A great way -- maybe the best way -- to see the Garden District is on a bike tour. You experience so much more in terms of "geographical area" versus a walking tour (which I have also done). The Garden District offers a plethora of history to uncover, hidden NOLA treasures, an occasional celebrity house to see (outside only), and -- of course -- architectural delights galore. Lauren, our guide, was knowledgeable and engaging. She offered plenty of information and opened the conversation up for questions and follow-on discussion. She kept the group together, practiced excellent safety awareness, but also kept the tour moving so that we stayed relatively on time. From beginning to end the tour lasted about 2 to 2.5 hours. She provides a "break" about halfway for those who want to use a bathroom or get a beverage. We were dodging rain during our entire stay in NOLA, but luckily didn't experience any inclement weather during the tour itself. But, dress accordingly: depending on when you go you may need layered clothing or light clothing, rain gear, a hat (with a visor), sunscreen, etc. Helmets are provided and a bottle of water included. New Orleans streets are as flat as a pancake, so very little in terms of pedaling effort is required. However, New Orleans road surfaces are a nightmare (i.e., potholes, cracked pavement, unfinished road construction, sections of seemingly un-paved streets, etc.) so diligence is advised and riders must exercise some caution. This is not the tour organizers fault -- obviously -- but testimony that NOLA can throw the best parties in the world but can't seem to fill a pothole. The cemetery portion of the tour also offers a unique insight to the history of the area. Well worth the time spent there. I dinged the tour one star as the condition of the bikes could be improved and since I'm a bit taller than the average rider (i.e., 6'6") I would have liked to have seen some larger bikes offered for a guy my size.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Poncho when raining
- Bottled water
- Helmet
- Use of bicycle
- Local Guide
Excludes
- Our guides are great, please don't forget them. Gratuity is not included in the price.
Itinerary
Stop and learn about the funerary tradition in New Orleans that is unlike any other.
Explore the beautiful Garden District by bike while learning the rich history of the homes and people.
Riding through the Irish Channel you will see a variety of homes, architecture styles and beautiful churches just steps from the Garden District.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Had a great time with Justin as our guide. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The cruiser bikes made the side so easy. Would definitely recommend the Garden District/Cemetery tour when you visit New Orleans. Look forward to trying the beer tour next!
Bryan is amazingly knowledgeable. Commensurate professional that has a wide range of knowledge. If you’re on the fence I hope this real review helps make up your mind to book. Tour length was perfect.
The best way to cover a lot of ground, geographically and historically. Fun, insightful and beautiful (architecture)! Our guide (and owner), Brian Moore, was A+++
Our group of 8 had a really fun time on this tour despite half of it taking place during a downpour! Our guide Brian was prepared, flexible, and most importantly, a joy to learn from. He shared so much information about the city's history and current existence in the short time, we came away with great knowledge that we referenced through the remainder of out trip. Biking was not difficult, even in hard rain. We would definitely recommend this tour.
Wonderful way to see New Orleans. The tour guide was fantastic and had a great insight and knowledge of the city and its culture and history.
Superb tour and the tour guide was excellent. Tour was at a pace that nothing was rushed, and the tour guide had a wonderful passion describing and providing great information for the sites we visited. A unique way to visit this area of New Orleans and would highly recommended this tour particularly with Lauren the tour guide.
I really enjoyed the bike tour on Thursday, September 24. We enjoyed both the cemetery portion and the garden district houses. We learned a lot. Tour guide was full of knowledge and also- the longer breaks with AC were a great stop on a hot day!! Thank you 😊
Justin was a fantastic guide. We learned so much on the tour and had fun as well!! The pace was easy and there was a lot to see. The bikes were comfortable and 3 gears is all you need because the terrain is flat. We think this was the best way to experience the Garden District!
It was just the 4 of us on the tour which was fantastic as we could keep up together & it felt like a private tour! Justin, our guide, was fabulous - very knowledgeable about New Orleans. It was really hot but the pace & frequent stops made it manageable. This tour is a great way to see a cemetery & learn about traditional burial. And it’s a great way to see the beautiful garden district. The stop for a drink / snack was also welcome.
Fun ride through the Garden District with explanations of cool houses and cemeteries. Took a break at Parasol's and got a drink!
My husband and I had two days to spend in New Orleans and googled fun activities to do and came up with Paved Paradise Bike Tours which had all 5 star reviews. We spent a great day with Justin and his wife riding through neighborhoods, visiting some cool local breweries and learning all about the city where Justin grew up and was a wealth of knowledge. We highly recommend booking for one of their tours!!
When traveling to new cities, we try to take a bike tour to get an overall feel for the area. This tour focuses on the Garden District mainly (along with an interesting cemetery) and was just the right length for our goals. Justin kept a great relaxed pace, and was very knowledgeable about the area. The bikes were in great shape and included helmets, water and a little basked for your phone if desired. It helped that the weather was perfect, and we had a nice small group that finished up for a quick drink at a local Irish pub.
A fun and informative morning bike ride! The pace was easy with flat streets. The guides were great! The route was beautiful not too many cars in the streets.
The tour was fantastic. We had to wait to get started because a Secondline parade was stopped by the tour start point but it was entertaining and fun to experience. Our guide Tanya was excellent, informative, fun & personable. Though we started late she still took us to all the stops as planned. She went at a nice pace as the weather was warm & humid. The tour was more than we expected, so much history.
Really interesting and great insights and history. Guide was friendly, knowledgable and good fun and was keen to newer our questions
We were very lucky with the weather. It was sunny and warm. We were the only group on the tour which meant we were able to keep up and not miss any information. Plenty of stops for photos. Plenty of water offered. The bathroom stop/coffee stop was perfect. Really enjoyed this activity. Very easy to participate as all level roads although of course you must keep your eyes open for pot holes! Would recommend as it was the perfect way to see the garden district.
Lauren did a fantastic job leading our tour of the Garden District and Cemeteries. She was very knowledgeable and entertaining. This is an excellent way to see the Garden District and visit a few of the large, old New Orleans cemeteries. She was well prepared for the occasional downpour we encountered and really helped us understand the history of this area of New Orleans. The ride is very doable for anyone who can ride a bike.
Really a great experience. Our guide was entertaining and fun. I highly recommend this tour.
The starting location is easy to get to using the street car. I found the experience to be a relaxing ride around some of the more beautiful sections of New Orleans. The guide stopped just the right amount to share information about the area and share interesting stories from the past. A great experience!
We thoroughly enjoyed our bike tour today with Justin! Lots of great stories. Would definitely recommend!
Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Also aware of traffic to keep us safe. And, took a nod to the weather with multiple indoor stops
Lauren was an exceptional guide, her stories were fascinating and she answered questions expertly. The bikes were in good shape, the ride was flat with many stops and the homes were beautiful.
The garden district tour exceeded our expectations. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the ride was easy strolling.
We accidentally booked the same day as the St. Patrick's Day Parade so we couldn't make it on the tour, unfortunately! The tour guided called me and said it was no problem and refunded our tickets right away. He was so nice, polite and accomadating. THAT is outstanding customer service. We will definitely re-book in the future!
This was a great way to see the Garden District and cemetery. Brian was so knowledgeable and friendly. The bike tour was a highlight of our trip! Highly recommend!
Brian is very knowledgeable and you can tell how passionate he is with New Orleans culture. We never felt rushed at any of the stops.
We learned so many fascinating facts about New Orleans, its cemeteries, and the people who lived in the historic mansions in the area. The ride was slow, easy and relaxing. Our tour guide, Brian, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared the information in a fun and engaging way. He clearly enjoyed answering questions, which made everyone feel comfortable asking them. We came away having learned a lot - exactly what we hope for what we take a tour. The bikes were comfortable and easy to ride, which made the experience even better. Great tour.
Lauren was such a knowledgable and relaxed guide. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour and loved being on bikes and gettng a little sunshine and riding in. It was a perfect way to see the Garden district!
It was a nice bike ride around the historic garden district. We learned a lot of history of the area and enjoyed our time.
Wonderful experience and tour guide! The biking was very easy with no hills. Slow pace and the guide was knowledgeable.
Bryan was fun and knowledgeable! A great guide and experience. A range of architecture and fun facts. The weather was perfect in early January.
Our cemetery/Garden District tour was outstanding! Bryan was funny, warm, and ever so knowledgeable. Our whole family is still talking about everything we learned about New Orleans traditions. Above all, Bryan’s pride for his city was palpable and inspiring. We highly recommend this tour!
Awesome tour for kids and adults. Lauren our guide was super knowledgeable and knew a ton about the neighborhood. Great way to see the Garden district and cemetery.
SOO amazing! Brian was fun and very knowledgeable - don't wait - book now!!!! 💫💜💙🤍💫💜💙🤍💫💜💙🤍
Paved Paradise did a wonderful job. Brian was a very knowledgeable and fun guide -well worth the time. Very safe and one of the best guided tours I have been on.
We had a fantastic time. Lauren was a wonderful guide with copious amounts of history and information. We enjoyed every part of the tour. The cemetery, learning about the historic preservation and the beautiful homes in the Garden District. Great recommendations for shopping and food around town. Thanks Lauren for helping make our trip to New Orleans a memorable one.
We had such a great bike ride thru the Garden district and the cemeteries. Tanya really knew her history and she was kind. This tour was well worth it, we absolutely loved it.
Great time. Very informative and fun! Our guide Brian was beyond good, gave us pertinent information, answered our questions and was a cool host!
An easy level pedaling experience, most people could do this without breaking a sweat. Lauren our guide was informative and nice, she spoke of the history of NOLA cemeteries and of why they used crypts instead of the six foot hole. We then pedaled into the garden district and saw some cool mansions, Lauren spoke about them and of some of the celebrities who own/owned them.
We had such a fun time on the bike tour! Perfect for seeing the garden district. We learned a lot without being bored. We felt safe on the roads, and the mansions were beautiful.
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Paved Paradise Bike Tours yesterday! Our guide Brian was awesome, full of local knowledge, fun stories, and historical insights that really brought New Orleans to life. He even got us up close to the Second Line, which was such a cool authentic experience. The ride itself felt very safe, easy, and relaxed; definitely not strenuous at all. We covered so much more ground than we ever could have on foot and got to see parts of the city we might have missed otherwise. Entertaining, informative, and a great way to explore, highly recommend!
Great experience, our guide Tanya was spectacular, provided a perfect tour lots of history and local facts
Justin is a tour guide I highly recommend. Enjoyable, informative and with a laid back easy vibe. Garden District is a must see.
Sarah was a fantastic tour guide. She has a wealth of knowledge about the area. Our little group of four had a great time. I only wish we had more time and could have covered more miles!
I loved this tour! Great glimpse into the history of New Orleans! Fascinating burial practices, and the Garden District has its own soap opera to follow! Really Fun!!
I’ll start my 5 star review with saying Sara is an Amazing guide! She was very concerned about our comfort and safety. The tour was very informative with interesting facts. We highly recommend!! Top of our list for things we did on our trip to NOLA.
Our tour was great and Sarah was an excellent guide! Her knowledge of the city, approach to leading a group of cyclists, and her kindness made the experience that much more enjoyable!
we picked a day of rain, but still had a good time the guide Justin was friendly and knowledgeable. The meeting place was a little sketchy.
Super fun, informative tour - biking is the best way to see the Garden District! Wear athletic clothes!
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