Louisiana, United States
Explore 127 acres of elaborate above-ground tombs in New Orleans. The grounds follow the concentric ovals of a former 19th-century race track.
5.0 from 329 traveller reviews on Viator
Tickets & tours
Compare local expert guides with self-guided audio options.
Top ratedMetairie Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is frequently listed as one of the must-see cemeteries in the world. While walking beneath...
Small groupAs a department of the Preservation Resource Center, Save Our Cemeteries is the only non-profit tour operator directly supporting restoration, education, and advocacy in...
Best valueEnter the former Metairie Race Course, an earthly venue for the “quick,” now elegantly transformed into a glorious “City of the Dead” - where no one is in a hurry....
Explore
Find notable monuments across the expansive former race course.
Metairie Cemetery serves over 100,000 interments across its 127 acres.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Plan your visit
Plan for about two hours. This covers a guided walking tour or a thorough independent walk.
Visit between October and May. The cooler weather is much better for walking the large grounds.
Take the Canal Streetcar (Cemeteries route #47). It takes 30-40 minutes from downtown New Orleans.
Entry to the cemetery is free. Guided walking tours start around $35 for adults.
Established in 1872, the cemetery sits on the former high ground of the Metairie Race Course. The paved pathways still follow the race track's original concentric oval layout. This design makes navigation unique compared to the grid systems of older New Orleans cemeteries.
The grounds contain over 7,000 distinct family tombs. You will see grand mausoleums built in Egyptian, Greek, and Gothic revival styles. Important local figures, politicians, and musicians rest here, alongside famous authors like Anne Rice.
Read more about the Millionaire's Row or check our advice on Streetcar Directions to start planning your route.
We list group capacities so you know how crowded the walk will be.
We analyze actual traveler feedback to highlight reliable guides.
We display base prices and note any extra transportation fees.
From Viator
329 reviews of the millionaires and mausoleums on Viator
Highly recommend. Sally is super knowledgeable and engaging. The cemetery itself is beautiful.
Our cemetery tour with Sally was the highlight of our trip. Her knowledge and passion for New Orleans cemeteries, burial rituals and broader cultural insight taught us so much. Looking forward to booking a tour with her in another cemetery or attending one of her events in the future.
My spouse and I really enjoyed our tour with Glenn. He is very knowledgeable about the cemetery's history and does a great job bringing its stories to life. His enthusiasm for the subject is evident throughout, and we appreciated the fascinating details and historical context he shared along the way. It was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!
I felt that I learned so much on this tour. It is a beautiful cemetery with lovely grounds. My guide was Glenn. He was very informative about the history of the cemetery and those that “rest” here. I highly recommend this tour.
I thought it was the perfect little intro tour. I was wasting some time and just wanted a brief tour, and this was very easy to use and gave a perfect little loop with some prominent features highlighted. It matches your walking to begin talking too which was pretty neat.
It was GREAT! The app was easy to follow and the narrating was perfect-it rained on us but we were still able to drive on the route and complete the tour. Loved it!
Travel tips
Tickets & EntryFind out what it costs to enter and tour Metairie Cemetery.Read 
Streetcar DirectionsHow to take the Canal Streetcar to Metairie Cemetery from downtown.Read 
Best TimesLearn the best months and times of day to explore Metairie Cemetery comfortably.Read 
Map & NavigationHow to navigate the 127-acre cemetery.Read 
Guided vs. Self-GuidedCompare free independent visits with expert-led guided walking tours.Read 
What to WearPack for unpredictable weather and 127 acres of walking.Read Gothic novelist Anne Rice and jazz musician Louis Prima are among the most notable. The cemetery also holds influential politicians and Civil War generals.
Anne Rice is buried in her family mausoleum. It is located near Millionaire's Row at the T-junction of Avenue Bell and Avenue O.
Yes, the cemetery is generally safe during daytime operating hours. It is an active funeral site with regular maintenance. Use basic common sense and stick to the main paths.
Entry is free for independent visitors. Guided walking tours usually cost around $35 for adults. See Tickets for options.
Yes, you can explore the grounds independently for free. A digital map is highly recommended due to the confusing concentric oval layout.
Yes. Leashed dogs are permitted on the cemetery grounds. Owners must clean up after their pets at all times.
Compare walking tours or plan an independent visit to the grounds today.
