourage and was known for throwing lavish parties. But one morning, a passerby noticed blood running from under the door, and dismembered, mutilated bodies including that of the tenant now known as the Sultan, were discovered. The murders were blamed on pirates, but some argue it was on the order of the Sultan’s brother, who was a sultan, who was allegedly looking to execute his male relatives in an effort to eliminate sultanate competition. You can spot the Gardette-LePrete mansion at 716 Dauphine Street, in the French Quarter or book a guided tour.

St Louis Cemetery No. 1

Cemetery

© Andria Patino / Alamy Stock Photo

Sure to offer a few goosebumps, St Louis Cemetery No 1 is the oldest and most famous city of the dead in the Big Easy. Opened in 1789, the cemetery houses more than 600 fascinating above-ground tombs and beautiful monuments in crumbling rows. Many of the city’s notable dead are entombed in this one square block, including Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and Homer Plessy. The site is also home to the future tomb of actor Nicolas Cage, who purchased a 9ft (2.74m) white pyramid tomb inscribed with Omnia Ab Uno (Everything From One). And since the line between past and present feels thin as you navigate the narrow walkways, visitors must be accompanied by a tour guide to make sure guests don’t slip from this life into another.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Museum
The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum opened on Chartres Street in 1823 under the direction of the country’s first licensed pharmacist, Louis Joseph Dufilho Jr. Following the founder’s death, the apothecary shop was purchased by Dr Dupas, who ran the once-thriving pharmacy into the ground by conducting heinous experiments upstairs during a century of yellow fever, dysentery, malaria and other epidemics. Today, the museum houses an extensive collection of antique pharmacy equipment and supplies, and staff and visitors have reported seeing Dupas’s crazed spirit haunting the place, dressed in a lab coat while he moves cabinets around, throws books and rearranges items in the cases. You can visit this attraction for only $5 – check the website for an updated schedule.

Saint Roch Chapel

Cemetery
The small Saint Roch Chapel, in the Saint Roch neighborhood cemetery, is not exactly haunted, but it’s most certainly spooky. The 19th-century shrine filled with various ex-votos or offerings in the form of prosthetics, false teeth, artificial eyeballs, crutches, notes and other miscellaneous objects left by those either in need of healing or who have prayed to Saint Roch and recovered. It’s said that when a yellow fever epidemic hit New Orleans in the 19th century, Reverend Peter Thevis prayed to Saint Roch to protect his community. More than 40,000 people in the New Orleans area succumbed to the fever over half a century, but Reverend Thevis’s community miraculously suffered no losses, and the gothic revival chapel was erected in the saint’s honor. A popular site for tourists, the chapel is a prime example of the exotic Catholicism of New Orleans.
This is an updated version of an article originally written by Kari Elgin

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