A Guide to the Haunted Hotels of New Orleans
New Orleans is said to be among the most haunted destinations in the United States. The Louisiana city has a dark history of voodoo practices, bloody battles and natural disasters stretching back to the founding in 1718 – all leading to plenty of paranormal activity. Intrigued? Book a room in one of the many haunted hotels in New Orleans to get to the bottom of these spooky rumors. We’ve rounded up the best, and they’re all bookable on Culture Trip.
1. The Cornstalk Hotel
Hotel, Villa
2. Andrew Jackson Hotel
Hotel
3. Le Pavillon Hotel
Hotel
5. Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Suite Hotel, Business Hotel, Hotel
Once the Orleans Ballroom and Theater, and then a convent in the 1800s, the Bourbon Orleans Hotel lies in the heart of the French Quarter and reportedly has more ghosts than any other place in New Orleans. Guests have reported hearing children’s laughter echoing down the hallways, while others claim to have felt their shirts being abruptly yanked. Other supernatural tales include hearing tortured cries around room 644 (where, supposedly, a nun took her own life), a bloody Confederate soldier limping down the hallways of the sixth and third floors and a ghostly woman dancing under the ballroom chandeliers.
6. Omni Royal Orleans
Hotel
The luxurious Omni Royal Orleans, on fashionable St Louis Street, is thought to be home to around 50 ghosts, but the one that most frequently encounter is that of a maid who is said to tuck guests in as they sleep, flush toilets and turn taps and lights on in the night. A gun-toting Confederate soldier has also been spotted on the seventh floor, and some friendly spirits have been known to follow their favorite guests around the property.
7. Dauphine Orleans Hotel
Hotel
The stylish Dauphine Orleans Hotel, one block from the hedonistic French Quarter thoroughfare Bourbon Street, comprises three buildings, including a 19th-century sporting house (brothel). Moans of spirits engaged in amorous pursuits drift around rooms and corridors, while beds shake of their own accord and privacy-seeking ghosts (former clients?) lock doors from the inside. Other long-term residents of the Dauphine include a woman with long dark hair – believed to have been a prostitute – who dances alone in the courtyards, and a uniformed general who hangs out in the bar.
8. Le Richelieu
Hotel
Le Richelieu is a smart boutique hotel in the heart of the French Quarter where some guests have had more direct contact with the past than they bargained for. A group of Spanish soldiers believed to have been executed on this site reportedly march through the courtyard and appear in the bar in their uniforms. There have also been bizarre occurrences, such as child-size handprints appearing on mirrors, and the presence of a dark-gray apparition in bedrooms.
Christy Taylor and Mark Nayler contributed additional reporting to this article.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.