You're a witch who loves to travel, so of course you find yourself booking a trip to New Orleans. There's so many museums, tours, and witchy sites to visit so I've distilled the best witch itinerary here.
Shopping.
As with any major city there's no shortage of souvenir shops, but for true authentic witch shops, readings and experiences, here's the short list of must visit spots.
Voodoo Authentica.
There's only one voodoo shop that matters, Voodoo Authentica. This shop is the real deal, owned and operated by voodoo practitioners. Here you can pick up voodoo dolls, gris gris bags, oils all made by hand in the shop, and of course all things Marie Laveau.
French Quarter Gem and Lapidary
This shop has every crystal you've been wanting to add to your collection with extremely reasonable prices. I picked up an amethyst pendant, clear crystal quartz sphere and small rose quartz mother mary statue. There's nothing like taking home with you a piece of jewelry or crystal pillar that holds the unique energy of NOLA.
Boutique du Vampyre.
First opened in 1942, this boutique is the place for any vampire lover. Pick up a wooden stake, one of their signature rose scented candles that has a lucky charm hidden within the wax, holy water or a vile of vampire blood. Head around the block to the Boutique du Vampyre Apothecary for a nice cup of glimmering tea.
Bottom of the Cup Tea Room.
There are so many places to choose from to get a reading in New Orleans. Bottom of the Cup Tea Room was the clear choice for me because of the history and variety of readings they offer. Established in 1929 this tea room is a piece of metaphysical history offering authentic Tarot, Tea, and Palm Readings.
Tours.
Finding the most worth while tours in New Orleans can be tough because there are so many options and so much to see. There are 4 I landed on from my extensive research and experience that I recommend you shouldn't skip.
Garden district tour.
Taking the trolley out to the Garden District for a tour of the beautiful Victorian homes is an absolute must. The trolley is only a few dollars and you can ride it all the way to the Garden District and back, enjoying the views and the breeze. The Garden District walking tour includes a visit to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (though you can only stand outside the gated cemetery) and a guided walk through the most beautiful streets in NOLA. Book your tour here.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
A cemetery you CAN enter during a tour is St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Out of all of the cemetery tours available this is the one you can't miss. It's the oldest and most famous cemetery, opened in 1789 and contains Voodoo queen Marie Laveau's tomb. Book your tour here.
Old Ursuline Convent.
One of the best things I did in New Orleans that I cannot recommend enough was a tour of Old Ursuline Convent. Beautifully manicured grounds with a large historic convent building developed in 1745, you can feel the energy of this enchanted building the moment you step on the grounds.
This building was used as an orphanage and girls school and said to be where the infamous casket girls lived, rumored to have brought vampires to NOLA from France. There was a great fire in the 1700's that destroyed most of the French Quarter, but the nuns at the convent kept the fire from destroying the building because of their prayers.
It's a bit tricky to book this tour because you can't book in advance and it's only available on Mon, Thurs, Fri and Sat from 10am-2pm. Admission is only a few dollars.
Witch Tour.
The best tour in NOLA is the Hex Spirits and Spells Witchcraft, Voodoo and Ghost tour. This is the tour any witch who visits needs to take, giving detailed background of witchcraft, voodoo and ghost stories throughout the streets of the French Quarter. I have a full breakdown of the tour HERE.
Museums.
Museum of Death.
Not for the faint of heart, but if you are a true crime fanatic who does not get spooked easily and doesn't have a weak stomach then I highly recommend the Museum of Death. I've been to both the NOLA location and the one in LA and prefer the New Orleans one. You will learn a lot and find artifacts from infamous crimes and serial killers that you cannot see anywhere else.
Voodoo Museum.
You need to visit the Voodoo Museum while in NOLA. An incredible collection of authentic voodoo dolls, Marie Laveau artifacts, and a large assortment of voodoo artwork and wealth of information about other voodoo practitioners and customs.
Pharmacy Museum.
Established in 1823, the Pharmacy Museum documents the history of pharmacy and medicine in the 19th and early to mid 20th centuries in New Orleans. On display are old glass bottles, medical instruments and machinery, voodoo potions and herbs, making this a place where any witch would feel right at home.
Hotel.
I recommend staying at the French Market Inn on Decatur street. It is walking distance to everything in the French Quarter including Jackson Square, the French Market and Bourbon Street, but not directly on Bourbon street so it's not extremely loud and you can get a good nights sleep. It's historic, built in the 1700's and has a beautiful brick facade and antique touches throughout. Plus it has the most dreamy courtyard with a pool that is a vision at night after a long day of walking.
xx Witch at Home
