Friday, July 18, 2025

How To Save With The New Orleans Sightseeing Cross


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There’s no scarcity of sights in New Orleans, which may make any customer have a look at their pockets and gulp with dread.

If you happen to’re desirous to see a whole lot of sights however apprehensive about cash, or probably lacking out for those who’re planning final minute, the answer is the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross.

It’s designed to save lots of you money and time in your New Orleans trip and gives nice worth on tickets all one of the best websites NOLA has to supply.

However what’s the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross? What are you able to get with this discounted attraction cross? What does it enable you entry to and for a way lengthy?

These are all legitimate questions, and ones we will probably be answering on this complete information so what you’re signing up for.

What Is The New Orleans Sightseeing Cross?

mobile phone next to coffee and pamphlet on table
Sightseeing PAss NOLA

There are two kinds of sightseeing passes, the Day Cross and the Flex Cross.

The Day Cross permits you limitless sightseeing at some stage in your keep, and the Flex Cross means that you can select between 2-6 sights from a listing of 20 choices and go to them over a 60 day interval.

Each passes provide you with entry to 45+ sights and comes with entry to particular affords. In addition they give you ticket-free entry.

With these Sightseeing Passes, you’ll be able to usually skip the queues, which is able to prevent numerous time, particularly throughout the busy seasons.

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

For New Orleans low cost passes, there may be additionally the New Orleans Cross. It really works in just about the very same means. I’ve outlined in a bit under some important variations together with value.

Do your due diligence to decide on which is healthier for you and what you need to see and do in New Orleans.

Right here’s an summary of every one.

New Orleans Day Cross

The Day Cross can be utilized for the variety of consecutive calendar days you choose. You possibly can select wherever from 1 day as much as 5 days, however they should be consecutive.

This makes it a significantly better alternative for vacationers who’re visiting New Orleans on a brief go to.

It turns into activated when it’s used at its first attraction, then expires at midnight on its final legitimate day.

The Day Cross is really helpful for first-time guests to New Orleans, in addition to vacationers who like comfort and with an open itinerary – in addition to those that like to manage their sightseeing funds.

Pay one value, then go to as many sights as you want with the Day Cross.

Briefly, it affords:

  • Limitless sightseeing
  • Select a 1, 2, 3 or 5 Day Cross
  • See all you’ll be able to for one low value
  • Save as much as 56%

Day costs begin at $59 per day, however the extra days you buy the higher worth the cross is.

On our final Christmas journey to New Orleans, we had a 3 Day Sightseeing Cross.

I’m unsure this one from New Orleans had as a lot superpower when it comes to saving because the NYC Sightseeing Cross, HOWEVER, it does depend upon what excursions you need to expertise.

Beneath I define a few completely different eventualities the place you’ll be able to profit from your cash, and with some cautious planning, it should prevent cash, which is what you and I each need.

New Orleans Flex Cross

With the Sightseeing FLEX Cross, you choose the variety of sights you want to see after which construct a customized itinerary to suit your precise pursuits as you go.

This feature is really helpful for guests who’ve already been to New Orleans and need to get pleasure from a extra custom-made expertise on their subsequent visits.

It’s nice for many who are brief on time or have a restricted sightseeing funds.

  • Go to 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 sights inside a 60 day interval
  • Select as you go from 25 high spots
  • Cross legitimate for 60 days
  • Save 54% or extra

Flex Passes begin at $30 per attraction.

What’s Included In The New Orleans Sightseeing Cross?

Jackson Square New Orleans LA

The Sightseeing Cross is a metropolis low cost attraction cross that enables free entry to over 20 sights.

It has the largest alternative of New Orleans sights and contains 24 hour entry to the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Loop with over 18 stops one sooner or later.

Plus, the town attraction cross additionally has additional bonus inclusions akin to retail and eating reductions.

Prime sights on the Sightseeing Cross

As we had visited New Orleans beforehand there have been some high New Orleans sights included on the cross that we didn’t benefit from.

I’ve included them on this record as they had been terrific and actually price doing.

For every of the highest sights, I’ve included a hyperlink the place you should purchase tickets for them individually for those who wished to do them however determined the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross wasn’t precious to you.

These are the greatest New Orleans Points of interest to go to with the Sightseeing Cross. 

Mardi Gras World

woman taking photo of float at Mardi Gras World New Orleans

Mardi Gras World was superior!

Unusual that we didn’t go to earlier this yr after we attended Mardi Gras, however we had been too busy catching beads.

I’m so glad we did the tour this time because it was fantastic to see the inventive design and work that goes into constructing these ornamental, vibrant, and inventive floats.

Sure. This can be a year-round manufacturing expertise that brings in billion {dollars} annually. Mardi Gras is a phenomenon!

Kalyra has taken fairly the curiosity in artwork lately, so I beloved how she may be taught a number of inventive methods on this tour. The tour additionally features a sampling of King Cake, and a brief video to be taught the historical past of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The price of the Mardi Gras World tour is $29.95 grownup, $24.95 kids 2-12, which is half the value of the Day Cross and the identical because the Flex Cross.

So for those who go to two sights with the Sightseeing Cross, you’ve made your a refund.

New Orleans Jazz Cruise Aboard the Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat docked at our campsite on Lake Ponchatrain
Steamboat docked at our campsite on Lake Pontchartrain

If the concept of cruising down the Mississippi River consuming good meals and listening to jazz is your factor, then you definitely may just like the Paddle wheeler Jazz Cruise dinner included within the Sightseeing Cross.

I used to be glad to see it on the New Orleans sights record and instantly made a reserving.

Sadly, it wasn’t pretty much as good as I anticipated. I believed it could be jazzier, however the music was fairly low key and within the nook of the restaurant.

In true New Orleans vogue although the meals was scrumptious! I couldn’t consider how good it was for buffet meals. I’m not a giant meat eater but I went again for thirds for the brisket.

Food and drinks are usually not included within the ticket, it’s important to improve for that. Solely the price of the cruise is roofed.

I don’t assume it could be pretty much as good with out the meals. Maybe in the summertime months when it’s hotter to sit down outdoors, however then you could not hear the music.

The particular person ticket costs begin at $29.00 grownup with out dinner, and with dinner from $36.25.

Hop on Hop off Bus

kids sitting on top deck of hop on hop off bus New Orleans  lookig nat houses

I’m unsure if you will get extra touristy than a hop on hop off bus tour. I get pleasure from them and am at all times glad when they’re included in low cost vacationer passes.

I in all probability wouldn’t pay for them in any other case, however at all times get a whole lot of worth out of them.

I really like how one can simply sit again, chill out, watch the town go by, and be taught numerous cool issues. You normally get historical past, tradition and some insider ideas and native tales.

It gave me an exquisite overview and deeper perception into how wealthy the New Orleans tradition is.

There actually isn’t any place prefer it and this unbelievable melting pot of cultures has purchased a scrumptious expertise of music, meals, celebration, artwork, and tradition in contrast to wherever I’ve been.

The hop on hop off bus tour additionally helps you to see locations you may need to return and discover extra of. We realized extra about Marigny, the eclectic, artists area people. (Which we additionally realized about on the cemetery tour.)

Fortunately, we managed to go to briefly a few days later for breakfast with buddies, and found a scrumptious native restaurant inside the neighborhood.

For these desirous to lease an Airbnb, this can be an excellent space so that you can do it. It’s fairly near the French Quarter and has an abundance of cute cottages.

The price of the Hop On Hop Off Bus particular person ticket is $53 grownup, $17.50 little one, so it truly is cheaper to get the Sightseeing Cross.

The hop on hop off bus is just legitimate for sooner or later, however you’ll be able to improve for extra days.

I like to recommend going to the locations that aren’t inside strolling distance in your Sightseeing Cross so that you solely have to make use of sooner or later with the Hop on Hop Off. I believe sooner or later is a lot, though we have now frolicked in NOLA earlier than.

Prime New Orleans Tip: Park your automobile on the Basin Welcome Middle, which is a Hop on Hop off cease. It’s the most cost effective place to park within the metropolis. You possibly can then bounce on the hop on hop off to get to the opposite sights so that you don’t have to fret about driving and extra parking charges (extra financial savings!).

French Quarter Strolling Tour

French Quarter building with hanging plants New Orleans LA

You possibly can undoubtedly stroll across the French Quarter by yourself, absorbing the environment and appreciating the distinctive French and Spanish fashion structure, pausing to hearken to the jazz buskers on Royal Road as you might be meandering.

Maybe exploring Bourbon Road for those who AREN’T visiting New Orleans with children.

Nonetheless, a French Quarter strolling tour is a implausible option to be taught extra in regards to the historical past of the primary metropolis of New Orleans.

I completely love the French Quarter and have spent hours strolling round, with many pit stops for beignets at Café Du Monde, to not point out fancy and scrumptious meals at lots of its eating places.

Oh, and a jazz live performance or theater present or two!

This journey was the primary time we dove a little bit deeper into the tradition and historical past of the world on this tour.

I didn’t know a lot of it in any respect from my very own wanderings. I wouldn’t have performed this tour with out the New Orleans sightseeing cross and I actually loved it.

We even went to areas I hadn’t been to earlier than and have famous locations to return and discover extra.

The price of the particular person ticket for the French Quarter Strolling Tour is about $35 per individual.

Additionally verify free strolling excursions.

Prime Tip: If you happen to love beignets, don’t miss those at Morning Name in Metropolis Park as properly. The locals argue they’re higher. Tell us within the feedback what you determine?

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour

Swamp tour in New Orleans

We didn’t do the swamp tour on this go to to New Orleans, however did after we visited for Mardi Gras beforehand.

I extremely advocate it because the bayous are distinctive to the New Orleans space and story. We did a swamp tour by means of Honey Island Swamp so this one is barely completely different.

It goes by means of the center of Southern Louisiana swamplands within the protected Jean Lafitte Nationwide Park and Barataria Protect.

Excursions are on personal property, which suggests no competitors within the space, much less boat site visitors to scare the animals.

Particular person tickets value is $27 grownup, $16 child.

Houmas Home

Houmas House Plantation
Houmas Home Plantation

Houmas Home was one other pleasant shock we solely found on account of the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross.

Id’ at all times wished to expertise the New Orleans plantations – these spectacular avenues of oaks that you just see photos of.

Houmas Home shouldn’t be the one you will have most certainly seen, that’s Oak Alley.

Houmas Home is simply as stunning although and I totally loved the home tour.

It was instructional and tremendous fascinating. Kalyra was fairly entranced particularly when she realized {that a} husband may problem one other man to a duel if he noticed his spouse’s ankles!!

Houmas Home has magnificent oak bushes and if it wasn’t raining I’d have been hugging each single one. They had been beautiful!

We stayed for lunch within the cafe after which was scrumptious – a pumpkin crabmeat soup.

Oh my, Louisiana your meals is off the charts.

Value of the particular person ticket to Houmas Home tour is $38 grownup, $17 for youngsters (13-17), and $28 for kids aged 7-12.

The Nationwide WWII Museum

World War II Museum New Orleans Attractions

Though I’d actually like to see the Nationwide WWII Museum in New Orleans, because it will get rave opinions and is huge, we skipped visiting on each journeys to New Orleans.

We’ve had so many alternative battle experiences over the previous yr, with Gettysburg, Franklin, Pearl Harbor, and Williamsburg and whereas we beloved all of them, even the women did, we had been a bit exhausted by the story of the battle.

I’m sometimes fascinated by museums like this and have explored battle historical past so much in my world travels. I’m just a bit worn out with negativity and hatred in the meanwhile.

I don’t assume my psyche at this level can cope with any extra tales of how terrible the human race is. Though inside these tales you do additionally be taught of the brave, triumphant spirit of the human race.

For now, I’m in search of it in on a regular basis moments as a substitute.

However the WWII museum is completely a high New Orleans attraction and properly price a go to, particularly in case you have the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross.

Why not? It is going to prevent cash on it.

Particular person tickets to the museum prices between $25-$36 for adults and $26 for kids.

Different New Orleans Points of interest included within the Sightseeing Cross

Audubon Zoo Christmas lights
Audubon Zoo Christmas lights
  • Audubon Aquarium
  • Audubon Butterfly Backyard and Insectarium
  • Audubon Zoo
  • Beauregard-Keyes Historic Home Tour
  • Large Simple New Orleans Metropolis Tour
  • Degas Home
  • Escape Sport New Orleans
  • French Quarter Haunted Ghost Tour
  • Backyard District Strolling Tour
  • Le Musee de f.p.c – Docent Guided Tour
  • New Orleans Coated Pontoon Swamp Tour
  • New Orleans Jazz Museum
  • New Orleans Massive Airboat Journey
  • Ogden Museum of Southern Artwork
  • Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Cruise
  • Scavenger Hunts New Orleans
  • Clear up A Thriller New Orleans
  • The 1850 Home
  • The Cabildo
  • The George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Artwork – Docent Guided Tour
  • The Presbytere

How The New Orleans Sightseeing Cross Saves You Cash

girl eating beignets from Cafe Du Monde
More cash for beignets!!

Let’s have a look at how every of the excursions above would have value us if we paid particular person admission.

For ease, I’m simply basing it on the grownup value. If you happen to save with the grownup Sightseeing Cross you’ll with the youngsters.

The price of the sights above come to $236.95 with particular person tickets.

The three-day Sightseeing Day Cross prices $159 as of April 2025 – and there may be normally at all times a sale on.

In order that’s a saving of $77.95 on the sale value.

We had loads of time over the three days to see all these sights and will have simply match extra in.

Though we didn’t do the WWII Museum or the Lafitte Swamp Tour, so for those who do the entire above it in all probability would take up the three days.

Prime tip: If you’re flying into New Orleans, you’ll be able to even benefit from the free shuttle (a technique) from the airport to your lodge that’s included within the Sightseeing Cross (value $24) supplying you with additional financial savings. And don’t neglect you get bonus reductions on retail and eating which can come in useful.

Different Advantages of the Sightseeing Cross

family walking down street in the The Garden District in New Orleans
The Backyard District
  1. Hottest excursions usually promote out. Sightseeing Cross on-line buy affirmation means that you can safe your home. There are over 10 excursions you’ll be able to e book upfront with Sightseeing Cross.
  2. Sightseeing Passes will be bought as much as 12 months earlier than your New Orleans journey. Ought to your journey plans change, Sightseeing Cross insurance coverage offers peace of thoughts, providing a full refund on non-activated Passes. No questions requested.
  3. Your Cross will get activated in New Orleans the second you utilize it at an attraction or service. It’s then legitimate for the variety of consecutive days it was bought for or variety of sights chosen.
  4. You should use the cross in your smartphone. You possibly can present the cross in your cellular, which makes it simple for these on the go and don’t have entry to a printer, or simply don’t need to trouble!
  5. Means that you can plan upfront (they’ve a useful itinerary planner). Plenty of money and time is wasted from an absence of planning and group. I really like how the Sightseeing Cross forces me to plan and run off a every day schedule. It makes for a greater expertise when exploring a metropolis.
  6. You’ve gotten entry to the Hop On Hop Off bus. The Hop on Hop Off Bus ticket is a good way to get from one attraction to the opposite with out fussing about with site visitors and parking.

New Orleans Sightseeing Cross vs New Orleans Cross

crowds at tables at Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans

I’ve not had private expertise with the Go Metropolis New Orleans Cross, which is similar to how the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross works.

The Go Metropolis New Orleans Cross has some sights included that aren’t on the Sightseeing Cross. These are:

  • Oak Alley Plantation (usually $25) – as that is on my dream record, I’d probably lean extra in the direction of this Cross.
  • Vue New Orleans
  • Southern Meal at MRB
    New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
  • Southern Meals and Beverage Museum
  • Longue Vue Home and Gardens
  • New Orleans True Crime Tour
  • Cities of the Lifeless Cemetery Historical past Tour
  • Edgar Degas Home
  • Museum of the Southern Jewish Expertise
  • 2-hour bike rental – though we have now our personal bikes. If you happen to didn’t this may very well be a cool option to see the town.
  • New Orleans Faculty of Cooking Demo – discover ways to make dishes like gumbo and jambalaya and style them!! Sure please!

The New Orleans Cross appears to have a larger number of sights included, but it surely does depend upon what you’re taken with seeing.

The New Orleans Cross is a little more costly at $94 per day, however if you wish to do among the sights above, it may nonetheless be good worth. Cooking lessons alone are likely to value no less than this a lot.

The cardboard you select is the one that provides the sights you need to see. Each provides you with probably the most worth and financial savings than buying particular person admission tickets.

The place to Keep in New Orleans

The Whitney Hotel, New Orleans

New Orleans has an abundance of lodging choices from accommodations to flats and

The Mercantile Lodge

This 3-star lodge is located within the New Orleans Central Arts Warehouse District, in the midst of New Orleans.

The Arts -Warehouse District is a good alternative for travellers taken with eating places, tradition and sightseeing. This location is nice for {couples}.

Bourbon Orleans Lodge

Bourbon Orleans Lodge affords lodge within the French Quarter inside strolling distance to the Louisiana State Museum, St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Sq.

French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is a good alternative for vacationers taken with dwell music, historical past, and jazz.

Roosevelt Lodge

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

The New Orleans Roosevelt Lodge is off Canal St a brief stroll to the French Quarter. It options eating places, bars, and dwell jazz.

The Verdict: Would We Suggest The New Orleans Sightseeing Cross?

The New Orleans Sightseeing Cross is certainly price it because it offers you nice worth on excursions, not simply sights.

I really like excursions – they give you perception into the native historical past and tradition that you could be not essentially decide up by yourself.

You possibly can spend hours wandering and studying plaques, however that may be an exhausting expertise.

Relying in your temper for the day you could solely take a few of it in.

And also you don’t get the native lore and myths woven in – these tales that go away you questioning for those who’ve simply been had, or the story was warped by the Chinese language whisper impact, or they actually did occur.

Plus, there are far fewer faucets and screeches from my kids. They have a tendency to hear and love what they be taught as a means of excursions as properly. It normally amazes tour guides how properly behaved they’re.

It’s simply what they’re used to!

girl looking at historic house in the The Graden District in New Orleans

With out these metropolis attraction passes, I wouldn’t essentially spend cash on a bunch of excursions as it really works out to be costly.

However, when I’ve a sightseeing cross and they’re included, I do as many as I can.

Some find yourself being so fascinating and I’d have missed the chance to be taught so many cool issues with out them.

Extra New Orleans Journey Suggestions

Bonus New Orleans Journey Video

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Are you interested by the New Orleans Sightseeing Cross? Tell us what sights you’d go to within the feedback.

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