The 5 Most Haunted Hotels in New Orleans

New Orleans. The name itself conjures images of vibrant jazz, intoxicating cuisine, and streets steeped in a history so rich and turbulent it practically clings to the air like the humid Louisiana night. But for those of us who listen closely, there are other sounds carried on the breeze—whispers from the past, echoes of stories that never truly ended. The Big Easy is, without a doubt, one of America's most haunted cities, and its historic hotels have become permanent residences for guests who checked in centuries ago... and never left.

It's time to dive into the stories that make these five hotels the most haunted in New Orleans.

🎬 Quick watch: 5 Most Haunted Hotels in New Orleans

The Dauphine Orleans Hotel

In the heart of the French Quarter lies a hotel where love and loss are eternal. The story you heard is true: a young woman named Millie is said to haunt the hotel's bar, May Baily's Place. In the 19th century, this was a well-known bordello, and Millie’s story is a tragic one. She was a "courtesan" who fell deeply in love with a Confederate soldier. They were to be married, but on their wedding day, her groom never arrived, having been tragically killed in battle. Heartbroken, Millie is said to have taken her own life. Guests and staff today report seeing a fleeting apparition in a wedding gown, forever waiting for her lost love. She isn't alone, however; the ghost of her soldier is also seen pacing the courtyard, a forlorn figure still trying to make it back to his bride.

The Andrew Jackson Hotel

The playful, ghostly laughter of children might sound innocent, but at The Andrew Jackson Hotel, it carries a heartbreaking history. The hotel stands on the very ground where a boarding school for boys once stood. In the late 18th century, a devastating fire swept through the building, claiming the lives of five young boys. Today, their spirits are said to remain, forever attached to their final home. Guests, particularly in Room 208, report the most intense activity. They hear childish laughter and the sound of footsteps running down the halls at night. Some have even reported being woken up by the sensation of a small ghost playfully pushing them or tugging on their sheets. It’s a chilling reminder that some spirits are just children, forever at play in the courtyard where they once lived.

Le Pavillon Hotel

Elegant, opulent, and utterly haunted. Le Pavillon is known among paranormal investigators as a nexus of spectral energy, with some claiming over 100 individual entities have been documented within its walls. The most famous, as mentioned in our video, is the mysterious woman in black. Many believe this is the spirit of a teenage girl named Ada, who, in the 19th century, was struck and killed by a carriage right outside the hotel. Guests report waking in the dead of night to find her standing or sitting silently at the foot of their bed, a dark, sorrowful figure who vanishes as soon as she is seen. She’s not the only one. A well-dressed aristocratic couple from the 1920s and a prankster ghost who enjoys hiding guests' belongings are also frequent visitors. The hotel even keeps a logbook at the front desk documenting guest encounters with the other side.

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel

Before it was a hotel, this grand building lived many lives—first as the glamorous Orleans Ballroom, then as a convent and orphanage run by the Sisters of the Holy Family. This history has created a tapestry of hauntings. The ballroom floor, where lavish parties once took place, is still home to a lone ghost dancer, swaying to music no one else can hear. But the most prominent spirits are from the building’s time as a convent, which was struck by a deadly yellow fever epidemic. The spectral laughter and cries of children are heard throughout the halls, and the ghost of a confederate soldier—known simply as "The Man"—is often seen on the sixth and third floors, limping and muttering to himself. The distinct sound of a child's ball bouncing down an empty hallway is one of the most common and unnerving experiences reported here.

The Hotel Monteleone

Taking the top spot is the grand dame of New Orleans hotels, The Hotel Monteleone, and its most famous ghostly resident, a young boy named Maurice Begere. The story goes that in the late 1800s, Maurice was staying at the hotel with his parents, Jacques and Josephine. One night, while his parents were at the French Opera House, Maurice came down with a raging fever and passed away. To this day, the spirit of Maurice wanders the fourteenth floor (which is technically the thirteenth), searching for his mother and father. Guests have reported seeing the apparition of the young boy near the room where he died. His parents' spirits are also said to return, their anguished apparitions forever looking for their lost son. The hotel's paranormal activity is so consistent that it has been studied by professional research teams, cementing its legacy as the most haunted hotel in New Orleans.

From heartbroken brides to lost children, these hotels offer more than just a place to rest your head. They offer a direct connection to the city's dramatic past. Are you brave enough to spend the night? Discover more Haunted Hotels in New Orelans.