places to visit in new orleans louisiana

New Orleans   Travel Guide

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29 Top-Rated Things to Do in New Orleans

Though it's known as a party city for its Mardi Gras celebration and bustling nightlife, New Orleans is so much more. With its delicious food scene, which features both classic Cajun and Creole cuisine, as well as more unique upscale spots;

• All Things To Do

French Quarter French Quarter free

If you want to experience New Orleans properly, it's best to begin your tour here. Recent visitors said the neighborhood is lively, with lots to do and see and offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The neighborhood, also known as Vieux Carré , is the heart and soul of this city, and it's also a National Historic Landmark. As the site of the original New Orleans colony (established by the French in 1718), the French Quarter has held on to its heritage, complete with street names that are still listed in French. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets to find such attractions as Jackson Square , Faulkner House Books and the  Cabildo . While you're strolling, pay attention to the neighborhood's architecture: balconies are designed with baroque ironwork and hanging plants, while leafy courtyards are filled with bubbling fountains. The scene is definitely charming, but it can also be expensive if you choose to stay at any of the French Quarter's  hotels .

Undoubtedly, the French Quarter's main draw is Bourbon Street – New Orleans' infamous party hub. You'll find this street laden with performers and fortune tellers as well as rowdy bars. Although a trip to New Orleans isn't really complete without strolling down Bourbon Street, keep in mind that boisterous evenings on Bourbon are best appreciated by adult travelers. If you're tempted to hang your hat on Bourbon Street, don't. While it's fun to be at the center of the action, there's really no escaping the late-night noise.

Frenchmen Street Frenchmen Street free

If you want an authentic New Orleans experience more removed from the touristy areas of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter , head to the lively Frenchmen Street. A popular spot for locals, Frenchmen Street stretches for several blocks and features live music, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. Here, not only will you find fewer crowds (albeit not by much), but you'll also encounter cheaper eats and drinks, and better music – it's kind of like Bourbon Street's hipper, trendier cousin. If you don't consider yourself a night owl, the Palace Market (open Sunday through Wednesday 7 p.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.) is a shopping haven where locals sell homemade art and jewelry.

Recent visitors agreed that a trip to New Orleans isn't complete without stopping by Frenchmen Street. Some even suggest skipping the more crowded and touristy Bourbon Street and instead meandering along Frenchmen Street where you'll find live music, specifically jazz, and great bars. Travelers and locals alike love The Spotted Cat, Three Muses and d.b.a thanks to their extensive beverage selections, fun atmospheres and, of course, talented musicians.

The National WWII Museum The National WWII Museum

You don't have to be a history buff to enjoy The National WWII Museum, according to recent travelers. Opened on June 6, 2000 (the 56th anniversary of D-Day), the museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts and educational films documenting all aspects of the war, from D-Day to the war in the Pacific to the Holocaust. The brainchild of friends Stephen Ambrose, a bestselling author and consultant on the film "Saving Private Ryan," and Gordon H. "Nick" Mueller, former historian and vice chancellor at the University of New Orleans, the museum also features oral recantations of civilians' and soldiers' experiences throughout the early 1940s.

In November 2023, the National WWII Museum opened a new fourth wing called The Liberation Pavilion, which explores the Holocaust, the end of the war and the post-war years. The three-story pavilion highlights the longlasting social and geopolitical movements that formed in the aftermath of the war, including civil rights and women's equality. The space includes a re-creation of the rooms where Anne Frank and her family hid, a multi-sensory theater, and exhibits dedicated to the Monuments Men and Women and the role of faith in wartime.

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Garden District Garden District free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Stroll past 2707 Coliseum Street to see where "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was filmed. – Amanda Norcross, Content & SEO Strategist, Travel

Take a walking tour of the Garden District (located a little less than 3 miles southwest of the  French Quarter ) for a peek at some of the city's most beautiful homes. Like its name suggests, this historic residential neighborhood is laden with trees, ivy, and yes, gardens. Visitors rave about the beautiful houses and architecture. Some even preferred the Garden District over Bourbon Street, citing the peaceful atmosphere and well-preserved properties as a much-needed break from the city's crowded tourist spots.

New Orleans Cemetery Tours New Orleans Cemetery Tours

Some of New Orleans' must-see attractions are its cemeteries. Many of the tombs found in these "cities of the dead" are above ground to protect them from rising water levels, and they're embellished with ornate designs inspired by French and Spanish architecture. Though the city's older cemeteries are admittedly dilapidated, with crumbled tombs and patchy grass, the decaying grounds add to the ghostly atmosphere (which is why many of the city's top ghost tours make stops in them). 

The St. Louis cemeteries are some of the most popular, despite being located in somewhat edgier parts of town (just south of the Tremé neighborhood). St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is the final resting place of some of New Orleans' more unique characters, including Bernard de Marigny – former president of the Louisiana Senate and notorious playboy – and Marie Laveau, the Big Easy's very own "Voodoo queen." Many of the city's top cemetery tours stop in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 shelters the graves of local musicians like Ernie K-Doe and Danny Barker, plus it's the burial site of the notorious pirate, Dominique You. (Note: St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 is currently closed.) Movie buffs will recognize the eerie walls of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (situated south of Central City) from films like "Interview with a Vampire" and "Double Jeopardy." (Note: Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is currently closed for restoration.)

Preservation Hall Preservation Hall

The idea for Preservation Hall grew out of a need to attract patrons to an art gallery known as Associated Artists by bringing in jazz musicians from all walks of life. While the plan worked to attract visitors to the building, they came for the music and not the artwork. The art soon moved out and the music continued. By the 1960s, the venue became a full-fledged jazz establishment. Today, Preservation Hall hosts intimate jazz concerts more than 350 nights of the year.

Located in the French Quarter on Saint Peter Street, Preservation Hall welcomes visitors nightly for 45 minutes of intimate traditional New Orleans live jazz performances. Recent visitors said that attending a concert at Preservation Hall is a must-do experience in New Orleans thanks to the talented musicians. However, travelers also warn that the room where the performances are held can get quite hot in the summertime as there is no air conditioning.

New Orleans Swamp Tours New Orleans Swamp Tours

Stretching from  Houston  to Mobile, Alabama, the Bayou Country played a crucial role in the development of the United States in terms of communication and transportation. In fact, there would be no New Orleans without the bayous, so you owe it to yourself to take a swamp tour .

A mix of saltwater and freshwater, the bayous are home to crawfish, shrimp, deer and alligators, which are often the main attractions for visitors. Travelers generally enjoy their tours, no matter which company they choose, but do warn that going in the winter could mean fewer wildlife sightings (some animals hibernate during the colder temperatures).

Jackson Square Jackson Square free

Jackson Square is a National Historical Landmark in the center of the French Quarter tucked away on Decatur Street between the Jax Brewery shopping mall and the French Market. Spread across more than 2 acres, the square welcomes more than 2 million visitors yearly. The square's name is inspired by the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson that stands at the center.

The square has plenty of fun things for travelers to do, including top attractions like the Cabildo and the St. Louis Cathedral . It also serves as an open-air market space for vendors and artists to share and sell their works. After shopping, enjoy a café au lait and a beignet at the world-famous Café du Monde , which is located less than a 5-minute walk east of the square.

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St. Louis Cathedral St. Louis Cathedral free

As the centerpiece of the  French Quarter , St. Louis Cathedral is one of New Orleans' most recognizable landmarks. The oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States, St. Louis Cathedral was originally built in the early 1700s. The structure standing today is actually the third cathedral built on this spot, since the first two were destroyed. Religious services are still held here, as well as numerous cultural events, including free concerts. Even if you're not interested in attending a service, past visitors urge you to take a peek inside, describing it as "beautiful inside and out."

After touring the cathedral and the Old Ursuline Convent (the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley), consider strolling through St. Anthony's Garden to see the impressive statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The garden also has a memorial to 30 French ship crew members who lost their lives to yellow fever in 1857.

Ride the St. Charles Streetcar Ride the St. Charles Streetcar

U.S. News Insider Tip: For upscale dining with a funky NOLA twist, take the St. Charles Streetcar to the Jack Rose restaurant, where the dishes are as unique and festive as the decor. Don't miss the Lil Wayne painting in the "living room." – Lynn Brown

Though the city has several streetcar routes, the one that travels from Canal Street up St. Charles Avenue is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world, and definitely worth a ride for anyone visiting New Orleans. For only $1.25 each way, you can take a leisurely ride through the Garden District, past some of the most beautiful and impressive architecture in the city. If you ride all the way to the end, you can check out the landscaped grounds of Audubon Park and explore both Loyola and Tulane universities before heading back.

Audubon Nature Institute Audubon Nature Institute

U.S. News Insider Tip: The Audubon Nature Institute is actually composed of three different sites: the zoo, the aquarium and the insectarium. Special discounted tickets are available that allow you to visit two or even all three sites over a span of days. – Lynn Brown

Families should make time to visit the Audubon Nature Institute. This massive facility is home to a zoo, an aquarium, a nature center, several parks and a golf course, among other amenities. At the popular zoo and aquarium, special kid-friendly exhibits feed curious minds while allowing little ones to get up close and personal with their favorite furry (or scaly or slimy) friends. You can also watch daily feedings or sit in on numerous lectures and films about the environment. Don't miss the sharks, turtles, fish and sting rays swimming in the 17-foot-deep, 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit at the aquarium, or the newly expanded Jaguar Jungle exhibit in the zoo, where you can not only see jaguars, but also bats, tree frogs, poison arrow frogs and much more. Note that the Audubon Nature Institute is currently undergoing a $34 million renovation. The insectarium and butterfly garden facility is located on the New Orleans Riverfront next to the aquarium.

Backstreet Cultural Museum Backstreet Cultural Museum

One of the best places to get a feel for the city's unique identity is at the Backstreet Cultural Museum. This off-the-beaten-path attraction was established by local photographer and history buff, Sylvester Francis. Visit his museum to view an eclectic collection of costumes, memorabilia, photographs, films and other artifacts related to African American culture. Fans of HBO's "Treme" may also recognize the museum from its brief cameo in the series.

Tours of the hodgepodge collection are given by curators of the museum, which many recent travelers found to be the highlight of the museum visit thanks to their wealth of knowledge. While the facilities aren't as polished as other museums in the city (the site is family-run, so don't expect a gift shop or cafe), the no-frills presentation is what continues to draw visitors.

The Cabildo The Cabildo

Flanking Jackson Square in the heart of the  French Quarter , the Cabildo was originally constructed in 1799 (when New Orleans was under Spanish rule), as the seat of the Spanish government. Later on, it was here that the Louisiana Purchase took place and after that, this Spanish-style building served as city hall and the state Supreme Court. Today, the Cabildo is home to a three-floor branch of the Louisiana State Museum, which recounts Louisiana history with the help of Native American objects, Colonial-era paintings, and even Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask. Visitors can also see the room where the Louisiana Purchase was finalized. If you're interested in more recent history, you'll find that at the Cabildo, too. An entire floor is devoted to Hurricane Katrina – the 2005 storm that left New Orleans and surrounding regions devastated. Within the exhibit you'll find multimedia displays and artifacts collected during the cleanup of both hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

When you're not admiring the many artifacts displayed here, take a minute to marvel at the building's architecture. Recent travelers said the Cabildo's design is worth seeing, even if you're not interested in the history within. And while you're here, consider stopping by the St. Louis Cathedral , located next door on Chartres Street. The bus routes servicing the area include the No. 5 and 55.

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Mardi Gras World Mardi Gras World

Even if you're not in town for the actual festival, don't miss your chance to go behind the scenes of one of America's most renowned (and most raucous) celebrations. Mardi Gras World offers a close-up look at some of the flamboyant floats and costumes used during New Orleans' famous party. One thing to know upfront: This isn't a museum – it's a warehouse workshop where current floats are in the process of being completed and old floats are stored. Take the self-guided tour through the maze of props to learn more about the festival's history.

According to recent visitors, it's fascinating to see artists hard at work creating the floats. Just make sure to bring your camera: Before the tour, visitors are invited to try on authentic Mardi Gras costumes. After the tour, visitors are treated to a piece of king cake. Past travelers said the museum is a nice surprise and report learning all sorts of things they didn't know about how floats are built. They also appreciated the free shuttle to and from the attraction.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Located in the historic and buzzing French Quarter , the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum showcases the unique heritage of medicine and pharmaceuticals. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, exhibits a mid-19th-century apothecary shop. It also has numerous antiques from this instrumental era in healthcare on display. Plus, the museum celebrates Louis J. Dufilho Jr. of Louisiana, who was America's first licensed pharmacist.

Recent travelers called their experiences at this attraction informative and interesting, and they especially recommended the (adult-themed) guided tour. Others praised the friendly staff.

Know NOLA Tours Know NOLA Tours

Owner, historian and storyteller Malik Bartholomew guides visitors through his hometown while highlighting the culture and history that make the city of New Orleans so unique. Several of the tours focus on the city's Black cultural heritage and connection to the larger African diaspora, such as the African Heritage French Quarter Walking Tour, a Tremé tour and a tour of Studio BE. There are also more general tours of the Garden District and French Quarter, as well as a bike tour offering.

Past visitors have found the Know NOLA tours to be extremely impactful and informative as well as fun. They especially noted the excellent storytelling abilities of the guides and the fact that their deep love for the city and its history was so evident.     

New Orleans Museum of Art New Orleans Museum of Art

Since its opening in 1911, the New Orleans Museum of Art (known simply as "NOMA") has assembled nearly 50,000 works of art – an impressive compilation considering the museum opened with only nine pieces. It is the oldest fine arts institution in Crescent City. NOMA's vast collection ranges from early Asian works to European masterpieces from the 16th to 20th centuries.

Many recent visitors said this museum is a must-see for any art lover, and a great indoor attraction during the city's high heat and humidity. Past travelers commented on the small size of the museum, but others noted that its size allows you to see all of the exhibits in just one visit and say not to miss the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden .

New Orleans City Park New Orleans City Park free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Storyland is an absolute must for families with young kids. – Amanda Norcross, Content & SEO Strategist

New Orleans City Park offers a lovely respite from the city and is a great place to spend an afternoon, according to recent visitors. Take a nature stroll through the 10-acre New Orleans Botanical Garden (which boasts 2,000 different varieties of plants) or peruse the art hanging in the New Orleans Museum of Art . And while New Orleans isn't generally classified as a kid-friendly destination, New Orleans City Park has several diversions for your young ones, including Storyland (home to about 20 giant storybook and fairy tale character sculptures), Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, which features more than a dozen rides for all ages, and the Train Garden, which features miniature replicas of the streetcars and trains that traveled the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

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Magazine Street Magazine Street free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Start your stroll along Magazine Street at the original Surrey's Café & Juice Bar. The tiny space is home to some of the best shrimp and grits in town, not to mention the fresh-squeezed juice that give it its name. – Lynn Brown

Tucked away from the French Quarter is Magazine Street. The 6-mile stretch of roadway runs from Canal Street to Audubon Park . It's home to several of the city's top attractions, as well as a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Studio Be Studio Be

A massive warehouse facility in the Bywater district of New Orleans, Studio Be is an eye-popping and illuminating display of public art. The creator, Brandan "BMike" Odums, collaborated with more than 40 other artists to create large murals and exhibits that explore activism, resistance and Black American history. Most displays use spray paint and graffiti techniques, and the entire project took six months to complete. The facility spans 35,000 square feet, and encompasses four buildings and up to five stories. It is the largest single-site public art exhibition in the American South, and it attracts visitors from all over the globe.

Multiple recent visitors called the art on display "powerful," and almost everyone agreed that the experience was well worth the $15 for general admission price. Tickets for students, teachers, seniors and first responders are $10. For children 12 and younger, tickets cost $5. The exhibits are open Wednesday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the warehouses are located on Royal Street near a number of other galleries and studios. Travelers should note, reservations must be made in order to visit the facility. Check out Studio Be's website if you are interested in learning more about the artist and what's on display.  

Le Musée de f.p.c. Le Musée de f.p.c.

Le Musée de f.p.c. (the Free People of Color Museum) has an enriched history. Located in the Esplanade Ridge neighborhood of New Orleans, the area was once known as "Creole's Millionaire's Row." Pre-Civil War, New Orleans was home to a large population of free people of color. This was in part because both the French and Spaniards allowed enslaved people to purchase their freedom. They would then make their way to New Orleans to settle. Afro-Creole free people of color owned a majority of the properties along Esplanade.

The museum is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the free people of New Orleans. Tours are guided by the Black-led community theater company, No Dream Deferred. Performers take on the roles of actual historically free people of color who lived in New Orleans during Colonial times. During the tour, travelers learn about the impact of free people of color in the city, whether it's through cuisine, architecture or music.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden free

What can best be described as a garden within a park, the 11-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is a beloved outdoor attraction. The sculpture garden is located adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park .

Idyllically situated among the park's Spanish moss-covered live oaks, the sculpture garden doubled in size in 2019. Thanks to the increase in size, visitors will now find more than 90 works of art designed from around the world.

Steamboat Natchez Steamboat Natchez

U.S. News Insider Tip: Book a dinner cruise for sunset views, and bring a light jacket as it gets cool out on the water at night. – Amanda Norcross, Content & SEO Strategist

Steamboat Natchez launched in 1975 and is a traditional sternwheel steamboat that takes visitors on a tour of the Mississippi River. The tours aim to cultivate an atmosphere that transports guests to another era, with the captain shouting through a hand-held megaphone and old-time music lingering in the air. Steamboat Natchez offers a few tour options, including a dinner jazz cruise, a daytime jazz cruise, a Sunday jazz brunch cruise and select special event cruises. The tours last about two hours and include a concert, a narration of historical facts and an optional meal; a gift shop and bar are also available on board. The boat is equipped with indoor and outdoor seating.

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Café du Monde Café du Monde

Café du Monde is a must-do experience for any foodie visiting New Orleans. First established in 1862, the cafe is located at the end of the French Market just off Jackson Square . The world-famous eatery serves as the place in the historic French Quarter to enjoy delicious coffee drinks and the original beignet – Louisiana's official doughnut. This sweet dessert, which is a deep-fried dough square covered in powdered sugar, was first introduced to Louisiana in the 17th century by the French Acadians, who filled these fried fritters with fruit. Along with its beignets, Café du Monde is also well known for its café au lait, which is a blend of milk, coffee and chicory (made from roasted, ground and brewed chicory root).

Past travelers suggest ordering from the cafe's walk-up window, since lines can be long inside the restaurant. Others also recommend visiting the cafe's City Park location to skip the lines that usually congregate around the original location near the French Quarter (there are several locations around New Orleans and Louisiana).

JAMNOLA JAMNOLA

JAMNOLA, which stands for "joy, art and music New Orleans," is one of the city's more unique and relatively new attractions. Described by its creator as a "cultural funhouse," the pop-up art installation opened in 2020 in the Faubourg Marigny/Bywater neighborhood and houses 17 exhibits across 5,400 square feet. JAMNOLA is not your typical art gallery. Each Instagrammable room in this experimental space tells a quintessential New Orleans story through the creations of more than 30 local artists. In one room you could be posing next to a life-size crawfish sitting in a lounge chair and in another, you could be trying on Mardi Gras costumes.

Past visitors said the artwork is cool and that there are plenty of opportunities for fun photos. Others said this is a great activity for all ages thanks to the interactive nature of the displays.

Louisiana Children's Museum Louisiana Children's Museum

When people say that New Orleans isn't the best place to bring kids, they're forgetting about the Louisiana Children's Museum. Located in New Orleans City Park , this 56,000-square-foot space is a playtopia in disguise. The museum features hands-on exhibits that cover everything from food to nature. The museum also hosts numerous special events, from near daily story times to holiday-related activities.

Many travelers agree that this is a must-do with younger kids, especially on days when everyone needs a break from the heat and humidity (though the museum does have a "backyard" with various outdoor exhibits). Recent families have called it a great place to play with lots of interesting, interactive exhibits.

Vue Orleans Vue Orleans

Vue Orleans is a family-friendly interactive experience perched at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans. The tech-savvy attraction takes travelers on a journey through New Orleans as they make their way up to the top of the building. Exhibits feature gesture tracking, touchless interactives, large-scale LED walls and augmented viewers, among other high-tech elements.

Explore the "Confluence of Culture" exhibit to learn more about the historical figures who played a significant role in shaping New Orleans. Here, visitors can interact with installations, such as "Do You NOLA," which features 58 fun facts about the city. From there, engage with the "Dress for the Fest," display, where visitors can see visually stunning costumes worn during famous New Orleans festivals.

Longue Vue House and Gardens Longue Vue House and Gardens

Longue Vue House and Gardens is a lush display of Southern elegance and history. The historic estate features a museum and an interactive Discovery Garden, and it also boasts 8 acres of gardens with local plant life. The elaborate four-story house was built in the mid-20th century, and it contains 20 separate rooms, a unique basement and a large collection of English and American antiques. Visitors can take a tour of the entire facility, and enjoy the modern art on display throughout the estate. If you love exploring outdoor gardens and seeing what local plant life is in bloom, you'll appreciate wandering the pathways at this attraction.

Recent visitors used words like "gorgeous," "amazing" and "lovely" to describe the Longue Vue grounds. They also appreciated the history associated with the museum and complimented the knowledgeable tour staff.

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Chalmette Battlefield & Jean Lafitte National Park Chalmette Battlefield & Jean Lafitte National Park free

Named after a French pirate who helped Gen. Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans during a battle in the War of 1812, the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve consists of six sites throughout southern Louisiana. New Orleans is home to several of these sites.

The French Quarter Visitor Center highlights the history and tradition of the lower Mississippi River Delta region through exhibits and film. Tuesday through Saturday, the center hosts a ranger history talk where visitors can learn more about the area. The center also doubles as the location for the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. The park is dedicated to sharing the origins and evolution of jazz.

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The 23 Best Things to Do in New Orleans

The Big Easy, of course, has its must-see sights—the New Orleans Museum of Art is as impressive a slice of culture as you’ll find in the South, and the National World War II Museum is a world-class facility that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Another of the absolute best things to do in New Orleans, of course, is experience the live music that is the heartbeat of the city—but NOLA offers so much more than those well-known headlines. Find time to discover the less obvious spaces; City Park , local-led cooking classes, and the region’s natural treasures with a local swamp tour . We've gathered our picks for what to do in New Orleans, covering the classics, the off-beat, and everything in between, so you're covered when you get there. Laissez les bons temps rouler , indeed.

Read our complete New Orleans travel guide here .

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Vue Orleans Arrow

Previously a rotating nightclub known as Top of the Mart, the upper levels of what is the new Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans have been transformed into a major new city attraction–Vue Orleans Observatory, “a 360-degree observation deck and interactive experience" on floors 33 and 34. Having been built on a swamp, New Orleans is mostly low-rise, and so this observation deck, though not that high in relative terms, still delivers memorable views of the surrounding city. Upon entry, follow a bevy of interactive maps to the elevator, where further video traces the history of New Orleans. Narrated by local singing legend Irma Thomas and rendered in beautiful rotoscope animation, you’re surrounded on three sides by ever-shifting scenery while climbing  to the first observation deck. There’s one more level to explore, where you can stroll outside around the perimeter of the tower, and take in the views—the vista looking straight up Poydras Street is particularly dramatic.

Studio Be Arrow

This studio—in a huge warehouse space in the Bywater neighborhood— showcases the work of local artist Brandon Odums (aka BMike). He specializes in large-scale murals and paintings illustrating scenes from black culture in the city, black leaders and icons; the exhibits show off the whole range of Odum’s talent, with mixed media pieces including sculpture and video. The real stars of the show—and the works for which he is most famous—are the floor-to-ceiling portraits.

Crescent Park Arrow

Until 2014, the banks of the Mississippi River bordering the city's downtown Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods were essentially unwalkable. The city invested in a large renovation program that's transformed unsightly, post-industrial wasteland into a lovely riverside park. Crescent Park is a mile-and-a-half long and feels very much like a local spot; you're unlikely to find Mardi Gras-beaded tourists here. Grab a bottle of wine and a cheese plate from nearby Bacchanal Wines , and find yourself a grassy riverside spot for an afternoon picnic.

New Orleans School of Cooking Arrow

The gastronomic scene is important in most cities. In New Orleans, it’s a way of life, a celebration of history and a cultural symbol of huge importance. It regulates dietary calendars—red beans on Mondays, King Cake during Carnival, Crawfish Monica at Jazz Fest. Through teaching the basics of arguably the only indigenous cuisine in the whole of the United States, the instructors here peel back layers of the city’s history and people. The classes are engaging and entertaining, of course, but you come away with an understanding of what food means to the culture here, an education that will help you appreciate the city on a whole new level. There are two styles of class to choose from—open demonstrations and hands-on cookery lessons. The hands-on class (which I took) will typically feature dishes such as seafood gumbo, crawfish pie and bananas foster crêpes, and lasts around three hours in the morning or afternoon. Preparing food all morning definitely whets your appetite for lunch. The instruction couldn’t be friendlier, with patience for beginners as well as expert tips for the more advanced. If you simply watch, rest assured that you can still sample the goods.

City Park Arrow

Almost all of New Orleans life is contained within this park—museums, golf courses, cafes and high-end restaurants, a stadium, waterways, and all that green space. The New Orleans Museum of Art and the accompanying sculpture garden are definite highlights, as is the Couterie Forest with its eight distinct ecosystems (and the city’s highest point, Laborde Mountain). Children will love the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park with its retro fairground rides—as well as the Louisiana Children's Museum —while adults can work up an appetite walking the great lawns before for dinner at the highly respected Ralph’s on the Park .

New Orleans Museum of Art Arrow

A must-see on most visitors’ New Orleans itineraries, and deservedly so. The building itself, set back in City Park , is imposing and grand with its alabaster walls and Greco-Roman columns. There's also a beautiful five-acre sculpture garden, with artwork beneath magnolias and Spanish moss-laden live oaks. Inside, the collection is equally impressive, with French and American art and traveling exhibits that feature everything from fashion to digital media. It remains one the South’s most impressive fine art collections.

Steamboat Natchez Arrow

The Steamboat Natchez is a well-loved and well-established tour with two daily harbor cruises, as well as dinner and Sunday brunch cruises. Though they may differ slightly, all of the cruises take in the sights and history of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. With the calliope organ playing as the boat docks, this is a rare chance to learn a lot in a short period of time. Buy tickets at the walk-up booth along the river (reservations are recommended during high season).

Louis Armstrong Park Arrow

There aren’t a ton of green spaces in downtown New Orleans, so Louis Armstrong Park, just outside the French Quarter, is a welcome option. Given its proximity to the city’s culture, the park has also become a hub for festivals and seasonal events. It’s a well-designed, landscaped spot that packs a lot into 32 acres. Don't miss Congo Square, which began as an open space for slaves and free people of color to celebrate their African heritage with music and drumming circles—the precursor to the development of jazz.

Backstreet Cultural Museum Arrow

The Treme neighborhood is one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the country, and inside what looks like an otherwise residential home is the new location for the Backstreet Cultural Museum, which houses one of the most comprehensive archives of the traditions and community movements that sprung from these streets. The most colorful aspect of the museum is its collection of elaborately sequined and beaded Mardi Gras masks and costumes, which have African and Native American influences. The collection also has information and artifacts relating to jazz funerals, second lines, and social aid and pleasure clubs. The exhibits are mainly permanent, although it’s a constantly growing archive of costumes, artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and films. The museum also hosts special events (including live music performances by local musicians and parties) throughout the year.

French Quarter Phantoms Arrow

Some people just love cemetery tours , but this is also great for visitors who want to feel spooked while learning local history. To kick things off, everyone meets at the "office"—which is actually the back of a bar on Rampart Street, which is the most New Orleans start to a guided tour imaginable. Everyone seemed pumped to see the cemetery. (Guided tours are now compulsory—it’s the only way to really explore them.) Keep an eye out for the tombs of local legends like Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, as well as the decoration on the stonework, which will really stick with you.

The Spotted Cat Music Club Arrow

If Frenchman Street is home to the city’s best jazz , the Spotted Cat is its epicenter—a small, kind of rundown bar that comes alive each night as old-school jazz plays on. Expect to hear brassy quartets and quintets; clarinet solos and big voices; and swing when the Cotton Mouth Kings come by. (A dance floor will open up for the local swing crew to show off its moves.) Cram in and stay for more than one set.

The National WWII Museum Arrow

The National WWII Museum is a world-class history museum—a sprawling complex of modern buildings in the Warehouse District that receives thousands of visitors every day who want to hear "the story of the war that changed the world." Doing so is no easy task, but through large narrative exhibits that include detailed, personal accounts from eyewitnesses, the museum manages to do just that. Every conceivable medium is used: film, immersive exhibits, large-scale reconstructions, and first-person oral histories among them. Expect to walk—a lot—given how spread out exhibits are, but the museum is sensitive to the relatively mature age of its visitors and rest stops and benches are plentiful. A short visit isn't ideal given the scale of the topic at hand, but if you’re really pushed, you could tailor your visit to just see a specific interest, or go straight for the movie presentation.

Saenger Theatre Arrow

You can still feel the glamour that must have accompanied the opening of Saenger Theatre in 1927. Although the capacity has been cut from 4,000 to 2,600, the grand venue is still one of the biggest theaters in town, with a performance hall modeled on an Italian baroque courtyard and overhead lighting that resembles a starry constellation. The space hosts big events that still need a more intimate setting than a sports arena: touring Broadway shows , big-name comedians, and the occasional concert.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden Arrow

This five-acre sculpture garden is a park within City Park , and acts as an open-air annex to the wonderful New Orleans Museum of Art ( NOMA ). 90 sculptures—mostly modern and abstract—are set among magnolias and live oaks, framed by bridges and reflecting pools, with world-renowned artists Henry Moore, Antoine Bourdelle, and Ossip Zadkine represented. The lake-set Virlane Tower by Kenneth Snelson is a favorite, as is the familiar Love, Red Blue sign by Robert Indiana, but it’s best to come without a map. Surprise and delight are over every bridge.

Tipitina's Arrow

The unassuming Uptown building with no seats may be over 100 years old, but Tips, as it’s affectionately known, only became a music venue in the 1970s. It quickly cemented its place as a New Orleans music institution: Local brass bands are a particular thing to see here. There are no seats, but you'll likely want to be up on your feet for whatever local talent is about to take the stage by storm. If there are any big music festivals in town, such as Jazz Fest or Voodoo , it’s likely that some of the bands booked will also add a show at Tip’s to their visit to NOLA, or maybe they'll just drop in unexpectedly, you never know.

Contemporary Arts Center Arrow

The Contemporary Arts Center, housed in a large redbrick building that stands out in the relatively muted Central Business District, is one of the city’s most prestigious spaces for the full gamut of contemporary arts, including painting, film, theater, and music. Exhibits, which rotate every four to eight weeks, can include any visual art form, from photography to sculpture and painting. The featured works are well-curated—sometimes around themes, sometimes around individual contemporary artists. Pieces are often installed in a creative way that makes use of the interior architecture.

Mardi Gras World Arrow

You might walk right by this anonymous warehouse by the Port of New Orleans, but inside is a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the country's biggest free party—Mardi Gras. The huge floats take months to build and decorate, and this is where a large part of that happens. Painters and sculptors are actually working on pieces as you take this 90-minute walking tour, so it feels like you’re being let in on a secret.

Cajun Encounters Tour Company Arrow

Cajun Encounters takes you 45 minutes from French Quarter beignets and Bourbon Street, but the bayou feels a world away. Your tour “captain”—a total pro who knows caimans from alligators—takes you out on a flat-bottomed boat for two hours in search of gators in the wild. You might even get to feed them. (Don’t worry, everyone from the tour makes it back.) Conservation plays a part of the conversation, as the guide offers a funny-serious take on the swamp, including how the environment was affected by Hurricane Katrina and how it continues to evolve.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art Arrow

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is Smithsonian -affiliated and, as its name suggests, celebrates the culture and aesthetic of Southern artists. The permanent collection showcases more than 4,000 pieces from 15 states; in fact, with works dating back to 1733, the institution boasts the most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world. Exhibits feature paintings, photography, sculpture, and handicrafts, and place historical works alongside contemporary artists working in the South.

Sazerac House Arrow

You may think that a museum dedicated to just one cocktail is excessive and couldn’t be done with enough depth to keep things interesting. To that, New Orleans says: hold my Sazerac. Opened in October 2019, The Sazerac House is a multi-floor, multi-media, interactive dive into the intoxicating world of a whiskey brand. In a beautifully renovated building on the corner of Magazine and Canal, it manages to house a museum, a bar, and a distillery, all in one. Visitors are guided to the third floor to begin their tour. The floor traces the cultural influence of booze in New Orleans. Spoiler alert: it figures heavily in the city’s past. Exhibits are sleek, technologically impressive, and in some cases, interactive, detailing the start of cocktail culture in the Crescent City and the evolution of the Sazerac. The second floor delves into the brand, looking at the production of the spirit, including a hands-on look at ingredients, and a chance to sample the wares if you’re old enough. The ground floor exposes the inner workings of the on-site distillery, and the parts blend to form a cohesive whole, like a well-made cocktail.

Southern Food & Beverage Museum Arrow

Sometimes it feels like most, if not all, of the festivities in and around New Orleans are simply vehicles for making and consuming local dishes and cocktails . It makes sense, then, that this museum opened in 2014 to celebrate the food and drinks that are so beloved in this region. This large, open-plan warehouse has a bohemian ambience. It’s filled with antique memorabilia and packs in an impressive number of ingredients, with exhibits representing all of the southern states, not just Louisiana. The museum is very active socially, and in any given week there’s likely to be a few live events, from demonstrations and lectures to nights where you can sample specific foods or cocktails. Local and regional chefs and bartenders are invited to interpret their skills, and there’s a cute outdoor space, the Gumbo Garden. There’s also a demonstration kitchen that hosts regular cookery demos and classes.

Music Box Village Arrow

This venue, in the far reaches of the residential Bywater neighborhood, is an aesthetic delight. It looks something like a post-apocalyptic wooden fortress, impenetrable except to those in the know (the public entrance is set in the back). Inside is part acoustic playground, part rural music venue, part museum. There are several small "houses"—built with wood and metal and plastic, in different styles—and each has its own musical "instruments," be it percussion or wind or some more elaborate electronic devices hooked into windows and floors. It’s built for you to run around, explore, and make lots of noise. The shows here are one-of-a-kind—nything from rock to opera, the common thread being that artists are encouraged to make use of the unique sounds and setup available to them. Performances are true one-offs, with even the most polished songs being deconstructed and put together again using the wooden blocks or bells available. The venue encourages a particular kind of collaboration and invention, and most artists rise to the challenge.

Preservation Hall Arrow

Come the early evening, or Sunday afternoon, people start to line up outside the crumbling exterior of a building on St. Peters Street in the historic French Quarter. Through the iron gate lies one of the world’s most respected music venues and the spiritual home of New Orleans jazz, Preservation Hall. It’s not much to look at—just a small, square room with some seating and a small stage area—but a little local magic happens four or five times a day. The house band is, unsurprisingly, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They're dedicated to preserving the traditions of New Orleans jazz as it was in its heyday a hundred years ago, and they play four or five white-hot, hour-long sets each night to the 100 or so people who pack the benches. You're guaranteed an amazing show no matter what time you come, and there’s always that chance that famous musicians will drop by unannounced, especially when large music festivals (such as Jazz Fest in the spring) are in town.

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The best things to do in New Orleans right now

Go beyond Bourbon Street and discover music, culture and more local-approved things to do in New Orleans

New Orleans is a top destination for big annual events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest , for its renowned restaurants and bar scene and—for better or worse—Bourbon Street. Beyond the Quarter and its non-stop party scene, however, you can still find plenty of fun things to do in New Orleans, from world-class museums and amazing architecture to eye-opening history and outdoor attractions. Shop local businesses and unique art, dine at trendy new spots and beloved dives, take in the majesty of the mighty Mississippi, catch some incredible live music and so much more. The best things to do in New Orleans will give you a taste of all the city has to offer, setting the stage for many return visits.

This guide was updated by New Orleans-based writer Gerrish Lopez . At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines . 

RECOMMENDED:  The best Airbnbs in New Orleans RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in New Orleans

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best things to do in New Orleans

1.  french quarter.

• Historic buildings and sites
• French Quarter

While Bourbon Street can be avoided (unless it’s your first visit to New Orleans - you have to experience it), the French Quarter is always a must-do, any time of year. As the city’s oldest neighborhood, the Vieux Carre is packed with gorgeous architecture, loads of history, a wealth of food and music, and a cast of characters including long-time residents, chatty tour guides, and talented street performers. Don’t skip out on historic attractions like the Historic New Orleans Collection , and be sure to take in the views of the Mississippi from the edge of the Quarter.

2.  Frenchmen Street

Marigny, the neighborhood adjacent to the French Quarter, is one of the city’s top spots for music. Here you’ll find a string of live music venues like Spotted Cat and dba offering jazz, blues, reggae and rock. There’s often a brass band performing on a corner. Restaurants offering pub grub, pizza and more will fuel you up for an energetic, music-filled stroll around the neighborhood.

3.  Garden District

Upriver from the French Quarter lies the Garden District. Take a tour of this neighborhood’s grand mansions and historic cemeteries or just stroll around on your own. The houses and history are a draw, but the neighborhood also offers a wealth of shops and cafes, as well as Commander’s Palace , one of New Orleans’ best restaurants.

4.  Audubon Zoo

• Black Pearl

Spend an afternoon at one of the top zoos in the country. The Audubon Zoo has world-class exhibits featuring animals from Asia, Africa, and South America. You’ll also see seals, reptiles, and a glimpse of the Louisiana swamp. Located behind Audubon Park, the zoo has majestic oak trees (keep an eye out for resident peacocks). In the summer, the Cool Zoo water park offers a respite from the heat.

5.  National WWII Museum

• Warehouse District

The National WWII Museum is a world-class complex with award-winning exhibits showcasing the stories of those who served in WWII and on the homefront. Highlights include actual planes, jeeps, and Higgins Boats, a theater with WWII-era musical performances, a restaurant, and a fantastic gift shop with 1940s-inspired gifts and clothing.

6.  Vue Orleans

For a fabulous, interactive overview of what makes New Orleans so unique, head to the top of the Four Seasons Hotel. Vue Orleans features spectacular 360° indoor and outdoor observation decks overlooking the Mississippi, plus an interactive experience that celebrates the culture, history and music of the Crescent City. State-of-the-art technology brings the city's stories to life in a whole new way.

7.  Magazine Street

This six-mile stretch has it all: shopping, dining, art galleries, unique architecture, an award-winning zoo and friendly local business owners. Get your steps in as you shop local boutiques, then reward yourself with a meal at one of the many restaurants along Magazine Street that offer sidewalk dining or patios overlooking the hustle and bustle of the street.

8.  City Park

• Sports and fitness
• Exercise classes

City Park is a beautifully landscaped, 1,300-acre green space filled with moss-drenched oaks, peaceful walking paths, and native birds. Head to the Big Lake and rent a swan boat, visit the Botanical Gardens, have a picnic or embrace your inner child at Storyland and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Don’t miss the Couturie Forest, a diverse nature trail with New Orleans’ highest point: Laborde Mountain, at a whopping 27 feet above sea level.

9.  Audubon Park

The 350-acre Audubon Park Uptown stretches between St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street. The two-plus-mile paved loop is a favorite of bikers and joggers. Walk under the shade of massive oak trees, watch ducks and swans paddle around, or pick a spot to have a picnic or play some frisbee. The park is adjacent to the fabulous Audubon Zoo and The Fly—a stretch of park along the riverfront behind the zoo (take a walk back here and you may hear the monkeys or see a giraffe peeking out from its enclosure).

10.  New Orleans Museum of Art

The city's preeminent art museum sits within City Park, at the edge of the Big Lake. NOMA houses more than 40,000 pieces featuring pieces from the Italian Renaissance to modern works. Browse works from Monet, Degas, Rodin and O’Keefe as well as glass, ceramics, pre-Columbian art, and an extensive photography collection. Save time for the adjacent Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden, a beautifully landscaped showcase of the Museum’s sculpture collection.

11.  Café du Monde

• Coffee shops
• Vieux Carre
• price 1 of 4

This French Quarter fixture since 1862 serves the the best cafe au lait alongside hot, fresh beignets at all hours. Take a peek in the window to see the magic happen, then dive in to your order of three. If you make it out without powdered sugar on your shirt, you're doing it wrong.

12.  Lafitte Greenway

Stretching from City Park to the edge of the French Quarter, this 2.6-mile linear park is a green oasis in the middle of the city. The bike and pedestrian path takes you past playgrounds, native landscaping, art, and sports fields, and is in close proximity to breweries, coffee shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Stop by the Crescent City Farmers market on the Greenway on Thursday afternoons, or check out one of the many outdoor fitness classes offered throughout the week.

13.  Mardi Gras World

Blaine Kern has been building Mardi Gras floats for the various krewes that roll in Carnival parades in the weeks leading up to and on Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday). He's known as "Mr. Mardi Gras" for a good reason, as his designs have delighted the city for over 50 years. Mardi Gras World  is near the Convention Center and offers tours that give you a firsthand look at the heart of Mardi Gras parade experience, regardless of the time of year.

14.  Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

Explore a different side of the South at New Orleans' newest museum. The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience (MSJE) tells the unique story of Jews in thirteen Southern states from Colonial times to the present. Learn how Jews in the South were influenced by the culture of their new communities, and how they shared their own culture with these communities (which were primarily Christian) through heritage and traditions.

15.  Algiers Ferry

At the foot of Canal Street, hop aboard the Algiers Ferry to feel the power of the Mississippi firsthand. The short ride on this commuter ferry will give you an amazing view of the city and a few minutes to be one with the river. On the other side, spend some time wandering the petite neighborhood of Algiers Point: cute homes, oak-lined streets, and a few cafes and bars.

16.  Studio Be

This huge warehouse in Bywater welcomes visitors with a massive, colorful mural on its front. Studio Be  houses the work of BMike—local artist Brandon Odums. He is known for his large-scale murals depicting Black culture in the city, and his studio showcases his floor-to-ceiling portraits of Black leaders and icons.

17.  Crescent Park

While in Bywater, stroll the mile-and-a-half Crescent Park along the river. Climb the “rusty rainbow” (a huge steel arch that takes you over railroad tracks) and catch a breeze, have a picnic, watch roller skaters at the Mandeville Wharf, or just chill and watch as huge ships pass by.

18.  Bacchanal

At the far end of Crescent Park sits Bacchanal . While it’s no longer a locals’ secret, this wine shop/hangout retains its unique local charm and funky hideaway feel. The lush back patio is the perfect spot to enjoy a bottle of wine and a cheese plate. Live music makes a visit here even more special.

19.  Tipitina's

In a city full of iconic music venues, Tipitina’s stands out. The Uptown joint on Napoleon Avenue was founded in 1977 and is still going strong. For a good dose of New Orleans funk (the venue is now owned by the band Galactic, who continue the tradition of hosting local funk and rock bands as well as mid-sized national acts), check out the lineup at this local institution.

20.  New Orleans Jazz Museum

It's only logical for New Orleans to be home to a jazz museum , for this is the city where the musical genre was born. This comprehensive repository of artifacts from the very beginning of the 20th century lets you see and hear the history of jazz. The museum also presents concerts throughout the year and hosts educational programs for kids (and adults, too) aspiring to play jazz like the city's legends, from Louis Armstrong to Al Hirt, Louis Prima and more.

21.  JAMNOLA

Experience joy, art, and music at this interactive installation in the Marigny. The 5,500-square-foot warehouse space has been converted into a selfie-haven with bright, colorful rooms designed by local artists to celebrate local art, music and culture. Jump into a pot with a giant crawfish, snap a pic with an oversized bust of local musicians, and become part of the art in virtual reality booths. It’s sensory overload, New Orleans style.

22.  Sazerac House

In this city with a lengthy history and culture surrounding cocktails, the Sazerac cocktail might be the most famous drink to come out of New Orleans. It sits on nearly every bar menu, has been designated the city’s official cocktail, and even has its own museum. Visit the Sazerac House —located at the site where the first cocktail was served—to learn the history of the drink through immersive exhibits and chats with virtual bartenders in an impressive setting.

23.  Arts Market New Orleans

Looking for a unique gift or souvenir? The twice-monthly Arts Market New Orleans features dozens of local artists selling everything from painting and ceramics to jewelry, home decor, photography and more, including plenty of NOLA-themed items. The market, featuring live music and food vendors, is held in City Park on the second Saturday of every month and Uptown in Harmony Park on the last Saturday of each month.

24.  Local breweries

In addition to longtime favorites like NOLA Brewing and Faubourg Brewing (formerly Dixie Brewing), New Orleans has welcomed a slew of new breweries and beer gardens over the past few years. Enjoy a pint or two outside at breweries like Second Line and Zony Mash , or head to Wrong Iron or Tchoup Yard and find a spot in their sprawling outdoor patios. All offer live music on occasion, so be sure to check out their event calendars.

25.  Streetcars

New Orleans’ streetcar system has been rolling since 1835. While you can no longer ride the Desire Line, made famous by Tennessee Williams, the existing lines offer a great way to see the city. The newer red streetcars run out to Mid-City, while the older, original green cars take you down historic St. Charles Avenue, past beautiful houses in the famed Garden District and Audubon Park.

More great things to do in New Orleans

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » Louisiana (LA) » 55 Best Things to Do in New Orleans (LA)

55 Best Things to Do in New Orleans (LA)

The cradle of jazz music, New Orleans is a little out of step with the United States when it comes to dining, architecture and just day-to-day living.

It’s a city of Creole cottages, palatial townhouses, elegant iron balconies and shaded courtyards.

Out of the French Quarter vintage streetcars rattle past rows of southern live oaks that have been growing for hundreds of years.

New Orleans is that rare place where you can order a cocktail to-go, and turn a corner and be swept along in a street parade.

The joie de vivre is impossible to resist and shines through in sublime food like jambalaya, gumbo, beignets, po’ boys and crawfish boils.

A lot of the city is below the waterline and New Orleans’ darkest hour was broadcast to the world during Hurricane Katrina, but this irrepressible, charmingly dissolute city was soon on its feet once more.

Let’s explore the best things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana:

1. French Quarter

Rakish, bohemian and bouncy, the French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is the grand dame, and springs to mind when many people think New Orleans.

All the hallmarks are here, like the carnage of Bourbon Street, Creole cottages, wrought-iron balconies, laid-back cafes, pastel facades, gaslights, jazz clubs, flowery courtyards, to-go cups, antique stores and restaurants that have been around for a century or more.

You won’t even need to search for entertainment; it will find you in the French Quarter.

There’s fabulous live music outside, on Royal Street’s daytime pedestrian zone and on the corner of Chartres and Frenchmen Street in the evening, and you never know when a Second Line parade will show up.

Decatur Street by the levee and French Market is for yet more jazz, people-watching and souvenir shopping, while you may be out late enough to see a new day dawn on the Mississippi riverfront over the tracks.

Available tour : French Quarter: Food History & Tasting Tour

2. Garden District

New Orleans at its most refined, the Garden District was developed for rich Americans who didn’t want to live in the French Quarter with the Creoles.

From the mid-1830s they built themselves theatrical Italianate and Greek Revival mansions, often painted bright white and sporting two tiers of galleries.

Bougainvillea creeps up many of the facades, while the front gardens are planted with jasmine, banana trees and magnolia, and the sidewalks are in the shade of venerable southern live oaks.

Go on foot to gawp at the antebellum mansions, like the Goldsmith-Godchaux House, at 1122 Jackson Ave, The Manse at 2328 Coliseum Street, Colonel Short’s Villa at 1448 Fourth Street and the Brevard-Rice House at 1239 First Street.

The internationally renowned Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington Ave) is a Creole restaurant dating back to 1893 and housed in a fine turreted building with blue and white awnings.

Recommended tour : Garden District Tour

3. Jackson Square

Once a military parade ground at the very centre of the city Jackson Square was first laid out in 1720s in the style of Place des Vosges in Paris.

After the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 the plaza was renamed in honour of the victorious General Andrew Jackson who would become the seventh president of the United States between 1829 and 1837. At the very centre of formal gardens is the equestrian statue for Jackson by sculptor Clark Mills and unveiled in 1856. Jackson Square is set just in from the Mississippi riverbank and in a solemn row on the western frontage stand the Cabildo (former city hall), St.

Louis Cathedral and the former courthouse, the Presbytère.

In grand townhouses on the square’s margins are restaurants, galleries and shops, while the square is swarmed by artists selling their wares and producing portraits in a few minutes flat.

If there’s a TV show or movie set in New Orleans, you can bet that Jackson Square will make an appearance.

At the east corner is the 24-hour Café du Monde, a NOLA mainstay.

4. Mardi Gras

After twelfth night on January 6 New Orleans is officially in Mardi Gras season.

Until Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday), usually some time in February, the city is a blur of parades by enormous floats that have been months in the making.

The revelry and bead-throwing intensifies until the five days before Mardi Gras day when the population of New Orleans more than doubles in preparation for the “Greatest Free Show on Earth”, an explosion of creativity.

The parades are the work of social clubs (krewes) and tend to follow a set route each year, with floats that range from satirical to raunchy to just plain silly.

A good place to park yourself on the big day is St. Charles Avenue, when you can watch the parades roll by on their way into the French Quarter (Zulu and Rex are the big ones). Dress in purple, green and gold, go with the flow, join a marching krewe and feast on oysters and king cake.

5. Frenchmen Street

When people talk about Frenchmen Street they normally mean the three-block stretch through Faubourg Marigny that has ascended the throne as the best place for live music in New Orleans.

Traced by charming Creole cottages and hopping into the early hours, Frenchmen Street became a local cultural zone after Bourbon Street became a tourist honeypot in the 1980s.

The Maison, d.b.a., the Blue Nile, the Spotted Cat and Snug Harbor are just a few of the venues here, interspersed with bars, restaurants, coffee shops and enticing stores.

Jazz and blues are the bedrock, but you’ll hear a whole gamut of styles on Frenchmen Street, to match New Orleans’ kaleidoscopic makeup.

What might surprise you is that some spots like the Maison and 30/90 allow children until 22:00 for a family night on the town.

6. City Park

The sixth-largest urban park in America is on swampland that was drained by French colonists in the early 19th century.

At the time this space was known as “Dueling Oaks”, where men would come to settle disputes away from the city.

The park was landscape in the 1850s and holds the world’s largest collection of mature oaks, with some specimens more than 600 years old.

In true Louisiana style these are dripping with Spanish moss and afford lots of shade for jogging, cycling and picnics.

Within the park’s boundaries is the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, based around a gorgeous vintage carousel.

The New Orleans Botanical Garden has a handsome conservatory showing off tropical rainforest species, desert plants, prehistoric plants, mountain species and orchids, while there’s a miniature train on a two-mile track and a Boat House by the lake where you can rent bikes and pedal boats.

City Putt is a 36-hole putting attraction for families, while seasoned golfers can play a round at one of Bayou Oaks’ two courses.

Included in : New Orleans Luxury Bus Tour

7. Audubon Zoo

In the park of the same name on the river side of Magazine Street, Audubon Zoo escaped the worst of Katrina as it rests on high ground.

The humid climate in New Orleans allows Audubon Zoo to create lush and realistic environments like the award-winning Louisiana Swamp with leucistic alligators and the Jaguar Jungle.

Many children’s favourites are here, like Asian elephants, orangutans, lions (returned in May 2019), a Malayan tiger, western lowland gorillas, giraffes and rhinos.

In the summer the Cool Zoo splash park opens for kids, with a “Gator Run” lazy river, so pack swimming gear for little ones, while the Swamp Train takes a scenic tour of the zoo grounds.

The zoo is one of a few attractions in honour of the distinguished naturalist John James Audubon, who lived in New Orleans from 1821. Not on this list is the wonderful Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium with more than 50 exhibits at Canal Street on the edge of the French Quarter.

Get a discounted advance ticket : Audubon Zoo Advance Ticket

8. French Market

Up there with the United States’ great shopping and dining experiences, the French Market is in long iron-framed halls designed in the late-19th century by Joseph Abeilard, one of America’s first African American architects.

As a place of commerce, this location goes back centuries to a Native American trading post by the Mississippi.

The market runs for five blocks from Jackson Square and the famed Café du Monde to a flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue.

In this space there’s produce, specialty food stalls, stands with freshly made food and lots of arts and crafts, all soundtracked by live jazz.

If you’re peckish the Farmers’ Market Pavilion has options for all meals of the day, and vendors hawking crêpes, shrimp, oysters, crawfish pies and gourmet salads.

As well as Café du Monde, which we’ll come to later, there’s a cluster of full-blown eateries around the market, like Corner Oyster House Bar & Grill, which does oysters every which way, and Market Café for New Orleans classics like gumbo and po’ boys.

Finally, the Dutch Alley pedestrian plaza has a performance tent, quirky statues and the visitor center for the New Orleans Jazz National Park.

Recommended tour : French Quarter Walking and Storytelling Tour

9. Royal Street

Parallel to Bourbon Street as it cuts through the French Quarter, Royal Street is a quieter, maybe more genteel sibling.

Along 13 blocks there’s a postcard-worthy scene of Creole townhouses with decorative wrought-iron balconies.

Plenty are private homes, but on many ground floors are alluring boutiques, galleries, cafes, antiques shops and artist studios.

Where you can, don’t miss the chance to peek inside and get an eyeful of the period decor.

There’s music too, from street buskers, and no shortage of places to eat, at restaurants sequestered in courtyards The three blocks between St. Louis and St. Ann Streets are closed to traffic and become a pedestrian zone every day from 11:00 to 16:00, and there’s no better time to pay a visit and to take in some live music on the street.

One of New Orleans’ fabled landmarks, the Hotel Monteleone (1886), is also on Royal Street, and is famed for the Carousel Bar, the only rotating bar in the city.

10. Second Lines

Convoys of music and dancing, purely for the sake of it, Second Lines are parades that seem to start out of nowhere throughout New Orleans, but especially in Tremé and Central City where the custom began.

You’ll see plenty in the French Quarter too on Sunday afternoons.

Second Lines echo the rituals of a Jazz Funerals, but without a coffin, mourners and cemetery.

Instead they’ll trundle down the street, led by a brass band dressed in their finery, with sashes, hats, bonnets and matching suits (often brightly coloured). And in the wake will be dancers, traditionally twirling parasols as they go.

Many of the dancers will be unattached to the parade and just going with the flow.

You may see a lot of Second Lines celebrating weddings, with the newlyweds leading the “second line”, the group behind the band.

11. Afternoon Food History Tour

You could write volumes about all the delectable food in New Orleans.

The dining culture is so unique and specific to this city that you may feel like you need a guiding hand once you’re here.

The three-hour Afternoon Food History tour  is a six-stop culinary journey of discovery around the French quarter, with the chance to taste ten different specialities.

The tour delivers you to both upmarket restaurants and unassuming holes in the wall as you sample boudin (a cajun sausage), luxury pralines, seafood gumbo, beignets, beef brisket and hunger-slaying sandwiches like muffulettas and po’ boys.

On the way you’ll walk about 1.5 miles to keep your appetite keen.

12. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Tour

The oldest and most storied of New Orleans’ many cemeteries, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a Roman Catholic burial place a block west of the French Quarter.

It opened in 1789 during the city’s redesign following the Great Fire of 1788. In a city partially below water level, cemeteries need to be above ground using decorative vaults.

At St. Louis No. 1 these are in various states of repair, but all are handsome and crackling with atmosphere.

Some of the more renowned burials are voodoo priestess Marie Laveau (1801-1881), chess champion Paul Morphy (1837-1884) and aristocrat and keen duellist Bernard de Marigny (1785-1868) who gave his name to the New Orleans neighbourhood Faubourg Marigny.

Call it ghoulish to bring up, but a future entombment will be Nicolas Cage who purchased one of the pyramidal tombs in 2010. You can only visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with a licensed guide, and GetYourGuide.com will hook you up.

13. Café du Monde

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week the original Café du Monde is a coffee stand that opened in 1862 at the upriver end of the French Market.

If you want to play it like a local, you need to order coffee and chicory with a beignet, a kind of square-shaped donut under an avalanche of icing sugar.

The habit of drinking coffee blended with chicory came to New Orleans with the Acadians, originating in France during Napoleon’s “continental blockade” in 1808 when coffee was scarce.

A traditional way to order it is “au lait”, or half and half with hot milk, but the choice is yours.

Since the 1980s Café du Monde has spawned seven more locations, mostly in shopping malls around the New Orleans metropolitan area.

14. New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Jazzfest for Short, this world-famous event at the Fair Grounds Race Course packs in more than 500,000 revellers across a week at the end of April and start of May.

Despite the name Jazzfest celebrates the culture of New Orleans and Louisiana in all its diversity, so showcases lots of music styles like blues, gospel, R&B, Cajun, bluegrass, rock, rap, Afro-Caribbean music, country, folk and more besides.

The heritage side of things comes into play with the festival’s hundreds of food booths.

You’ve got beignets, crawfish bread, boiled crawfish, crab cakes, Cajun jambalaya, oyster patties, fried green tomatoes, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

There are also two cooking stages at the Fair Grounds Grandstand, showing off New Orleans culinary pedigree and handing out samples.

Arts and crafts are for sale throughout the grounds, and as well as being able to buy a special handmade something you can watch demonstrations in pottery, painting, metalwork, weaving… the list goes on.

Even away from the Fair Grounds New Orleans is a vibrant place to be during Jazzfest, with extra shows at nightclubs to cater to the influx of people to the city.

Related activity : Evening Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

15. National WWII Museum

New Orleans is where Higgins boats were designed, built and tested.

These landing craft were pivotal to amphibious invasions like Normandy in 1944, and so it’s fitting that New Orleans’ superb National WWII Museum should have opened on D-Day’s 56th anniversary on June 6, 2000. As you enter you’ll be given a dog tag, which you can scan at stations around the museum for compelling personal profiles.

Road to Tokyo deals with the war in the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo, giving a sense of the extreme conditions that American forces faced, while Road to Berlin transports you to Europe in richly-designed galleries using lots of footage, realistic soundscapes and tons of artefacts.

There’s a jaw-dropping 4D show at Beyond all Boundaries, while the D-Day Invasion of Normandy does a deep dive on the planning and preparation that went into the Normandy Landings.

If you’re intrigued about Higgins Industries, Bayou to Battlefield presents footage, photographs, interviews and artefacts to show how a shallow-draft swamp boat revolutionised amphibious warfare.

16. St. Louis Cathedral

The longest continually active Roman Catholic church in the United States stands proud on the city side of Jackson Square.

Dedicated to Louis IX of France (1214-1270), St. Louis Cathedral dates from 1789, although there was a church at this spot as early as 1718. The current cream-coloured Spanish Colonial building was reconstructed in 1850, and most of the architecture is from that time.

Take a moment on Jackson Square to appreciate the symmetrical facade, with three spires, window pediments, pairs of Doric columns and decorative scallop mouldings.

Inside the gilded Rococo altar deserves a closer look, while there’s a wealth of stained glass and painting to browse.

You’ll notice that the floor has a slight slope, because the structure, though stable, is steadily sinking.

At the back is the St. Anthony Garden, with a marble statue of Jesus with his arms aloft.

He lost a forefinger and thumb in Hurricane Katrina and looks particularly solemn illuminated at night.

17. Preservation Hall

If you’re daunted by the multitude of jazz joints in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall is a traditional jazz venue with a house band drawing from more than 100 musicians.

You can come for intimate concerts at 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00 Monday to Wednesday and extra performances at 17:00 and 18:00 from Thursday to Sunday.

The shows are great of course, but Preservation Hall accepts audiences of all ages, which makes it a rare nightlife option for families.

The venue goes back to the 1950s, and took on its current form in 1961 when the tuba player Alan Jaffe became manager.

He hired elderly and infirm musicians from the first wave of jazz, helping to bring about the artform’s revival in New Orleans in the 1960s.

Preservation Hall remains a cornerstone of New Orleans culture, giving concerts 350 nights a year.

18. New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

In the 1912 the sugar broker and art collector Isaac Delgado left New Orleans a sizeable grant to establish what would become the New Orleans Museum of Art.

The main building went up soon after, to a design partly by Benjamin Morgan Harrod, New Orleans’s former chief engineer, while new wings and expansions followed in the early-1970s and 90s.

The collection is huge, with more than 40,000 pieces from the Italian Renaissance to today.

There’s a great deal of 19th and early 20th-century French art to get stuck into, by Rodin, Matisse, Renoir, Monet, Gauguin and Braque.

Edgar Degas is especially well-represented, and lived in New Orleans for a time in the 1870s.

The African American collection is also strong, as are the holdings for pre-Columbian and Spanish-era Central American art, ceramics and folk art from Africa, the South Pacific and Indonesia.

In the last few years there have been exhibitions for Veronese, Carlos Rolón, Japanese ceramics, George Dunbar and Bob Dylan.

19. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Behind the museum’s main building is a gated outdoor space in 11 acres of mature parkland enriched with more than 90 works of sculpture.

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in 2003 and at the time of writing in 2019 had just doubled in size with an expansion that included 26 new works, mostly by 21st-century artists.

On serpentine paths among pines, magnolias, camellias and live oaks draped with Spanish moss there are pieces by Henry Moore, Deborah Butterfield, Barbara Hepworth, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Robert Indiana, Gaston Lachaise and René Magritte, as well as contemporary sculptors like Katharina Fritsch, Hank Willis Thomas and Jeppe Hein.

20. Mardi Gras World

More than three quarters of the floats that roll down the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras are designed and built at this very warehouse on the Mississippi River.

The company, Kern Studios dates back to 1932, when the sign-painter Roy Kern designed his first Mardi Gras float, assisted by his son Blaine Kern Sr.

Now this prolific company employs more than 100 people and in 1984 opened Mardi Gras World to allow a glimpse of the float-building craft and to show off a warehouse piled with Mardi Gras artefacts.

You’ll be able to try on some outlandish costumes, and as you make your way through the warehouse you’ll learn about Mardi Gras’ many traditions.

You’ll also get to see next year’s floats taking shape, from preliminary sketches and engineers’ drawings to sculpting.

And even if you come in the middle of summer you can treat yourself to a slice of king cake with coffee.

21. Po’ Boys

If there’s a delicacy that encapsulates the spirit of New Orleans it might be these decadent, over-stuffed sandwiches on French bread.

Variations of po’ boys have of course been around for centuries, but the name may have originated with a strike by streetcar conductors in 1929. The story goes that a restaurant set up by former conductors handed out free sandwiches in solidarity with the strikers.

Po’ boys are invariably in a baguette and the filling can vary from fried oysters to fried shrimp, fried crawfish, fried fish, roast beef with gravy, fried chicken, soft shell crab, Louisiana hot sausage, turkey and a few more.

The bread will sometimes be slathered with melted butter or Tabasco-infused mayo for seafood fillings, or condiments like Creole mustard for non-seafood sandwiches.

If you have a serious appetite, a sloppy roast beef po’ boy will have shredded slow-cooked beef, with gravy, tomato and lettuce.

You won’t have to look hard for a place that sells po’ boys, but if you’re sticking with the French Quarter try Bourbon House, ACME Oyster House, Johnny’s Po-Boys, Mena’s Palace and Oceana Grill.

22. Natchez Steamboat Cruise

Toulouse Street Wharf at Woldenberg Riverfront Park is the embarkation point for the SS Natchez, the last steamboat in New Orleans.

The current Natchez is the ninth in a long line of boats by the same name, going back to 1823. This vessel was launched in 1975 and in 1976 then-President Gerald Ford used the vessel for a campaign trip in the Southern United States.

If you’re going to spend any time on the Mississippi, it has to be aboard a steamship, and the Natchez has a choice of experiences, all involving jazz music by the Dukes of Dixieland band: There’s a Dinner Jazz Cruise to see the New Orleans skyline at night, a Harbor Jazz Cruise with a calliope concert and a Sunday Jazz Brunch Cruise for two hours with southern-style grub like gumbo, shrimp and grits and sausage and gravy.

For extra convenience, you can book tickets in advance: New Orleans Jazz Cruise

23. Laura Plantation

You can get to grips with a difficult but interesting aspect of New Orleans’ and Louisiana’s antebellum past at the old sugarcane farms some way up the Mississippi to the west of the city.

The first of a trio of plantation museums is about 45 minutes away, just outside Vacherie.

On the National Register of Historic Places, the Laura Plantation was founded by the Frenchman Guillaume Duparc, who was a naval veteran from the American Revolutionary War.

At its height the plantation had more than 12,000 acres of sugarcane fields, with 69 slave cabins and an infirmary.

The Laura Plantation was in business well into the 20th century, and you may be surprised to learn that the parents and family of Fats Domino lived here.

The main house is considered the apex of the Creole style, and you’ll be guided around on a tour, which will also take in the gardens and the original slave cabins erected in the 1840s.

A new permanent exhibition goes into depth on the African American families that lived at the plantation, in bondage and then freedom (of sorts) into the 20th century.

Recommended tour : Oak Alley and Laura Plantation Combo

24. The Cabildo

The seat of the Spanish municipal government in New Orleans, the Cabildo is next door to the cathedral on Jackson Square and was reconstructed in the 1790s after the original was destroyed in the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788. This distinguished monument is in the Spanish Colonial style, with a French Mansard roof that replaced a balustrade in the mid-19th century.

In 1803 a ceremony took place in the Cabildo’s Sala Capitular to celebrate the Louisiana Purchase, which almost doubled the size of the United States.

The Cabildo held judicial and government roles up to 1908 when it was handed over to the Louisiana State Museum.

Since then it’s been the place to get better acquainted with New Orleans and Louisiana, via more than 500 artefacts.

You can get the background on the Battle of New Orleans (1815) between the British Army and the United States, while “We Love You, New Orleans!”, is a showcase for New Orleans signatures like Sidney Bechet’s sax, memorabilia from the closed Pontchartrain Beach amusement park and a sign from the old K&B drugstore chain.

25. Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

By the Mississippi on the edge of the French Quarter, The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has tanks mimicking habitats across North, South and Central America.

The striking, five-metre Gulf of Mexico exhibit holds stingrays, sharks and sea turtles, while the Mississippi River Gallery has a mixture of environments holding owls, a leucistic white alligatory, paddlefish and catfish.

The Amazon exhibit is a highpoint, in a balmy greenhouse planted with rainforest where you’ll happen upon piranhas, an anaconda and freshwater stingrays, while the Great Maya Reef aquarium shows off its moray eels, tarpons, lion fish and spiny lobsters in a submerged city through a nine-metre glass tunnel.

Catch a show at the Entergy Giant Screen Theater, and be sure to feed the parakeets, check out the penguins and sea otters, and find out what a stingray’s back feels like at the touchpool.

26. Streetcars

A fixture of New Orleans since the 1830s, streetcars are undeniably handsome but also a handy way to get around and see parts of the city you might not have encountered.

The oldest of these, the St. Charles Avenue line, with its famous dark green streetcars, is the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world.

Clattering along this six-mile route from the CBD through the stateliest part of Uptown towards Carrollton are original 900 series streetcars by North Carolina’s long-defunct Perley A. Thomas Car Works, built in the mid-1920s.

Along St. Charles Avenue they pass through a beautiful tunnel of southern live oaks, with antebellum mansions on the street’s margins.

The Canal Street Line, with its red street cars is an easy way to get to spots like the old cemeteries, City Park and the New Orleans City of Art, while the Riverfront Line from French Market links lots of shopping and dining hotspots and grants some lovely views of New Orleans’ skyline.

One ride is $1.25 and you’ll need exact change, but you can get a one or three-day “Jazzy Pass” with unlimited rides for $3 and $9 respectively.

27. Magazine Street

This thoroughfare is one of a few streets like Laurel Street and Tchoupitoulas Street that curves with the course of the Mississippi through Uptown and the Garden District between Audubon Park in the west and the Central Business District to the east.

Most likely named after an 18th-century ammunition magazine, this is a shopping artery but with a refreshing lack of chain stores.

What you get along these six miles is sudden knots of art studios, restaurants, bakeries, po’ boy joints, bars, cafes and one-off shops for fashion, antique furniture, jewellery, cosmetics, books, homewares, decorations and the like.

All the while there are Creole and raised center-hall cottages and the sinuous branches of live oaks.

At six miles, Magazine Street is a bit much to attempt on foot, but there’s a bus, or you can take the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar and cut in towards the river.

28. Audubon Park

The refined Uptown park around Audubon Zoo is a bit older, having been landscaped in the 1880s on what used to be a plantation and staging area for Buffalo Soldiers in the Civil War.

If you’re mesmerised by New Orleans’ twisting live oaks you’ll love Audubon Park, which has trees that go back to its plantation days.

Before this space could be laid out by the eminent John Charles Olmsted, it hosted the World Cotton Centennial of 1884, a world’s fair.

The only reminder from this event is a hefty iron ore rock from the Alabama State exhibit.

The park contains Riverview Park, a gorgeous stretch along the Mississippi for picnics, while there’s a par-3 golf course, generous sports facilities, a lagoon with abundant birdlife and a 1.75 mile paved loop for walkers, joggers and cyclists with exercise stations.

29. Superdome

A Modernist icon for New Orleans, the Superdome took shape during the early-1970s and is the home stadium of the New Orleans Saints.

With a diameter of 210 metres, this is officially the largest domed structure in the world.

During Katrina the Superdome famously gave refuge to thousands of people escaping the hurricane and floodwater, and images of the damaged dome became a symbol for the disaster.

There have been happier days since then, like in 2010 when the Saints ended a 43-year wait for the Superbowl.

In a nation of outsized sporting venues, this 73,000-capacity monster is extraordinary.

Try to get tickets for a Saints game in spring or for college football’s Sugar Bowl on January I, which paid out an incredible $40m per team in 2019. There’s also a calendar of pre-season games, as well as music events like the Essence Festival in July and dates for the world’s biggest recording artists.

We’re talking Beyoncé, U2, The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift in the last few years.

30. Metairie Cemetery

Catch a taxi to this beautiful cemetery in the neighbourhood of the same name, a little way west of City Park.

Metairie Cemetery has New Orleans’ largest collection of funeral statuary and ornate marble tombs.

It was founded in 1872 on what used to be the Metairie Race Course, and blends riveting stories with marvellous works of art.

There’s a memorial for David Hennessy (1858-1898), the police chief of New Orleans, whose murder led to the lynching of 11 members of the Italian community.

You can hunt down the final resting place of Josie Arlington (1864-1914), a Storyville madam whose tomb boasts the statue of a woman knocking on wooden doors.

Arlington’s body was removed after the tomb became a tourist curiosity.

The Brunswig mausoleum is an Egyptian-style pyramid and sphinx, while the Moriarty tomb has a monument 18 metres tall.

One of the loveliest is the tomb of Laure Beauregard Landon, with Moorish flourishes and exquisite stained glass.

31. The Presbytère

The Cabildo’s twin, facing Jackson Square on the north side of the cathedral, is from 1791 and held as one of the masterpieces of colonial Spanish architecture.

Previously the domestic quarters, or presbytère, for the cathedral’s Capuchin monks had stood on this spot, which explains the name.

This ornate building has come through a few different uses, and was a courthouse from 1834 to 1911. As with the Cabildo, the French mansard roof is a later addition, dating from 1847. In 1911 The Presbytère became one of the flagships for the Louisiana State Museum, and there are two permanent exhibits to pore over.

Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time maps this Louisiana celebration back to its Medieval European roots, and has historic throws, parade floats that you can climb on and info on the secretive social clubs that gave rise to the carnivals’ modern krewes.

Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond recounts the devastating effects of the 2005 disaster, the rescue effort and the reconstruction that is still ongoing.

32. New Orleans Jazz Museum

The Neoclassical Old U.S. Mint building (1835) on Esplanade Avenue has housed the New Orleans Jazz Museum since the 1980s.

The collection is amazing, and makes this a pilgrimage site for anyone with even a passing interest in the artform.

On display is the first ever jazz recording from 1917, Louis Armstrong’s first coronet and many invaluable instruments played by jazz greats like Sidney Bechet, George Lewis and Dizzy Gillespie.

In fact, this is the largest collection of the world of instruments played by important jazz figures, some going back to the end of the 19th century.

Get up close to Armstrong’s coronet and you can see the notches that he cut in the mouthpiece to help him play.

Also in the inventory are thousands of 78 rpm records from 1905 to the 1950s and up to 12,000 photographs documenting the earliest days of jazz music.

You can’t have a jazz museum without lots of live music, and there’s a programme of concerts and festivals at the performance space on the third floor or out in grounds.

33. Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Across the Road from the National World War II Museum is the world’s largest collection of art from the south-eastern and south central United States.

The museum was set up in 1999 and has been in the dominant Stephen Goldring Hall since 2003, showing works from 1733 to the present.

To name a small selection of the artists represented at the Ogden Museum there’s the ceramicist George Ohr, modernist painter Will Henry Stevens, folk artist Clementine Hunter and neo-Expressionist Hunt Slonem, just by way of introduction.

With no single “southern style” of art, the museum’s reserves are a thrilling miscellany, spanning genres and media like naïve art, abstraction, landscapes of bayous, outsider art, sculpture and a great deal more.

When we wrote this list in May 2019 there was a superb individual show for Expressionist Dusti Bongé, and “Vernacular Voices”, drawing from the museum’s first-rate collection of visionary, self-taught and outsider art.

34. Old New Orleans Rum Distillery

The oldest premium rum distillery in the United States is found in New Orleans’ Gentilly area.

Appropriate too, in sugarcane country and in a town of drive-thru daiquiris and real cocktail-making pedigree.

The Old New Orleans Rum Distillery is in a 150-year-old cotton warehouse, producing rums and pre-mixed cocktails from Louisiana sugarcane molasses.

You’ll be treated to a cocktail on arrival, and go on a 45-minute tour with an exuberant guide to find out how those molasses are fermented, distilled and aged to become rum.

At the end you’ll get to try, and of course buy, the distillery’s range, and it will be hard to resist.

The distillery provides a free shuttle service from the French Quarter, while u21s can take a tour free of charge, without a tasting session.

35. Woldenberg Park

Arcing around the east bank of the Mississippi opposite Algiers Point is a riverside park laid out in the 1980s and 90s on the site of former wharves and warehouses.

Woldenberg Park fronts the French Quarter and is bordered to the south by the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the Entergy Giant Screen Theater.

During the French Quarter Festival in early April the main stages are put up in Woldenberg Park.

In truth there’s live music here at almost any time, thanks to spur of the moment second lines and strolling bands.

You can saunter along the riverside path, catch steamboats, take a picnic and savour the lush landscaping and profuse public art.

Come early to watch the sunrise and see the fog rolling off the Mississippi.

36. Historic New Orleans Collection

This foundation looks after a beautiful ensemble of seven historic buildings on Royal Street in the French Quarter, and runs the Beaux-Arts Williams Research Center on Chartres Street for academics.

The collection was started by General Lewis Kemper Williams (1887-1971) and his wife Leila Hardy Moore Williams (1901-1966), who in 1938 bought the 18th-century Merieult House and the neighbouring Italianate brick house beside.

Over time the couple assembled a wealth of material about New Orleans and Louisiana, which makes up the museum’s exhibition, while the foundation later acquired more buildings like a late-19th-century townhouse and a Creole cottage.

At the Royal Street campus you can peruse portraits, uniforms, antique furniture, maps and masses of documents.

In the museum’s inventory are collections for the War of 1812, jazz in New Orleans, the Sugar Bowl and masses of materials relating to Tennessee Williams, including playbills and manuscripts of works like The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire.

37. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

In 1804 the State of Louisiana passed a law requiring a licensing exam for would-be pharmacists.

The first person to pass this exam was one Louis J. Dufilho Jr. , becoming the first licensed pharmacist in the United States.

You can drop by his premises on Chartres Street in the French Quarter, where stacks of strange remedies line the walls in historic apothecary bottles.

On the ground floor you can pore over vintage surgical instruments, syringes, suppository moulds, details of questionable medical procedures, bottles of voodoo potions, opium and apparatus for making perfumes and cosmetics.

Above, in the living quarters there’s a preserved physician’s study and sick room, and a fine collection of spectacles.

38. Crescent Park

In the French Market District, Crescent Park is a linear park, 1.4 miles long beside the Mississippi.

You can get there by crossing the levee and railway via the “rusty bridge”. On the water there’s a supreme view west to the French District and Central Business District, accompanied by lots of public art, a series of mixed-use pavilions, native landscaping and paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

You can bring a po’ boy and to-go daiquiri and watch the river traffic floating past.

Crescent Park hosts lots of seasonal events like a New Year’s Day fun run and an outdoor party with DJs to watch the city’s Independence Day fireworks.

39. New Orleans Musical Legends Park

At the very heart of the French Quarter on Bourbon Street there’s a paved courtyard park celebrating New Orleans’ musical giants with plaques, artwork and other commemorative displays.

Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Chris Owens, Al Hirt and Louis Prima are all honoured here, among others.

A constant stream of musicians put on free performances in this laid-back environment with lots of shade, and you can grab coffee and a Cajun speciality like crawfish omelette at Cafe Beignet.

Once you sit down you may not want to get up again.

40. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

The first planned cemetery in New Orleans is in the Garden District and takes up just a single city block.

When Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was founded in 1833 it was in the City of Lafayette, which was incorporated into New Orleans in 1852. The cemetery holds around 7,000 people and 1,100 tombs, many of which are stunning, all the more so for their patina and the slight air of dilapidation.

This site was understandably chosen as a shooting location for Interview with the Vampire (1994). The book’s author, Anne Rice lived close to the cemetery in the Garden District.

if you’re a fan, the tomb for the Mayfair witches in The Witching Hour, matches a combination of the Jefferson and Fireman tombs in Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

Suggested tour : Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery Tour

41. Canal Street/Algiers Ferry

A fine, not to mention cheap, way to see the city is on the ferry over the Mississippi between the foot of Canal Street on the boundary of the French Quarter, and the 19th-century neighbourhood of Algiers Point on the West Bank.

There has been a ferry service at this point in the river since 1827, and the crossing was free until a $2 charge was introduced for a single ticket in 2014. Ferries depart on the hour and half-hour from the West Bank beginning at 06:00, and on the quarter-hour and three-quarter-hour from Canal Street.

You can spend a while in Algiers Point, at the Jazz Walk of Fame, the kid-friendly Confetti Park, strolling along the riverfront on the paved levee bike path and taking in the beautiful houses.

42. Whitney Plantation

This preserved plantation near Wallace was founded in 1752 by German immigrants and has a raised-style Spanish Creole house that was built in 1803, just after the crop was switched from indigo to sugarcane.

The Whitney Plantation, opened to the public in 2014, is the only plantation museum in Louisiana that focuses solely on the lives of enslaved people.

Your 90-minute tour will be a jarring but fascinating journey through slave cabins, the owner’s house and a church for freedmen, a detached kitchen and a variety of outbuildings.

As you go there’s memorial artwork, information boards and first-person narratives for many of the 350 slaves held here.

You can make a round trip to the Whitney Plantation with GetYourGuide.com for a moving and education day trip.

43. Louis Armstrong Park

In the 1960s a big chunk of the Tremé neighbourhood, across Rampart Street from the French Quarter, was razed to make way for the 32-acre Louis Armstrong Park.

Tremé had a crucial role in the development of African American music, and Congo Square, preserved in the park, was its epicentre.

Slaves were given the day off on Sundays from 1724, and from 1817 until the 1850s this space was a gathering point where a multitude of African dances and musical styles collided with European genres and instrumentation.

Their rhythms can still be heard in second lines and New Orleans jazz funerals.

Outdoor performances began once more at the end of the 19th century and have continued ever since, while capacious venues like the Mahalia Jackson Theater for Performing Arts (1973) and the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium (1930) arrived during the 20th century.

Among the monuments there’s a 3.6-metre statue of Louis Armstrong, a sculpture for Buddy Bolden and a bust of Sidney Bechet.

As a sidenote, Congo Square was the setting for the first ever New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970.

44. Louisiana Children’s Museum

In spring 2019, this treasured New Orleans institution was getting ready to move from 420 Julia Street to a high-tech and sustainable campus at City Park.

The new museum grounds will cover 8.5 acres and have an interpretive wetland habitat, edible garden and an LEED-certified main building on the banks of a lagoon.

Here there will be a replica grocery store and bubble studio, while the 30-metre Mighty Mississippi exhibit will explain the course of this mighty river from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.

The original Louisiana Children’s Museum was founded in 1986 and became a go-to for young families thanks to its fun but subtly educational take on topics like the environment, health and the arts.

45. St. Roch Market

First raised in 1875, this old market hall on St. Claude Avenue came through a post-Katrina renovation between 2012-15, reopening as a modern, chef-centric food hall.

In this bright and airy space are 11 dining options around an acclaimed craft cocktail bar, The Mayhaw.

T2 Streetfood does Vietnamese classics like banh mi, pho and bao buns, while Torshi is all about eastern Mediterranean flavours, from falafel to gyros, tabouli and baklava.

Check out Fritai for treats like baked crab, mac & cheese and pork shoulder sandwich with fried plantains, avocado and mango sauce, or Doily for its extra creative sandwiches, salads and soups.

Lastly, Coast Roast uses antique century-old roasting machines to produce full-bodied frozen, iced and dip coffees.

46. Rooftop Bars

In a city blessed with good weather, great views and a flair for cocktail-making, it makes sense that rooftop bars should thrive in New Orleans.

These tend to belong to hotels, but all the bars included in this paragraph are open to the public.

There’s Hot Tin at the historic Pontchartrain Hotel where you can take in clear views of the Mississippi and downtown New Orleans sipping classy cocktails in a space with nods to Tennessee Williams.

Ingenue at the Troubadour Hotel has regular live music and DJ sets, and a menu inspired by food trucks, while Capulet in Bywater is a restaurant terrace serving inventive sandwiches like bloody mary beef and kimchee BLT.

Atop the Ace Hotel in the Warehouse District is Alto, a rooftop garden and poolside bar for seasonal cocktails and Italian-style small plates.

47. Bayou St. John

A genteel neighbourhood bordered to the west by the waterway of the same name, Bayou St. John has centuries-old oaks, distinguished Creole mansions and an inviting waterfront.

A near-perfect way to pass a couple of hours might be to grab a Blue Bike from New Orleans’ bike sharing system, and coast down Esplanade Avenue, pausing at sights like the Dufour-Plassan House from 1870, which has an exquisite iron fence adorned with cornstalks and sunflowers.

Also on Esplanade Avenue is the mansion that Edgar Degas stayed in during his spell in New Orleans in 1872-73. Once you get to the water you can take a break at the Bayou Beer Garden, which hosts a crawfish boil during the season.

The east bank of the bayou is a fine place to watch the sun go down, and if the water is calling your name you can rent a kayak or paddleboard from Nola Paddleboards and Bayou Paddlesports.

48. Oak Alley Plantation

The name of this sugarcane plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi in St. James Parish comes from the graceful 240-metre alley of southern live oaks running from the riverside to the Greek Revival house.

These were planted in the early 1700s, a good century before the house was built, and their twisting branches form a beautiful shade canopy.

The house went up in 1837 and has a colonnade with 28 imposing Doric columns, mirroring the 28 oaks in the alley.

Take a couple of hours to tour the landscape and get in touch with the lives and routines of the enslaved men, women and children who were kept at Oak Alley.

One slave, Antoine, was the first person in the world to find out how to propagate individual pecan trees.

The Sugarcane Exhibit charts the sugarcane empire of the owners, the Roman family, explaining how sugarcane was grown and processed and how vital slaves were to the operation.

49. Carousel Gardens

The last antique wooden carousel in Louisiana sits in this small amusement park in City Park.

Dating to 1906 and often known as “Flying Horses”, this is one of the oldest carousels in the country, still using its original motor and beautifully carved horses, and moved to this spot in 1928. The ride was damaged during Katrina, but was carefully restored and drew national attention when it reopened.

The fun doesn’t stop with the carousel, as there’s a decent helping of amusements to go with it, like bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, a narrow-gauge railway with a steam whistle, a tilt-a-whirl and the Live Oak Lady Bug Roller Coaster.

50. Faubourg Marigny

You’re sure to visit Marigny at night for Frenchmen Street’s jazz and blues on Frenchmen Street but you should also try to return during the day to poke around this colourful part of town.

Settled for the first time in 1806, Faubourg Marigny is full of brightly painted Creole cottages in the French and Spanish colonial styles from the 19th century.

For the best of this architecture check out Dauphine Street, Washington Square and Burgundy Street.

Some of the luminaries of the New Orleans jazz scene lived in homes such as these in Faubourg Marigny, like Danny Barker, Paul Barbarin and Sidney Bechet.

The neighbourhood has a slightly rakish quality, which adds to its charm and is loaded with hip restaurants and bars, art studios and thrift stores for one-off souvenirs.

51. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Protecting six different locations in and around NOLA, the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve adds up to 22,421 acres, encompassing bayou, prairie, swamp and the site of the Battle of New Orleans (1815) at Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery.

The park also looks after the French Quarter Visitor Center, which maps the history of New Orleans and the many cultures of the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana, going into language, music, livelihoods and architecture.

A little way south of New Orleans in Marrero is the expansive Barataria Preserve, where marsh, swamps and hardwood forest are crawling with gators, snakes and turtles.

Come for guided walks to spot wildflowers in summer, or to cross the boardwalks in the wetlands at 10:00 from Wednesday to Sunday.

Much further afield, three of the preserve’s sites delve into the Cajun culture in Lafayette, born after the Acadians were expelled from Canada in the middle of the 18th century.

52. Longue Vue House and Gardens

Beyond the cemeteries to the west of the city is a genteel Classical-Revival mansion in eight acres of intricately landscaped gardens.

The house, dating from the late-1930s, was the home of businessman and philanthropist Edgar B. Stern and his wife Edith who was the daughter of Sears Roebuck magnate Julius Rosenwald.

Longue Vue was one of the last of the Country Place Era estates, a mansion styled at the turn of the 20th century that included rich gardens.

There are 20 rooms to ponder in the house, which is unusual for the New Orleans area thanks to its basement.

There are carpets from Europe, preserved costumes, ceramics from China and eminent manufacturers like Wedgwood and a collection of modern and contemporary art.

Figures like John and Robert Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt were received in the opulent drawing room, while the Blue Room is so called for its matching wall hangings, carpeting and furniture.

Outside, the walled garden grows fresh vegetables and herbs, while the wild garden is planted with species native to Louisiana.

53. Drive-Thru Daiquiris

We’ve seen that New Orleans dances to a different beat, and another manifestation is in the concept of a drive-thru daiquiri.

Yes, you read that right.

These businesses first cropped up in the early-1980s when there were no laws against driving under the influence in Louisiana.

The state now has sensible drink driving laws, but there’s a slight loophole permitting frozen beverages provided there’s a plastic lid.

So a raft of drive-thru daiquiri joints persist, especially on Airport Road, with the straws handed over on the side.

One of the big chains is New Orleans Original Daiquiris, which has a volume of flavours of this refreshing frozen drink to choose from, many approximating classic cocktails, like piña colada, margarita, bellini, hurricane, amaretto & pineapple, in cups from 12oz up to a head-reeling 40oz.

The same principle applies on the city streets where you can order post-meal drinks “to go” or find walk-up daiquiri spots selling drinks from a window.

54. Saenger Theatre

Established in the French Quarter as an “atmospheric” movie theatre in 1927, the Saenger Theatre fell on hard times by the 1960s and was renovated as a performing arts venue in the late-1970s.

Katrina hit the Saenger Theatre hard, but fortunately the building was in the middle of restoration so many of its fittings had been removed as the waterline was above stage level.

This brought on another phase of restoration that continued right up until Jerry Seinfeld took the stage for three nights in September 2013. The original finishes and colour schemes from 1927 have been brought back to life, but combined with state-of-the-art sound and technical systems.

The Saenger receives an endless parade of Tony award-winning musicals, major recording artists, international dance companies, some of the country’s top comedy talent and children’s shows, all in an opulent and historic setting.

55. Airboat Tours

Definitely the most thrilling way to experience the swamps around New Orleans is at high speed on an airboat.

To make this happen there are a few options on GetYourGuide.com . “Swamp Tours South of New Orleans by Airboat” set off from a dock on Bayou Barataria.

You’ll glide across the water at speeds topping 35 mph, in search of alligators, bald eagles, pelicans, ospreys, wild pigs, turtles, owls, raccoons and other swamp life.

The boat will make regular stops for photos, and to see alligators so close you can look into their eyes.

With luck you’ll get to meet Sugar and Flour, two leucistic alligators, and may get to hold a baby gator.

Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels and rental accommodation in the city.

55 Best Things to Do in New Orleans (LA):

• French Quarter
• Garden District
• Jackson Square
• Frenchmen Street
• Audubon Zoo
• French Market
• Royal Street
• Second Lines
• Afternoon Food History Tour
• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Tour
• Café du Monde
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
• National WWII Museum
• St. Louis Cathedral
• Preservation Hall
• New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
• Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
• Mardi Gras World
• Natchez Steamboat Cruise
• Laura Plantation
• The Cabildo
• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
• Magazine Street
• Audubon Park
• Metairie Cemetery
• The Presbytère
• New Orleans Jazz Museum
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art
• Old New Orleans Rum Distillery
• Woldenberg Park
• Historic New Orleans Collection
• New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
• Crescent Park
• New Orleans Musical Legends Park
• Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
• Canal Street/Algiers Ferry
• Whitney Plantation
• Louis Armstrong Park
• Louisiana Children's Museum
• St. Roch Market
• Rooftop Bars
• Bayou St. John
• Oak Alley Plantation
• Carousel Gardens
• Faubourg Marigny
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
• Longue Vue House and Gardens
• Drive-Thru Daiquiris
• Saenger Theatre
• Airboat Tours

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COOLinary New Orleans

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Explore even more of NOLA’s expansive museum scene during the month of August, where one membership gets you FREE admission to all participating museums.

From football and Southern Decadence to live music and the extension of COOLinary deals, here are the 10 things you can’t miss this September in New Orleans.

Take it to the streets and explore NOLA through our self-guided micro-itineraries focused on different neighborhoods across the city.

Don't let the weather rain on your parade–see our neighborhood-by-neighborhood plan for our favorite inside attractions and activities in New Orleans.

From beignets to bread pudding, explore the sweet side of the city with our most iconic desserts.

With cuisines spanning far and wide, these are some of our favorite new(ish) restaurants that opened in the first half of 2024.

With 125+ participating restaurants and menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner, there are more choices than ever before this COOLinary. See below for some of top choices by dining experience.

There's a New Orleans hotel for every traveler's needs. Take advantage of deals and offers from hotels all around the city.

Whether traveling with friends or family, these properties give you space to spread out with all of the conveniences and amenities of a hotel.

Dine in style at these exquisitely decorated hotel restaurants, where the food is as exceptional as the surroundings.

Whether you're planning a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or an action-packed girls' weekend, find the hotel that's perfect for you.

New Orleans is known for its cocktail culture. Some even say we invented it. Whether you’re looking for craft creations or a neighborhood dive (or both), we've got you covered.

Eat and drink your way around New Orleans with these epic happy hour specials.

From sazeracs to gin fizzes, here are some of the city’s most iconic cocktails and the best places to order them.

Dirty, dry, gin, vodka, or even espresso–here are our favorite places to get this classic cocktail in New Orleans.

For more great New Orleans content, visit our Instagram page at VisitNewOrleans .

Leave with a story, not just a souvenir. Share your NOLA story with #visitneworleans .

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• New Orleans

25 Best Things to Do in New Orleans, From Streetcar Rides to Bar Crawls

Adventure awaits around every corner in the Big Easy.

Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure

With it storied history, traditions, culture, and energy, New Orleans is wildly exciting U.S. destination to visit. If you're heading to this Southern city, you want to be sure to experience its bold flavors (this one of the best food cities around ), memorable sights, and spirited sounds through various events and itinerary stops.

Mardi Gras is certainly one of the most famous events on the New Orleans calendar, but the Big Easy offers more than the nearly month-long celebration. For Nathalie Jordi, co-owner of Hotel Peter & Paul, the perfect weekend in New Orleans involves the following: “Walking around the Marigny [and] Bywater [neighborhoods], a tour with Know NOLA , vintage shopping on Magazine Street, dancing behind a second-line, sitting under live oak trees at City Park, catching a jazz set at Snug Harbor, and enjoying drinks and music in the garden at Bacchanal.” 

And, like the rest of the South, food is a crucial aspect of New Orleans' identity. Iconic culinary creations range from hearty gumbo to sweet, fluffy snoballs, but there are at least two menu items Jordi says you can’t leave without trying: “a muffuletta from Central Grocery and a French 75 from Chris Hannah at Jewel of the South .” 

While you could spend weeks in the dynamic city and only scratch its surface, Jordi says a three-day weekend can still give first-time visitors a feel for the city. Whether you’re headed to the here for a quick trip or a leisurely extended vacation, you’ll want to check off at least a few of the 25 best things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Paddle on Bayou Saint John.

Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure

If you want to give your legs a rest while still sightseeing, make your way to Bayou Paddlesports on one of the city’s most famous waterways, Bayou Saint John. If you’re wary of the hot Louisiana sun, opt for an evening paddle, then find a live music show and a cold drink nearby afterwards.

Cycle in the Garden District.

Brandon Rosenblum/Getty Images

History and architecture are prominent throughout New Orleans, but especially in the highly walkable and photogenic Garden District. Cover more ground by renting a bike , and be sure to pause a few times in order to admire the sights, including the striped awnings of Commander’s Palace , Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (although it’s temporarily closed for repairs), and all of the colorful, grand homes that are here.

Have a po’ boy.

Whether you prefer yours filled with shrimp, fried oysters, or roast beef, a po’ boy is the perfect post-walking tour, pre-cocktail hour meal. All New Orleans residents have a favorite po’ boy spot, but Parkway and Domilise's are two of the best (and most authentic).

Stroll along Magazine Street.

Running parallel to the Mississippi River, Magazine Street has six miles of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars, and it plays host to various legs of Mardi Gras parades. If you’re looking for souvenirs, peruse the vintage finds at Funky Monkey or paper products at the Lionheart Prints flagship.

Ride the St. Charles Streetcar.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

The St. Charles Streetcar has been running the same route for more than 150 years, making its way from the French Quarter to the Garden District. It takes about 45 minutes each way, but it’s the best way — and one of the cheapest, with single rides costing $1.25 — to see New Orleans architecture and some of the city’s more famous sites, including Audubon Park, Tulane, and Loyola Universities.

Have beignets at Café du Monde.

ablokhin/Getty Images

Yes, it’s touristy, but getting beignets and a café au lait from Café du Monde is a non-negotiable New Orleans experience. If you want to avoid crowds, skip the French Quarter location and instead visit the Café du Monde at Riverwalk Mall — it has the same menu and not the crazy lines.

Zip line across a swamp.

You’ll get a wholly unique experience and views of the skyline when you sign up for a zip line tour through the Maurepas Swamp. If you look down, you’ll likely spot alligators, snakes, turtles, and other Louisiana wildlife.

Make perfume at Tijon.

Why not commemorate your trip with a completely custom fragrance at Tijon ? They say scent is one of the most powerful senses, so this souvenir will immediately transport you back to the Crescent City whenever you wear it.

Meander through a museum.

There’s a museum for every traveler and interest in New Orleans, from the National WWII Museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art to the New Orleans Jazz Museum and the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience . If you want something a bit more unusual, book a ticket for the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum or the Museum of Death .

Curate your own bar crawl.

The lack of an open container law is one of New Orleans’ most famous features, though you’ll need to be in the French Quarter to take advantage of the freedom (while being responsible, of course). Historic Royal Street is filled with cute stores, restaurants, art galleries, and bars, and grabbing a refreshing beverage as you meander up and down the street is another quintessential New Orleans experience.

Catch a show at the Spotted Cat Music Club.

Cyrus McCrimmon/Getty Images

Music is part of the heart and soul of New Orleans, so sit back and relax as you take in the sounds of the city. If you’ve already been to the Spotted Cat on Frenchman Street and want to try something new, try Tipitina’s , Maple Leaf Bar , Gasa Gasa , or Preservation Hall .

Visit City Park.

City Park is one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the United States, and it's home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the largest grove of live oak trees in the world. At more than 1,300 acres, this outdoor attraction has something for every type of traveler, from gondola rides and putt-putt golf to kid-friendly activities.

Enjoy a frozen drink.

The Louisiana humidity can be unbearable, especially if you’re walking around for hours on end in July. A cool drink is the trick to bearing the heat. Try a frozen daiquiri from Bevi Seafood Co . or a frozen Irish coffee from Molly’s at the Market .

Attend a festival.

This includes Mardi Gras, of course, but you can also experience New Orleans culture and entertainment by attending Jazz Fest , French Quarter Fest , or Bayou Boogaloo . With over 130 festivals and celebrations each year, your trip is bound to overlap with at least one of them.

Try a Snoball.

Don’t confuse a snoball (also spelled as snowball or sno-ball) with a snowcone or shaved ice. The ice of a New Orleans snoball is fluffier, and the syrups and other toppings are more evenly distributed throughout the treat. You can find snoballs across the city, but you’ll want to go to Hansen's Sno-Bliz , which opened in 1939, for a true classic.

Go on an airboat tour.

Both a change of scenery and an unforgettable experience are in store when you book a swamp tour on an airboat . Look for local wildlife, including alligators, egrets, snakes, and turtles, while you speed across bayou country.

Visit Mardi Gras World.

Can't make it to New Orleans during Mardi Gras? Not to worry, since you can get a taste of the celebration at Mardi Gras World. This attraction offers tours seven days a week and gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to design and build the incredible floats that roll down the city streets during the parades.

Explore Bourbon Street.

It’s almost always a party on Bourbon Street, the famed road in the heart of the French Quarter. After you get your fill of merriment, stop in at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar for the Voodoo Daiquiri (or the “Purple Drink”), or opt for a fine-dining experience at the famed Galatoire’s Restaurant .

Take a ghost tour.

jferrer/Getty Images

You can find a variety of history tours in the city, but a cemetery tour is a fun way to experience the darker, more ghostly side of New Orleans. You'll likely visit above-ground tombs as you learn about burial customs, procedures, and famous New Orleans hauntings.

Enjoy the New Orleans art scene.

In a city as creative and lively as New Orleans, it should come as no surprise that the art scene is truly one of a kind. Visit JAMNOLA or Studio Be to appreciate work from a variety of local artists via immersive, rotating exhibitions.

Hang out at a great New Orleans hotel.

This city has incredible hotel options. For an elevated version of Southern hospitality, book your accommodations at iconic properties like Hotel Saint Vincent , Pontchartrain Hotel , the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans , or Hotel Peter and Paul . Even if you’re not spending the night, don your best outfit and head to the bar for an aperitif or digestif.

Have a Muffuletta.

bhofack2/Getty Images

The famous sandwich with ham, salami, provolone cheese, and olive dressing was developed at Central Grocery in the French Quarter. You can find the muffuletta at other restaurants, of course, but this is the original.

Visit the Cabildo Building.

Meinzahn/Getty Images

Built under Spanish rule between 1795 and 1799, the Cabildo was the site of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase transfer. It’s served different purposes over the years, but since 1908, it’s been used to promote the education of Louisiana history. Today, there are a variety of exhibitions open to the public.

Eat chargrilled oysters.

You can’t leave New Orleans without trying chargrilled oysters, a menu staple in the Big Easy. Enjoy a dozen of these delicious bites at Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar , a New Orleans institution with several locations throughout the city.

Sip on a Sazerac.

MaximFesenko/Getty Images

Considered by many to be the world’s first cocktail, the Sazerac was created in the mid-1800s by Creole apothecary Antoine Peychaud, and it is the official cocktail of New Orleans. Opened in 2019, the Sazerac House is a museum completely dedicated to the famous cocktail — guests learn about its origins and the city’s cocktail culture, and they can try the concoction while there.

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17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New Orleans, LA

Written by Lana Law Updated Mar 19, 2024 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

New Orleans is one of America's most unique cities, with a vibe you simply can't find anywhere else. Known the world over for jazz music, Cajun cuisine, and outrageous Mardi Gras celebrations, the city is a melting pot of cultures with a diversity that is reflected in everything from the music and food to the language and architecture.

Most of the attraction for tourists is centered around the French Quarter , with the infamous Bourbon Street at the heart of the district. Along the Mississippi River, which borders the French Quarter to the south, are horse-drawn carriages waiting to take visitors on a tour, the Steamboat Natchez docked along the shore, and tourists lined up to buy beignets.

Beyond the French Quarter, the city has many quaint areas worth exploring, from the trendy Warehouse District to the posh Garden District.

New Orleans is a great walking city, with many of the main things to see and do located in or near the French Quarter, but to explore the Garden District, you may want to hop on a historic street car. Buses are also a great way to get around, particularly for visiting attractions like the zoo that are further afield.

Discover the best places to visit with our list of the top attractions in New Orleans.

1. French Quarter

2. mardi gras, 3. national wwii museum, 4. jackson square, 5. preservation hall, 6. st. louis cathedral, 7. city park, 8. louisiana state museum at the cabildo, 9. garden district, 10. audubon park & audubon zoo, 11. steamboat natchez, 12. mardi gras world, 13. new orleans museum of art, 14. audubon aquarium of the americas, 15. ride the historic streetcars, 16. jean lafitte national historical park and preserve, 17. crescent park, where to stay in new orleans for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to new orleans, map of tourist attractions in new orleans, la, best time to visit new orleans, la.

The French Quarter of New Orleans is what most tourists come to see when they visit the city. Set along a bend on the Mississippi River, the main attraction here is the architecture, but it is also a great area for dining and entertainment.

The old buildings, some of which date back 300 years, show French influences, with arcades, wrought iron balconies, red-tiled roofs, and picturesque courtyards. Many of these buildings now contain hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, galleries, and a profusion of jazz spots with entertainment of varying quality.

The most famous street in the French Quarter is Bourbon Street , but it is not necessarily the highlight of the area. This street is relatively benign by day but at night transforms into a loud and boisterous pedestrian area that may not always feel safe.

Royal Street offers a great mix of history, fine cuisine, and unique shopping opportunities, with some higher end stores, galleries, and hotels. One of the notable buildings on Royal Street is the Court of Two Sisters (1832), now a restaurant known for its jazz brunch.

To hear some quality musicians playing traditional jazz music, Frenchmen Street is the place to go. Good restaurants can also be found along here, and artists frequent the area.

Also not to be missed in the French Quarter are Jackson Square and St Louis Cathedral , located just off the waterfront. Buskers, musicians, and artists set up around the square.

Mardi Gras is New Orleans' signature event, with celebrations that span a two-week period, ending with the finale on shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

Celebrations include almost daily parades and all kinds of entertainment and festivities that increase in intensity as the event draws closer to the end. Onlookers crowd the balconies and sidewalks to watch the parades and catch strings of beaded necklaces tossed from the outrageously decorated floats.

Bourbon Street is one of the main areas where people congregate, but the whole French Quarter is generally packed. The tradition was introduced to the city by French settlers and became particularly popular by the end of the 19th century.

Official site: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/

The National WWII Museum is an outstanding museum with engaging exhibits and documentary snippets that tell the history of WWII as it was fought in Europe and in the Pacific.

The museum is divided into three sections, with one section devoted to the war in the Pacific, another devoted to the war in Europe, and a third building that houses WWII aircraft.

A film entitled Beyond All Boundaries , produced and narrated by Tom Hanks, is shown in the 4D Theater, with chairs that rumble as tanks go by on the screen, and stage props that turn the film into a full on sensory experience.

As you move from room to room through the exhibits, short black-and-white documentary-style film segments give a real-life look at how the items on display were involved in the war. Oral histories add to the impact.

You are assigned a profile of someone who was in the war, and oral updates are available at stations throughout the complex to follow the soldier's progression through war time.

New, starting in November 2022, is the Expressions of America outdoor show. This show is billed as an "outdoor immersive show," and takes place in the evenings at the museum on the Col. Battle Barksdale Parade Ground. You'll be amazed as the latest technology takes you back to the 1940s and wartime through light and sound special effects.

Although the main show takes place outdoors, the beginning of the show starts indoors at BB's Stage Door Canteen, with live performances, and then flows outdoors. The outdoor portion of the show is designed to be observed while standing; however, seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Address: 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/

Jackson Square is the main square in the heart of the French Quarter, originally known as Place d'Armes . In the center of the square, surrounded by trees and greenery, is an equestrian statue (1856) of General Andrew Jackson.

Standing prominently at one end of the square is the landmark St. Louis Cathedral , with its white façade and cone shaped spires. Also in the vicinity of the cathedral are the Presbytere and Cabildo, both Louisiana State Museums.

The area in front of the cathedral, along the iron fence that surrounds the square, has long been an artist's hang out, and nearby are shops and restaurants, making it a popular spot for tourists.

The whole area is very attractively laid out along the banks of the Mississippi, with the Riverboat Docks, the promenade known as the Moon Walk, and the Millhouse, as well as a variety of stores.

Preservation Hall is an unassuming old building that has long been an institution in New Orleans known for jazz music. The historic hall still features traditional jazz by local artists .

The building is small, creating an intimate setting, and seating is limited. Patrons are all seated upon arrival on bench seats with no back support. Unless you've reserved the front bench, you'll be seated where space is available. Standing room tickets are also available. Preservation Hall sells out most nights, and performances are generally 45 minutes in length.

Opening times and events are listed on the website two weeks in advance of the following month. If you are really lucky, you might get same-day tickets, but chances are slim. It's best to keep your expectations in check; some bands are definitely better than others.

Address: 726 St. Peter Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: www.preservationhall.com/

On the north side of Jackson Square is the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral, a landmark structure in New Orleans. It was built in 1794 on the site of two earlier churches and is known for being the United States' oldest cathedral in continuous use. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1987.

The church was built through contributions from Don Andres Almonester de Roxas, a Frenchman who spent money from his fortune to rebuild New Orleans after the second great fire.

Address: Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: http://www.stlouiscathedral.org/

New Orleans City Park covers more than 1,300 acres and contains numerous attractions and things to do, including the New Orleans Botanical Garden and the New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden. Generations of families have spent warm, summer weekends here since the mid 19th century.

Kids and families will love the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park with its 18 rides, including the Tilt-a-Whirl, Red Baron Mini Plane, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, just to name a few. In addition to the rides, the amusement park has a classic carousel, dating from 1906, complete with intricately carved and painted wooden horses. If you and your crew tire of walking, hop on the miniature train. It circles the park on narrow gauge tracks and has long been a favorite of all ages.

Also on-site are tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course , as well as beautiful areas for walking. The park claims to have one of the world's largest stands of mature live oak trees, including several that are almost 800 years old.

The Cabildo, to the left of St. Louis Cathedral, was built in 1795 as the residence of the Spanish governor. It is noteworthy both as a historic building and for the museum and its outstanding collection.

The first town council met here in 1799, and the Louisiana Purchase was agreed to here in 1803. It was at one time the Louisiana Supreme Court, but today the Cabildo houses the Louisiana State Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum's collections focus largely on the history of New Orleans and Louisiana, particularly the people of Louisiana and the many ethnic groups that make up the population today.

Address: 701 Charles Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: https://louisianastatemuseum.org/

The Garden District is a prosperous residential area with lovely mansions, mature trees, and lush gardens, and is probably, in some respects, the stereotypical image many foreigners have of the Deep South.

The area can be easily explored on foot, and some companies offer guided tours, which can be a good way to learn the history and see the sights. First Street, Camp Street, and Prytania Street are some good places to see large, elegant 19th-century houses with extensive grounds. The historic and famous Lafayette Cemetery #1 is also located here.

Some famous celebrities have homes in this area. Most visitors come to enjoy the tranquil environment and see the houses, but there are also boutiques and coffee shops in the area, although they are spread out, and finding a lunch spot may be more difficult than expected.

A delightful way to visit the Garden District is to take the St. Charles streetcar. Get off at 1st Street, and walk south to enter the heart of the area as indicated on the map below.

Southwest of the Garden District in Uptown New Orleans is Audubon Park, established on the grounds of what had been the site of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition of 1884. This is a fair distance from the French Quarter but provides a good excuse to see this part of the city.

One of the highlights in the park is the Audubon Zoo . This is a fun escape from the busy city, with lush grounds and a good selection of domestic and exotic animals. Some of the most popular residents of the zoo are the giraffes, jaguars, leopards, orangutans, elephants, rhinos, lemurs, and alligators (including the rare white alligator) just to name a few.

A small tram called the Swamp Train, runs throughout the zoo and passes by the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit, sea lions, and Reptile Encounter areas. The complete ride takes about 30 minutes, tickets are available at the train station and are valid all day.

During the summer months, the zoo offers a chance to cool off in the splash park, known as the Cool Zoo.

Also within Audubon Park are fine stands of oaks, a butterfly garden and insectarium, hothouses, the Audubon Golf Club, a number of small lakes, and plenty of open green space.

Address: 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: http://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo

A cruise on the paddle steamer Steamboat Natchez is a wonderful way to experience the Mississippi River and a unique way to see and learn about the city.

The harbor cruises take about two hours and provide narration on the sites, with an optional lunch of creole cuisine. The dinner cruise features a live jazz band, buffet-style dinner, and of course, wonderful views of New Orleans.

Special events cruises are also available seasonally, with special cruises offered for such occasions as Easter, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, and other holidays.

It's a good idea, particularly during high season, to book a Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise in advance. This tour guarantees your spot on the boat and also the lowest prices.

Official site: http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/

New Orleans is world famous for its elaborate Mardi Gras celebrations, drawing people from all over the world who come to enjoy the festivities that consume the city during this time period.

For a glimpse of what's involved behind the scenes in this huge event, visitors can take a Mardi Gras World tour to see working studios. The Blaine Kern Studios is one of the leading producers of floats in the world and is highly involved in the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans each year.

You can see sculptured props, huge floats, outrageous costumes, and all kinds of figures. This is a great way to gain a good sense of the size, color, and imagination that goes into the floats and the parade. Guided tours are offered regularly each day through the workshops where artists and sculptors work.

Address: 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: http://www.mardigrasworld.com/

In the south part of City Park is the New Orleans Museum of Art, one of the finest of its kind in the South. The museum features an excellent collection of French and American art, as well as African and Japanese pieces.

On site and another of the institutions highlights is the outdoor Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, with more than 60 sculptures, as well as walking paths, lagoons, and mature live oak trees.

Be sure to check the museum's calendar for temporary exhibitions and a variety of themes.

Address: One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

Along the waterfront in downtown New Orleans, within walking distance of the French Quarter, the aquarium focuses on species found in North, Central, and South America. The museum has an impressive collection of over 3,600 animals spread across over 250 species.

Beginning in the north, visitors can learn about creatures that lurk below the surface of the nearby surrounding waters, with exhibits that highlight freshwater fish of the Mississippi River and marine life from the Gulf of Mexico. This includes everything from sharks and stingrays to sea turtles.

The Great Maya Reef can be viewed from a 30-foot-long walk-through tunnel and is designed to look like a sunken Maya city, with fish swimming among the ruins.

The Amazon Rainforest offers a look at the colorful birds, exotic fish, and even the snakes of this region of South America.

Always popular are the sea otters and penguins, as well as the wildlife encounter programs. Available as optional extras are hands-on experiences with the African penguins and a chance to SCUBA dive or snorkel the Great Maya Reef.

Address: 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Official site: http://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium/

As you wander throughout New Orleans, it's hard to miss the old streetcars rumbling along the rails. One of the best deals around at $3 a day, this wonderfully preserved public transit service is a real bonus for visitors. Not only are the streetcars fun to ride, they actually go where you want to visit.

It's easy to hop on and hop off — stops are everywhere, and service is frequent, meaning you'll rarely need to wait long for a ride. Red-colored streetcars have air-conditioning; the green ones do not but have windows that open. The green ones are the oldest; most date from the early 1920s.

One of the most popular routes is the historic St. Charles Line; streetcars first rolled along here in 1835. It's one of the best ways to get to and from the Garden District.

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve consists of six physically separate sites in southeastern Louisiana.

Two of these sites are in the New Orleans area and are well worth a visit. The Barataria Preserve offers a chance to see some of Louisiana's natural treasures.

The preserve consists of natural levee forests, bayous, swamps, and marshes. Archeological sites here have been found to contain remnants of the ancient Troyville, Marksville, and Tchefuncte cultures.

For a more historical experience, the Chalmette Battlefield preserves the site of the January 8, 1815 Battle of New Orleans, which was a decisive American victory over the British at the end of the War of 1812.

Official site: http://www.nps.gov/jela/index.htm

This park was created in 2014, when a formerly derelict area of the city near the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods was targeted for redevelopment.

The park runs along the river; it is 1.4 miles long and is spread out over 20 acres. The main attraction in the park, apart from the pleasant green spaces, is the Piety Street Bridge . This arch spans the railroad tracks and allows access to the waterfront.

Come here if you are in the nearby areas and want to enjoy a bit of a local secret. Looking for the ultimate photo of downtown New Orleans? Snap it from the top of the bridge and catch the curve of the river in the foreground of your shot.

To experience the real charm of New Orleans, the best place to stay is in the famous French Quarter. Many of the hotels here are housed in historic buildings and exude their own unique character. Below are some highly-rated hotels in or near the French Quarter .

Luxury Hotels :

• In a great location at the foot of Royal Street is the historic Hotel Monteleone , a landmark building in the French Quarter, built in 1886. This high-end luxury hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites and a rooftop heated pool.
• The recently renovated Omni Royal Orleans is another elegant top-end hotel with a fabulous location in the French Quarter.
• With a more contemporary feel, the Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans is located in the heart of the action, just off Bourbon Street, and within easy walking distance of the city's major attractions.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• In the heart of the French Quarter but offering a peaceful and quiet experience is the Hotel Mazarin . With a quaint courtyard; an outstanding complimentary breakfast; and large, luxurious rooms; this hotel is perfect if you don't need a pool.
• Also well positioned in the French Quarter and offering a free breakfast is the Hotel Le Marais , with a beautiful courtyard; small pool; and secure, quiet rooms.
• One block north of Bourbon Street Grenoble House has only 17 suites but offers a charming atmosphere, with exposed brick walls, tasteful décor, and an outdoor pool.

Budget Hotels :

• At the high end of the budget range but well positioned in the French Quarter is the Inn on St. Ann , with classic New Orleans style architecture featuring wrought iron balconies, exposed brick walls, and antique décor.
• In a similar style and with a convenient location on the edge of the French Quarter is the Inn on St. Peter .
• Outside the French Quarter but only a five-minute drive away is The Treme Hotel , with basic but comfortable rooms.

Sightseeing:

• To see the sites at your own pace and learn a little of the city's fascinating history, the best option is to take a Hop-on Hop-off Tour on an open-top, double-decker sightseeing bus. This tour stops at 18 locations around the city and gives you the option to get off wherever you like, or you can choose to stay on the bus for the full two-hour loop. Also part of this tour is a guided walking tour of the Garden District.

Bayou Tours:

• Getting out into bayou country is one of the most popular things to do around New Orleans. The Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Tour with Boat Ride from New Orleans is the easiest way to experience the beauty of the bayou, with transportation right from the French Quarter to the wetlands. Visitors are then taken on a two-hour wildlife-viewing boat ride through the swamps, with opportunities to see alligators, snakes, birds, and other animals. Total tour time is about four hours.
• Another option, if you are looking for more of a thrill ride, is a New Orleans Airboat Ride. This two-hour fast-paced ride takes guests through the cypress swampland, not far from Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. Tours are offered in the morning or afternoon, and visitors can choose a small or large-boat tour (eight person or 25 person tours).

The best time of the year to visit New Orleans is February through May, when Mardi Gras festivities are underway and temperatures are comfortable. If you do plan to visit during this popular time of the year, you will want to book hotel rooms up to a year in advance.

Mardi Gras events take place over several weekends from February to early March, with specific dates changing each year. This is the best window to see the elaborate parades, floats, and festivities surrounding this annual event.

Mardi Gras is the most exciting time of the year to visit New Orleans, but if the steep prices are a deterrent, you can travel at the end of January, when rates for hotels are lower and Carnival season is already underway.

You can still see parades heading through the streets in January, and enjoy the celebrations without the crowds and high prices that tick up in February.

Tourists visiting New Orleans outside of Mardi Gras season can still get a taste of the festivities by visiting Mardi Gras World , the city's only museum dedicated to this annual celebration. Visitors can see floats, costumes, and other parade props, and can also watch artisans work on next year's biggest and best decorations.

More on Louisiana

70 Best & Fun Things To Do In New Orleans (Louisiana)

By: Author Jerric Chong

Posted on Last updated: October 17, 2023

New Orleans, Louisiana, known also as the Big Easy and one of the most beautiful places in the United States , is famed for its rich culture and history.

There are so many sites to check out that you’re spoiled for tourist attractions.

It’s easy to get a little overwhelmed as you figure out what to do, especially if you’re one of the city’s many first time visitors!

To help you out, we’ve put together a bit of a travel guide for things you should add to your bucket list.

Here are our picks for the top 70 best and fun things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Table of Contents

1. Frenchmen Street

Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock

Frenchmen Street isn’t really just one street.

It’s a stretch of road spanning three blocks located in the famous Faubourg Marigny in New Orleans.

It has a reputation for being a must-do for music lovers thanks to its unofficial status as the greatest location in the city for live music.

As you stroll through the street, you’ll be treated to the sight of delightfully cultural shops, charming old-fashioned cottages of a Creole style, and all the fun of a standard tourist location without the crowded state of Bourbon Street.

Virtually all the live music locations on this New Orleans road have something good to offer.

Blues and jazz are standard, but there are even more genres to be found and heard.

There are few more authentic ways to get a taste of the city and its heritage than right here on Frenchman Street.

Address: Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

2. New Orleans Museum of Art

William A. Morgan / Shutterstock

If you’ve got an eye for art, you simply have to check out the New Orleans Museum of Art , known simply as NOMA for short.

Located in City Park, this museum shows off some of the truly beautiful and historically rich art.

This Louisiana museum first began its journey in 1912, when Isaac Delgado, an art collector and sugar broker, left the city behind, also leaving a large financial grant to be used to establish the museum.

Now, NOMA boasts huge collections of art.

From the period of the Italian Renaissance all the way to present-day contemporary works, there are over 40,000 artworks on display.

A large chunk of them date back to the 19th or 20th century, made by French artists such as Monet, Braque, Rodin, and Renoir.

There is also an impressive collection of African American art from all sorts of different eras, an Americas collection, exhibits of ceramics from Japan, and more recent works displayed such as those by Bob Dylan, Carlos Rolón, and others.

All in all, if you appreciate art, you’ll have a lot of fun at NOMA, one of the best things to do in New Orleans!

Address:  1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States

3. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum

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The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is the perfect place to head to if you’re interested in the lengthy history and the intricacies of the mysterious, often misunderstood religious and cultural practice of voodoo.

It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in this Louisiana city, and for good reason; few can separate the legacy that voodoo has left on New Orleans.

The museum was founded by a man named Charles Massicot Gandolfo in the year 1972.

He had a passion for the practice of voodoo and created the museum to share his love with visitors.

His museum focuses very heavily on local voodoo, brought via the slave trade in the 1700s.

Within the museum’s walls, fascinating items of all kinds are on display.

Antique dolls used in voodoo, a kneeling bench belonging to Maria Leaveau (the first Queen of Voodoo in the city), talismans, taxidermy, and more.

You can also purchase items at the museum, such as snake skins, candles, potions, books, and even potions.

There is also a room to go to for fortune tellings by voodoo practitioners!

Address:  724 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

4. French Quarter

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The French Quarter in downtown New Orleans is undoubtedly one of the most fun and enticing places to go if you’re a tourist to this Louisiana City.

Even if you elect to skip the crowd of Bourbon Street in favor of other spots close to it, the French Quarter is rich in history as the most famous neighborhood in the city – and the oldest!

Known also as Vieux Carré, the French Quarter is essentially the heart of the city, first built on the Mississippi River banks three centuries ago.

It now has a mix of just about everything – food, excitement, nightlife, shops, galleries, and many other fascinating locations.

Some of those places have even earned a separate spot on this list, and there are many activities to enjoy!

5. St. Louis Cathedral

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The St. Louis Cathedral isn’t one of New Orleans’ most-flocked-to points of interest for nothing.

It has a special place in history as America’s longest-running, an active church of the Roman Catholic faith.

The cathedral’s history stretches back to 1789, which is when it was dedicated to France’s Louis IX, but as far back as 1718, there was already a church on the grounds.

Needless to say, there have been some reconstructions over the years, and the current appearance of the St. Louis Cathedral – with Spanish Colonial architecture – is from 1850.

Many enjoy the appearance of the St. Louis Cathedral because of its stunning symmetry.

Window pediments, spires, Doric columns, and scallop moldings are all perfectly constructed into a picturesque and magnificent structure.

When you enter the St. Louis Cathedral, you’ll want to check out the Rococo altar, which is gilded and embellished in finery, and the many stained glass windows crafted in astonishing detail.

Address:  615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

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6. National WWII Museum

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The National WWII Museum is one of the most fascinating and potentially fun spots in New Orleans, Louisiana for history buffs who are fascinated by the battles of the past.

Once known as the National D-Day Museum, it’s easily among the top 10 places that tourists flock to in downtown New Orleans.

Originally, the museum focused only on the events of D-Day, including its lead-up and repercussions, with many exhibits dedicated to the Battle of Normandy.

But in 2009, it earned its new and current name in order to comply with Congress’ designation of the museum by its new title.

Though it still focuses mostly on D-Day, the National WWII Museum is recognized throughout the country and is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate.

While you’re visiting, don’t forget to head up to the observation deck to see an aircraft, hung delicately from the aviation exhibit’s ceiling, up-close.

You can also watch Beyond All Boundaries, a 4D film that won awards and was made just for the National WWII Museum itself!

Address:  945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

7. Garden District

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The Garden District is essentially what you might consider the upper-class area of this Louisiana City.

It was originally built for richer individuals moving to the state who didn’t want to join the Creoles in the French Quarter.

This began sometime in the 1830s, and mansions of Greek Revival and Italianate mansions soon began to pop up all over, mostly decorated in white with huge gardens and lovely flowers outside.

If you take a trip here while you’re in Louisiana, you’ll be able to see some of the most stunning of the things to see in New Orleans: mansions of grandeur and wonder that still remain, standing proud.

Among them are the Colonel Short’s Villa, the Goldsmith-Godchaux House, the Commander’s Palace, and the Brevard-Rice House.

Despite its questionable history, there’s no denying that the Garden District has some of the most stunning houses and buildings in the city.

Address: St Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

8. Mardi Gras World

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It’s easy to skip over Mardi Gras World , but then you’d be missing out on an insanely fun spot among the many New Orleans attractions in Louisiana.

Located around the port area of the city, the warehouse shows off tales and behind-the-scenes secrets relating to Mardi Gras – which is, essentially, America’s biggest party thrown completely for free.

Mardi Gras World has a fairly straightforward history.

It is owned by Kern Studios, which was founded in 1932 by Roy Kern.

It all started with Kern’s first-ever float and grew into a big company.

By 1984, Mardi Gras World was open and running, and there are over a hundred employed artists and workers who put a lot of time and effort into creating the perfect pieces for the party.

In Mardi Gras World, you’ll be able to see some of the floats being prepared for the next event.

Sculptures and painters work on these floats for months and months, and those prepared here make up a whopping 75% of the floats that will be paraded during the event itself.

A 90-minute tour through the warehouse lets you in on the traditions of Mardi Gras as you try on costumes and view works in progress.

Address:  1380 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

9. Audubon Nature Institute

Audubon Nature Institute

Looking for cool things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana that you can bring kids to?

Consider the Audubon Nature Institute .

It dates back well over a century, hosting some old, still-alive oaks that date back to the times of plantations in New Orleans.

The Audubon Nature Institute is one of the best spots in the city simply because of how large it is.

It hosts the massive Entergy Giant Screen Theater, a large aquarium that holds a huge 400,000-gallon tank dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico, a butterfly garden, a zoo with an exciting Jaguar Jungle showcase, and an insectarium.

Events throughout the day or held that are meant just for kids, such as those that let them interact with animals.

Of course, most events are great for all ages, like environmental films and lectures, daily feedings, and lots of informative sessions.

You can also stop by Riverview Park here to have a picnic, play some sports or golf, or even bird-watch.

Address:  6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118, United States

10. Jackson Square

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Jackson Square is pretty famous in New Orleans, Louisiana, and tourists gravitate towards it like nobody’s business in their quest for what to do for fun while visiting.

Once upon a time, Jackson Square was a ground for military parades back in the 1720s, somewhat similar to Paris’ Place des Vosges.

In 1815, once the Battle of New Orleans drew to a close, the area was renamed to honor General Andrew Jackson.

The general would go on to become America’s 7th president.

Now, it houses formal gardens, a statue of the late president, and many galleries, shops, and eateries.

If you’re in the city this weekend, there’s no reason not to check it out!

Address:  701 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

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11. City Park

Kathleen K. Parker / Shutterstock

City Park is located in downtown New Orleans and came to be as a result of drained swampland, as performed in the 19th century by colonists from France.

As one of the United States’ biggest parks – the sixth-largest of an urban variety – it’s a great place to go to unwind, go site seeing, and even have a little fun.

At first, City Park was a place where men would make appointments to meet and settle disagreements and similar disputes.

Back then, it was known by the apt name Dueling Oaks.

In the 1850s, the land received some care and proper scaping, and that paved the way for it to become the great Louisiana park we know!

City Park isn’t just good for strolling.

It has the biggest mature oak tree collection in the entire world, with some of those trees stretching back in time 600 years.

Each one is draped with stunning Spanish moss and serves as a natural canopy for picnickers, cyclers, and more.

Don’t forget to check out the many great places within the park grounds, like the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and the 36-hole City Putt!

Address:  1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States

12. Ogden Museum of Southern Art

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art hosts not just one of the largest collections of art in Louisiana, but in the entire south.

Built in 1999, the museum shows off works and pieces dating all the way back to 1733.

Since there isn’t one cohesive “Southern” art style, or even a “New Orleans” art style, you’ll get to see all kinds of different genres and influences, with landscapes, sculptures, abstract art, and more.

Some of the artists whose works are exhibited include Clementine Hunter (a folk artist), George Ohr (a ceramicist), Hunt Slonem (a neo-Expressionist), and Will Henry Stevens (a modernist painter).

It can be a lot of fun to take in the sheer diversity of art styles, techniques, and cultural history from each of the works at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

That’s why, whether you’re an aficionado of fine arts or not, visiting the museum is among the best things to do in New Orleans.

Address:  925 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

13. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Jeremy Thompson / flickr

The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is one of the best of this Louisiana city’s tourist attractions.

It’s a fascinating and rather unusual sort of museum, which makes it all the more intriguing.

Located in the French Quarter and housed within an old two-story building, the museum exhibits a huge range of healthcare and pharmacy-related memorabilia.

Among the oddities, bits, and bobs, you’ll find optical prosthetic devices, old physician’s bags made of leather, surgical tools, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, medical instruments, and ingredients in original apothecary jars.

Voodoo potions also line the shelves, including Love Potion No 9, the very famous and often referenced potion of yore.

As you retreat to the rear of the shop area, you’ll find a recreation of a workspace of an old-time pharmacist.

Attention to detail is pretty impressive, with items like wooden blenders, mortar and pestles, and microscopes.

Don’t forget to go up to the second floor to check out the Dr. J. William Rosenthal’s Spectacles Collection exhibit!

Address:  514 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

14. Preservation Hall

Looking for things to do in downtown New Orleans pertaining to jazz and other musical wonders?

Preservation Hall is an amazing option!

As a traditional venue for jazz performances, it’s earned a reputation for being a favorite in New Orleans.

Better yet, it’s not an adults-only joint, so it’s suitable for families, for couples, and for just about anyone!

Preservation Hall’s life began in the 1950s.

Alan Jaffe became a manager in 1961 and shaped it into the place it is now.

He was dedicated to hiring musicians who were around during jazz’s first wave, thus reviving jazz music while giving infirm and elderly musicians a reason to return to their craft.

Over 100 different musicians perform at this New Orleans, Louisiana jazz bar, performing intimate live concerts for audience members for 350 nights every single year.

As the city’s – and even the world’s – most respected jazz venue, it’s not a place to miss!

Address:  726 St Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

15. Steamboat Natchez

Looking for a convenient way to tour the hot spots of New Orleans, Louisiana?

Steamboat Natchez has you covered!

This tour company is pretty famous for offering harbor cruises, brunch cruises, and dinner cruises, each one bringing you through the Mississippi River to learn about New Orleans and all the fun places to see along the way.

The steamboat tour company launched its business in 1975 and makes use of sternwheel steamboats, which are traditional and allow guests to feel like they’re being transported to bygone eras.

Relaxing old-style music, a captain shouting through a megaphone, and historical fact narration all add to the atmosphere.

Each tour or cruise offers something a little different, so peruse your options before choosing between them!

Address:  400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

16. New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

No travel guide for Louisiana would be complete without recommending the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as one of the activities to participate in – if you’re in the city at the right time, that is!

The festival is an extravaganza spanning eight days, full of food, music, and art, held outdoors with a lively and exciting atmosphere.

Known simply as the Jazzfest by locals, this festival has taken place for more than 50 years and is set on the Fair Grounds Race Track.

Every genre of music under the sun is showcased during this exciting stretch of two weekends, usually taking place across the last weekend of April till the first one of May.

12 stages are set up, each one playing different genres, and stalls are set up to sell delicious festival food like gumbo, crab po’boys, beignets, and more.

People come dressed in costumes, waving flags and donning hats, coated in sunscreen.

You’ll be able to find crafts of all kinds sold, with handmade delights and demonstrations to keep you occupied.

After Jazzfest calms down from each day of its event, nightclubs around it have great parties so you can keep the energy going well into the night.

Address:  1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States

17. Audubon Zoo

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For animal-lovers, families, and nature fans, Audubon Zoo is certainly one of the top among the places to visit in New Orleans.

Thanks to the climate of New Orleans, Audubon Zoo benefits from a surprisingly realistic array of exhibit spaces, with environments perfectly tailored to their residents.

Audubon Zoo has many different animals, including lions, gorillas, Asian elephants, Malayan tigers, rhinos, and orangutans, but the biggest draws of the location are its special environments.

There’s Jaguar Jungle, Gator Run, the Cool Zoo splash park, and, of course, Louisiana Swamp, which houses alligators and is award-winning.

Explore the zoo on the Swamp Train and check out all it has to offer!

18. Louisiana Children’s Museum

Louisiana Children’s Museum

If you’re heading to New Orleans with kids in tow, you can’t overlook the Louisiana Children’s Museum .

It’s one of the most fun spots in the city for younger members of the family and is one of the best family-friendly places of New Orleans attractions.

The museum spans two stories and showcases plenty of interactive and hands-on exhibits for kids to enjoy and learn through.

8.5 acres of ground offer areas such as an edible garden, a “wetland” habitat, a lagoon bank, a bubble studio, a mock-grocery store, a Mighty Mississippi exhibit that reaches 30 meters, and more!

Address:  15 Henry Thomas Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States

19. The Cabildo

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Looking for where to go in the great city of New Orleans that’s central, historical, and cultural all in one?

The Cabildo may provide you with what you seek.

Its life dates back hundreds of years, with its reconstruction in the 1790s following the Great New Orleans Fire breathing some new life into it.

Spanish Colonial architecture, mixed with some other influences such as a French Mansard roof, make the Cabildo a beauty to behold.

Until the year 1908, it was a government and judicial building, but it was passed to the Louisiana State Museum after and now houses over 500 items that exhibit the history and culture of the city.

Among the museum’s most interesting showcases are We Love You, New Orleans!, the Battle of New Orleans exhibit, the collection of Native American items, a room that was the location of the finalization of the Louisiana Purchase, and a Hurricane Katrina room.

Address:  701 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

20. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

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If nature and sightseeing are up your alley, you’ll want to check out the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve , which spans 22,241 acres and covers six different spots in New Orleans.

Among the interesting spots within the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve are the different biomes, such as swamps, prairies, and bayous.

There is also the Battle of New Orleans site within park grounds.

There are a good number of activities to take part in here, including guided walks, multiple different historical areas to observe, and beautiful flowers to appreciate. 

Address: 419 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

21. Studio Be

Thomas Hawk / flickr

Studio Be , located in Bywater of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a huge warehouse that showcases eye-catching, vibrant, fun, and delightful public art.

It was created by Brandan “BMike” Odums, who worked together with over 40 talented artists to make all sorts of exhibits and murals relating to resistance, revolution, activism, and the history of African Americans.

The studio expanse covers 35,000 square feet, with five stories of space across four buildings.

It’s southern America’s biggest public art exhibition on a single site, which is why it’s popular not just with locals of New Orleans, but with people all over the world.

It apparently took 6 months to complete Studio Be, and most of the art today is painted with graffiti and spray styles.

For fans of modern art with powerful messages, visiting Studio Be is a must-do.

Address:  2941 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117, United States

22. Longue Vue House and Gardens

Visiting the Longue Vue House and Gardens is among the top things to do in New Orleans for fans of the genteel and elegant old New Orleans architecture.

It is a mansion set on stunning 8-acre gardens, designed in the Classical-Revival style.

It dates back to the 1930s and was home to a philanthropist and businessman named Edgar B. Stern and his family.

The Longue Vue House and Gardens was one of the very last estates of the Country Place Era, so it has a special slice of Louisiana with it.

Walk through the 20 different rooms, examine gorgeous preserved costumes, and take a look at items from across the world – like the best ceramics from China or the finest carpets from Europe.

There’s also a gift shop for you to buy some interesting trinkets if you’re keen!

Address:  7 Bamboo Rd, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States

23. Café du Monde

Café du Monde isn’t one of the standard, touristy points of interest, but a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana wouldn’t be complete without doing something that the locals do!

Café du Monde is open 24/7 and serves New Orleans famous chicory, coffee, and beignets that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Originally, Café du Monde was but a humble coffee stand.

Since its life began in 1862, it has grown to encompass eight locations in total across the city.

Stop by for a quick bite; you’ll be surprised how fun it can be!

Address:  800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

24. Music Box Village

The Music Box Village

Music Box Village is a picturesque haven for music lovers – and if you’re visiting New Orleans at all, there’s a good chance that you are, indeed, someone who appreciates good music!

This whimsical sculpture garden was designed by a mix of builders and artists and is known to delight its guests with interactive activities.

The Music Box Village can be found in Bywater and is full of pleasant and whimsical surprises that will ensure you have the best time.

Though it exists in a forest, treehouses allow for exploration and hands-on excitement.

Each house is designed in a Creole cottage style and plays lovely melodies for passers-by.

If you come at the right time, you might be lucky enough to catch a live concert!

Address:  4557 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70117, United States

25. Tipitina’s

enigmaarts / flickr

For music clubs and fun, one of the best of the things to see in New Orleans is Tipitina’s , the most famous club for music in the city.

It first swung open its doors in 1977 on a venue dating back to 1912, and it has only grown more and more loved since.

Tipitina’s is known as the hotspot that every aspiring local musician or performer would love to book a gig in.

Genres of all kinds are played well into the early morning hours throughout the standing-only club.

It’s easy to just walk by and ignore Tipitina’s due to its rather uninspiring appearance from the outside, but it’s almost an institution all on its own and is well worth the visit.

Enjoy live music, local talent, and good company.

Address:  501 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115, United States

26. Historic New Orleans Collection

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The whole state of Louisiana is overflowing with culture – and the Historic New Orleans Collection paints a wide-reaching picture of its titular city’s.

The “Collection” is a museum, first opened in 1966, that is dedicated to collecting a wide range of exhibits showcasing the culture, history, and artistic tastes of the region.

The museum’s collected pieces were first owned by General Lewis Kemper Williams and Leila Hardy Moore Williams, who purchased the Merieult House that the Collection now lives in back in 1938.

The married couple’s stash grew and grew over time and now is as versatile as can be imagined.

The museum houses four different exhibition areas.

A mix of rotating and permanent showcases are on display in each of them, totaling more than a million individual items in all, dated across three centuries and beyond.

There’s the Louisiana History Galleries, the Laura Simon Nelson Galleries for Louisiana Art, the Williams Gallery, and the Boyd Cruise Gallery.

As far as New Orleans attractions go, few museums offer the expansive range that this one does – and there are even fun guided tours through which you can learn even more.

Address:  520 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

27. New Orleans Jazz Museum

J eremy Thompson / flickr

There is little more quintessential in New Orleans than jazz music.

So if you’re looking for stuff to do that is thematically appropriate for this culturally rich Louisiana city this weekend, you needn’t look much farther than the New Orleans Jazz Museum .

This museum is housed within the lovely Neoclassical Old U.S. Mint building and features an incredible collection of jazz-related items, exhibits, and memorabilia.

Many priceless instruments used by prominent figures in jazz history are showcased here as part of the world’s biggest collection of this sort, featuring ones played by George Lewis, Sidney Bechet, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Certain particularly meaningful exhibits include the first coronet of Louis Armstrong (complete with hand-carved notches by the man himself) and the world’s first jazz music recording, which dates back to 1917.

There are also thousands of photographs featuring early day memories of the jazz scene and countless records featuring these smooth tunes.

You can also occasionally catch live shows!

Address:  400 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

28. Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House

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Jean Lafitte was a pirate and an outlaw – so how is it that such a man came to have a New Orleans treasure named after him?

Just before the War of 1812, Lafitte met here at The Old Absinthe House – which, at the time, served as a firm for imports – to meet with the great General Andrew Jackson.

The General sought the aid of Lafitte to ship men to fight the steadily approaching British forces.

Lafitte agreed, on the condition that he and his men would be granted full pardons for their past crimes and dubious activities.

This turned out to be a rousing success as British ships were repelled and Americans reigned victorious.

Through the next two centuries, the building of this historic meeting largely remained the same.

The Old Absinthe House gained autographs, photos, and other memorabilia of famous celebrities who stopped by, and its bar was so iconic that it was nearly demolished in 1920 – but its contents were carted off and hidden, then revived once again in 2004.

It’s among the most interesting and fun options for what to see in Louisiana !

Address:  240 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States

29. Backstreet Cultural Museum

Jennifer Boyer / flickr

The Backstreet Cultural Museum is a must-see, partially hidden gem that houses the world’s top largest and most detailed collection of African American traditions and history, as seen throughout New Orleans, Louisiana.

More than 500 events are recorded on film in the Backstreet Cultural Museum, archiving traditions both thriving and lost of the black community of New Orleans.

This includes cultural traditions, jazz funerals, masking traditions, pleasure clubs, Skull and Bone gangs, social aid, Baby Dolls, and much more.

Address:  1116 Henriette Delille St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

30. The Presbytère

Wally Gobetz / flickr

We’ve already mentioned visiting the Cabildo as one of the best things to do in New Orleans – but what about its twin, The Presbytère ?

It faces Jackson Square and dates back to 1791, and like its “sibling”, it boasts amazing architecture that makes it a true masterpiece.

Built in a colonial Spanish style, The Presbytère was once used as its name suggests – as domestic quarters for the Capuchin monks of the Cabildo.

Before it became a magnet for tourists, it also served as a courthouse (and earned a mansard roof of French influence during that time).

Now, The Presbytère is a Louisiana State Museum flagship location, with two permanent exhibits.

These exhibits are the thematic Mardi Gras exhibit, which showcases New Orleans and the rest of the state with its old European heritage.

As well as the Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibit, which educates visitors on the effects of Hurricane Katrina and the continued efforts to heal the damage done.

Address:  751 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

31. Louis Armstrong Park

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New Orleans, Louisiana, isn’t particularly known for being lush with greenery.

That’s probably why Louis Armstrong Park is one of the top green tourist attractions that New Orleans has to offer.

It’s close to the teeming French Quarter so isn’t far displaced from the cultural aspects of the city, and with a huge 32-acre space, it’s often become the home of events and festivals.

The Louis Armstrong Park is beautifully landscaped.

It first began its life in the 1960s in Tremé, which was a huge player in the world of the African American music scene.

In the very center, Congo Square – which was once used for slaves and since been reclaimed by African Americans to have fun, sing and dance, and celebrate their heritage – remains, the shining beacon and favorite spot of the park.

Address:  701 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

32. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

quirkyjazz / flickr

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is technically a part of the New Orleans Museum of Art, but it’s one of those places to visit that deserves its very own part of this listing since many come by just to visit the garden on its own.

Right near the main NOMA building, an 11-acre expanse of garden stretches out, decorated with over 90 different sculptures.

The gardens first opened in 2003 and have grown in size ever since it made its home in the rear of the Louisiana museum.

Walkthrough through it can be a lot of fun, as you’ll get to see all sorts of flora – such as oaks, pines, camellias, and magnolias – and view many different pieces of art.

Most of these sculptures are by modern artists, including Henry Moore, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Katharina Fritsch, and many, many more!

33. Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo

Kent Kanouse / flickr

Few can think of New Orleans without thinking of the sacred practice of voodoo, so it’s only natural that there are some tourist spots catered to this religion.

Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo is arguably the best among them in the Louisiana city.

But really, is that any surprise, considering who it’s named after?

Marie Laveau II was the queen of voodoo in New Orleans, taking up the “throne” from her mother, until her passing in 1895.

There are many confusing and conflicting accounts of her death, but most believe she still resides in the House of Voodoo, haunting it as she goes.

Many have reported feeling an icy grip on their arms or shoulders, and some have even seen her ghost in full form in a back room.

The House of Voodoo now is a museum showcasing multiple exhibits of a Voodoo-related variety.

This includes a Voodoo Altar, books, and spiritual products.

There is also a store that people can purchase Voodoo items from and a back room that hosts Tarot readings, spell castings, and other forms of divination.

Address:  739 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

34. Metairie Cemetery

David Berkowitz / flickr

The Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans has the Louisiana city’s largest marble tomb and funeral statue collection, drawing visitors of all sorts to its grounds.

Founded in 1872, visiting Metairie Cemetery is one of the activities commonly underwent by spook-loving tourists – and if that description fits you, you’ll probably like it here!

Once upon a time, the cemetery was the Maitire Race Course, but it now mixes artwork with beautiful stories.

Among the most interesting and fun spots to visit in the cemetery is Josie Arlington’s original final resting place, which takes the shape of a tomb with a woman’s statue knocking on doors.

There is also the David Hennessy memorial, the 18-meter Moriarty tomb, the beautiful Laure Beuaregard Landon tomb made with stained glass and Moorish design, and the pyramid-and-sphinx that make up the Brunswig mausoleum.

Address: 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States

35. Magazine Street

If you’re seeking one of the most iconic places to visit in New Orleans, Magazine Street holds a pretty good candle up to the rest of the Louisiana city.

Why is it named Magazine Street?

There isn’t any conclusive evidence that dictates where this stretch of New Orleans got its name, but it is likely that it is named after ammunition.

Magazine Street stretches over 6 miles and there is a bus and a streetcar that allows for quicker journeys to and from locations in the area.

It’s a paradise for shoppers and offers all sorts of galleries, boutiques, costume stores, spas, and more.

There are plenty of great places to eat, too.

While you’re here, you can also check out cottages built along the road and lots of twisted oaks providing shade over pedestrians.

Address: Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA, United States

36. Museum of Death

Museum of Death

For fans of the macabre who find fun in the fascination of the strange and gory, the Museum of Death is one of the most exciting New Orleans attractions.

It originally opened in 1995 in California when Catherine Shultz and J. D. Healy began to collect and display their bizarre collection of items related to death.

Twenty years later, the whole collection was taken to New Orleans, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, the Museum of Death is a Louisiana hotspot for those looking to be just a little creeped out.

Skeletons, taxidermy pieces, letters and art from serial killers, body bags, and many more decorate the museum’s interior.

Particularly interesting exhibits are videos showcasing actual deaths, a suicide machine by Dr. Kevorkian, letters from the Unabomber, and Jeffrey Dahmer, a lock of hair used during the trial of O. J. Simpson, exhibits on embalming, cannibalism, and terrorism, and more.

Each exhibit is explicit and many can become quite graphic, and though there isn’t an age restriction on admission, expect to see some gory or shocking things that aren’t recommended for the weak of heart.

In fact, the Museum of Death has so many faintings that those who do faint on the premises receive a special free t-shirt!

Address:  227 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States

37. The Superdome (and the New Orleans Saints)

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The imposing and majestic Superdome , home to the New Orleans Saints football team, is a much-loved structure and one of Louisiana’s best Modernist icons.

It first began construction in the early 1970s and, currently, it boasts a 210-meter diameter, making it the world’s absolute largest domed building.

The Superdome can seat 73,000 people, and if you’re seeking things locals do to replicate during your visit to the city, you may want to try and catch a game at the stadium.

The Saints play in spring and the Sugar Bowl (for college football) plays in January, and there are plenty of other events and pre-season games to consider.

Ultimately, you don’t have to be a football fanatic to enjoy a Superdome visit.

In July, the Essence Festival is put on here, and big-name artists have come to the stadium during tours, too.

Address:  1500 Sugar Bowl Dr, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States

38. Abandoned Jazzland

Kristina Rogers / Shutterstock

Sightseeing doesn’t have to all be about pretty and aesthetically pleasing visuals.

If you’re looking for something a little more interesting, and perhaps a little eerie, look no further than one of your best options: the Abandoned Jazzland .

Abandoned Jazzland is a result of the deadly and monstrous sweep of Hurricane Katrina, which did a significant number on New Orleans and many other parts of Louisiana.

Part of what was destroyed was this Six Flags theme park.

It sank entirely before rising and its parts scattering, leaving behind bits and pieces that clutter its floors with a spooky and finite atmosphere.

Before you go, it’s very important that you know that technically, venturing into the amusement park’s grounds is considered trespassing, and it could be dangerous.

It is advisable that you look from outside only!

Still, even if you don’t go in, it’s oddly fun to take a look at the remnants left behind from bygone days.

Address:  Six Flags Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70129, United States

39. Faubourg Marigny

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If you were a local from New Orleans, you would have been familiar with Faubourg Marigny – a neighborhood best known for Frenchmen Street.

What’s so special about it, you ask?

As it turns out, visiting Frenchmen is a must-do if you’re someone who wants to enjoy the nightlife scene.

Bands play until 4 am in this part of New Orleans, providing top-notch live music in cafes like The Blue Nile, The Spotted Cat, Cafe Negril – all which line the street alongside various restaurants.

And many of these restaurants also serve late nights too!

Let’s not forget that Mardi Gras Day is often the biggest reason to visit this city in Louisiana – and as it turns out, Frenchmen Street sees plenty of that action!

So remember to bring along a costume, because you might just find yourself swept up into the amazing experience!

40. Ride A Streetcar

Looking for fun things to do in New Orleans?

This city of delights in Louisiana has you covered, and is full of all sorts of exciting activities to try out.

But what if you just want to relax and are looking for something more low-energy?

Enter the streetcars of New Orleans .

It probably seems odd to consider riding around on these streetcars as something to try out, until you realize that the streetcars and street railways themselves are historical fixtures in and of themselves.

The St Charles Avenue line is a great example of this, being the world’s oldest street railway system that has been continuously operational since its founding.

Built in the 1830s, these handsome streetcars take travelers to both modern and historical parts of the city – including some corners and neighborhoods you’re unlikely to stumble upon otherwise.

Why not take a gander and see where a casual ride through the city will take you?

41. Laura Plantation

NickBerryPhotography / Shutterstock

Considering the antebellum history Louisiana has, it makes sense that some of the best tourist attractions the state has are its plantation museums – and it just happens to be home to one of the few plantation museums in the state.

Located west of the city, the Laura Plantation was once one of the many sugarcane farms that covered the landscape of New Orleans that operated well into the 20th century.

It was originally founded by Guillaume Duparc, a Frenchman and naval veteran who had participated in this American Revolutionary War.

These days, its grounds, buildings, and main house have been dedicated to showcasing the history of the African American families that lived here, and the struggles they faced.

Visitors taking the tour will be guided through the gardens and original 1840s slave cabins, as well as the Creole-style house – the building a prime example of the style at its apex.

Address:  2247 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090, United States

42. Old New Orleans Rum Distillery

Old New Orleans Rum

With just how incredible its history and culture is, it only makes sense that New Orleans is full of fun places to visit .

One of those many places happens to be the oldest premium rum distillery in the country!

Located in the middle of sugarcane country, the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery can be found in a 150-year-old cotton warehouse.

The establishment is still operational and uses local Louisiana sugarcane molasses to produce both rum and pre-mixed cocktails.

Itching to try one of those cocktails?

Luckily for visitors, you will be given a cocktail to enjoy at the start of your 45-minute tour through the facility.

There’s more to the tour than just a free drink, however – you’ll get to learn the fermenting, distilling, and the aging process involved in making rum, and get to finish the tour with an inclusive tasting session!

Address:  2815 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70122, United States

43. Whitney Plantation

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The antebellum demand for sugar and Louisiana’s climate made the state the perfect place to grow sugarcane in droves – and with it, the need for hundreds of slaves.

Originally founded in 1752 by German immigrants to grow indigo, the Whitney Plantation is one of the many preserved plantations in New Orleans that has since been converted into a museum.

These days, the plantation is dedicated wholly and completely to bringing the plight of New Orlean’s enslaved blacks to light.

Visitors to this preserved plantation will be taken on a 90-minute tour through the grounds and its various points of interest, such as the owner’s house, the slave cabins, and a church for freedmen.

While waiting out the hot afternoon sun before your tour, why not check out the rest of the exhibits?

You can find first-person accounts of the slaves that worked here, along with information boards and memorial artwork.

Address: 5099 Louisiana Hwy 18, Edgard, LA 70049, United States

44. Saenger Theatre

Rough Tough, Real Stuff / flickr

New Orleans is a tough city that has been through a lot – and Saenger Theatre is no stranger to those hardships.

Originally built in 1927 as an “atmospheric” movie theatre, it has gone through plenty of restorations and hard times before it was finally brought back to life.

Although the Saenger has cut its capacity from its original 4,000 seats to 2,600, the theatre is still a must-see locale while in New Orleans.

It’s not hard to see why, either – even if you’re not a fan of the opulence and beauty built into its performance halls, the historic venue still sees a steady stream of events and performances.

Broadway shows, Tony award-winning musicals, live comedy, children shows, concerts – it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for something for couples or for families.

This is a theatre that always promises to be one of the most fun things to do in New Orleans!

Address:  1111 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States

45. Bayou St. John

Chuck Wagner / Shutterstock

It’s easy to think that there’s not a lot of fun to be found in Louisiana.

Contrary to that popular belief, however, there’s plenty of things to see in New Orleans – for example, Bayou St. John !

Full of beautiful Creole mansions and centuries-old oaks, this elegant neighborhood is named after the bayou that forms its waterfront.

Consider spending a day here, where you can stroll through the gorgeous avenues to admire the historical buildings New Orleans is famous for.

Alternatively, you can rent a paddleboard or a kayak and take to the water to beat the heat!

If taking part in physical activities isn’t quite your thing, then try dropping by Bayou Beer Garden for a drink instead – and some boiled crawfish, if they’re in season.

Or try relaxing instead, and find yourself an intimate moment on the east bank as the sun sets for the night.

46. LaLaurie Mansion

DMBrooks / Shutterstock

Louisiana is home to gorgeous examples of Southern antebellum construction – a fact that should prick the ears of both history buffs and architecture lovers alike.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the LaLaurie Mansion is among the best New Orleans attractions that any visitor can find.

Located in the French Quarter, the three-story mansion was built in 1832 by Marie Delphine Macarty Blanque LaLaurie.

It is undeniably a prime example of historical New Orleans grandeur, featuring wrought-iron balconies, a baroque façade, and impressive bulk.

This mansion’s beauty, however, belies its dark and strange history.

While her home quickly became well-known as one of the most impressive buildings in the French Quarter, Madame LaLaurie herself garnered a reputation for being cruel and abusive to her slaves.

Rumors abounded, with some claiming that the cook was shackled to the house’s kitchen stove, while others reported seeing a slave girl falling to her death when she had tried to escape her mistress’s whip.

After a fire broke out in the mansion, the tortured slaves were finally discovered and freed.

In the wake of the public uproar, Madame LaLaurie herself was forced to flee to Paris.

Since then, it has become a source of ghost stories, and is often the highlight of most ghost tours in the city!

Address:  1138 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States

47. Lafayette Cemetery

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You may be asking – what fun is there to be had in a cemetery?

More than you’d expect, actually, if you’re a fan of The Originals.

Established in 1833 near the old city of Lafayette, it was later taken up by New Orleans when Lafayette itself was incorporated into the new city.

Now, Lafayette Cemetery is the oldest city-owned cemetery still in operation.

The trip is a worthwhile visit – the cemetery is full of unique and historical monuments that cemeteries in New Orleans are famous for.

Fans of The Originals in particular, however, should not miss this tourist attraction.

After all, all the cemetery scenes from the show were filmed here!

Address:  1427 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

48. Travel Through The 9th Ward

Patricia Marroquin / Shutterstock

After Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana, much of New Orleans was flooded as the levees broke and the sea rushed in.

The 9th Ward in particular was one of the hurricane’s biggest victims, suffering losses in both lives and properties when the Industrial Canal levee broke.

This corner of the city has since remained largely empty, with many of its original residents simply choosing to not return.

As a result, most of the 9th Ward still remains hauntingly empty, littered with dilapidated houses and trees nature springing forth to reclaim the aftermath that devastated New Orleans.

While it isn’t exactly a top sightseeing destination, it’s one still worth taking to fully appreciate the weight of what may happen if nothing is done to stop and reverse the effects of global warming.

49. Ashley Longshore Studio Gallery

Ashley Longshore Studio Gallery

If your idea of having some fun this weekend is checking out art galleries, then the Ashley Longshore Studio Gallery is a must-see.

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this is a small gallery that will take you off-guard with a personality as loud and as boisterous as its owner.

Walking into this space on Magazine Street is akin to stepping into the pages of a comic book.

The room is a blank white backdrop for the artwork – all made by the owner herself.

Colorful, political, and heavily steeped in pop-culture, each artwork utilizes imagery from TV, advertising, and movies and renders them all in bright colors with thought-provoking text.

Many of them also feature portraits of famous and familiar faces, bedazzled, and questioning.

If you do want to take a moment to appreciate all of the art in this small space in New Orleans, there’s plenty of kitschy retro furniture to rest and take a breather with.

Address:  4537 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115, United States

50. New Orleans Glassworks & Printmaking Studio

jurra8 / Shutterstock

The best kind of gift is usually one that is made with love – and this extends to both gifts to others and to yourself.

And what is a souvenir but a gift of love from your travels?

So if you’re in Louisiana, consider heading on down to the New Orleans Glassworks & Printmaking Studio to personally craft a souvenir of your own!

To find this unique gallery and studio, head on down to the American Sector of New Orleans until you find Magazine Street.

There, you’ll find the gallery.

You can simply enjoy the exhibition of glassworks and prints, or take a peek at the open working studios.

There, artists from across both the nation and the world work and offer daily hands-on demonstrations for free.

If you want to get your hands dirty yourself, the studio also offers various courses, workshops, classes, and instructions on how to make prints and blow glass.

You can also try learning glass torchworking, stained glass work, and even copper enameling!

Address:  727 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

51. The Haunted Mortuary

The Mortuary Haunted House- New Orleans

In search of the best horror stories in Louisiana?

Then look no further than The Haunted Mortuary .

Located in a 100-year-old mortuary, the house previously was home to the PJ McMahon and Sons Undertaking company, which served the city of New Orleans from the 1830s until its eventual closure in 1985.

Throughout its century-long service, the property oversaw the procedures over 20,000 funerals.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that many people rumor the house and the mortuary to be full of dead souls that refused to pass on.

Whether that’s true or not is something you’ll have to see for yourself!

Address:  4800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States

52. Museum of the American Cocktail

Museum of the American Cocktail

Where did cocktails come from? Who invented them?

If the locals are to be believed, New Orleans is apparently the progenitor of the famous style of alcoholic drink.

If the story is to be believed, The Sazerac – the official cocktail of the city – was created in an apothecary in New Orleans’s French Quarter by a man named Antoine Peychaud.

The Museum of the American Cocktail , however, seems to disagree – and they may be the best authority on the subject.

Dedicated to the history and evolution of the humble cocktail, the museum was originally a traveling exhibit that found its permanent home in the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.

Visitors to this museum will find an exhibition full of cocktail and bar equipment as they developed throughout the years and both prohibition propaganda from both the pro- and anti- sides of the argument.

There are also other unique things to do here, like checking out the informational events and mixology seminars available here as well!

Address:  1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113, United States

53. Napoleon House

Napoleon House

Looking for some fun vacation ideas?

Why not visit this unique bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans?

Built in 1797, this building was originally the home of Nicholas Giround – the mayor of the city, and an admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The house would gain its name in the 1820s when a plan was hatched to free Napoleon from his exile in Saint Helena and brought over to Louisiana.

The first floor of the house was set aside to be the deposed emperor’s new home, and the infamous Louisiana pirate Jean Lafitte was roped in to help.

Naturally, the plan didn’t pan out the way the conspirators had hoped for.

These days, the Napoleon House is both a bar and a restaurant that retains an 18th-century sense of charm and faded grandeur unique to New Orleans.

Address:  500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

54. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Boarding House

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Boarding House

F. Scott Fitzgerald is a name that most people will recognize.

Hailed as one of the best American writers of the 20th century, Fitzgerald is best known for his magnum opus “The Great Gatsby” – a widely-praised book that has seen hundreds of adaptations since.

What must be mentioned, however, was that The Great Gatsby was his third novel.

His real breakout novel was This Side of Paradise – a work he had edited in a cheap boarding house in New Orleans.

Sadly, fans of the author’s work making a pilgrimage to Louisiana can’t really enter his exact room personally- the boarding house is now a private home in the Garden District.

You can, however, gaze up at the windows of his old quarters.

All you’ll have to do is just go up to Lafayette Cemetery #1!

Just make sure to check the cemetery’s opening times before paying this iconic spot a visit.

Address: 2900 Prytania Street & 6th Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, United States

55. Kayak-iti-Yat

What to see in New Orleans, you ask?

There is plenty – and those sights are ideally seen from the beautiful bayous and historic waterways Louisiana is famous for.

So why not give yourself a fun experience of a lifetime and join a Kayak-iti-Yat tour ?

These tours will allow participants to see New Orleans from a completely different point of view as they travel through the water.

You will be able to see the incredible sights and sounds of both the city and its surrounding natural scenery, and potentially meet one of the many native wildlife along the way!

There are three different types of tours available, so participants can choose them based on both their fitness level and kayaking experience.

Two of them are urban-based, while the third one is better suited for adventure-seekers.

These tours are available all year round and must be booked in advance.

Address:  3494 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States

56. Fort Macomb Ruins

Infrogmation / CC BY

Once a part of the planned “Third System” defense, Fort Macomb is now a historic ruin that sits at the Chef Menteur Pass into Lake Pontchartrain.

Originally built in 1822, it was one of the 42 forts that were meant to guard the seacoast of Louisiana after the War of 1812.

During the Civil War, it became one of the many places occupied by the Confederate forces while fighting in New Orleans.

Four years after being razed by a fire in 1867, it was decommissioned and abandoned.

Unfortunately, that would not be the end of its misfortunes – its ruins were one of the many casualties of Hurricane Katrina when it ravaged the city of New Orleans.

Today, it is one of the many unexpected historic vacation spots you can find close to the city.

While you can’t exactly enter the building due to its unsafe and deteriorating state, you can easily check out another nearby identical fort to see what the building was like during its heyday.

Address:  New Orleans, LA 70129, United States

57. Fort Pike

EchoFree / Shutterstock

Are you a history buff traveling through New Orleans?

If so, visiting Fort Pike really ought to be on top of your to do list.

Part of the “Third System” defense plan, Fort Pike was the third completed building out of 42 forts dotting the coastline.

Its sea-facing cannons never saw battle, and it was eventually abandoned in 1890.

This impressive building managed to survive the might of Hurricane Katrina when it raged across New Orleans, although not without suffering serious damage.

So when it was damaged again by Tropical Storm Isaac in 2012, it had to be closed to the public.

Even then, visiting this location still promises to be a fun trip for any fan of history.

After all, what better to appreciate the history of a place than to visit it yourself?

Address: 27100 Chef Menteur Hwy., New Orleans, LA 70129, United States

58. Woldenberg Park

Infrogmation of New Orleans / flickr

Louisiana is a state that is famous for its waterways and bayous, and New Orleans is no exception to the rule.

Fronting the French Quarter is one of the best riverside parks in the city – Woldenberg Park .

Originally the location of warehouses and wharves on the east bank of the Mississippi, the site was retooled in the 1980s and 1990s into a park.

It’s a beautiful place for anyone to enjoy nature while in the middle of New Orleans, and art lovers will surely enjoy the various public artworks scattered throughout the space.

If you prefer a little more liveliness to your visits, however, the park still has you covered.

There is always some kind of live music here, either from strolling bands or the like.

It is also the host venue of the French Quarter Festival in the early weeks of April – a fantastic event that you should not miss!

Address:  1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

59. Luling Mansion

M R / flickr

Quietly sitting, hidden, in New Orleans’ Esplanade Ridge, the Luling Mansion crumbles away each day, neglected.

Looking at it now, you wouldn’t believe that it was once the most opulent and stunning buildings in a city full of luxury.

Luling Mansion was built in 1865 for Florence Luling, a wealthy cotton merchant from Germany.

Its architecture was lush, with an Italianate design, crafted and planned by James Gallier Jr., an extremely famous architect.

It took two years for construction to be completed, and when it was done, its grounds stretched 30 acres and a little island on a lake, and the interior had 22 rooms.

A blend of tragedies struck shortly after the Luling family moved in, however.

His two sons passed away after drowning in Bayou St. John and the Civil War ran Luling’s business into the ground, so he abandoned his home and sailed back to Europe, never to return.

The home was sold to the Louisiana Jockey Club and became a part of the Fairgrounds Racetrack when it opened in 1872.

The club, too, vacated the building eventually.

By 1905, the mansion was used for apartments, the gardens broken up to create homes.

The new construction caused the mansion to eventually become hidden among the streets of New Orleans, a hidden gem.

For history buffs, architect lovers, and those who enjoy a little glimpse into the past, visiting the Luling Mansion is one of the rarer must-do activities!

Address:  1436 Leda Ct, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States

60. Try Some Local Cuisine

Aimee Lee Studios / Shutterstock

New Orleans has plenty of delicious food that tourists love to try.

With all the options, whether you’re looking for something to do for a whole family, for couples, or even alone, there will be something that tickles your fancy.

The standard must-try in this city is gumbo, which is virtually Louisiana’s official cuisine.

A stew made from a mix of meat, vegetables, and dark roux, served with rice, it has a thick, earthy, and rich flavor.

Another popular dish in the state is jambalaya, which is a rice dish with sausage and a mix of vegetables, seafood, and other meats.

Other dishes you can try during a food adventure, which is one of the most fun things to do in New Orleans, is try local staples like shrimp and grits, a breakfast (and sometimes dinner) dish, or red beans and rice, commonly a Monday lunch special.

From December to June, you can also try some fresh crawfish at a crawfish boil.

Don’t forget to also stop by a local store to purchase a pecan praline!

61. Oak Alley Plantation

New Orleans has many plantations which, while they all have a past fraught with slavery and horror, offer a slice of Louisiana that make them among the best ways to look into New Orleans’ past.

Oak Alley Plantation sits along the Mississippi’s western bank.

An alley flanked by oak trees, all planted in the 1700s, runs up from the bank to the home.

The home itself would be built a century later in 1837, and it now lives as a tourist site.

The home has impressive and opulent architecture, with a colonnade fixed with Doric columns totaling 28 – the same number of oaks that fringe the alley.

Tours of the home will give you insight into the lives of the slaves who were kept here, including one known only as Antoine who was the first person on the planet to manage to individually propagate pecan trees.

There is also a spot on the grounds called the Sugarcane Exhibit, which details the estate’s owners’ vast sugarcane business.

Address:  3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090, United States

62. New Orleans School of Cooking

New Orleans School of Cooking

Looking for more non-touristy things to do in New Orleans?

The New Orleans School of Cooking is one of your top bets.

It offers an educational and enriching look into the world of diverse cuisine culture in Louisiana, providing multiple cooking lessons using locally sourced products.

The school is housed in an interesting location in the French Quarter: a warehouse dating back to the 1800s, once used for molasses.

Classes are taught by Creole and Cajun chefs, cooks, and experts who have plenty to teach their students about culinary history, the secret to delicious local foods, and fascinating trivia and facts.

Address:  524 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

63. Where Y’Art Gallery

Where Y’Art

With a fun, punny name and a unique concept, the Where Y’Art Gallery shows off some of the best art from New Orleans, Louisiana, situated in galleries scattered throughout the city.

As a satellite and online gallery, it showcases works from over a hundred different local artists from many backgrounds and trades.

The Where Y’Art Gallery has jewelry, paintings, crafts, sculptures, and more.

You can check out one of these points of interest in person or simply head online to gain a ton of information about each individual work of art and its artist.

If you’re interested in purchasing a piece, you’ll be able to connect with artists part of the gallery project!

Address:  1901 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117, United States

64. New Orleans Train Garden

Page Light Studios / Shutterstock

For train aficionados, visiting the New Orleans Train Garden is one of the best activities to while away your time in Louisiana.

Right in the center of City Park, the garden is as whimsical and charming as it is evocative of history.

It is a historic location, with track running nearly a quarter of a mile as a group of scaled-down freight trains and streetcars runs through it, reminiscent of the very same they did indeed run a hundred or so years ago.

The trains ride over an expansive landscape created specially by a brilliant artist named Paul Busse, a man whose portfolio is filled with stunning garden scenes filled with enticing miniatures and magical touches, each one made only with natural materials.

As you walk around the gardens, you’ll get to read little snippets of information about certain places and locations, each one a stop for the miniature train.

Address:  5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States

65. Fort Proctor

A visit to Fort Proctor in Louisiana’s Bernard Parish feels like a trip to a long-lost kingdom.

The fort was built before the Civil War in order to protect the waters around New Orleans, a crucial and strategic defensive decision.

Despite its promising purpose, Fort Proctor wound up never seeing a day of use, as a hurricane damaged it.

Repairs were needed, but at this time, the Civil War dropped in full force, meaning no one had the time to give the base any effort or attention.

When resources could finally be given to Fort Proctor, it was no longer needed and was thus abandoned.

Originally, the fort stood strong on a bit of land near Chalmette, but that has now changed, as the coast erodes further and further.

Now, Fort Proctor rises out of Lake Borgne and can only be accessed by boat or kayak.

Though not a stereotypically “fun” spot, Fort Proctor is still one of the coolest places to visit in New Orleans – or, rather, near it.

You’ll be able to view the foundation of the base below the water, iron beams collapsed, and a sort of poetic wonder from marine life slowly claiming the fort’s remnants.

Address:  Mouth of Bayou Yscloskey, St Bernard, LA 70085, United States

66. House of Broel

House of Broel

The House of Broel resembles a dollhouse in many ways.

A Victorian-style mansion with old south design and distinct luxurious charm, it is now used for weddings, as a museum, and also to host frog farm exhibits.

With so many things under its belt, it’s hard to imagine that the House of Broel isn’t among the main attractions of New Orleans.

The house is named after Bonnie Broel, an ordained minister, a Polish Countess, and the Dollhouse Museum curator.

The first floor of the mansion is often used for weddings and similar types of events.

The second floor holds a private collection of dollhouses, each one built to scale and detailed impressively.

There are over 60 of them, some spanning 10 feet tall!

This is known as the Dollhouse Museum and it’s one of the best places in all of New Orleans to go to for this type of exhibit.

This same floor also has a frog farming exhibit.

This seems out of place until you realize Broel is the daughter of the Louisiana Frog Farm founder.

Here, you can view various frog-themed things as well as frog leg cans dating back to older times.

Address:  2220 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

67. The Running of the Bulls

Darrell Miller / flickr

Have you ever heard of Encierro?

It’s basically known as The Running of the Bulls and is local to Pamplona.

San Fermin hosts what is essentially New Orleans’ – or Nueva Orleans’ – take on this event, as a sort of fun and humorous homage paid right here in Louisiana.

The Running of the Bulls in New Orleans involves thousands of runners, registered and dressed in red scarves and white shirts.

Meanwhile, skaters from the local women’s roller-derby team act as “bulls”, dressed with bull horn headwear as they attempt to whack the runners with plastic bats.

After this event, which a top proceeding that is something you shouldn’t miss if you’re in town at the right time, there is a big party thrown on the streets called La Fiesta de Pantalones, where you wear white pants and have a great time.

68. Doullut Steamboat Houses

Elliott Cowand Jr / Shutterstock

Plenty of areas in New Orleans, Louisiana, have unique and interesting types of architecture.

If you’re just wandering around New Orleans for the purpose of sightseeing and you’re a fan of building design, then some of the coolest houses to walk by are the Doullut Steamboat Houses.

These homes were all built between the years 1905 and 1913 by – you guessed it – a steamboat captain, with the help of his son.

That’s probably why they were all built to resemble steamboats, with chimneys in the form of smoke snakes.

Thanks to their ceramic make, these houses completely survived Hurricane Katrina, though most of their neighborhood was sadly destroyed.

Address:  400 Egania St, New Orleans, LA 70117, United States

69. Musical Legends Park

Bourbon Street is a little overdone as a New Orleans tourist go-to, but some must-see gems that are worth visiting remain.

One of them is the Musical Legends Park , which is a small park showcasing the musical and cultural background of New Orleans, Louisiana, teeming with a rich heritage.

Throughout the park, there are life-sized, intricately made statues in bronze of many famous local musicians.

This includes greats like Chris Ownes, Louis Prima, Irma Thomas, Al Hirt, Fats Domino. Ronnie Cole, Pete Fountain, Allen Toussaint, and more.

The center of the park houses Pete’s Wishing Well Fountain, which collects money to be donated to a school for band equipment funds.

For something a little more fun, you can also tune in to the Live Jazz Music events, which play from 10 in the morning all the way till the park closes.

Chairs with umbrellas and tables are available for you if you’d like to listen in, and there’s a cafe that serves snacks, drinks, and other similar consumables.

Address:  311 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States

70. General Laundry Building

Kevin O’Mara / flickr

If you’re looking for what to do in New Orleans, Louisiana, that’s a bit unusual but still fun and interesting, you’ll want to head to the General Laundry Building.

It’s largely abandoned, but vivid remnants of colors that once coated the now decrepit, vine-tangled, graffiti-covered exterior are more than enough to tell a tale of the intricate Art Deco design that once made the General Laundry Building beautiful.

The building was completed in the 1930s and was not used just as a laundromat, but also for monthly fashion shows of an opulent variety.

Clothes, homespun and exotic, would be paraded by models while audience members sipped champagne.

Sadly, when the modern washing machine was invented, the building fell out of business and was sold in 1945.

The building has survived many demolition plans that luckily fell apart, and it is now one of the few New Orleans spots on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sadly, it doesn’t seem like the building will remain up for long, so visit it while you have the chance!

Address: 2544 St Peter St, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States

Start Planning Your Trip To New Orleans

New Orleans is absolutely packed with fun and exciting sites and places to see, especially for first-time visitors.

Hopefully, our little vacation guide has given you some great ideas for what to see in this exciting city-parish of Louisiana, whether you’re heading over today, this weekend, or sometime further into the future.

Before you plan a trip , check out our travel hacks , enjoy your visit to New Orleans, and check out the top spots for a fun time!

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Home » North America » USA » New Orleans

18 BEST Places to Visit in New Orleans (2024)

If you’ve dreamed of visiting New Orleans, then you probably have an idea of what you’ll find there. This is one of the most unique cities in the world, and there is no end to the variety of amazing, startling, and beautiful places to visit in New Orleans. It’s famous for its Cajun cuisine, jazz music, great architecture, and a unique and lively culture.

But New Orleans can be a little intimidating too. Its very uniqueness can make it seem difficult to navigate or understand on even a surface level. But if you’re ready for the challenge, this list of the best things to do, see, and eat will help guide you during your trip.

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighbourhood in New Orleans:

These are the best places to visit in new orleans, faq on the best places to visit in new orleans, final thoughts on the coolest places to visit in new orleans.

French Quarter

At the heart of the city, the French Quarter is where you can find great food, incredible music, and lively nightlife. Here you can enjoy good times, a laid-back attitude and colourful surroundings. It’s also a great area to explore New Orleans!

• Enjoy the sights and sounds of New Orleans in central Jackson Square.
• Wander along Chartres Street, a street famous for its historic sites, bustling bars, and its many souvenir shops.
• Visit the stunning St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in North America.

Are you ready to go on a tour through New Orleans with us? Book yourself into one of New Orlean’s best bed and breakfasts , put your shoes on and let’s go!

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#1 – The French Quarter – A great place to see in New Orleans if you love architecture

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• Most people visit the French Quarter for the architecture, but it’s also the best place to visit in New Orleans for dining and entertainment.
• You could spend hours wandering this area, hunting for period details and taking photos.

Why it’s so awesome: The French Quarter is why most people travel to New Orleans. The buildings and the architecture date back up to 300 years and hold a charm that you won’t find anywhere else in America. But there’s more to do in this New Orleans must-see than staring at buildings. It’s also one of the best areas in the city to eat and shop! Not only that, but it was the filming location of the James Bond movie , Live and Let Die too!

What to do there: This area is curled on a bend in the Mississippi River and you’ll see countless period details as you wander through it. Many of the buildings now hold hotels, galleries, jazz spots, and souvenir shops, so make sure you do more than just take pictures ! There are several famous streets in the area including Bourbon Street, Royal Street, and Frenchman Street. So, make sure you take your time and see it all. Book yourself into a Bourbon Street hotel for easy access to all the action, and a New Orleans food tour that’ll show you all the hidden hotspots.

Although we are partial to The French Quarter, New Orleans is home to many unique neighbourhoods. Be sure to check out where to stay in New Orleans and see which one has the flare you desire! You can even find some awesome cabins in Louisiana in the French quarter, for those who love to stay in nature.

#2 – Jackson Square

• This is the main square in the center of the French Quarter and contains lots of the most interesting landmarks in New Orleans.
• Make sure you check out the cathedral as well as the statue of General Andrew Jackson.

Why it’s so awesome: Once called the Place d’Armes, this square is located in the heart of the French Quarter and is a surprising natural area filled with trees. It contains the statue of General Andrew Jackson as well as the St. Louis Cathedral, with its cone spiral and stunning white façade. There are also a couple of museums as well as shops and restaurants in the area, which is why it’s often crowded with tourists.

What to do there: You could spend all day exploring this area. Make sure you visit the cathedral and the museums before heading to some of the shops and restaurants in the area. In front of the cathedral, along the iron fence, is a prime hang out space for artists, so it’s usually worth spending some time there to see what’s going on as well.

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#3 – The National WWII Museum – A fascinating educational place to visit in New Orleans

• One of the best museums in the country for WWII exhibits and memorabilia.
• The interactive and varied exhibits make this museum a New Orleans must do.

Why it’s so awesome: This museum focuses on WWII from the point of view of Europe and the Pacific and it’s divided into sections to explore those different histories. There’s also a section that houses several WWII aircraft, so don’t miss it if you want to learn more about these seemingly fragile-looking museums. The museum is impressively interactive and varied and includes a 4D film produced and narrated by Tom Hanks.

What to do there: Take the time to explore this museum, because you won’t regret it. As you wander around, check out the documentary-style film segments that will teach you more about the objects on display. Make sure you check out the 4D film, which has chairs that rumble when tanks appear on the screen and stage props that make the experience extremely sensory. Also, make sure that you make a stop at the Stage Door Canteen, where you’ll be treated to entertainment from the 1940s.

#4 – Preservation Hall – A great place to visit in New Orleans at night

• One of the best places to visit in New Orleans for jazz music!
• Don’t be fooled by the rugged outside of this building, it may look abandoned, but it’s a jazz institution in New Orleans.

Why it’s so awesome: You can’t visit New Orleans and not immerse yourself in the jazz culture and this is a great place to stare. The Preservation Hall is one of the most famous hotspots in New Orleans for great jazz music, so if you’re looking for a great night out then look no further.

What to do there: This is a small, intimate hall and seating is limited. This means that you must arrive early if you want to get a seat. On the door of the hall, you’ll find a list of the opening times and any special events. So, your best option is to pass by one day and see what’s on that night. And then show up early to make sure you don’t miss out!

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#5 – The City Park – Awesome place to visit in New Orleans with kids!

• A huge park that includes a variety of the most famous places in New Orleans for tourists.
• This is a great place to take the kids as well, as it contains amusement and water parks.

Why it’s so awesome: The city park covers more than 1,300 acres and is a surprisingly huge, natural area in the middle of the city. It’s also packed with things to do, and you could literally spend your whole trip there, exploring everything that it has to offer. The park is a great place to get some exercise too as it includes an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and walking trails.

What to do there: Whatever you enjoy doing, you’ll find something fun at this park. If you travel to New Orleans with the kids, then take them along to the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, Storyland, or the City Splash Water Park. If you’re looking for more adult activities, then head over to the amazing Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden or to the Botanical Garden. And if you’re just looking for a place to work off all that Cajun food, then play a game of tennis, go for a round of golf, or just wander through the area and explore.

#6 – The Cabildo

• Located close to the Cathedral, this is both a historical building as well as an intriguing museum.
• If you want to learn more about the cultural mix that exists in New Orleans, this is the place to do it.

Why it’s so awesome: The Cabildo was built in 1795 as the Spanish Governor’s Residence but over the year it’s also been the Louisiana Supreme Court. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was agreed to in this building and it was the location of the first town council meeting in 1799. Today, the building contains the Louisiana State Museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

What to do there: If you want to understand New Orleans, then you need to visit this museum. The collection explores the city’s history as well as the history of Louisiana as a whole with a particular focus on the many ethnic groups that make up the population. So, if you’re looking to explore New Orleans on a deeper level, this is your chance to do it.

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#7 – The Garden District – One of the nicer places in New Orleans to sightsee!

• If your dreams of New Orleans include stately white mansions with columns, this is the area you’ve been dreaming about.
• You can explore this area on foot or take a guided tour.

Why it’s so awesome: The Garden District is a residential area that contains incredible mansions, beautiful gardens, and trees that have stood for longer than you might imagine. There are several streets in this area that still retain this old, wealthy charm that has been made famous in books and movies, so make sure you put aside enough time to see them all.

What to do there: You can wander on foot or take a guided tour to ensure that you see all the best spots. The best streets to explore are First Street, Prytania Street, and Camp Street, but make sure you don’t wander onto private property when you do so. There are also some good shops and cafes in the area, but they can be difficult to find, so make sure you’re fueled up before you arrive just in case!

#8 – New Orleans Museum of Art – A great place to visit in New Orleans if you are alone/traveling solo

• This museum is conveniently located in the south end of City Park.
• This is one of the best museums in the city, which is why it must be on your New Orleans itinerary.

Why it’s so awesome: This is one of the best museums of art in the south and contains an amazing collection of American, French, Japanese, and African art. There are also frequent special exhibitions at this venue that are often worth seeing. And the outside of the museum is just as amazing as the inside because of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden complete with walking paths and lagoons.

What to do there: Put aside the time to explore this museum to get a deeper understanding of the combination of cultures in New Orleans. This city really is a melting pot, and that’s stunningly reflected in the artwork that’s produced. And afterwards, make sure you explore the more than 60 sculptures that are displayed in the museum’s sculpture garden.

#9 – The Steamboat Natchez

• The best way to explore the River and learn about the city at the same time.
• The harbor cruises take 2 hours and include an optional lunch and you can also book in for a dinner cruise and see the city lights from this unique point of view.

Why it’s so awesome: Steamboats and the Mississippi River just seem to go together, so you mustn’t miss out on this iconic New Orleans must do. The Steamboat Natchez is a paddle steamer that offers harbor cruises as well as dinner cruises year-round and it’s one of the most popular attractions in New Orleans.

What to do there: You should be able to take a harbor cruise fairly easily. They take two hours and include narration about the sites that the boat is passing. If you travel to New Orleans in high season, you will have to book ahead of time to ensure that you get a good seat at the lowest price. But if you want a more personal experience, try a dinner cruise. They include a jazz band and buffet-style dinner that suits the dreamy lights of the city perfectly. The dinner cruises are more popular, so make sure you book in early to get your seat. And if you’re in New Orleans at special times of the year, check out the special events cruises. These are extremely popular, so book before you arrive!

#10 – New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum – Quite the quirky place in New Orleans!

• The perfect place to visit if you want to experience more of the mystery of New Orleans.
• Voodoo has long been a big part of the culture of New Orleans, and it’s also a fascinating look at a very different belief system.

Why it’s so awesome: Founded in 1972 by artist Charles Massicot Gandolfo, this museum seeks to teach visitors a little bit about the history of the occult in New Orleans. It focuses primarily on Louisiana Voodoo, which combines practices from Africa and Europe in a way that’s unique to this part of the US. Voodoo was originally brought to the city in the 1700ss by the slaves and includes influences from several different cultures.

What to do there: This is a small museum that packs a punch. Wandering around, you’ll see antique voodoo dolls, talismans, taxidermy and the kneeling bench that belonged to famous voodoo priestess Maria Laveau. There’s also a tour that goes from the museum to the St. Louis Cemetery. This may sound like a strange idea, but the cemetery contains Maria’s final resting place, which is why it’s one of the most popular and unusual things to do in New Orleans. You can also buy souvenirs from the museum or get your voodoo fortune told! Check out their tours online.

#11 – The French Market – A great place in New Orleans if you love to shop!

• The undisputed best market in New Orleans.
• This market has a 200-year history and the best collection of souvenirs in the city.

Why it’s so awesome: When a market has been going for more than 200 years, you know it’s worth visiting. Located over 6 blocks of the French quarter, the market has expanded in recent years to include some cafes and eateries.

What to do there: If you’re looking for great souvenirs, check this market first for the best price. And when you’re tired of shopping, stop by one of the eateries for a coffee and some people watching before you plunge back into the crowds.

#12 – Mardi Gras World

• If you aren’t in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, this is the next best thing!
• Take the guided tour through the studios to get the most in-depth view of the work that goes into this famous festival.

Why it’s so awesome: If you can, then you absolutely must travel to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. It’s not only one of the best festivals in New Orleans , but possibly the world! This studio is one of the leading creators of floats in the world and is heavily involved in creating floats for Mardi Gras. So, if you want to explore the color, imagination, and vibe of the celebration, a tour through the studios is the answer.

What to do there: Guided tours through the studios are offered regularly and will allow you to watch the artists at work and to enjoy the creativity and imagination that goes into the floats. You’ll see the props, some really amazing costumes, and huge floats close up and get a sense for how much work actually went into them.

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#13 – Barataria Preserve – A very cool place in New Orleans to go for a day

• If you want to see the area as it was a few hundred years ago, this is the best place to visit in New Orleans.
• This preserve will allow you to see and explore some of the area’s natural treasures.

Why it’s so awesome: The city of New Orleans is a fairly recent addition to the landscape and if you want to see what it looked like before, then you should spend some time at the Barataria Preserve. These wetlands offer 23,000 acres of bayous, marshes, forests and swamps along with wildlife including alligators, birds, wildflowers and plants.

What to do there: Admission to the preserve is free and there are lots of options when you decide to explore this area. Grab a map from the visitor’s center and explore on your own or take a cell phone tour. Just remember that the animals are wild and can move faster than you might think, so keep your distance. Also, the preserve holds events, exhibits and programs throughout the year, so if you’re looking for New Orleans vacation ideas, this is a good place to start.

#14 – Lafayette Cemetery – One of the more unique places to visit in New Orleans!

• Exploring this ‘city of the dead’ is a New Orleans must do.
• Make sure you take a tour through this area if you visit at night because of the danger of petty crime .

Why it’s so awesome: This cemetery is the size of a city block and around 7000 people are buried there. It was named for the old city of Lafayette and is on the National Register of Historic Places. New Orleans has a long tradition of creating beautiful cemeteries, with lovely monuments and above-ground burials. And this example is a tree-filled area that seems to be more about life than death.

What to do there: You can explore this cemetery during the day by yourself but make sure that you take a tour if you’re going at night. Also, if you’re a fan of the TV show The Originals, keep an eye out for familiar scenes. This cemetery was used as the home of the witches and all the cemetery scenes were shot in this area.

#15 – Freret Market

• A market that was opened after Hurricane Katrina to aid in the revitalization of New Orleans.
• You’ll find some amazing finger foods in this area, so make sure you’re hungry!

Why it’s so awesome: This market exists for a good cause and it’s also an amazing place to wander and explore the heart of New Orleans. You’ll get the chance to see local artists exhibiting their work and munch on some delicious finger foods. In fact, this is one of the best places to eat in New Orleans, so don’t miss out!

What to do there: This market is open on the first Saturday of every month except July and August, so make sure you show up and see what’s on. Wander the stalls, look for great souvenirs, and try the finger foods. There are also some of the best local musicians performing at this market, so take the time to enjoy them.

#16 – Gabrielle – A must-see for foodies!

• This restaurant was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina but has recently reopened, to everyone’s joy.
• This is a favorite amongst locals and tourists and is one of the best places to eat in New Orleans.

Why it’s so awesome: This restaurant was a city favorite amongst locals and tourists before the Hurricane. It was completely destroyed by the natural disaster but has recently reopened with some old favorites on the menu as well as some entirely new and delicious dishes. The chefs are inspired by Creole and Cajun traditions, which makes the food incredibly unique.

What to do there: This is a pricey restaurant, but the food is worth the high prices. Try the slow-roasted duck with crimini mushrooms. It was one of the most popular menu options before the restaurant was destroyed and once it was brought back, the locals rejoiced.

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#17 – Zimmer’s Seafood

• New Orleans really knows how to do seafood, and this  family-run restaurant  is one of the best examples of that expertise.
• You can eat-in at this restaurant or take your meal to one of the local parks.

Why it’s so awesome: This restaurant doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it sells seafood that brings in all the locals. It’s located on Anthony Avenue and offers fresh and delicious seafood, New Orleans style.

What to do there: You can get food to eat in or takeaway. If you want to eat in, you’ll be treated to great Lakefront views while you sit and eat your meal. You can also take the food to one of the local parks and have a picnic. Try the boiled crawfish or one of their fried oyster, fried shrimp, and fried soft-shell PO-boys if crab you’re brave.

#18 – Studio Be – Possibly one of the most important places to visit in New Orleans

• A massive public art facility in the Bywater district.
• More than 40 artists came together to create this display, which explores activism and African American History.

Why it’s so awesome: The creator of this venue, Brandan Odums, brought more than 40 artists together to create the large murals and exhibits in this warehouse-like building. Many of the displays use spray paint and graffiti techniques and explore aspects of resistance and African American history that you probably haven’t thought about before.

What to do there: When you’re visiting New Orleans, you must take the time to see this display. It attracts visitors from all over the world and is a powerful and sobering reminder of history and of the problems of the present. You will need to pay for admission and the exhibits are open from Wednesday to Saturday, 2-8pm. There are also several other galleries in the area, so you can explore the city’s art scene while you’re there.

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Find out what people want to know about the best places to visit in New Orleans

What should I not miss in New Orleans?

You can’t miss the lively and beautiful ??French Quarter, the heart and soul of everything New Orleans is about!

What should first time visitors do in New Orleans?

Everyone has to hit up Bourbon Street when they arrive in town. For better or for worse, it’s the sight at the top of every itinerary!

What are the best free places to visit in New Orleans?

Wander the Garden District with it’s stunning white mansions and well kept gardens. It’s retained that old world charm of the south.

What are the best places to visit in the New Orleans French Quarter?

Start at the heart of the area, Jackson Square. Visit the many museums and restaurants before wandering the area on foot taking in the amazing architecture.

New Orleans is one of the most unique and popular cities in the world amongst travelers and for a lot of people, visiting there is a dream trip. And the city doesn’t disappoint either, with a melting pot of cultures, musical trends, and a history that will have you enthralled. There’s no end to the places to visit in New Orleans no matter what you’re interested in, so be prepared to have a busy time in the city. With this easy guide, you’ll be able to find the experiences and sights that will help you make the most from your trip, so make sure you take it along with you!

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What to Do in New Orleans - Making It Easy in the Big Easy

K nown across the globe for its annual Mardi Gras celebration every February, New Orleans  simply throws the world’s biggest party and the vibe continues year-round. The birthplace of jazz, a city wrapped in history and French tradition with an international cruise port, there are lots of reasons to spend a few days in this town. Whether you’ve been to New Orleans, Louisiana (also called NOLA)  or this is your first trip, here are a few of my recommendations for must-dos in the city.

The newest treasure in New Orleans is the expansive National World War II Museum, which opened in 2000 as the “National D-Day Museum.” In 2004, it was designated as the National World War II Museum .  Currently, the museum encompasses six multi-level buildings with a seventh re-opening soon.

Like the massive structure of this complex, it’s hard to wrap your head around this destructive conflict in which millions of innocent civilians and military personnel lost their lives. The war lasted more than four years, was fought by more than 16.4 million Americans, and resulted in over 414,000 deaths; servicemen and women who never came home.

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New Orleans was selected as the location for this museum because it was here that boatbuilder Andrew Higgins developed the landing craft used in the amphibious invasions. President Eisenhower believed this key invention was crucial in helping U.S. military operations and the Allies win the war.

Recently opened is the Liberation Pavilion, which explores the war’s impact in the post-war period. “Finding Hope in a World Destroyed” features the rebuilding of Europe, war crimes trials, and the future of American foreign policy. But it also deals on a human level with the people who came to America to rebuild their lives.

The museum is highly interactive with the audience in mind. You’ll begin by boarding the Train Car experience like the soldiers did on their way to basic training. You’ll be given a dog tag with the number to follow the soldier’s experience through the war and collect digital artifacts throughout the museum. Through oral histories, you’ll hear heroic stories from those who were there.

Don’t miss the movie, “Beyond All Boundaries” in the Solomon Victory Theatre, which is a 4D journey through the war with dazzling light and sound effects, animation, and voices of veterans giving testimony to their battles. You’ll see, hear, and feel unforgettable experiences from the war.

Cruise the Swamps

Another must-do is a Swamp Tour from Cajun Encounters that takes you deep into the trenches of the Pearl River to scout out alligators, snakes, birds, wildlife, and more. Board one of their gliders and speed down the river, then slowly navigate the shallow bayous. Discover the “wishing tree” from the Disney movie, “The Princess and the Frog.” The ride was quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. Surprisingly, there were few bugs because the trees give off an instant repellant. This is a fun and educational outing for the whole family.

Read more about New Orleans :

• The Best Time to Visit New Orleans and Why You Should
• What to Wear in New Orleans to be Cool, Cute & Comfy
• Great Beaches Near New Orleans for Fun in the Sun and Sand

Shop at the French Market

On the banks of the Mississippi stands the 200-year old, open-air French Market where you can stroll, shop and dine. Don’t miss Café du Monde for its famous beignets and coffee. It’s a great place to pick up a box or two of pralines, buy fresh seafood or discover Cajun and Creole cooking. Don’t forget your T-shirts and other NOLA souvenirs like colorful beads in purple, green and gold, the official colors of Mardi Gras since 1872.

Learn More about The March for Civil Rights

The  Louisiana Civil Rights Museum  has been a project 30 years in the making, finally opening just last year. Now located at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, I learned more about the people’s rights for education, the right to assemble and a right to vote. Their major accomplishment was a march to the state capitol in 1967 to petition for their rights. Fortunately, they were accompanied by state officials so the 3-day march was non-violent and they arrived safely. The museum’s theme, “Making Rights Real” tells the stories of those individuals who stood up to make a difference.

Right next to the convention center is the Riverwalk Outlets, great for shopping on a hot day. Filled with 75 luxury brand stores and dining, the center overlooks the Mississippi River. Grab a coffee and a beignet and relax out on the river.

Celebrate the Tradition at Mardi Gras World

If you can’t be here for Mardi Gras in February, then Mardi Gras World  is a must-see. On the tour, you start with a movie showcasing the 70 parades that take place during the 12-day period, involving more than 3,000 participants. Then, you get to taste a King Cake, the traditional Mardi Gras treat, a cinnamon-type roll with colorful icing. Head into the warehouse to see how the floats, props and characters are put together. Each year, there are more than 500 floats built. Artisans begin designing the new floats right after the last parade ends. A new theme is slated, and a prototype created. Most of the parade elements are constructed here. It’s fascinating to see these larger-than-life creations up close, something you can’t do while the parade passes by.  

Enjoy City Park – An Oasis in the City

With an expanse of over 1,300 acres, this urban park is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Sculpture Garden, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, and more. I spent a lovely afternoon here walking through the Botanical and Sculpture Gardens, then made my way over to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) to see its collection of French, American, African, and Japanese art.  The museum also hosts a variety of cultural festivals throughout the year.

Dine Sublime

Make brennan’s your first stop – the best in the french quarter.

Of course, no visit to NOLA is complete without a walk through the iconic 18th century French Quarter, the beating heart of the city. You’ll stand in awe of the beautiful French and Spanish architecture as well as the bustling, nonstop nightlife on Bourbon Street.  The music beckons from early morning until the wee hours. It reminded me of Beale Street in Memphis, then I realized New Orleans is probably where it originated.

There’s a good reason why Brennan’s  remains such a coveted dining spot; authentic cuisine, impeccable service, a sophisticated ambiance, and a menu that evolves with the seasons. Each course offers a variety of flavors enhanced by a colorful presentation. I appreciated their non-alcoholic cocktail menu and sipped on an Ibezia made with coconut juice. The rolls practically melted in my mouth. The best value is their three-course, prixe fixe menu which features a starter, an entrée, and a dessert. I chose the Gulf Almondine with Marcona almonds. It was light, flaky, and creamy. I loved watching their famous signature flambe desserts being made – bananas foster and crepes Fitzgerald. I opted for the bread pudding so I could get a taste of those rich pralines, something I don’t get in the Midwest. It was the perfectly sweet ending to an exquisite meal.

Indulge in a Royal Treat – Napoleon House

This French Quarter icon has been serving guests since 1914, renowned for its New Orleans classic cuisine — refreshing Pimm’s Cup cocktail, Jambalaya, and Po Boys. I tried their signature dish, a warm muffuletta sandwich of cured meats and cheese, slathered with a tangy olive salad dressing piled onto a sesame-crusted Italian loaf, which I enjoyed, along with a Summer Salad.  What a fabulous New Orleans lunch!

Enjoy Comfort Food at the Ruby Slipper

The Ruby Slipper was recommended to me for breakfast and I even considered returning the next morning. I ordered the breakfast sandwich on a beignet that’s made fresh every two hours with egg and chicken sausage. But the French Toast Bites and White Chocolate Bread Pudding Pancakes also looked amazing!  

Feel Victorious at the Higgins Hotel

The Higgins Hotel  offers upscale luxury, located directly across the street from the National World War II Museum, and is the official hotel of the museum. Walking into the Higgins Hotel is like being transported to a different era. It carries through the 1940s theme in décor with posters, pictures, and music. The ambiance transports you to a bittersweet time in American history when the world was at war.

This full-service hotel features Café Normandie, open for breakfast and lunch, Kilroy’s for cocktails, and Rosie’s on the Roof for exquisite views of the New Orleans skyline with awesome burgers and sandwiches. Provisions offers grab-and-go options, souvenirs, and snacks.

Discover More to See and Do in New Orleans

Other sights to see in the Crescent City include plantation homes, ghost and cemetery tours, live music pub crawl, steamboat cruises on the Mississippi River and many other family-friendly venues. These are all the more reasons to come back. As I mentioned earlier, New Orleans is a thriving port with Disney, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and other lines departing from here. Spend a few days in NOLA, then make waves from the ole Mississippi. Come visit New Orleans soon. For more information, go to neworleans.com

More New Orleans Ideas:

• 8 Family-Friendly Hotels in New Orleans for Big Fun in the Big Easy
• Best Bachelorette Party Destinations for the Ultimate Bridal Blowout

The post What to Do in New Orleans – Making It Easy in the Big Easy appeared first on She Buys Travel .

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Discover the best that Southern USA has to offer! Hidden gems, vibrant cities and more!

23 Best Things To Do In Louisiana For Your Bucket List

September 19, 2023 //  by  Southern Trippers

Are you planning a trip to the Pelican State and looking for the best things to do in Louisiana? Look no further!

We’ve come up with the ultimate bucket list of things you can’t miss in this memorable state.

As a local Southern girl, I have spent nearly 3 decades traveling around Lousiana and checking out some of the very best.

These are the best activities in Louisiana I would suggest to a close friend, my mom, and now I will suggest them to you!

While the most popular place to visit is New Orleans , it’s a big state and there are lots of other fun places to visit in Louisiana.

Louisiana is a melting pot of European, African, and Native American cultures, creating the unique Creole and Cajun cultures. This blend has created distinct music, cuisine, and stories that have been passed down through generations.

The physical landscape of Louisiana is as varied as its cultures. Starting with the Louisiana beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, with the Mississippi River working its way down to the gulf, creates vast areas of swamp and marshland.

Southern Louisiana is known for its bayous (slow-moving or stagnant bodies of water).

Northern Louisiana has woodlands while Central Louisiana has prairies. Each area has a wide variety of wildlife, including alligators, herons, deer, and turtles.

From touring the famous Louisiana swamps to visiting the National WWII Museum , there is something for everyone in Louisiana. No matter where you go, you’ll be sure to enjoy some Southern charm (and food).

Let’s dive into what to do in Louisiana!

23 Best Things To Do In Louisiana: The Ultimate Bucket List

Explore the creole nature trail.

One of the best things to do in Louisiana is to explore its unique landscapes and natural wonders.

The “Louisiana Outback” includes undeveloped marshlands, gulf beaches, and wildlife refuges which are home to hundreds of different types of wild animals.

As one of America’s “Last Great Wildernesses,” visiting the Creole Nature Trail is one of the best things to do in Lake Charles, LA .

The Creole Nature Trail is a 180-mile natural corridor that was designated an All-American Road in 2002.

This scenic byway allows you to enjoy the scenic Louisiana landscapes from the car, visiting as much or as little of it as you’d like.

If you want to get out and stretch your legs, get out at the Sabine Natural Wildlife Refuge and wander down the Wetland Walkway. From this boardwalk, you might be able to spot alligators and white ibis or roseate spoonbill birds in their natural habitats.

Scenic hiking trails in Louisiana are some of the best ways to see the state.

You could also stretch your legs at any of the gulf beaches along the coast, including Rutherford Beach and Constance Beach. Hunt for shells or dip your toes into the warm gulf water.

Eat at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe

Since New Orleans is known for its Creole cuisine, one of the best things to do in Louisiana is visit a New Orleans restaurant.

Creole cuisine is a unique blend of African, European, and Native American foods. Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is famous for its classic Creole dishes including gumbo, fried chicken, and bread pudding.

Li’l Dizzy’s is located in the New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, one of the oldest African-American neighborhoods in New Orleans, known for its jazz clubs and soul food.

This cafe is black-owned and run by a family coming from a lineage of famous New Orleans restauranteurs.

Originally founded by the son of Eddie Baquet, Sr (of the Eddie’s 7th Ward restaurant), it is now run by grandson Wayne Baquet, Jr and his wife Arkesha.

In addition to their famous fried chicken, Li’l Dizzy’s serves up shrimp, sausage, and catfish po-boys and seafood platters.

Their food is sure to warm both your stomach and your soul! It is truly one of the best restaurants in New Orleans!

Tour the TABASCO Factory & Museum

Louisiana food is known to have a bit of a spicy kick, partially thanks to Tabasco hot sauce. One of the more unique places to visit in Louisiana is Avery Island, where Tabasco is made and bottled.

Located about a 45-minute drive away from Lafayette, Avery Island isn’t an island in the traditional sense, but rather a salt dome surrounded by bayous and marshlands.

It was here in 1868 that Edward McIlhenny first sold his concoction of capsicum frutescens peppers and vinegar. As a result, you can tour the Tabasco Factory and Museum !

Today, peppers are still picked by hand and mashed in oak barrels then aged and mixed with distilled vinegar.

Tour the factory and museum to learn more about how Tabasco sauce is made, and learn about the generations of McIlhenny family that took over the business.

After the tour, stop in the Tabasco Restaurant for a casual, authentic Cajun meal…flavored with Tabasco of course!

This is one of the best Louisiana activities for foodies!

Visit the Louisiana State Capitol Building

Baton Rouge is, of course, the state capital, and surprisingly one of the best things to do in Louisiana is visit the capitol building.

The Louisiana State Capitol Building is the largest state capitol building in all the states, towering above the surrounding area.

Completed in 1931, the Louisiana State Capitol Building is 34 stories, reaching a height of 450 feet.

It’s decorated with Art Deco details and topped with a lantern representing the “higher aspirations of Louisiana”. In 1982 it was listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The best thing about the capitol building though? It’s free to visit! There’s an observation deck on the 27th floor, from which you can see miles of Louisiana.

The gardens and grounds are also free to explore!

Hunt for Steel Magnolias Filming Locations

While it’s a different “LA,” Louisiana is a popular spot for filming movies.

From the 1951 classic A Streetcar Named Desire to X-Men’s Logan , Louisiana is no stranger to the silver screen. Visiting famous filming locations is one of the most fun things to do in Louisiana.

One of the most beloved Louisiana films is the 1989 hit Steel Magnolias , starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Dolly Parton.

Centered around a group of women living and working in Natchitoches, LA, the film (based on the stage play of the same name by Robert Harling) was shot in the real city of Natchitoches.

Many iconic scenes were shot at the Cook-Taylor House , which is now a bed & breakfast. Because of the film’s popularity, the house is now known as “The Steel Magnolias House”.

Other locations include St. Augustine Catholic Church (Shelby’s wedding) and American Cemetery on Second Street (Shelby’s funeral).

One of the best things to do in Natchitoches, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into the well-loved film.

Take a Ride on Steamboat Natchez

Feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you step aboard the Steamboat Natchez.

This authentic steamboat ride along the Mississippi River is one of the best things to do in Louisiana. Enjoy two hours of live jazz music and a meal as you cruise along the river.

Steamboats were an important part of the development of New Orleans, as they provided larger and faster transport for both people and products.

Operated by The New Orleans Steamboat Company, the current Natchez was built in the 1970s but was modeled after its 19th-century predecessors.

Cruise options above the Steamboat Natchez include just sightseeing, lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch. Enjoy a cool drink as you take in the sights from the river and the sounds of another age.

Watching the sunset over the water on a cruise is one of the top things to do in Louisiana for couples looking for a romantic date night.

Book Here: New Orleans: Day Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

Examine the Poverty Point World Heritage Site

To learn more about some of the first people to inhabit the land, one of the best things to do in Louisiana is to visit the Poverty Point World Heritage Site .

Although named for a nearby plantation, this archeological site dates back to the 18th century BC (aka over 3,000 years ago).

The prehistoric indigenous people who lived in the Lower Mississippi Valley left behind a 402-acre earthwork, including ridges and mounds.

These C-shaped earthen ridges are divided into rows and columns, and at one point were five feet high. Were they foundations for settlements? A religious site?

The on-site museum provides historical and physical information about the mounds with displays and a movie.

When you’re ready to explore, you can drive or walk roughly two miles around the mounds.

You can even climb to the top of the largest mound to further grasp the large scale of the place. (Note, some of the mound paths are steep and not wheelchair accessible.)

Visiting the Poverty Point World Heritage Site is one of the best things to do in Pioneer, LA, and is good for all ages!

View the R.W. Norton Art Gallery

For art lovers, one of the best things to do in Louisiana is to visit the R.W. Norton Art Gallery .

Located in Shreveport, this lovely museum features works of art by American and European artists, as well as a collection of rare books. It is truly one of the best things to do in Shrevepor t !

The R.W. Norton Art Gallery holds more than 400 paintings in addition to sculptures and tapestries, spanning from the Renaissance to the Impressionists to today.

Throughout the year they host seasonal special events such as “Yuletide: Christmas Favorites from the Norton”. The gallery doesn’t charge an admission fee to view the exhibits!

Nor do they charge to visit the beautiful botanical gardens.

Surrounding the museum are 40 acres of grounds and gardens, where paths weave through outdoor sculptures, a stream, and blooming flowers.

The azaleas are the star of the gardens, with over 100 native and hybrid types. Visiting the botanical gardens is one of the best things to do in Shreveport if you want peace and quiet.

Try Local Breweries in Hammond

Located an hour outside of New Orleans, the city of Hammond has a number of excellent local breweries.

Tourists and locals alike stop by for a pint, but also to see live music, grab food, or catch up on conversation.

Visiting breweries is one of the best things to do in Louisiana for adults if you want a low-key, local experience.

Gnarley Barley Brewery opened in 2014 and has since become a Hammond staple. With an open-air taproom, you’ll be able to see the inner workings of their brewing.

Gnarley Barley’s brews include their versions of pilsner and IPA, but they also have fun special releases like “Imperial Peanut Butter Korova.”

You’ll have trouble picking what to try at Low Road Brewing as they keep 15-20 of their craft brews on tap in addition to guest taps. With their knowledgeable and friendly staff, Low Road makes you feel right at home.

Play at Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center

Those much younger than 21 years old (or those just young at heart) looking for things to do in Hammond will enjoy a visit to the Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center .

With hands-on exhibits that encourage problem-solving and imagination, it’s one of the best things to do in Louisiana with kids.

The interactive exhibits at the Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center are like visiting a tiny town.

There is a “restaurant” where kids can pretend to cook and serve food, a “farm” where they can learn about cows and chickens, a “vet clinic” with stuffed animals, and even an ambulance display.

Other fun exhibits include a bubble station and a creation station filled with arts and crafts supplies.

One of the best things about the Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center is that you can leave and come back the same day but if you have more time it makes a great Louisiana weekend getaway.

Take a Haunted Cemetery and City Tour

Did you know that New Orleans is one of the most haunted cities in the United States?

It isn’t surprising, as it’s a city with roots in voodoo and slavery, and for all New Orleans’s celebration of life, the ghosts don’t seem to want to leave.

Going on a ghost tour should definitely be on your Louisiana bucket list.

New Orleans is full of ghost tours , and it’s a fun (and creepy) way to spend an evening. One of the best things to do in Louisiana is to learn about the lively (even in the afterlife) characters and grisly happenings of New Orleans.

Take part in a walking tour that explores the city cemeteries after dark or ride in a mule-drawn carriage through the city’s most haunted neighborhoods.

In addition to ghost, crime, and voodoo tours, there are vampire tours as well…if you’re feeling brave!

You can even stay in one of the haunted hotels in New Orleans .

Book Here: New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark with Exclusive Access

Walk the Louisiana State Arboretum

One of the best things to do in Louisiana is to take a stroll through its unique foliage.

Located in Ville Platte, within Chicot State Park, it’s one of the best things to do near Alexandria or Lafayette as it is about an hour’s drive from both.

The Louisiana State Arboretum provides easy walking trails and arbor education for all ages.

Stop in the Arboretum visitor center to learn about the many types of flora and fauna before you head out.

Once outside, choose your path through 6 miles of trails as you walk through greenery, over wetlands, and under sycamores. You might even glimpse some four-legged friends as well, such as deer and foxes.

Established in 1961, the Louisiana State Arboretum was the first of its kind in the South. As a state preservation area, please remember to be respectful of your surroundings.

Don’t forget to check out some of my other favorite state parks in Louisia na !

Shop at Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store

For history buffs, one of the best things to do in Louisiana is to visit the state’s oldest general store.

The Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store opened in Natchitoches in 1863 and has managed to survive the American Civil War, the Great Depression, WWI, and WWII!

The Kaffie brothers were Jewish-Prussian immigrants who began by selling goods door-to-door. Little did they know that their storefront on Front Street would still be there today.

Now run by the third generation of Fredericks, the store has managed to stay relatively the same, even if the merchandise hasn’t.

Kaffie-Frederick even uses the same hand-cranked cash register, now over a hundred years old. Inside the store, you can find housewares, cookware, toys, and gifts.

Whether you’re looking to buy anything or not, it’s worth a stop in Kaffie-Frederick for the feeling of nostalgia.

Explore the Louisiana Art and Science Museum

Another of the best things to do in Baton Rouge is to visit the L ouisiana Art and Science Museum .

Located in a historic railroad depot right on the Mississippi River, the museum is now a great Louisiana attraction for all ages.

Permanent exhibits at the museum include an Ancient Egypt Gallery, with a mummy from the Ptolemaic period, and galleries exploring the solar system and universe.

The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium is the “star” attraction at the museum and features sky shows and movies. Learn about the night sky and celestial events underneath a 60-foot dome.

For those looking for things to do in Louisana with kids, the museum has hands-on exhibits like “Discovery Depot” and “Science Station”, where kids ages 7-12 will enjoy learning about sound, motion, and light.

This really is one of the cool places in Louisiana for all ages!

Have a Drink at the Carousel Bar & Lounge

There are so many interesting things to do in the French Quarter of New Orleans, but one of the most unique is grabbing a drink at the carousel bar! And yes, it really does rotate!

Located in the historic Hotel Monteleone, this stunning bar has been spinning since 1949. You’ll sit in the same seats as literary greats of the past, like playwright Tennessee Williams who was a regular.

You do not have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the Carousel Bar, but it does get busy in the evenings so if you are visiting during a weekend in New Orleans , make sure to go a bit early.

Not only is it pretty to look at and fun to ride, but the drinks are excellent as well! The Carousel Bar has an extensive cocktail list, as well as wine and beer.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, they have live music. If you are in New Orleans, add the Carousel Bar to your list of unique things to do in Louisiana.

When you visit the New Orleans French Quarter, you should make a stop here.

Traverse the Tammany Trace Trail

If you are a cyclist or just looking for a good hiking trail, one of the top things in Louisiana is to explore the Tammany Trace Trail .

Once part of the Illinois Central Railroad, the tracks have been converted to a trail for both cycling and walking, as well as a parallel equestrian trail.

This 31-mile asphalt rail-to-trail conversion spans from a trailhead in Covington to Slidell, passing through Abita Springs, Mandeville, and Lacombe.

Tammany Trace is open year-round, whether you want to go for a stroll, run, or bike ride.

The Trace also acts as a wildlife conservation corridor, connecting different greenspaces. You can observe natural habitats as you cross bridges built on original railroad trestles over streams and wetlands.

The trailhead in Covington is a point of interest in itself if you’re looking for things to do in Covington.

Looking like a railroad station, it has a clock tower, a bandstand, and a covered waiting platform. Restrooms are also located at each trailhead.

Go on a Swamp Tour

Going on a swamp tour absolutely has to be on your Louisiana bucket list.

Swamps and bayous are such an integral part of the state’s history and culture that touring one is one of the best things you can do in Louisiana.

Enter a land of moss-covered cypress trees and alligator-filled waters where turtles sunbathe and herons take off from the reeds.

Your knowledgeable guide captains you through the water and shares what they know about the local wildlife and natural history of the swamps.

When you visit Louisiana, you must do a swamp tour!

Book Here: From Lafitte: Swamp Tours South of New Orleans by Airboat

Pay Respects at the National WWII Museum

America’s official WWII museum is located in downtown New Orleans, and it is perhaps one of the more somber things to do in Louisiana.

However, the museum does an excellent job of explaining how the war came to be fought and how it was ended, so that future generations might not repeat it.

The National WWII Museum is spread throughout four buildings, each covering different aspects of the war.

Building 1, the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion, focuses on the Home Front and includes the museum’s original D-Day exhibit.

Building 2, the Solomon Victory Theater, shows a war story in a 4D experience. Next, Building 3, Campaigns of Courage, takes you through key settings in both Europe and the Pacific.

Lastly, Building 4, the Hall of Democracy, highlights the museum’s outreach initiatives.

That said, the WWII museum in New Orleans is large, so you can either take a day to see as much as possible or just pick which buildings sound most interesting.

Go Back in Time at Vermilionville Historic Village

Feel like you’ve stepped into the late 18th century at Vermilionville .

This living history museum is one of the best things to do in Louisiana to learn about what life was like in a bayou village.

At Vermilionville you can learn about the different cultures of Acadian, Creole, Native American, and African people and how those cultures blended into the 19th century.

Vermilionville features historic houses and costumed guides and artisans. Watch as people demonstrate spinning wheels and wood carving. Listen to an Avogal storyteller and tap your toes to a Creole fiddle.

There is live music on the weekends and even dance lessons if you want to join in the weekly Sunday dance. There’s also a cooking school as well as a restaurant, La Cusine de Maman, that serves authentic soul food.

Visiting Vermilionville is one of the most unique things to do in Lafayette. In fact, Lafayette used to be called Vermilionville!

If you are looking for hidden gems in Louisiana, this is one of the best!

Relax at the Rip Van Winkle Gardens

If you’re looking for stunning grounds and historic buildings, the Rip Van Winkle Gardens is one of the best things to do in Louisiana this weekend.

Located in New Iberia, the Joseph Jefferson Mansion was built in 1870 and sits on 20 acres of land. For a small fee, you can visit both the mansion and the gardens.

Joseph Jefferson was an American actor who played the character of Rip Van Winkle (who famously fell asleep for 20 years) on stage over 4,500 times.

He originally bought the land for hunting and fishing, and soon built what is now called the Joseph Jefferson Mansion on Jefferson Island.

Jefferson Island is home to 200 species of birds (including peacocks) as well as semi-tropical flowers and oak trees that are hundreds of years old.

Stroll the 15 acres of peaceful gardens…but be careful not to fall asleep!

Discover History on the African American Heritage Trail

The Louisiana African American Heritage Trail is comprised of 38 historic sites and museums throughout the state. You cannot explore Louisiana without visiting at least some of these places.

In New Orleans alone, there are six sites. If you spend 3 days in New Orleans , you should check a couple out.

These include Congo Square where enslaved people were allowed to congregate on Sundays, the St. Augustine Church which is possibly the oldest Black Catholic church in the US, and the New Orleans African American Museum.

Other sites are dotted around the state. Stop by art and history museums, universities, historic homes, and more.

Visit the birthplace of Madam C. J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America, in Delta. The Arna Bontemps African American Museum in Alexandria is dedicated to the Harlem Renaissance poet.

Other spots to check out include the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville, the Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum in Hammond, and Grambling State University.

Photograph the St. Louis Cathedral

Head to Jackson Square in New Orleans to see one of the best cathedrals in the US!

The towering, white St. Louis Cathedral with its three steeples is one of the most iconic landmarks in NOLA. Its architectural style is a mix of Spanish Colonial, Gothic Revival, and Renaissance.

There have been three churches on this site with the current one dating back to 1789. It is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the US.

This church has experienced so much in its long history including a bombing in 1909, a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1987, and damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Step inside to admire paintings, stained glass windows, chandeliers, and the Rococo-style, gilded altar.

If you visit during Christmas in New Orleans , you can attend free holiday concerts at the church.

This cathedral is one of the best free things to do in Louisiana!

After exploring Jackson Square, you can walk a couple of blocks to Bourbon Street, one of the best places to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This is one of the prettiest New Orleans streets .

Book Here: French Quarter Walking and Storytelling Tour

Find Wildlife at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Just south of New Orleans, the 26,000-acre Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve has something for everyone!

You will find many historic and cultural sites as well as pristine nature full of wildlife all located on the Mississippi River Delta.

There are three cultural centers dedicated to Cajun life. There are great exhibits as well as music, dancing, and cooking demonstrations.

Anyone interested in American history will want to visit the Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery.

The 1815 Battle of New Orleans took place here between future president Andrew Jackson and British forces. This was one of the last battles in the War of 1812. It resulted in an American victory.

The wetlands of the Barataria Preserve are the perfect place for wildlife viewing. Keep an eye out for alligators, turtles, snakes, and over 200 species of birds as you explore the boardwalks.

Make sure to stop by the visitors center to learn all about the swamps and marshes.

A Note About Visiting Plantations in Louisiana

Many lists of Louisiana tourist attractions include Oak Alley Plantation, Laura Plantation, Whitney Plantation, and Melrose Plantation.

We want to take a moment to say that we recommend against visiting these locations. Based on personal experience, plantations tend to glorify slavery and sugarcoat the enslaved people’s experience.

I’ve been to some of these in the past, and they really are not great.

I agree it is important to learn about the history of slavery and how it has affected our country, but there are better ways to do so.

We encourage you to make your own decisions on visiting Louisiana plantations, but please keep this in mind when planning your trip.

We hope you enjoyed this ultimate bucket list of attractions in Louisiana! Each area is unique, so definitely venture to more than just New Orleans. You’ll make some lasting Louisiana memories!

Next, check out my comprehensive guide to where to stay in New Orleans !

10 of the best places to eat right now in New Orleans

Aug 23, 2024 • 0 min read

Restaurants in New Orleans serve great food with distinct flavors. Getty Images

New Orleans has one of the most recognizable food scenes in the USA , in no small part because this town organically did "organic", as it were. It’s now accepted wisdom that top food and flavors come from the intermingling of cultures, access to great ingredients, and an aversion to cutting corners. New Orleans kitchens have, by and large, subscribed to this ethos for three centuries. The result is a distinct, Creole-influenced cuisine that has been internationally renowned for more than a minute.

At the same time, these days New Orleans' food is enlivened by an increasingly international palette; yes, of course you can get great gumbo, but the rest of the world now gets to weigh in on the menu too. Read on, and take a gastronomic trip through both old line Creole classics and newer dishes representing the global influences that laid the foundation for this unique food milieu.

Order the freshest fish at Peche

In a city with no shortage of great seafood, Peche somehow always manages to float (sorry) to the top of our recommendation list. The menu changes based off what folks are catching that particular day, although there are always excellent options for those who don’t love their food with fins. But we insist you try some seafood, preferably in the form of small plates so you can get a nice variety. In the past, we’ve gone ga ga for catfish in chili broth, or a whole grilled redfish that left us grinning and extremely sated. The buzzy dining room is crowded, and reservations are essential.

How to get it: Peche is casual fine dining; dress up and make reservations about a month in advance via the restaurant website or Resy.

Get the best beignets at Dough Nguyener’s

Vietnamese food is as tightly woven into South Louisiana cuisine as po’boys. But in the 2020s, we’ve reached an inflection point, where Vietnamese food isn’t just an option in New Orleans; rather, Vietnamese American chefs are redefining local classics. Dough Nguyener’s , a bakery and restaurant located just outside of New Orleans proper on the West Bank, is a great example of this phenomenon. Run by Vietnamese Americans, these geniuses are spitting out crazy good fried chicken and banh mi, while the baked goods include a wonderful spin on the classic beignet. 

How to get it: This is a casual spot; no reservations and it fills fast on weekends. Located about 8 miles south of town, you’ll need wheels to get here. It gets busy during weekend brunch hours.

Have your mind blown by Saba’s hummus

The brainchild of James Beard-award winner Alon Shaya, Saba ’s lovely interior attracts a clientele as attractive and well-heeled as the Uptown neighborhood that surrounds it. And yet, for all that elegant atmosphere, the actual food feels like a polished iteration of a stick- to-your-ribs meal served by your grandparents – appropriate, given "Saba" is Hebrew for "grandfather." This spot serves up food from across the Jewish diaspora; when you visit, do yourself a favor and order the hummus. There are several versions, including the splurge-worthy decadent blue crab hummus, and an intensely flavorful take studded with brussel sprouts, black garlic, and pickled jalapenos.

How to get it: Make reservations a few weeks in advance via Resy, and get a little dressed up. Saba has a lovely outdoor dining area which we recommend when the weather is nice.

Dig into curry chicken at Queen Trini Lisa

New Orleans has been dubbed the northernmost Caribbean city in the world, and Queen Trini Lisa keeps this town firmly in the gastronomical orbit of those islands. Queen Trini has been slinging Trinbagonian deliciousness since she worked out of an old convenience store, and brings the heat and the flavor of Trinidad and Tobago to a Mid-City neighborhood restaurant with no pretension and prices that are cool relief in an age of menu sticker shock. Her jerk chicken is her most famous dish, but we order the chicken curry, which comes layered with tropical depth and a lick of heat that has us watering for a side of Caribbean-style spinach and fried plantains (on that note, the vegan plate here is an exemplar of the genre).

How to get it: No reservations are required, and the restaurant rarely gets packed. We’ve found the quickest service during the early dinner (5:30–6:30) block.

Down some raw oysters at Pascal’s Manale

The interior of Pascal's Manale really gives off an unaffected “oh-is-this-a-lost- Sopranos -episode” vibe, all black-and-white photos and clubby, chummy banter between local characters. All that atmosphere is tasty enough, but what of the food? There are steaks, and there are plates of pasta as big as your face, and these are all good, but we’re telling you to come here for the raw oyster bar, which deserves an exhibition hall at the Smithsonian. This piece of urban history comes with a shucker who will flatter you, cajole you, banter with you, and finally serve a plate of beautiful, glistening jewels of the sea. Slurp them. Wash down with white wine. Repeat, repeat, repeat. 

How to get it: Reservations not necessary, but dress up a little, why don’t ya? Pascal’s raw bar starts getting busy around 5ish, but the shuckers know their trade, and things move fast.

Soak up the shrimp sauce at Liuzza’s by the Track

You can get your beer in a goblet at Liuzza’s by the Track . A goblet. Plus there’s duck tenders, a garlic fried oyster po’boy that is almost illegally good, and a few random gambling machines, all in a location mere steps from the city’s famous racetrack (which happens to host Jazz Fest). One must order the barbeque shrimp here, though. Just to note: it’s not really barbeque. Down here, that means the shrimp is simmered in a stupidly rich garlic butter sauce that will engender paroxysms of the happiest food sweats. Get some extra bread, because you’ll be wanting to dip it into that sauce.

How to get it: Liuzza's does not take reservations. It tends to get slammed during lunch and dinner, which means you have to wait for a table. Most regulars use this time to hit the in-house bar.

Wait in line for a Reuben at Stein’s

You likely came to New Orleans wanting a po’boy, the city’s famous take on a sub (or maybe the sub is the yankee take on the po’boy). But there are more ways to devour ingredients between bread than the justifiably famous po’boy, and Stein’s , a local deli par excellence, is ready to go toe to toe with any protein-carb combo your hometown can muster. Wait in line (there’s inevitably a line), look at the fridge of craft beers and sodas, purchase one of said beverages, and don’t be intimidated by Dan Stein himself, who acts gruff but is kind of a sweetheart. All the sandwiches are good; the Reuben and the Rachel stand out as magic of the highest sand-witchery.

How to get it: Stein's does not take reservations and gets busy from around 11am–1pm. The line moves quickly, but if there's a pile of orders, you’ll need to settle in for a wait.

Fill up with a shrimp po’boy and gravy fries at Parkway

Did we just say that po’boys aren’t the only sandwiches in New Orleans? Sure did. You still need to have a po’boy, and the faded yellow-corn husk of the Parkway Bakery & Tavern , hunched on the banks of Bayou St John, is for the connoisseur. Assuming the connoisseur, that is, enjoys some good gravy fries. But if you fill up fast, skip those carbs and just get a fried shrimp po’boy, preferably "dressed" (lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, mayo). That’s a lot of fried seafood on bread – walk it off on the banks of the bayou, the city’s prettiest inland waterway, afterwards.

How to get it: No reservations needed. Parkway gets slammed during lunch hours, but it maintains an efficient system that keeps the long lines moving.

Burn your tongue with the pani puri at Mister Mao

The smoke licks off the firing pans at Mister Mao , and you can watch it do so with a seat at the bar, which makes for excellent dinner theater. Grab a cocktail and take a trip through the contemporary takes on cuisine from across China and Southeast Asia, including ginger salads and avocado chaat. Make sure to order a round of pani puri : these little balls of airy goodness – filled to the brim with potato masala, chutney, and pickled blueberries – is like an international party in your mouth. 

How to get it: This is a popular spot, and reservations (book a month in advance) are a must; the restaurant prefers that you book through Resy.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream at Lucy Boone

New Orleans, it almost goes without saying, is hot. Very hot. And the tastiest culinary counter to "very hot" is ice cream. Some extraordinary local ice cream can be found at Lucy Boone , a small, family-run establishment that specializes in just a few flavors at a time, key lime pie and nutella brownie among them. Order whatever because you will not go wrong. 

How to get it: You can walk in whenever. There are two or three tables in here, so there may be a line, but it moves quickly (although you might not after this ice cream).

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Watch CBS News

When and where to see August's rare supermoon blue moon

By Aliza Chasan

Updated on: August 19, 2024 / 5:33 PM EDT / CBS News

August's supermoon blue moon , the first of 2024's four consecutive supermoons, will appear full from Sunday through Wednesday this week, giving astronomy fans a rare show when they look to the skies. 

The full moon had been expected to reach its peak on Monday, Aug. 19, at 2:26 p.m. EDT, and it will appear full for three days, NASA said. The Old Farmer's Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the U.S. 

When and how you can see the August supermoon blue moon peak?

While the full moon peaked on Monday afternoon, it first appeared full on Sunday morning, and will continue to appear full through early Wednesday morning.

Around 98% of the moon's nearside had been expected to be illuminated by the sun on Sunday, according to NASA. By Monday, 100% of the moon's nearside will be illuminated and about 99% of it will be illuminated by the sun on Tuesday.

You don't need binoculars or a telescope to enjoy the spectacular view.

What is a supermoon?

Supermoons occur when the moon's orbit is closest to Earth at the same time as the moon is full, according to NASA. The moon's distance from Earth varies between about 221,457 miles and 252,712 miles. 

During this month's supermoon peak, the moon will be around 225,288 miles from Earth. It will be even closer to Earth in September: roughly 222,005 miles. In October, the full moon will be about 222,095 miles from Earth. The last supermoon in the series — November's — will be when the moon is around 224,385 miles from Earth.

Supermoons appear bigger than the average full moon. It's similar to the size difference between a quarter and a nickel, according to NASA . They're also about 16% brighter than an average moon. 

How much bigger and brighter will the August supermoon appear than the average full moon?

While all supermoons appear bigger and brighter than the average full moon, there is some variance. According to NASA, the August full moon should appear 6.2% bigger and 12.8% brighter than the average full moon. 

The moon will appear even bigger and brighter the next month. September's full moon will look 7.5% bigger and 15.5% brighter than average, NASA said.

October's full moon, which will appear 7.6% bigger and 15.7% brighter than average, will be the biggest and brightest moon of the year, according to the space agency.

The November full moon will appear 6.2% bigger and 12.8% brighter than 2024's average full moon.

When are the next supermoons this year?

August's full moon is the first of four consecutive supermoons this year. The full moon in September will reach peak illumination on Tuesday, Sept. 17. It's known as the Harvest Moon.

The full moon the following month, known as the Hunter's Moon, peaks on Thursday, Oct. 17. The final supermoon will be November's Beaver Moon, which peaks on Friday, Nov. 15.

According to NASA, the full moons in September and October will be virtually tied for the closest full moons of the year.

Will the blue moon look blue?

August's full moon is not just a supermoon — it's also a blue moon. But those hoping to see a shade like cerulean, cobalt or navy blue when they check out the moon are out of luck. A blue moon has two meanings when it comes to astronomical phenomena, and neither one is related to color. 

A blue moon refers to the third full moon in a season with four full moons, as is the case with this August's full moon, according to NASA. The term is also used to refer to the second full moon in a month that has two full moons. 

Does August's full moon have a special name?

August's full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac . The name comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, which was easily caught during this part of the summer. 

This month's full moon is also known as the Red Moon, Corn or Green Corn Moon, the Barley Moon, the Herb Moon, the Grain Moon and the Dog Moon, NASA notes.

Aliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for "60 Minutes" and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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How to Watch Kamala Harris’s Speech at the Democratic Convention

The vice president will close out the convention on Thursday, after four days of high-profile appearances by politicians, actors and activists.

• Share full article

By Taylor Robinson

• Published Aug. 17, 2024 Updated Aug. 22, 2024

The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago, about a month after Republicans held their convention in Milwaukee . The convention runs through Thursday, when Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to take the stage during prime time.

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Ms. Harris’s running mate, headlined Wednesday’s programming. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama delivered the closing speeches on Tuesday , while President Biden had the spotlight on Monday .

Here’s how to watch it (all times are Eastern):

How to stream the D.N.C.

The New York Times will stream the convention speeches during prime time, accompanied by live commentary and analysis from our reporters.

The D.N.C. said it would stream the events nightly on its website and also share vertical video on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. It will offer streaming on horizontal platforms, too, including Facebook, Twitch, X and Amazon Prime Video.

C-SPAN will be livestreaming through Thursday on C-SPAN.org and on the C-SPAN Now mobile app.

PBS will stream gavel-to-gavel coverage of the speeches on its digital and social platforms.

CBS ’s streaming platform, CBS News 24/7, will begin streaming prime-time coverage of the convention at 8 p.m. each night.

NBC News will stream the convention on its streaming platform, NBC News Now, as part of its “Decision 2024” broadcast with Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie. Coverage will run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the last two nights.

ABC News will carry prime-time coverage of the convention from 7 p.m. to midnight via its streaming platform, ABC News Live.

CNBC will livestream each night’s speeches in prime time on CNBC.com.

MSNBC will livestream all four days of the convention on its YouTube channel.

Fox News will stream each night’s speeches in full on its subscription streaming platform, Fox Nation.

How to watch the D.N.C. on television.

C-SPAN will broadcast all four days of the convention uninterrupted, as it has done at every convention since 1984.

PBS will run its convention coverage from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night, anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett of “PBS NewsHour.”

CBS Television Network will broadcast prime-time coverage of the convention from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the last two nights, hosted by Norah O’Donnell.

NBC News will broadcast its “Decision 2024” programming during the same hours as its livestream — from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the final two nights.

ABC News will run prime-time coverage, anchored by David Muir, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. the first two nights of the convention, and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the last two nights.

Fox News will have a prime-time slot each night from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., hosted by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. The Fox Business Network will broadcast each night’s speeches in full.

CNN will run commentary and coverage of the convention each night from 8 p.m. to midnight, with the anchors Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper.

MSNBC will broadcast special team coverage from 7:30 p.m. to midnight each night, led by Rachel Maddow.

NewsNation will show its prime-time broadcast, “Decision Desk 2024,” each night from 8 p.m. to midnight. It will be anchored by Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas and Leland Vittert.

Scripps News will air “Path to the White House,” its prime time broadcast, every night of the convention starting at 8 p.m. Del Walters will host.

Telemundo will broadcast Spanish-language coverage of the convention with a prime-time special starting at 9:50 p.m. on Thursday, anchored by Julio Vaqueiro.