How To Save With The New Orleans Sightseeing Pass

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There’s no shortage of attractions in New Orleans, which can make any visitor look at their wallet and gulp with dread.

If you’re wanting to see a lot of attractions but worried about money, or possibly missing out if you’re planning last minute, the solution is the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.

It’s designed to save you time and money on your New Orleans vacation and provides great value on tickets all the best sites NOLA has to offer.

But what is the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass? What can you get with this discounted attraction pass? What does it allow you entry to and for how long?

These are all valid questions, and ones we will be answering in this comprehensive guide so you know what you’re signing up for.

What Is The New Orleans Sightseeing Pass?

Sightseeing PAss NOLA

There are two types of sightseeing passes, the Day Pass and the Flex Pass.

The Day Pass allows you unlimited sightseeing for the duration of your stay, and the Flex Pass allows you to choose between 2-6 attractions from a list of 20 options and visit them over a 60 day period.

Both passes give you entry to 45+ attractions and comes with access to special offers. They also offer you ticket-free entry.

With these Sightseeing Passes, you can often skip the queues, which will save you lots of time, especially during the busy seasons.

That makes them worth it alone. I hate queues!!

For New Orleans discount passes, there is also the New Orleans Pass. It works in pretty much the exact same way. I have outlined in a section below some significant differences including price.

Do your due diligence to choose which is better for you and what you want to see and do in New Orleans.

Here’s an overview of each one.

New Orleans Day Pass

The Day Pass can be used for the number of consecutive calendar days you select. You can choose anywhere from 1 day up to 5 days, but they have to be consecutive.

This makes it a much better choice for tourists who are visiting New Orleans on a short visit.

It becomes activated when it is used at its first attraction, then expires at midnight on its last valid day.

The Day Pass is recommended for first-time visitors to New Orleans, as well as travelers who like convenience and with an open itinerary – as well as those who like to control their sightseeing budget.

Pay one price, then visit as many attractions as you wish with the Day Pass.

In short, it offers:

• Unlimited sightseeing
• Choose a 1, 2, 3 or 5 Day Pass
• See all you can for one low price
• Save up to 56%

Day prices start at $59 per day, but the more days you purchase the better value the pass is.

On our last Christmas trip to New Orleans, we had a 3 Day Sightseeing Pass.

I’m not sure this one from New Orleans had as much superpower in terms of saving as the NYC Sightseeing Pass, HOWEVER, it does depend on what tours you want to experience.

Below I outline a couple of different scenarios where you can make the most of your money, and with some careful planning, it will save you money, which is what you and I both want.

New Orleans Flex Pass

With the Sightseeing FLEX Pass, you select the number of attractions you would like to see and then build a custom itinerary to fit your exact interests as you go.

This option is recommended for visitors who have already been to New Orleans and want to enjoy a more customized experience on their subsequent visits.

It’s great for those who are short on time or have a limited sightseeing budget.

• Visit 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 attractions within a 60 day period
• Choose as you go from 25 top spots
• Pass valid for 60 days
• Save 54% or more

Flex Passes start at $30 per attraction.

What’s Included In The New Orleans Sightseeing Pass?

The Sightseeing Pass is a city discount attraction pass that allows free entry to over 20 attractions.

It has the biggest choice of New Orleans attractions and includes 24 hour access to the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Loop with over 18 stops one one day.

Plus, the city attraction pass also has extra bonus inclusions such as retail and dining discounts.

Top attractions on the Sightseeing Pass

As we had visited New Orleans previously there were some top New Orleans attractions included on the pass that we did not take advantage of.

I have included them in this list as they were terrific and really worth doing.

For each of the top attractions, I have included a link where you can buy tickets for them individually if you wanted to do them but decided the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass wasn’t valuable to you.

These are the best New Orleans Attractions to visit with the Sightseeing Pass. 

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World was awesome!

Strange that we didn’t visit earlier this year when we attended Mardi Gras, but we were too busy catching beads.

I’m so glad we did the tour this time as it was wonderful to see the creative design and work that goes into building those decorative, vibrant, and artistic floats.

Yes. This is a year-round production experience that brings in billion dollars each year. Mardi Gras is a phenomenon!

Kalyra has taken quite the interest in art recently, so I loved how she could learn a few artistic techniques on this tour. The tour also includes a sampling of King Cake, and a short video to learn the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The cost of the Mardi Gras World tour is $29.95 adult, $24.95 children 2-12, which is half the price of the Day Pass and the same as the Flex Pass.

So if you visit two attractions with the Sightseeing Pass, you’ve made your money back.

New Orleans Jazz Cruise Aboard the Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat docked at our campsite on Lake Pontchartrain

If the idea of cruising down the Mississippi River eating good food and listening to jazz is your thing, then you might like the Paddle wheeler Jazz Cruise dinner included in the Sightseeing Pass.

I was happy to see it on the New Orleans attractions list and immediately made a booking.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as I anticipated. I thought it would be jazzier, but the music was pretty low key and in the corner of the restaurant.

In true New Orleans fashion though the food was delicious! I couldn’t believe how good it was for buffet food. I’m not a big meat eater yet I went back for thirds for the brisket.

Food and drink are not included in the ticket, you have to upgrade for that. Only the cost of the cruise is covered.

I don’t think it would be as good without the food. Perhaps in the summer months when it’s warmer to sit outside, but then you may not hear the music.

The individual ticket prices start at $29.00 adult without dinner, and with dinner from $36.25.

Hop on Hop off Bus

I’m not sure if you can get more touristy than a hop on hop off bus tour. I enjoy them and am always happy when they are included in discount tourist passes.

I probably wouldn’t pay for them otherwise, but always get a lot of value out of them.

I love how you can just sit back, relax, watch the city go by, and learn lots of cool things. You usually get history, culture and a few insider tips and local stories.

It gave me a wonderful overview and deeper insight into how rich the New Orleans culture is.

There really is no place like it and this incredible melting pot of cultures has bought a delicious experience of music, food, celebration, art, and culture unlike anywhere I have been.

The hop on hop off bus tour also lets you see places you might want to go back and explore more of. We learned more about Marigny, the eclectic, artists local community. (Which we also learned about on the cemetery tour.)

Thankfully, we managed to visit briefly a couple of days later for breakfast with friends, and discovered a delicious local restaurant within the neighborhood.

For those wanting to rent an Airbnb, this may be a good area for you to do it. It’s quite close to the French Quarter and has an abundance of cute cottages.

The cost of the Hop On Hop Off Bus individual ticket is $53 adult, $17.50 child, so it really is cheaper to get the Sightseeing Pass.

The hop on hop off bus is only valid for one day, but you can upgrade for more days.

I recommend going to the places that aren’t within walking distance on your Sightseeing Pass so you only have to use one day with the Hop on Hop Off. I think one day is plenty, although we have spent time in NOLA before.

Top New Orleans Tip: Park your car at the Basin Welcome Center, which is a Hop on Hop off stop. It’s the cheapest place to park in the city. You can then jump on the hop on hop off to get to the other attractions so you don’t have to worry about driving and more parking fees (more savings!).

French Quarter Walking Tour

You can definitely walk around the French Quarter on your own, soaking up the atmosphere and appreciating the unique French and Spanish style architecture, pausing to listen to the jazz buskers on Royal Street as you are meandering.

Perhaps exploring Bourbon Street if you AREN’T visiting New Orleans with kids.

However, a French Quarter walking tour is a fantastic way to learn more about the history of the first city of New Orleans.

I absolutely love the French Quarter and have spent hours walking around, with many pit stops for beignets at Café Du Monde, not to mention fancy and delicious meals at many of its restaurants.

Oh, and a jazz concert or theater show or two!

This trip was the first time we dove a little deeper into the culture and history of the area on this tour.

I didn’t know much of it at all from my own wanderings. I wouldn’t have done this tour without the New Orleans sightseeing pass and I really enjoyed it.

We even went to areas I hadn’t been to before and have noted places to go back and explore more.

The cost of the individual ticket for the French Quarter Walking Tour is about $35 per person.

Also check free walking tours.

Top Tip: If you love beignets, don’t miss the ones at Morning Call in City Park as well. The locals argue they are better. Let us know in the comments what you decide?

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour

We did not do the swamp tour on this visit to New Orleans, but did when we visited for Mardi Gras previously.

I highly recommend it as the bayous are unique to the New Orleans area and story. We did a swamp tour through Honey Island Swamp so this one is slightly different.

It goes through the heart of Southern Louisiana swamplands in the protected Jean Lafitte National Park and Barataria Preserve.

Tours are on private property, which means no competition in the area, less boat traffic to scare the animals.

Individual tickets cost is $27 adult, $16 kid.

Houmas House

Houmas House Plantation

Houmas House was another delightful surprise we only discovered as a result of the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.

Id’ always wanted to experience the New Orleans plantations – you know those spectacular avenues of oaks that you see pictures of.

Houmas House is not the one you have most likely seen, that is Oak Alley.

Houmas House is just as beautiful though and I thoroughly enjoyed the house tour.

It was educational and super interesting. Kalyra was quite entranced especially when she learned that a husband could challenge another man to a duel if he saw his wife’s ankles!!

Houmas House has magnificent oak trees and if it wasn’t raining I would have been hugging every single one. They were gorgeous!

We stayed for lunch in the cafe after which was delicious – a pumpkin crabmeat soup.

Oh my, Louisiana your food is off the charts.

Cost of the individual ticket to Houmas House tour is $38 adult, $17 for teenagers (13-17), and $28 for children aged 7-12.

The National WWII Museum

Although I would really love to see the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, as it gets rave reviews and is massive, we skipped visiting on both trips to New Orleans.

We’ve had so many different war experiences over the past year, with Gettysburg, Franklin, Pearl Harbor, and Williamsburg and while we loved all of them, even the girls did, we were a bit exhausted by the story of the war.

I am typically fascinated by museums like this and have explored war history a lot in my global travels. I am just a little worn out with negativity and hatred at the moment.

I don’t think my psyche at this point can deal with any more stories of how awful the human race is. Although within those stories you do also learn of the courageous, triumphant spirit of the human race.

For now, I’m looking for it in everyday moments instead.

But the WWII museum is absolutely a top New Orleans attraction and well worth a visit, especially if you have the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.

Why not? It will save you money on it.

Individual tickets to the museum costs between $25-$36 for adults and $26 for children.

Other New Orleans Attractions included in the Sightseeing Pass

Audubon Zoo Christmas lights

• Audubon Aquarium
• Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
• Audubon Zoo
• Beauregard-Keyes Historic House Tour
• Big Easy New Orleans City Tour
• Degas House
• Escape Game New Orleans
• French Quarter Haunted Ghost Tour
• Garden District Walking Tour
• Le Musee de f.p.c – Docent Guided Tour
• New Orleans Covered Pontoon Swamp Tour
• New Orleans Jazz Museum
• New Orleans Large Airboat Ride
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art
• Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historical Cruise
• Scavenger Hunts New Orleans
• Solve A Mystery New Orleans
• The 1850 House
• The Cabildo
• The George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art – Docent Guided Tour
• The Presbytere

How The New Orleans Sightseeing Pass Saves You Money

More money for beignets!!

Let’s look at how each of the tours above would have cost us if we paid individual admission.

For ease, I’m just basing it on the adult price. If you save with the adult Sightseeing Pass you will with the kids.

The cost of the attractions above come to $236.95 with individual tickets.

The 3-day Sightseeing Day Pass costs $159 as of April 2025 – and there is usually always a sale on.

So that’s a saving of $77.95 at the sale price.

We had plenty of time over the three days to see all these attractions and could have easily fit more in.

Although we did not do the WWII Museum or the Lafitte Swamp Tour, so if you do all of the above it probably would take up the three days.

Top tip: If you are flying into New Orleans, you can even take advantage of the free shuttle (one way) from the airport to your hotel that is included in the Sightseeing Pass (cost $24) giving you further savings. And don’t forget you get bonus discounts on retail and dining which may come in handy.

Other Benefits of the Sightseeing Pass

The Garden District

1. Most popular tours often sell out. Sightseeing Pass online purchase confirmation allows you to secure your place. There are over 10 tours you can book in advance with Sightseeing Pass.
2. Sightseeing Passes can be purchased up to 12 months before your New Orleans trip. Should your travel plans change, Sightseeing Pass insurance gives peace of mind, offering a full refund on non-activated Passes. No questions asked.
3. Your Pass gets activated in New Orleans the moment you use it at an attraction or service. It is then valid for the number of consecutive days it was purchased for or number of attractions selected.
4. You can use the pass on your smartphone. You can show the pass on your mobile, which makes it easy for those on the go and don’t have access to a printer, or just don’t want to bother!
5. Allows you to plan in advance (they have a handy itinerary planner). A lot of time and money is wasted from a lack of planning and organization. I love how the Sightseeing Pass forces me to plan and run off a daily schedule. It makes for a better experience when exploring a city.
6. You have access to the Hop On Hop Off bus. The Hop on Hop Off Bus ticket is a great way to get from one attraction to the other without fussing about with traffic and parking.

New Orleans Sightseeing Pass vs New Orleans Pass

I have not had personal experience with the Go City New Orleans Pass, which is very similar to how the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass works.

The Go City New Orleans Pass has some attractions included that are not on the Sightseeing Pass. Those are:

• Oak Alley Plantation (normally $25) – as this is on my dream list, I’d possibly lean more towards this Pass.
• Vue New Orleans
• Southern Meal at MRB
  New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
• Southern Food and Beverage Museum
• Longue Vue House and Gardens
• New Orleans True Crime Tour
• Cities of the Dead Cemetery History Tour
• Edgar Degas House
• Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
• 2-hour bike rental – although we have our own bikes. If you didn’t this could be a cool way to see the city.
• New Orleans School of Cooking Demo – learn how to make dishes like gumbo and jambalaya and taste them!! Yes please!

The New Orleans Pass seems to have a greater variety of attractions included, but it does depend on what you’re interested in seeing.

The New Orleans Pass is a bit more expensive at $94 per day, but if you want to do some of the attractions above, it could still be good value. Cooking classes alone tend to cost at least this much.

The card you choose is the one that offers the attractions you want to see. Both will give you the most value and savings than purchasing individual admission tickets.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

New Orleans has an abundance of accommodation options from hotels to apartments and

The Mercantile Hotel

This 3-star hotel is situated in the New Orleans Central Arts Warehouse District, in the middle of New Orleans.

The Arts -Warehouse District is a great choice for travellers interested in restaurants, culture and sightseeing. This location is great for couples.

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

Bourbon Orleans Hotel offers hotel in the French Quarter within walking distance to the Louisiana State Museum, St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square

French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is a great choice for travelers interested in live music, history, and jazz.

Roosevelt Hotel

This 5-star hotel is the dream hotel for Christmas with their photo-worthy and popular Christmas decorations.

The New Orleans Roosevelt Hotel is off Canal St a short walk to the French Quarter. It features restaurants, bars, and live jazz.

The Verdict: Would We Recommend The New Orleans Sightseeing Pass?

The New Orleans Sightseeing Pass is definitely worth it as it gives you great value on tours, not just attractions.

I love tours – they offer you insight into the local history and culture that you may not necessarily pick up on your own.

You can spend hours wandering and reading plaques, but that can be an exhausting experience.

Depending on your mood for the day you may only take some of it in.

And you don’t get the local lore and myths woven in – those stories that leave you wondering if you’ve just been had, or the story was warped by the Chinese whisper effect, or they really did happen.

Plus, there are far fewer taps and screeches from my children. They tend to listen and love what they learn as a process of tours as well. It usually amazes tour guides how well behaved they are.

It’s just what they’re used to!

Without these city attraction passes, I wouldn’t necessarily spend money on a bunch of tours as it works out to be expensive.

But, when I have a sightseeing pass and they are included, I do as many as I can.

Some end up being so interesting and I would have missed the opportunity to learn so many cool things without them.

More New Orleans Travel Tips

Bonus New Orleans Travel Video

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Are you thinking about the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass? Let us know what attractions you would visit in the comments.

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