Experience New Orleans on a Budget with Our Affordable Tours
NOLA on the Cheap
We all know money can be tight, especially these days, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a visit to an incredible city like New Orleans. With such a laid-back atmosphere and easy-going way of life, it’s not hard to explore NOLA on a budget.
Exploring For Less
New Orleans is by no means a big city, but there’s lots to explore, even if you’re trying to keep the cost low.
One of the many tours we offer around the city
Walking Tours
One of the most affordable options is a walking tour – at Gators and Ghosts, we offer tours throughout the city on various subjects like haunted history and vampire tours in the French Quarter, as well as walking tours of the Garden District where you’ll see stately mansions and historical architecture. Call us today to set up your walking tour to experience some of the most special parts of the city on a budget, and if you use the promo code 3OFFEVERYTHING, you’ll even snag a discount!
Streetcars and Buses
Public transportation is a low-cost way to explore the city, especially if you aren’t renting a car while you’re here. City buses travel throughout the Greater New Orleans area, and the streetcar line cuts through some of the most popular parts of NOLA. You can buy single rides, day passes, and more, and explore like the locals do. And for a quick trip across the Mighty Mississippi River (that also won’t break the bank), hop on the local ferry. It’s a great way to catch a breeze, get a good view of the city skyline, and make your way to another part of NOLA without having to deal with the traffic.
Parks
There are tons of parks and green spaces throughout New Orleans to explore for free as well. An easy streetcar ride from the French Quarter will lead you to City Park, one of the largest city-owned green spaces in the nation, where you’ll find ancient oak trees, beautiful gardens and walking trails, and an incredible sculpture garden that will make you feel like you’re transported far from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Dare to hold a baby gator? Give it a try on a pontoon boat tour!
Pontoon Boat Swamp Tours
For exploring even further from the city while still stretching your dollar, we recommend taking a pontoon boat tour of the swamp. Just a short drive from the French Quarter, you’ll find lush greenery and all kinds of wildlife waiting for you in the swamp. Pontoon boat tours offer a shady, slow-paced journey on the water where you can spot all kinds of birds, otters, wild hogs, and even alligators, depending on the season. The reasonable price and the easy journey make this a real find for tourist and local alike. You can book your tour with us online or give us a call – we can even arrange transportation to and from the swamp if you need it – and you can get an extra discount when you use the promo code 3OFFEVERYTHING.
Eating and Drinking
We’re known around the world for our incredible food and drink, and getting to know a city through its cuisine is a great way to explore. While some of the high-end dining experiences may seem out of reach for a budget-friendly trip, that certainly doesn’t mean you have to skip out on having a truly memorable culinary encounter.
The messier the po-boy, the better!
Corner Store Po-boys
The city is filled with corner stores, small shops positioned on street corners that sell everything from all the modern conveniences someone might need to really great hot plates and po-boys (large sandwiches made on French baguette-like bread and filled with all kinds of options from deli meats to fried seafood and everything in between).
Give us all the crawfish!
Grocery Store Crawfish
The grocery store is also a great spot to grab some local cuisine for a reasonable price, especially during the spring, aka crawfish season. Swing by most stores throughout the day, and you’ll find someone boiling up these “mudbugs” in a mix of intense seasoning and vegetables. Usually sold by the pound, this seafood feast may look humble, but it’s sure to hit the spot. Find a sunny spot on a bench or some shade in one of the parks to plop down and start peeling and enjoying one of the best dishes you’ll find!
Happy Hours
If you’re a fan of seafood, don’t stop with the crawfish. Lots of bars and restaurants throughout the city host oyster happy hours, offering discounted fresh oysters that pair great with a martini and some people watching.
New Orleans has great places to grab a drink on nearly every corner
Many of these same bars offer happy hour specials on drinks as well. If you’re a fan of cocktails, New Orleans is a must-visit since many people claim this is where the cocktail was invented. While the history might be a little murky, there are certainly quite a few bars around the city that have elevated and perfected the cocktail, and if you’re looking for a way to enjoy some of these fancier drinks for a fraction of the price, hunting down a happy hour is a must.
Strolling with a Drink
Slightly different than most other US cities, New Orleans does allow open containers of alcohol on the street (within certain parameters), so if sitting down to sip slowly on a cocktail isn’t on your agenda, finding a budget-friendly to-go option might be the right move for you. While there are quite a few spots around town serving up drinks you can carry out with you, there’s nothing that compares to the Neptune’s Monsoon from Port of Call if you’re looking to stretch a buck. It’s a massive fruity, rum-filled drink that you can sip on for ages as you stroll through the French Quarter.
A City for Everyone
A city like New Orleans really is for everyone, no matter your budget. With a little extra planning and some flexibility, you can have an incredible time in our incredible city, and Gators and Ghosts can help you make the most of your visit! Explore all our tour options here, and connect with us today to get your trip planning started.
On a budget? Try our least expensive swamp tour option, the Pontoon Swamp Tour!