new orleans trip guide

Gina Bear's Blog

Solo Female Travel | Latina Traveler

The Ultimate 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary & Travel Guide

Looking to travel to the Big Easy? If you find yourself with a long weekend, I cannot recommend visiting NOLA enough! In this epic 3-day New Orleans itinerary you’re going to know the best things to do, delicious food to eat, and where to stay. 

Honestly, I think your biggest problem might be what you’re going to eat in New Orleans. Every time I go, I come back ten pounds heavier, but legit, no regrets.

In Louisiana, they have an expression…”Laissez les bons temps rouler”. In English, this phrase means “let the good times roll”. So let’s go ladies and gents! 

Table of Contents

Blog Posts You Might Like 

• The Most Instagrammable Places in New Orleans  

Where To Stay in New Orleans

How to get to new orleans.

Wondering how to travel to New Orleans? The best way to get to New Orleans is via airplane. You will fly into the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The airport code is MSY. 

How To Get Around New Orleans (3-Day New Orleans Itinerary)

I noticed everything in New Orleans is defined by the proximity to the Mississippi River and historic streets such as Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Magazine Street, and Decatur Street.

New Orleans By Streetcar

One of the easiest ways to get around the city is via street cars. There are four distinct lines with each originating in downtown. These lines are the Saint Charles Line, Canal Street Line, Riverfront Line, and Loyola Line.

They will take you through the French Quarter and beyond to places you might not otherwise get to see. Personally, I think this is a better way to see the city. 

• Have exact change if you’re going to use cash. One ride costs $1.25 for adults. 
• If you’re going cashless,  download the Le Pass app . 

New Orleans By Blue Bikes 

Another great way to sight see and not have to do so much walking is to use the Blue Bikes ride share. This is a partnership between the City of New Orleans and Drop, and is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

These are electric bikes so you can visit many destinations more efficiently.  Click here to download the app and get more information about Blue Bikes.  

New Orleans By Ride Share

You can always use ride share apps like Lyft or Uber to get around the city. Expect to pay around $15-$20 for a ride. If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend walking around or using the Blue Bikes.

New Orleans Go City Pass

Want to get the most bang for your buck? Travel can be hella expensive so rolling all your activities into one convenient pass is a win.

Having a 3-day New Orleans itinerary means you’re going to do a lot. With this pass, you’ll get free entrance or discounts to the top 25 New Orleans attractions.

This pass gives you entry into the most popular things to do in New Orleans, including French Quarter attractions, as well as surrounding Louisiana attractions.  Book your New Orleans Go City Pass here . 

When is the best time to visit New Orleans?

I personally do not enjoy the super hot weather. I am someone who absolutely thrives in cooler weather and my tolerance for the cold is a lot higher than most.

If you’re someone who loves warm weather, you’re going to love New Orleans. However, New Orleans is six feet below sea level and is quite humid so it can make the temperatures feel cooler or hotter.

January through March in New Orleans

January is the coldest month in New Orleans. The average daytime high will be 18°C (64°F) and the average nighttime temperature will be 7°C (45°F).

Locals have told me February is one of the best times to visit for Mardi Gras. It’s actually a two month event for them and during this time you’ll get to see the very best of New Orleans without all the craziness.

New Orleans in February will reach daytime highs of 19°C (66°F) and nighttime lows of 8°C (47°F). During March the temperatures go up to 23°C (73°F) during the day and 12°C(54°F) at night.

April through June in New Orleans

I also had the amazing opportunity to visit New Orleans in April for the Jesse McCartney concert. And yes, I am totally a millennial and grew up listening to his music. #hellyeah

April sees average daytime highs of 26°C (79°F) with the low dropping down to 16°C (61°F) at night. This is a great time where the rooftop pools start being more popping.

During May in New Orleans, the temperatures during the day are 30°C (85°F) and at night will be about 20°C (68°F). Lastly, the temperatures in June range from 32°C (90°F) during the day and 23°C (74°F) at night.

July through September in New Orleans

July and August are the hottest months in New Orleans. They have about the same average highs and lows. During the day the temperature will be 33°C (92°F) and at night will dip to 24°C (76°F).

In September daytime temperatures will cool down to about 31°C (88°F) during the day and 22°C (72°F) at night.

October through December in New Orleans

I’ve visited New Orleans in late October. It was still hot but not unbearable. You can also visit several festivals like the Andouille Festival. Temperatures during October in New Orleans range from 27°C (81°F) during the day and 17°C (62°F) at night.

In the month of November, the average temperatures will be 22°C (72°F) during the day and 12°C (53°F) at night. December sees average daytime temperatures drop to 18°C (65°F) with the average low being 8°C (46°F) at night.

Tips For Visiting New Orleans

During your 3-day New Orleans itinerary, there’s some things you have to no about the Big Easy. Here are some of Gina Bear’s handpicked tourist knows!

• Public restrooms are scarce. Use them any time you’re in a restaurant or bar.
• Ignore the hecklers in the French Quarter. Treat them like you would in NYC.
• After the pandemic many places are short staffed and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Many restaurants and bars have dress codes. Don’t dress like you’re going to Walmart.
• Book the New Orleans City Pass. REALLY. It will save you so much money!

Wondering where the best neighborhoods are in New Orleans? Each one below has their own distinct charm. For your epic 3-day New Orleans itinerary, I recommend staying the French Quarter.

• French Quarter  – Perfect for first time travelers to NOLA and central to everything. 
• Marigny | Bywater  – For the music lovers with close proximity to Frenchmen street.
• Central Business District  – Also known as the CBD, it is best for foodies and culture lovers. 
• Warehouse District – A trendy neighborhood with converted warehouses and is perfect for art lovers, history lovers, and hipsters.
• Uptown | Garden District  – French Quarter atmosphere with all the great food and chill vibes. 
• Mid-City  – For the nature lovers who love the outdoors. 

Luxury Hotels in New Orleans

• Four Seasons New Orleans  – Located in the CBD, this property is located features a restaurant, fitness center, a bar and garden. Popular places nearby are of the Morial Convention Center, Bourbon Street, and St Louis Cemetery No 1. 
• Hotel Monteleone  – This gorgeous boutique hotel is located in the French Quarter. Hotel Monteleone is a historic hotel one block from Bourbon Street. Criollo restaurant, the Carousel Bar, and a heated rooftop swimming pool are featured on site.
• Hilton New Orleans St Charles Avenue  – Each room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. You will find a coffee machine in the room. They also provide free toiletries and a hairdryer. 

Mid-Range Hotels in New Orleans

• SpringHill Suites by Marriott  – SpringHill Suites by Marriott New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street also features an on-site rooftop bar named Vue, which offers views of downtown New Orleans.
• Voco St James Hotel IHG  – This beautiful hotel offers accommodations with a restaurant, private parking, a bar and a garden. Voco The features a terrace, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi throughout the property.
• Hyatt Regency New Orleans  – Offering a heated outdoor pool with sundeck and bar, Hyatt Regency New Orleans features rooms with free WiFi adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Smoothie King Center.

Budget Hotels in New Orleans

• The Quisby  – The Quisby is a hostel in New Orleans,LA located on historic Saint Charles Ave. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar and relax in the lobby lounge.Rooms come with a private bathroom. The Quisby features free WiFi throughout the property.
• City House New Orleans Samesun  – This hostel is located in the French Quarter of NOLA. All rooms in the hostel are equipped with a coffee machine. They have a shared bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer, and free WiFi. At the accommodation the rooms have bed linen and towels.
• Ramada by Wyndham  – Boasting an outdoor swimming pool, Ramada by Wyndham New Orleans is located in New Orleans and is 5 mi from Bourbon Street. Featuring a shared lounge, the 2-star motel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. 

What To Eat in New Orleans

The food scene in New Orleans will leave you wanting to spend extra time in the city so you can eat your way through the delicious dishes the city offers. 

• Gumbo  – A dish with Roux, a flour and fat mixture found in many French dishes. It is loaded with chicken and fowl, sausage, and seafood, and seasoned with salt and spices
• Po-boys  – New Orleans most famous sandwich. They can have anything from fresh gulf seafood, smoked pork, and meatballs. They’re topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.
• Jambalaya  –  A rice and pork, or a rice and seafood dish eaten by both Cajuns and Creoles. 
• Red Beans and Rice  – A slow-cooked dish combining pork, kidney beans, rice, and spices.
• Étouffée  – A dish that combines seafood, with roux and butter; and onions, green peppers, and celery into a rich gravy that is served over rice.
• Muffulettas  – These are large, round sandwiches filled with Italian deli meats, cheeses, and homemade olive salad. 
• Oysters  – These are a staple of NOLA cuisine and you can find them raw, fried, baked, or chargrilled.
• Turtle Soup  – This is a rich stew garnished with hard-boiled egg and a drizzle of dry sherry. 
• Beignets  – These these square fritters are powered sugar donuts and have been a New Orleans staple since 1862. 
• Bananas Foster  – This is a dessert dish where bananas are sautéed in sugar, rum, and liquor, and flambeed tableside. The warm banana topping is served over cold vanilla ice cream.
• Pralines  – Sugar coated pecans. 
• King Cakes  – Sweet circular treats covered in colorful icing.

New Orleans Frequently Asked Questions

1. is three days enough for new orleans.

In my opinion, three days isn’t enough for New Orleans because of how amazing the food scene is. It is literally a foodie’s paradise. However, three days is enough to give you a feel for the city and go to some of the best restaurants.

2. Which part of New Orleans is best to stay?

For first-time travelers to New Orleans, the French Quarter is one of the best places to stay since it is central to everything. If you’ve been to NOLA before stay in the Garden District or Uptown.

3. What is the best month to go to New Orleans?

The best months to go to New Orleans are February, April, and October. The temperatures during these times are warm and not too hot. It also doesn’t get really cold at night.

4. What is the cheapest month to go to New Orleans?

July through September are the best times to stay in New Orleans. Since temperatures are super hot, most people are going to beach destinations.

5. How has Hurricane Katrina affected New Orleans?

Despite the devastation, damage, and weeks under water that NOLA suffered, the city has rebuilt to become better than ever! However, there is still some damage around Louisiana state and New Orleans that hasn’t been quite repaired.

If you’re interested to know about the recovery efforts, you can book a New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina Recovery Tour here .

Map For Your 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary

Day one new orleans itinerary.

On your first day in NOLA make sure you bring your  best walking shoes  because you’re going to be going everywhere. You’ll also be doing a lot of eating and sampling the best of Crescent City’s food scene. 

French Quarter

Also known as the vieux carré, it is known as the crown jewel of New Orleans with the most beautiful architecture. No one does Mardi Gras like the French Quarter and it is THE place to be during Carnival season. If you’re keen on learning the history,  check out this self-guided tour here . 

It’s also one of the most beautiful places in New Orleans for how well they have preserved the historic buildings with original brick walls. Here you can see a blend of the early French and Spanish settlers. The large buildings and the bright colors will always draw you in.

• French Quarter Food and Walking Tour
• French Quarter Walking and Storytelling Tour
• French Quarter and Garden District Bike Tour

St Louis Cathedral

The St. Louis Cathedral is among the tallest structures in the French Quarter. It has been seen in hundreds of movies, TV shows and other visual presentations and it is a local and international architectural icon.

Jackson Square

Jackson Square is a National Historic Landmark nestled in the center of the French Quarter. (This historic park is also the filming location of one of my favorite  TV series The Originals .)

Café du Monde

Cafe du Monde was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market. The menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice.

The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. And let’s be real… The best way to start your morning is with fresh beignets in your face. 

On Royal Street which is a couple blocks away, you’ll find several trendy antique shops. It’s a great spot to find yourself some treasure. 

French Market

The French Market is one of the best places for local dining and local shops. Here you’ll find all sorts of delicious food, interesting shops, a flea market, and even a farmer’s market. 

Happy Hour at Broussard’s

Thursday through Saturday  Broussard’s features happy hour from 3pm to 6pm . Here you can find drink specials at $5 for signature cocktails, $4 wines, and $3 beer. I have nothing but great things to say about this restaurant that looks like a historic home. 

You’ll also get the best of the NOLA food scene with delicious creations such as Duck and Alligator Sausage Gumbo and Louisiana Blue Crab Cake. This is perfect to get your liquid courage before going on a ghost tour. 

Go on a New Orleans Ghost Tour

Louisiana is literally one of the most haunted places I have ever visited. This will definitely be a unique experience to listen to ghost stories late at night and give yourself the chills. There’s a lot of horror stories about the Battle of New Orleans which makes it all the more spookier. 

• Haunted NOLA Voodoo and Ghost Tour  
• Voodoo Vibes: Best of NOLA Tour  
• Night Cemetery & BYOB Ghost Tour
• Spooky Ghost & Haunted Pub Crawl Tour

Bourbon Street

To get a great feel for Crescent City you definitely need to go on Bourbon Street for some great live music. You’ll have the best time walking around, drinking from to-go cups, and finding the best bars for live jazz music. There are also many street performers that add to the entertainment of this district. 

If you wanna get down and party, Lousiana’s open container laws allow you to drink anywhere in public as long as your beverage is in a covered to go cup. 

Day Two New Orleans Itinerary

Cafe beignet.

One of my favorite things to do in New Orleans is eat. Their soul food is second to none. I especially love their beignets. Cafe Beignet is another great place to start your morning.

Louis Armstrong Park

Just steps away from the French Quarter is Louis Armstrong Park… A perfect place dedicated to one of the best musicians of all time. At this city park, local artists and voodoo practitioners still gather at Congo Square which has historically been a cultural hub for African Americans.  

Have a Drink at the Carousel Bar

Opened in the 1949, the Carousel Bar is one of New Orleans most notable bars. Located inside Hotel Monteleone, it is the first and only rotating bar in New Orleans. It’s also the filming location of  Girl’s Trip starring Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and Jada Pinkett Smith . 

It makes one full rotation every 15 minutes and is a nice place to go for an afternoon cocktail.  You can also book your stay at Hotel Monteleone here .

Go On New Orleans Tour

There are so many amazing things to do in in New Orleans. I personally like going with a tour guide who knows the city and makes me feel like I’m a part of it.

I don’t like to be like the other tourists who go in without a clue and don’t really know and understand the place. If you get the  New Orleans Go City Pass , you’ll get attractions such a New Orleans voodoo tour, and cemetery tour included. 

Try a NOLA Food Tour

NOLA is one of the best places to eat. I never thought the South would have such amazing culinary delights. Below are some food tours I would recommend. They’re all a great time and come highly recommended. 

• New Orleans French Quarter Food Tour With Tastings
• New Orleans Cocktail + Food History Tour
• Dinner Time Food Crawl on Frenchmen Street  
• Garden District Food, Drinks, and History Tour
• Cajun and Creole Cooking Class  

Visit an Eclectic Museum 

Among the vibrant French Quarter you’ll find an assortment of interesting museums that will take you deep into the culture of NOLA.

I’ve been to Louisiana many times before and the people here LOVE to tell stories. And NGL, I absolutely love hearing them. Save money on visiting these museums by  booking your New Orleans City Pass here . 

• New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
• New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
• New Orleans Jazz Museum
• Louisiana State Museum  
• Mardi Gras World  

P.S. If you visit a Voodoo Museum, you’ll learn all about Marie Laveau who was the queen of Voodoo.

Frolick in Nature at the New Orleans Botanical Garden

The New Orleans Botanical Garden is a beautiful place to visit. They also have a sculpture garden. 

In the New Orleans City Park, you’ll also see the Langles Bridge. This historic bridge is one of the most Instagrammable spots in New Orleans. It’s also one of the most photographed locations in the whole city.

The Bridge is favorite spot among New Orleans natives for engagement and wedding photos. It’s just a short walk away from the New Orleans Museum of Art. 

Have Dinner at Commander’s Palace

This is a popular place and one of the best restaurants for Creole dishes. You can take the St Charles Streetcar here. Give yourself some enough time to really enjoy this culinary experience.

They have live jazz music. There is a dress code of business casual so please don’t walk in there looking like a rag muffin drugstore cowboy.  You can make a reservation for Commander’s Palace here . 

Day Three New Orleans Itinerary

Your last day in NOLA is a great way to soak in the interesting history of Louisiana… And you best believe there is a lot!

Plantation Tour

I had the amazing opportunity to tour the River Parishes in Louisiana for TBEX and they took me to the most unforgettable places. I admit I was very ignorant of the history of many enslaved people in the United States.

Touring these plantations helped open my eyes. I have been to each and every one of these tours and sincerely recommend them. My favorite was the Laura Creole Plantation tour.

• Whitney Plantation Tour  
• Oak Alley Plantation Tour  
• Laura Creole Plantation Tour
• Whitney, Oak Alley, and Laura Creole Plantation Tour  

If you’re thinking… What the heck? A swamp tour? Could this be any fun? And this answer is yes. They are hella fun. I got to meet some of the gators on the tour. They’re scary asf, but that added to the thrill.

• New Orleans Swamp Zipline Tour  
• Manchac Magic Swamp Kayak Tour
• Swamp Tour on a Covered Pontoon Boat

Steamboat Tour

I recommend ending your 3-day New Orleans itinerary in style. These steamboats really add to the history of the City and you can dance while listening to jazz music.

• Steamboat Jazz Cruise With Lunch  
• Steamboat Evening Jazz Cruise With Dinner  

I hope you found everything you need in this blog post to help you plan your epic 3-day New Orleans itinerary. Crescent City is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to visit again! I hope I’ll get a chance to visit during Mardi Gras in February. It has been on my bucket list forever.

This post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you, I make a small commission to help keep Gina Bear’s Blog running. Thanks for your support!

Free Seoul E-Book

Do you love south korea.

Enter your name and email address and click the button below to receive your Easy Seoul Travel Guide so you can travel like a local!

Related Posts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The 11 best things to do in New Orleans

Apr 4, 2023 • 11 min read

The Zulu Crewe perform as part of the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans ©Bob Sacha/Getty Images

The New Orleans menu is long and storied. And yes, we mean the food, but also the… everything . As the city that commands access to the Mississippi River, it’s perhaps appropriate that New Orleans rewards immersion. The city's best experiences require visitors to dunk themselves in.

In New Orleans , the rainbow palette of the houses is a feast for your eyes. The music breathes pure sonic fire into your ears. The roots of the live oaks shred the sidewalk beneath your feet. The flavors of the food delight the tongue. The scent of angel’s trumpet flowers fills residential side streets. Every corner of the city treats visitors to a new sensation, and from there, a new way of seeing and appreciating the world, especially this particular world, built on Caribbean folkways, the African diaspora, French and Iberian culture, and a specifically Southern American embrace of exuberance and community.

These are the 11 best things to do in New Orleans.

1. Catch some music on Frenchmen Street

New Orleans produces a plethora of art, but none of the creative output has left such a palpable imprint on the world as music. Jazz was born here. The granddaddy of modern pop music was a synthesis of African rhythms kept alive by slaves and free people of color, European harmonies, and brass instruments introduced by marching bands.

Jazz is often thought of as prestige music, but it largely grew out of Storyville, the city's infamous Red Light District, which was destroyed in 1917. This was the music of New Orleans' seedy underbelly, and while the music has evolved, the city has never lost touch with its muddy roots.

Although New Orleans is getting more expensive, working musicians still live by their gigs here, and the most accessible way to see them is on Frenchmen Street, in Faubourg Marigny. There are several clubs here, each within a few city blocks of one another. These include the Spotted Cat and d.b.a ., where shows kick off regularly, usually around 6pm and 9pm.

And jazz isn’t the only game in town. On St Claude Avenue, you might catch a DJ spinning bounce music – The Big Easy’s native twerking dance genre – or burlesque at the Hi Ho Lounge . The Saturn Bar is the place to go for an R&B dance party.

Planning tip: There’s a lot of music on tap in New Orleans. To find it, WWOZ’s Livewire puts together an exhaustive list of local live gigs which is painstakingly updated daily.

2. Experience a Mardi Gras parade

It may be celebrated in other cities, but there is no Mardi Gras like New Orleans Mardi Gras. This is a party where the city’s penchant for hedonism is cranked up to the highest possible setting, then unleashed on her citizens in a riot of intensely creative costuming and joyful parades.

It’s worth noting that there is no one way to Mardi Gras – the holiday has as many ways of being enjoyed as there are New Orleanians – and Fat Tuesday itself is the culmination of roughly two and a half weeks of gradually intensifying partying otherwise known as Carnival season.

Planning tip: During Mardi Gras, it’s easy to watch parades if you join the crowds along St Charles Avenue who throng the floats for trinkets (“throws”) tossed to the masses. Smaller walking parades are another big part of the Mardi Gras experience, and anyone who wants to join one is usually can. The caveat is: you need to wear a costume, and you need to know where the walking parades are. On Mardi Gras day, the biggest walking parade is the Society of St Anne procession, which can be caught around 9am anywhere around Burgundy and Louisa Streets in the Bywater.

3. Stuff your face at a local restaurant

The sensory pleasure most people immediately think of when they hear “New Orleans” is food. This city has been doing locavore and slow eating and seasonal menus for (literal) centuries before those words became the buzzy marketing nomenclature attached to restaurants all over the US. Chefs here realized they were in a different place, and adapted the ingredients of Louisiana’s seas and swamps and woods into one of North America’s great hyper-regional cuisines. Maybe that’s why this city so dominates lists like the James Beard awards , despite its relatively diminutive size.

But New Orleans food isn’t the only food you can find here. Waves of immigrants have brought their own dishes , and even the city’s grande dame old-line restaurants increasingly incorporate international influences. And yet, the food culture here remains kind of old-school. People here value eating and put great stock into, well, stock – and whatever else goes into the gumbo pot.

So eat. Eat. Eat some more. Don’t worry about the calories. They’re the evidence of time well spent. There are as many New Orleans food experiences as there are local cooks, but crawfish boils, which occur in spring, with their mix of communal good times, cold beer, and messy mastication, are a quintessential experience.

Local tip: You’ll hear the word “lagniappe’” (lan-yap) come up a lot on the New Orleans dining scene. It’s Louisiana French for “a little extra,” and is usually some kind of small dessert or amuse-bouche, likely off-menu, that is offered to diners on the house.

4. Walk down Royal Street

The French Quarter is undoubtedly the most iconic New Orleans neighborhood, which is kind of ironic because the Quarter has few actual permanent residents. This is largely a tourist area, but this doesn’t make it any less engaging. While Bourbon St grabs a lot of the headlines, parallel Royal Street is where you can find a lot of what makes the Quarter still so very special.

Here you’ll find antique shops, art galleries, cafes and a pedestrian-only area where street performers bring the music of the city to life with a backdrop of elegant Caribbean townhouses framed by wrought iron balconies on their upper floors.

Detour: Royal Street runs past the back end of Jackson Square , perhaps the most recognizable public space in the city. Head here to listen to street musicians (please tip) or get your palm read by a tarot reader.

5. House Hunt on St Charles Avenue

The city’s most beautiful avenue follows the curve of the Mississippi, running through neighborhoods like Uptown and the Garden District . St Charles Avenue is blessed with shade from enormous live oaks, which grow through sidewalks that run by some of the largest mansions in the city.

Whatever else you may think of these giant homes, they are beautiful, and on a pleasant afternoon or evening, strolling past them is a dreamy prospect. If you want to see similar homes on a less-trafficked throughway, try parallel Prytania Street.

Planning Tip: If you’re going to be on St Charles Avenue, hop on the St Charles Avenue streetcar , which ferries passengers on its iconic green rail cars throughout the day.

6. Immerse yourself in artsy Bywater

The candy-colored homes of Bywater have been attracting transplants to New Orleans for decades – this district is relatively close to the French Quarter while still feeling a world away. Once a largely African American neighborhood, it is now majority white and full of the sort of artisanal goods stores and vintage shops and restaurants and bars (including one with a lovely hidden pool in the back ) that are the telltale signs of hipness.

The debate over whether the Bywater has been gentrified or revitalized is ongoing, but what cannot be denied is that this is the center of gravity for tourists seeking a New Orleans that blends contemporary bohemian culture with the rainbow palette of homes that is very much the architectural fabric of the 19th century.

Detour: If you want to see the Mississippi (or jog by it), head to Crescent Park , a waterfront park that extends from here all the way to Faubourg Marigny, at the edge of the French Quarter.

7. Relax along Bayou St John

Firmly off of the tourist radar, Bayou St John is a quiet inland urban waterway surrounded by a small strip of green grass, crossed by a few bridges, including the pedestrian Cabrini Bridge, and framed by houses that run the gamut from mansions to pretty cottages (as well as the Creole style home of the city’s first mayor).

Come out here to people-watch, to see the sun dip behind the homes and the oak trees, and to enjoy a scene of surprising zen and serenity in a city otherwise known for loud good times. Even locals – especially locals, really – like to take a break from this town's penchant for excess. When they need to just relax, breathe and enjoy some gentle beauty, they often head to Bayou St John, and it makes sense for you to join them.

Detour: It makes the most sense to drive or bicycle up Esplanade Avenue , another one of those beautiful New Orleans streets lined with gorgeous old homes. You can walk along Esplanade, but if you do so, the safest area is from Broad Street up to City Park.

8. Get enjoyable lost in City Park

To be fair, the name City Park is a slight misnomer. The park isn’t technically owned or operated by the city of New Orleans but this is semantics. City Park is a wonderful green space in the heart of town that houses the New Orleans Museum of Art , forest trails, waterways, enormous live oak trees, playgrounds, the gorgeous Louisiana Children’s Museum , a sculpture garden , and a singing tree , among many other attractions.

The trails through Couturie Forest, off of Harrison Avenue, give visitors a taste of the bottomland forests that once carpeted so much of South Louisiana.

9. Ramble in the shade in Audubon Park

Located smack in the middle of Uptown New Orleans, just off of patrician St Charles Avenue, Audubon Park is another impossibly green space dappled with Spanish moss and edged with huge mansions cut through by a walking and biking trail.

It’s much beloved by locals and students at nearby Tulane and Loyola universities, and an easy spot for parents to bring kids, especially given that part of the park is given over to the exceptionally fine Audubon Zoo . Make sure to walk the dirt paths that run along the perimeter of the park along the yards of the aforesaid mansions; the gardens, landscaping, and occasional rope swings attached to trees all make for a lovely tableau.

Detour: Running along the Mississippi River just south of Audubon Park, the Fly is a green space largely given over to sports fields, although there are also lawns on the waterfront that are perfect for a picnic.

10. Have a drink at a neighborhood bar

New Orleanians swear by their local gin joints. But locals aren’t all about the alcohol-pocalypse of Bourbon Street. This is the city that (arguably) invented the cocktail, drinks generally made for sipping and taking the edge off, not getting smashed. There’s no shortage of variety when it comes to bars here, from some of the best dive bars in the country to fancy hotel bars. In the latter category, the bar at the historic Hotel Monteleone, which literally rotates (slowly), is always a favorite.

The city’s neighborhood bars are something special, though, and as varied as the neighborhoods themselves. On Magazine Street, you’ll find classy cocktail lounges and Tulane graduates; in the Marigny, a mix of LGBTQ+ friendly spots and hip drinking holes; near Tulane and Loyola, student bars abound. Yet everywhere, people are happy to chat with strangers and strike up a conversation. Don’t leave town without trying a sazerac, the native blend of rye whiskey, bitters and absinthe that is the Platonic ideal of the New Orleans drink; Bar Tonique , at the edge of the French Quarter, makes a legendary version.

11. Pay your respects at a cemetery

Sure, New Orleans is lively, but some of its most fascinating urban geographies house the dead. The cemeteries of New Orleans drip with Southern gothic grandeur and vibe. Best known for their above-ground tombs and mausoleums, each one of the city’s many cemeteries is a window into the past, cast in stone. In some “blocks” of these cities of the dead, you’ll see the communal vaults of families or even professional associations; and because there simply wasn’t much space for cemeteries, mixed faiths can often be found sharing the same acres of land.

The above-ground tombs of New Orleans supposedly owe their existence to the city’s high water table, but these days, historians seem to acknowledge the real reason for the raised vaults is cultural; the original colonists in New Orleans came from France and Iberia, where there is a long tradition of above-ground cemeteries.

The city maintains an extensive website on local cemeteries and when they’re open to visitors. If you want to find a cemetery that mixed above-ground tombs with “regular” burial plots that are rarely visited by tourists, check out Carrollton Cemetery No. 1 , also known as the Green Street Cemetery, a few blocks off Carrollton Avenue in Uptown New Orleans.

This article was first published July 2021 and updated April 2023

Explore related stories

Festivals & Events

Dec 8, 2021 • 5 min read

From decked-out hotel lobbies and cathedral concerts to bonfires on the levee and Reveillon dinners, here's what to do in New Orleans over Christmas.

Mar 15, 2024 • 10 min read

Mar 13, 2024 • 7 min read

Feb 19, 2024 • 7 min read

Jan 8, 2024 • 8 min read

Nov 15, 2023 • 5 min read

Oct 19, 2023 • 5 min read

Oct 6, 2023 • 3 min read

Mar 13, 2023 • 6 min read

Jan 29, 2023 • 7 min read

New Orleans   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Sean Pavone | Getty Images

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.

Popular Tours

Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

(5302 reviews)

from $ 55.00

Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

(2369 reviews)

from $ 109.00

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

(3627 reviews)

from $ 42.00

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.

New Orleans Airboat Ride

(3635 reviews)

from $ 47.20

New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Combo Tour

(9772 reviews)

from $ 29.69

Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour

(4346 reviews)

from $ 37.00

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. The Cabildo is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and is free for children 6 and younger. For more information, visit the official  website .

New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter with Small-Group Option

(4135 reviews)

from $ 75.00

Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans

(1397 reviews)

from $ 32.00

New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure

(948 reviews)

from $ 35.00

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.

Oak Alley Plantation and Large Airboat Swamp Tour from New Orleans

(515 reviews)

from $ 155.00

Small-Group Airboat Swamp Tour with Downtown New Orleans Pickup

(1228 reviews)

from $ 115.00

New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure with Transportation

(572 reviews)

from $ 60.00

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.

New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour After Dark

(769 reviews)

from $ 56.00

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

(1376 reviews)

Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

(2141 reviews)

from $ 40.00

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.

Large Airboat Swamp Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

(804 reviews)

from $ 90.00

New Orleans City and Cemetery Tour

(1903 reviews)

New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Tour with Transportation

(1204 reviews)

from $ 61.75

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.

Things to Do in New Orleans FAQs

Explore more of new orleans.

Best Hotels

When To Visit

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Recommended

The 25 Best Beaches on the East Coast for 2024

Timothy J. Forster|Sharael Kolberg April 19, 2024

The 50 Best Hotels in the USA 2024

Christina Maggitas February 6, 2024

The 32 Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Gwen Pratesi|Timothy J. Forster February 1, 2024

9 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in Florida for 2024

Gwen Pratesi|Amanda Norcross January 5, 2024

24 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S. for 2024

Erin Evans January 4, 2024

26 Top Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts for 2024

Zach Watson December 28, 2023

Solo Vacations: The 36 Best Places to Travel Alone in 2024

Lyn Mettler|Erin Vasta December 22, 2023

26 Cheap Beach Vacations for Travelers on a Budget

Kyle McCarthy|Sharael Kolberg December 4, 2023

The 50 Most Beautiful White Sand Beaches in the World

Holly Johnson December 1, 2023

The 26 Best Zoos in the U.S.

Rachael Hood November 16, 2023

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Neighborhoods to Know

Public Transportation

48 Hours in New Orleans

Day Trips From NOLA

Top Things to Do

Free Things to Do

Things to Do With Kids

NOLA's Best Museums

Guide to Audubon Park

Best Jazz Clubs

Complete Guide to Mardi Gras

Must-Try Food in NOLA

Best Restaurants

Top Bars to Visit

NOLA's Craft Beer

Your Trip to New Orleans: The Complete Guide

pawel.gaul /Getty Images

Even to those already familiar with the lore that surrounds New Orleans —the music, the food, the revelers—this small city is full of unexpected delights. Creole and Cajun culture make it different than any other city in the United States, and those that are only expecting the mania of Bourbon Street will find joy and respite in the city’s unique history lessons, opulent Garden District mansions, Royal Street art galleries, and Bywater cafes and shops.

As the birthplace of jazz ,   there is fantastic live music to be found pretty much any time of day in the Big Easy , and plentiful, unique food and drink to leave you full and happy. With the nation’s official World War II Museum, swamps full of alligators, and city parks of 100-year-old live oaks, there’s something for everyone in this crescent-shaped city of wonder.

Watch Now: Planning Your Visit to New Orleans

Planning your trip.

Best Time to Visit : With Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, and other local festivals taking place February through May, spring is definitely the most popular time to visit New Orleans—but fun events and temperate weather begin as early as October. Most avoid the summer for its imposing heat and humidity.

Language: English (with sprinklings of French)

Getting Around: The historic New Orleans streetcar is a fun way to get around to most popular destinations and neighborhoods. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, organized tours, and public buses are also easy, and there’s no need to rent a car in New Orleans unless you plan to make side trips out of town .

Travel Tip: Those who just stick to the French Quarter and main attractions are missing out on all New Orleans has to offer. Some of the best music, food, art, and scenic strolls take place in areas like the Bywater, Irish Channel, and Bayou St. John around City Park. Explore the best neighborhoods in New Orleans before you plan a visit. 

Things to Do

Plan to spend a good portion of your time in New Orleans eating and drinking plentifully. When you’re ready to walk off all the beignets and po boys, enjoy Spanish moss and floral-framed avenues like St. Charles, the above-ground cemeteries, and the cobblestone streets full of home gardens and old French and Spanish architecture in the French Quarter and elsewhere. New Orleans is truly a nightlife-lovers city (though there are plenty of kid and family-friendly options ), and live music , from jazz and brass bands to contemporary rock there to entertain until the wee hours of the morning. 

The French Quarter : The oldest neighborhood in New Orleans also has the most historic sites, shops, and restaurants per capita of any other area in the city. The architecture in itself—the wrought-iron balconies and Creole cottages of the Spanish colonial era, and a few remaining remnants of the city’s French founding—make it worth just strolling its streets, visiting the St. Louis Cathedral, Cabildo and Pontalba buildings, and Jackson Square, and absorbing all the wonderful sights and sounds. Make at least one jaunt through rowdy Bourbon Street , the art galleries on Royal Street, and the French Market (with a stop for beignets at Cafe Du Monde, of course). When you're done in the French Quarter take a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar. The line was built in 1835 and each car is a National Historic Landmark.  

New Orleans Cemeteries: Above-ground graves are a hallmark of New Orleans. Because of Spanish and French burial traditions, and lack of space, and the city's below-sea-level status, New Orleans cemeteries are filled with tombs and mausoleums.   These ornate structures are surrounded by lush greenery, spooky lore, and famous interred legends. Most neighborhoods you visit include a nearby famous cemetery to tour : St. Louis No. and No. 2 in the French Quarter, Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District, and Metairie Cemetery and the Katrina Memorial in Mid City.

Swamp Tours : The waterways, flora, and fauna of Southeast Louisiana add to the area’s urban appeals, making New Orleans an even more fascinating and unique place to visit. There are a variety of options for touring nearby swamps, all filled with the likes of mangroves, cypress, alligators, and birds: enjoy a walk through the Barataria Preserve on the Mississippi’s West Bank, a canoe or kayak adventure on the North Shore or in Bayou St. John, or an airboat tour in further swamps.

What to Eat and Drink

New Orleans is known for its Creole and Cajun dishes, overlapping cuisines influenced mostly by Spanish, French, and West African cultures, and including must-try dishes like gumbo , etouffee, jambalaya, seafood, and crawfish, all usually flavored with the holy trinity (pepper, onion, celery) and plenty of spice. Many visitors like to indulge in at least one high-end creole meal at  opulent old school restaurants like Galatoire’s and Commander’s Palace, but low budget favorites like po boys and beignets should not be missed. In the decade following Hurricane Katrina and an influx of change and rebuild, a new type of dining has entered the scene, with young, hip restaurants like Turkey and the Wolf, Compere Lapin, and Saba featuring a modern fusion of flavors.

Like the food, good drinking options in New Orleans also range from high brow (expertly crafted cocktails and craft brews) to low brow (frozen daiquiris and big go-beers). There are lax open container laws for the French Quarter   but that is only partially responsible for its reputation as a drinker’s city. Feel free to enjoy a beer or cocktail while strolling the river or walking from club to club on the musical Frenchmen Street in the Marigny. Abita Beer has long been the best known Louisiana beer, but other options from newer craft breweries like Urban South, Gnarly Barley, and NOLA Brewery, are taking over the scene. If you like cocktails, you must have at least one of each of the following specialties: a Sazerac, a Ramos Gin Fizz, frozen daiquiri, and Hurricane. 

Where to Stay

Hotels in the French Quarter and Central Business District provide convenient access to main sites, and range from charmingly historical to reliable corporate chains. A few luxury options, like the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, The Ritz Carlton, and the Windsor Hotel provide relaxing oases amidst the chaos. Stay in smaller inns and Airbnbs in Mid City, the Bywater, and Garden District for a quieter, locals’ glimpse of the city. Chic new boutique hotels like the Ace Hotel, The Catahoula, Pontchartrain Hotel and Peter and Paul are ideal for those wishing to be immersed in art and culture throughout their stay.

Pick your ideal neighborhood stay in New Orleans and explore the best New Orleans hotels of 2020.  

Getting There

With a massive new airport terminal opened in 2019, New Orleans is easier (and more comfortable) to reach than ever before. The regional bus and Amtrak train station is conveniently located in the Central Business District, with a few train routes connecting New Orleans to the rest of the country. 

Culture and Customs

Music club guide and etiquette: Most clubs require a minimum drink purchase or small door fee to enter. The WWOZ (local radio station) livewire is a reliable way to track music goings-on daily around the city. Most clubs at night, like those on Frenchmen Street, require visitors to be over 21; afternoon sets and outdoor festival shows are the best bet for catching live jazz with kids in tow.

Safety: With some of the highest murder rates in the country, New Orleans gets a bad rap for crime that isn’t totally undeserved. Still, tourists need not be deterred from spending time in this desirable location. Most crimes around busy tourist areas like the French Quarter come in the forms of pickpockets and petty scammers—and especially target clearly inebriated tourists, out late at night in less populated (or more dangerous) neighborhoods. Abide to basic common sense: travel in groups and by taxi or rideshare late at night (foot and public transportation is safe at other times), keep your wits about you and travel smart, as you would in any city. 

Money Saving Tips

Visiting New Orleans during a big festival like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but will no doubt cost you the most on a trip to the city, in terms of flights, hotel rates, and the whole package. There is plenty to do other times of year, with smaller local festivals and enough live music and culture to fill your days. If you’re especially immune to high temperatures and sticky weather, summer is a great time to find cheap flights, hotel discounts, and other special rates.

New Orleans prides itself on offering free or affordable entertainment and music, and there are many ways to access great thrills of the city on a budget. Follow this guide for more tips.

New Orleans & Company. "The Birthplace of Jazz."

New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. "Our Streetcars."

Ned Hémard, New Orleans Bar Association. "New Orleans Nostalgia: Above Ground." 2014.

New Orleans City Council. "Sec. 54-404. - Carrying of opened glass containers prohibited in certain areas."

10 Neighborhoods You Need to Know in New Orleans

20 Ways to Party Down at a New Orleans Bachelor Party

How to Visit New Orleans on a Budget

The 10 Best Jazz Clubs in New Orleans

The 10 Best Things to Do With Teenagers in New Orleans

How To Plan The Perfect Romantic Getaway In New Orleans

Getting Around New Orleans: Guide to Public Transportation

Take a Self-Guided Tour Along the New Orleans Riverfront

Travel Editors and Writers Share Their Favorite Food Crawls for 7 US Cities—From New Orleans to Austin

The Most Photogenic Places in New Orleans

The 11 Best Day Trips from New Orleans

Top 10 Haunted US Destinations for the Halloween Lover

10 Free Things to Do in New Orleans

How to Spend Two Days in New Orleans

Top Places to Go and Things to See in New Orleans

A Complete Guide to the Mississippi River Road Trip

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Destinations
• 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.

Wander in Color - a style, travel & lifestyle blog by Erica Valentin

Top fashion & style tips with a bit or travel and lifestyle from top Atlanta Blogger Erica Valentin

• New Orleans , North America , Travel , United States

New Orleans Travel Guide

• NEW ORLEANS, LA
• July 5, 2021

The late great Anthony Bourdain said it best.  There is no place on Earth even remotely like New Orleans.  I haven’t been many places but I trust Anthony and the city was amazing!  I put together a New Orleans Travel Guide with all my favorite places and things NOLA has to offer.  We are fresh off our first trip to New Orleans and I loved every minute of it.  Mardi Gras is obviously on a future dated bucket list but with covid we opted for a trip well after the crowds.  I must say May is great to visit New Orleans.  The weather is hot though, but coming from Atlanta the heat was no big deal.

TRAVEL GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. When to Visit 2. Getting There 3. Where to Stay 4. Where to Eat 5. What to Wear 6. Things to Do 7. Safety Read the full post or use the links above to skip ahead to your favorite section!

“There is no place on Earth even remotely like New Orleans. Don’t even try to compare it to anywhere else.” - Anthony Bourdain

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

I didn’t research this before going but lucky enough I found out that April, May and October are the best times to visit weather wise.  Mardi Gras is also the most popular time to visit for entertainment but prices are much higher.  Hopefully when covid subsides a bit we can come back during Mardi Gras.  April and May are perfect though as there will be less crowds and the weather is warm but not scorching hot.  If you visit during the summer months, be prepared for temps over 100 degrees and humidity!

Like any touristy city this place gets packed during any time of the year.  That being said, If you want to get out and take pictures around any iconic landmarks you need to be up at the crack of dawn.  or you will be greeted with crowds in the hundreds, maybe thousands.

Getting there

New Orleans is located on the Gulf Coast of southern Louisiana.  Depending on where you are coming from it may be a quick drive or a long road trip.  Flights to NOLA from within the U.S. are also relatively cheap right now and if you don’t like road trips flying is a great alternative.  Check out  Travelocity  and  Expedia   are great sites to plan your entire stay all in one place!  Due to covid we opted to drive since it’s about 7 hours from Atlanta.  We left about 6 am and arrived at 1 pm just in time to check into our hotel and enjoy the city!Both

The Best Places to stay

AIRBNB: If you are traveling on a budget or you just like the feel of staying in a home with amenities you are probably looking for an  AirBnb .  There are actually some strict regulations on AirBnb’s in New Orleans but you can find them.

HISTORICAL HOTELS:   If you are looking for the historical vibes be sure to check out  Hotel Monteleone  and the famous Carousel Bar.   Hotel Provincial   and  The Olivier House  are also great picks if you really want that old town NOLA vibe.

UPSCALE MODERN:  For a more modern vibe check out the Marriott properties.  We were lucky enough to be hosted by the Marriott for entire stay and they have  multiple properties around New Orleans for any budget!

want to hear more about our stay at the marriott?

The best places to eat.

CAFE BEIGNET:   New Orleans has a huge food and they are known for beignets.  When it comes to the best beignets though, there is some stiff competition between Café Du Monde & Café Beignet .  Newcomers swear by Café DuMonde but people on the street that have had both to swear by Café Beignet.  The most difference is that Café Beignet serves their on the warm and Café DuMonde does not so it depends what you like.  I’m not a huge sweets person and in fact, I despise funnel cakes.  To me, a beignet tastes just like a funnel cake so I wasn’t a fan of either.

One thing I did love more about Café Beignet though, is that they also serve regular food too so we also had some delicious gumbo and a po’boy!  When we tried to go to Café DuMonde they only have coffee and beignets on the menu so we skipped on Café DuMonde.  With either place, be sure to get there before opening or you may get stuck in an hour long wait in line!

CENTRAL GROCERY NEW ORLEANS: The famous muffuletta comes Central Grocery New Orleans. This iconic sandwich originated with the influx of Sicilian immigrants and is a must try!  Aside from the famed muffuletta this grocery store if full of products straight from Sicily & Italy.  It reminded me a lot of some of the Italian grocery stores we loved so much back in New Jersey.  They also have a small bar so you can sit down to eat without reservations if you walk in from the street which is a rare find in New Orleans.

PECHE: Located on the gulf,  New Orleans is home to some of the most delicious seafood! Per the recommendations of several people we decided to check out Peche , but like many other places there was no walk-in seating available so we booked a reservation for the next day. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent! We shared an oyster platter and the fried bread was to die for!

SOFIA:   If you like lighter Italian style food this is a great option! They have a huge wine menu and al fresco dining…my favorite!!  Of course my daughters name is also Sofia so they get points for that too!

There were several other places we wanted to eat at as well but 2 of them were closed and the rest were booked but we still found some great places that we feel in love with too.  Next time we visit the crescent city we will be checking out Cane & Table , Shaya , Dooky Chase , Willie Mae’s and a few others!

know before you go

What to wear in nola.

It’s pretty safe to say you probably don’t need a bikini because there are no beaches in NOLA.   Most likely you are going to be out and about exploring the nightlife that makes this city famous.   Although just in case maybe bring one swimsuit if your hotel has a pool or jacuzzi.  I would definitely pack shorts, tank tops and sandals that are comfortable enough to walk around in.  Nightlife is huge here so pack accordingly if you like to go out in the evenings.   If you plan on taking a swamp tour, keep in mind you can get dirty and wet so be sure to bring a pair or old sneakers.

things to see and do

ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL:   I grew up Roman Catholic and the awe and beauty in the inside of a Catholic Church never ceases to amaze me!  St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson square just happens to be the oldest Catholic church in the United States that still holds regular mass services.  

THE GARDEN DISTRICT:   I loved touring this area and the homes are gorgeous!  Built in the 1800’s, the entire neighborhood was once the  Livaudais Plantation , ( pronounced Lee-Voo-Day ).  After a divorce the wife of the owner moved back to France and sold the land to business men. From then on wealthy people began to build these mansions that are still just as gorgeous today!  It’s hands-down one of the most beautiful neighborhoods I have seen in my life.  The pink Carroll-Crawford House and the Pritchard-Pigott House were my favorites!

TOUR A CEMETARY: New Orleans lies below sea level and because of this, the cemeteries are above ground.  They  are hauntingly beautiful and give you a nostalgia. In the past, cemeteries were open all the time but due to vandalism, you can only enter via tours now.  Lafayette Cemetery is one of the most notable cemeteries in the city.  We had a cemetery tour booked but had to bail at the last minute due to time constraints but if you are looking to tour one there are tons of options online.

HAVE A DRINK AT THE CAROUSEL BAR: Located in Hotel Monteleone, the famous  Carousel Bar  spins a full rotation every 15 minutes but it is very hard to get a seat.  Try getting there early or just politely ask someone to let you know when they are leaving so you can get an insta-worthy shot at the bar!

VISIT THE SAZERAC HOUSE:  Take a tour of the historic Sazerac House and learn all about the history behind prohibition and the famed New Orleans cocktail known as ‘The Sazerac.’  You can tour the multilevel facility at your own leisure and you get to enjoy 3 mini-cocktails during your visit!  The best part is that the tour is free and you just need to make a reservation. 

NOLA Kayak tours

TAKE A SWAMP TOUR:  A swamp tour is a must when visiting New Orleans especially if you want to see the local wildlife.   The kayak tour guides are seasoned veterans when it comes to kayaking and really put you at ease if it’s your first time in the swamp.  I was nervous at first but to my surprise they just want to be left alone. Just keep an eye out for anything that resembles a shiny wet log because it’s probably a gator.   I also recommend a morning tour because the turtles and alligators love to hang out in the sun after chilly night in the swamp.     

As tempting as it is to take a big boat through the swamp and feed/hold the alligators, please don’t.  These types of tours are not good for wildlife.  They are not pets and as humans we should respect their habitat so I highly suggest one of these Kayak Tours instead!

VISIT A PLANTATION:  This was one of the things I really wanted to do but we ran out of time. While visits to plantations are a very sad awful reality of the past they can make for a good educational experience.  I recommend checking one out if you have time and  Grayline  has some of the best packages. Oak Alley and Whitney Plantation are the two most popular among visitors!

new orleans steamboat company

TAKE A STEAMBOAT RIVER CRUISE:   If you are looking for a more laid back relaxing activity go for a steamboat cruise on the river.  The Steamer Natchez and the Riverboat City of New Orleans offer multiple tours daily.  Enjoy 4 levels of fun while cruising the river.  The top level features a full bar and seating where you can listen to live jazz! If you get hungry during your cruise there is also a full restaurant on the bottom level.

Is it safe???

Like any big city in any part of the world you should always use your best judgement.  The city is relatively safe but at night stick to well populated areas and be sure to keep an eye on your belongings.  You may be surprised to learn that most people are friendly and don’t wish to bother anyone.  The people of New Orleans are extremely nice to travelers and very hospitable and we loved every person we met there!

All-in-all, visiting the crescent city for the first time was absolutely amazing but my only complaint is that I didn’t have more time to spend.  Our trip was packed full every single day so I have to leave several things off my bucket list.  But hey, that means I should plan another trip there in the near future right?!  Check back again in the near future as I will add additional content to my New Orleans Travel Guide with each new visit!

Did you enjoy my New orleans travel guide?

Are you a travel blogger looking to share your own posts with the world?  Are you a reader just looking for inspiration for your next trip?  Check out these blogs for more fun travel guides and travel inspiration: MY CORNER OF THE WORLD | SHARON’S SOUVENEIRS

Liked this post? share it on social!

Related Posts

July 9, 2021 at 2:51 pm

Loved your article Erica. Makes me want to travel right now!

July 10, 2021 at 12:54 pm

mother daughter trip????

July 12, 2021 at 4:15 am

It’s great to see your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!

July 27, 2021 at 5:56 pm

Thank you so much!

July 14, 2021 at 8:03 am

I’d love to go to New Orleans, it looks amazing! My husband has been and loved it. It’s definitely on my bucket list!

Emma xxx http://www.style-splash.com

July 27, 2021 at 5:57 pm

I highly recommend! It is amazing and such a fun place to visit!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign up for Exclusive Access

iwanderincolor

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Send a Message

• Skip to main content
• Skip to header right navigation
• Skip to after header navigation
• Skip to site footer

Denise and Reed

Creating the life of your dreams isn't easy, but it's so worth it.

Ultimate New Orleans Travel Guide

With an interactive map included*.

​​More than one local told us that “there’s nowhere else like New Orleans,” and that’s uncontested. It’s hard to describe it, but it’s lit up from the inside out. 

It’s like stepping into a portal, and once you leave, you almost instantly miss the city’s energy. Still, it was such an inexplicable experience that you question whether it happened. There’s a vibrancy here that cannot be tempered. 

Reed had never been to New Orleans before, so we knew we had to visit. So we buckled down and got to work doing our research to prepare for van life in the city. This guide is helpful for other van lifers, travel lovers, or those interested in taking a road trip to the city of jazz. (Keep reading to find the interactive map of our favorite places in New Orleans!)

Best time to go 

The weather was great when we were there in early March. It was beginning to get warm, but there was a breeze. However, be aware that there will be rainstorms and high winds at this time. There are also possible tornado threats in the spring. Therefore we recommend anytime between December- and April. (If you come to New Orleans in the winter, you will miss the large crowds, and if you come in spring, you will be there for the parades and beautiful springtime weather!)

If you are curious about our experience in New Orleans, watch our Youtube video to find out!

History Museums 

• Tulane Museum of Natural History 
• New Orleans African American Museum 
• The Backstreet Cultural Museum 

George and Leah McKewnna Museum of African American Art 

• The Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans 
• The National WWII Museum 
• Amistad Research Center 

Ways to explore the city for free 

Here’s a list of 50 things to do for free in the city 

Here are our favorite free things to do in New Orleans:

Self-guided tour of the ST. Louis Cathedral  

The cathedral is open daily from 9:00- 4:00. There is a daily mass at 12:05 pm. FOr a $1.00 donation, you can receive a self-guided brochure at the entrance. Guided group tours are only available with prior reservations. 

French Quarter Walking Tour 

Visit this website or download “GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities” from iTunes App Store or Google Play to your mobile phone or tablet. 

Visit a few of New Orlean’s many parks 

Check out julia street galleries .

Download a free Cell Phone tour of the Historic New Orleans Collections buildings and courtyards. Julia Street is known for its many art galleries. Nicknamed “Gallery Row,” you can find more than a dozen art galleries lining both sides of the road. 

In the 19th century, this street was established to store products and merchandise shipped through the port of New Orleans. As commerce and industry faded, so did the prosperity of Julia street. 

Gallery openings occur at 6 pm on the first Saturday of every month. This area is also known as The Arts District of New Orleans (ADNO) 

Like us, you can walk down this vibrant street and stop in any place that suits you. Or you can pick a few of the many fantastic art galleries from this list of the Best Art Galleries In the New Orleans Warehouse District and take a look. 

Listen to the many free live bands across the city 

There are many places in the city where you can enjoy free live music. Be aware that tipping is a big part of the music scene, and often these tips constitute all or most of a band’s compensation, especially when there is no cover or fee. 

Read more about the New Orleans music scene below.

The 25 Best Things to do in Louisiana

Ways to get around the city 

Bike your way through new orleans.

There are many places where you can rent a bicycle to get around the city. As well as numerous tours you can take. 

https://www.neworleans.com/plan/itineraries/new-orleans-bike-itinerary/

Take a taxi

Taxis are an easy way to explore the city, but they may not always be the most affordable, depending on how far you need to go. Nevertheless, they are a convenient way to get around in a pinch and can get you to point A to B effectively by someone who knows the city reasonably well and may be able to offer up local spots and must-try bites around the city. United Cabs, INC (504) 522-9771 and New Orleans Carriage Cab (504) 207-7777 are reputable cabs. Lyft and Uber are also options. 

Jump on a streetcar 

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority runs streetcars. You can use the RTA website or GoMobile to buy tickets and more information about the routes and schedule. A one-way ticket on streetcars and buses is $1.25 per person. In addition, you can purchase a Jazzy Pass, which gets you unlimited rides on both buses and streetcars for one, three,  five, or thirty-one days. These passes range from $3 to $55. You can get this pass online or at several retail locations. 

Take a tour around the city. 

There are so many ways to peruse this city. Likewise, tours are abundant throughout this city. Ghost tours, trolly tours, pub crawls, and the likes. 

NOLA Historic Tours has been showing tourists around the Big Easy since 1995. These tours are a way to see the city from a new perspective and learn things about the city from an accredited guide. From swamp tours to voodoo, music, ghost tours, and more. You find a tor to fit almost any New Orleans curiosity that you may have. 

Riverboat cruise

Taking a riverboat cruise is a way to see the city from a unique perspective. There is a range in prices depending on the duration and type of cruise. A 2.5 hour  Creole Queen History Cruise with lunch for $36/ per person. There are many more options for you to pick from as well. 

Swamp tour 

Swamp tours are one of the New Orleans must-dos that we did not have time for, but we wish we had! You can check out some of the various options on Get Your Guide. One of the many options is a 4-hour small-group swamp tour by airboat for $59/ per person or a 1.5-4 hour Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise that starts at $27/ per person. 

Music scene

Nowhere does music like New Orleans. Regardless of when you visit, you are likely to find somewhere that has live music somewhere in New Orleans. What’s your flavor? New Orleans has it all. We all know that New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz. And that is only one of the countless genres you will come across. You may also find swamp pop, funk, rap, bounce, and so much more as you peruse the streets of this vibrant city. 

Louis Armstrong, Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, Trombone Shorty, and James Booker are just a few of the countless musicians from the city. You can read more about the many amazing people who were influenced by the vibrance of New Orleans and vice versa here . 

There is an abundance of places to hear fantastic music in the city. Head to this website to check out some of the most well-known venues for amazing music  In the Big easy 

Frenchman 

Frenchman street is sometimes known as “Baby Bourbon” street. We found some of the best musicians you will ever hear on the street corners in New Orleans. Walk around downtown, and your ears will thank you. If you get the chance, see if you can find a live show on Frenchmen street.

Many venues on Frenchmen offer food, drinks, and live music and are open to all ages until evening. Some places may have a cover or a one-drink minimum to enjoy the atmosphere. 

Snug harbor

Snug Harbor is a sit-down ticketed theater and home to well-known local and touring modern jazz musicians. They also offer a separate restaurant.

The Spotted Cat 

(623 Frenchman Street) 

Apple Barrel 

(609 Frenchman street) 

Blues club 

Cafe Negril 

(606 Frenchman street) 

Parks and outdoor spaces 

There are some fantastic parks in the city. Our favorites were:

Audubon Riverview Park

This park runs alongside the Mississippi River hence the name. It closes at 9 pm, and you’ll find restrooms available and benches and tables. The park is located right behind the Audubon Zoo.

City Park is a massive park featuring tons of activities. Put-put golf, disc golf, tennis courts, botanical garden, sculpture garden, children’s museum, bike rentals, canals, pavilions, Cafe du Monde, etc. 

Lakeshore Park

Lakeshore Park is a scenic place situated along Lake Pontchartrain. There aren’t a lot of amenities here; it’s more about the view and walking alongside the lake. There are picnic areas. 

Couturie Forest

Located at the Northern end of the City Park, this “forest” has several parking options. There are a lot of trails for such a small area. Wander through the forest to reach the highest point in New Orleans. LaBorde lookout is 42 feet above sea level.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

The art scene is unreal out here. We could have spent a lifetime on this alone. 

Nola mural on Magazine st 

Art district galleries, restaurants , parkway bakery & tavern.

This restaurant is famous for its amazing po’boys. They also offer a large outdoor seating area. I recommend the James Brown or the BBQ Shrimp po’boy, a must-try. 

French Toast on Decatur

The french toast, the restaurant’s namesake, is impressive. We split an order of the original (french toast with berries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup), and we both found it delicious. They also have coconut cream stuffed and king cake french toast for those looking for something even sweeter! In addition to the sweets, they have savory crepes and more traditional breakfast staples, Denise had an omelet with ratatouille, chevre, and spinach, and Reed had the chicken and waffles. 

Dragos seafood restaurant

There are several locations downtown, Metairie, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge. Reed’s parents visited us while we were here and stayed at the Hilton, which had a restaurant inside the hotel. If you get the chance to eat at one of the locations in town, we strongly recommend you try charbroiled oysters that you can witness them make fresh on the grill. They also have an extensive seafood menu. 

Cajun Seafood

Cajun is a place you don’t want to miss if you love crawfish. The seasoning they use has just the right amount of spice. They also make a mean softshell po’boy. 

Mother’s Restaurant

come here for a no-frills cafeteria-style eatery. The food was hearty and delicious. They’re famous for their ham, and I found it excellent as someone who doesn’t love ham; it’s seasoned wonderfully. I also enjoyed the grits with crawfish etouffee. They have good breakfast options and lunch and cajun dinner options such as po’boys and jambalaya.

Baldwin and Co .

Thanks again, @Anaïsmoniq, for sharing this special place with us. There are so many fantastic BIPOC owned businesses! Be sure to check them out.

BIPOC owned businesses?

 for a list of black-owned businesses, click this link.

Located at the Northern end of the City Park, this “forest” has several parking options. There are a lot of trails for such a small area. Wander through the forest to reach the highest point in New Orleans. LaBorde’s lookout is 42 feet above sea level.

12 Scenic Trails for Hiking in Louisiana

Recommended things to do that we didn’t get to try:

Elizabeth’s- southern breakfast and lunch

Byblos Mediterranean 

Parasol’s – Po Boys

See the Largest Free-Roaming Wildlife Preserve

Vanlife in New Orleans

Where to sleep

How to stealth camp in new orleans .

New Orleans is a pretty van-friendly place! Based on our experience. Sleeping in your van is not illegal in Louisianna. You can sleep 24 hours a day at rest stops day or night. Specific Home depots, camping worlds, parking lots, and streets are the perfect place to call home in the state. During our week-extended stay, we found plenty of comfortable places in neighborhoods to call home for the night in the city. According to an article written by Smart Financial , some people recommend fishing piers as a reasonably safe bet to spend the night. Keep in mind that this list does not guarantee that you won’t get a knock, but these are places that worked well for us. 

Side streets in neighborhoods make good places to sleep in New Orleans. Everyone parks on the road, so you blend in nicely. Stealth camping etiquette is recommended. To keep a low profile, we do everything necessary for bedtime before rolling into our spot for the night, such as brushing our teeth, using the toilet, eating dinner, cleaning the van, etc. We pull into our area after dark. We then black out the windows and maybe watch a movie with our headphones on before sleeping. Anywhere off the main streets you deem quiet is a good option. We found some quiet neighborhoods that weren’t too close to bars or late-night restaurants. Below is a list of some of the areas where we slept. We rotated spots each night to reduce our chances of being recognized. 

The streets in these areas can be tight, with cars often lining both sides of the road. We looked for somewhere to park that had wide enough streets and wasn’t directly in front of a house, preferably alongside their fence and not alongside any windows, doors, or walkways. We weren’t bothered at all and didn’t feel out of place. New Orleans has a lot going on, and people don’t seem to be too worried about a van parked on the street for a night. 

Uptown borders Audubon and is also another option for an area to sleep.  

If you want to know more about or tips on camping in the city, check out our Stealth Camp Guide. 

Where did we get water?

We didn’t need to get water while in the city, but ioverlander had a few recommendations for places to go.

First, fire station engine nine on Frenchman st has a potable water spigot. This option is listed on the ioverlander app, and we verified it in person while walking around the city.

Ney Rey Park was another option on ioverlander. It is a park with a gymnasium building and public bathrooms. There is a free water spigot out front.

Would we go back & recommend it?

Yes! New Orleans is a bustling city full of energy and excitement. There’s tons to do, food, drinks, music, and entertainment galore. Artists will rejoice in the creative nature of New Orleans. So if you’re looking for a good time or a place full of energy and vibrancy, a visit to New Orleans is a great option.

Interactive map

Have you been to New Orleans?

Are there any fantastic parts of the city or surrounding area that are a must-see we left out? 

About Denise Meeker

We’re on the road right now – join in on the fun and follow @thebrokebackpacker on IG!

• Meet the Team
• Work with Us
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Scandinavia
• Philippines
• South Korea
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Budget Travel
• Work & Travel
• The Broke Backpacker Manifesto
• Travel Resources
• How to Travel on $10/day

Home » North America » USA » New Orleans

The BEST New Orleans Travel Guide • 2024 (Budget Tips + Itineraries)

Ask someone what happens in New Orleans and 90% of the time they will say, “Mardi Gras” or “hurricanes.” While both of these things are assured most years, visiting New Orleans offers so much more than wild weather and even wilder parties.

There are tons of things to do in New Orleans! From exploring the roots of jazz to playing on the roots of colossal oaks, the Big Easy caters to all kinds of travelers! You could spend a week in New Orleans, a month, even a lifetime, and you’ll still find new things to keep you entertained here.

Obviously, I’d be remiss if we didn’t cover the food or festivals in this New Orleans travel guide as they are, admittedly, pretty spectacular. So don’t you worry – we are going to talk plenty about all the essential New Orleans travel tips you’ll need for your NoLa adventure.

So pack your bags and bring your most comfortable clothing with you. By the time you finish all those crawfish and sazeracs, you’re going to be rolling out of New Orleans in a wheelbarrow!

Why Visit New Orleans?

A sample 3-day itinerary for new orleans, top 10 things to do in new orleans, backpacker accommodation in new orleans, new orleans backpacking costs, best time to travel to new orleans, staying safe in new orleans, how to get into and around new orleans, working and volunteering in new orleans, nightlife in new orleans, faqs about traveling in new orleans, final advice before visiting new orleans.

A melting pot of people and culture, musical vibes all day and night, and America’s best seafood are just some of the standout things that make a stop in the Big Easy a must during your USA backpacking trip .

Go crazy at wild parties, bask in the mild climate almost year-round, and get seriously caked up from one of the many bakeries around Mardi Gras season.

New Orleans is known for its debauchery, but it’s got a softer side too. The city is resilient and exudes vibes and decor that can pretty much only be found here. Sure Bourbon Street is just one of those NoLa locales you just can’t miss, but New Orleans is so much more than that!

Dive into the New Orleans history, pop into some day-time music scenes, and spend a day or two appreciating the majestic Spanish moss. No matter how you choose to spend your New Orleans itinerary, you can guarantee it’ll be entertaining!

What are the Major Attractions in New Orleans?

There are tons of places to visit in New Orleans , ranging from wild parties in the French Quarter to sunny days spent amongst Spanish Moss. But seriously–this is a city that truly has something for everyone.

Love food? New Orleans has some of the best eats in the entire United States. Craving some live music? Just head on downtown at any time of day for that smooth traditioal New Orleans jazz.

Paranormal and nature lovers will particularly fall in love with this Southern city by the Mississippi River, though anyone is bound to find a highlight. You could easily spend a WHILE exploring every nook and cranny of the Big Easy. If you’re short on time, here’s what you just can’t miss:

• The French Quarter
• New Orleans City Park
• St. Charles Street Car Ride
• The Garden District
• Historical Mausoleums

How to Long Spend in New Orleans?

There’s a very good chance that you’re not going to want to leave once you make it to the Big Easy. The overwhelming amount of delicious food, live music, and beautiful architecture tends to impress most travelers.

So while you could easily spend a lifetime getting to know New Orleans, 3 days is the perfect amount of time to start a New Orleans itinerary. This will allow you to see all the city’s famous attractions, fill your stomach with creole & cajun, and even get off the beaten path a bit.

The following is a sample 3-day itinerary for a weekend in New Orleans . The top destinations mentioned in this New Orleans travel guide are coming your way…

New Orleans Itinerary Day 1: The French Quarter and Bywater

On the first day of this New Orleans travel guide, we’re going to get the touristy stuff out of the way. Today, you’re going to knock out the French Quarter and then hit up Marigny/Bywater .

Let’s start in the French Quarter . This is the oldest part of the city and, as the name suggests, was originally built by the French. Interestingly enough, most of the architecture here isn’t even French – the Spanish are responsible for the majority of the Quarter’s contemporary architecture.

A lot of New Orleans’ must-see sights are located in the French Quarter. Here you’ll find the infamous locales of Bourbon Street and Jackson Square. You can spend a fair amount of time in Jackson just people watching.

There are a number of interesting sites around Jackson Square. First, stop at The Cabildo –a museum dedicated to New Orleans’ origins – while Preservation Hall is one of the most significant Jazz landmarks in the city.

The French Quarter hosts many of the most famous restaurants in New Orleans as well as some cool places to shop. Be sure to swing by the French Market , a flea market of sorts that’s been open since 1791. End your time in the Big Easy’s most famous neighborhood with a quick (or not so quick) stop at the Old Absinthe House for a Sazerac.

When you’re ready to escape the masses, head toward Marigny and Bywater . These are two local neighborhoods in New Orleans and are more laid back.

If you walk up Royal Street, you’ll get to pass the Lalaurie Mansion, Palace French Market, and Studio Be. Royal Street itself is pretty boutique so you’ll get to window shop a lot.

End your day with a drink at Bacchanal Spirits and a show at Music Box Village.

New Orleans Itinerary Day 2: City Park and Lakeview Vibes

On the second day of this New Orleans travel guide, head toward the lake for a day of relative peace and quiet. You’ll be spending a lot of time in the park and exploring New Orleans’ many grandiose cemeteries.

From the French Quarter, grab the Canal Street Streetcar and ride it until the end of the line. First, you’ll shoot through the bustling city center. As you pass under the I-10, you’ll see the first of the day’s mausoleums on the right: St. Louis Cemetery . Hop off if you like or push on.

After about 20 mins, you should reach the terminus of the streetcar. Directly in front of you should be two more of the city’s most opulent cemeteries: Metairie and Greenwood. Wander around these necropolises and admire the many lavish headstones and bronze ornaments. Just please be respectful of offerings and Holy Ground, if there are any.

Just up from the cemeteries is the enormous New Orleans City Park, which is where we’re heading next. This park is a great place to relax and watch the clouds go by.

You’ll be walking under giant oaks and cypresses that are covered in one of New Orleans’ most famous features: Spanish Moss AKA “Old Man Beard. ” The trees creak and the moss moves from the wind, in most serene moments you’ll have in the city. If you visit the Singing Oak near the Art Museum, you’ll have the chance to hear its own song made from a handful of custom wind chimes.

When you’re ready, head back to the city center via Esplanade Avenue or head up towards Harrison . Harrison is the main street of the residential Lakeview neighborhood and has a number of good bars and restaurants.

New Orleans Itinerary Day 3: St. Charles to Audubon

Let’s start at Lee Circle , which hosts two museums that we haven’t seen yet: the National World War II Museum and the Ogden . In particular, the Ogden is worthwhile for its collection of historical Southern art, which often deals with complex issues like slavery and colonialism.

At this point, we’re going to be using the St. Charles Streetcar as our primary means of transport. You’ll be passing through and near a lot of the best neighborhoods in New Orleans, so get ready to hop on and off.

Freret Street and Magazine Street are located a couple of blocks on either side of St Charles Avenue and both are really nice to walk around. You could conceivably walk down one and return back via the other, though that would be quite a bit of walking.

Very close by Lee Circle is Oretha Castle Haley Blvd (OCH) , which is on the cusp of becoming the next big pedestrian street. If you wanted to see a bit of New Orleans before it’s absorbed into the mass consumer matrix, drop by this little slice.

Further along, you’ll eventually arrive in the Garden District. Here you’ll find rows of grand oaks and even grander mansions from the old days. Lafayette Cemetery is also in this area and it is arguably the coolest in the city.

Audubon Park is the end of the line for us. As you leave the tram, you’ll see Tulane to your right. The Newcomb Art Museum is on campus and it’s open to the public as well.  

Spending More Time in New Orleans?

For those with more time on their hands, New Orleans can absolutely provide. The city has enough to keep you busy for at least a week, though you can easily spend months here and not get bored. Here are some lesser-known things to do in New Orleans:

• Ride the Steamboat Natchez : Cruise down the Mississippi River on New Orleans’ only authentic steamboat. Not only will you get to enjoy a slight breeze as you move along the water, but this being the Big Easy, you can also expect some live New Orleans jazz music on board.
• Visit Mardi Gras World : Go behind the scenes of one of the world’s coolest festivals at Mardi Gras World, which is open 7 day a week. Learn about the history of the event and see how the iconic floats are made!
• Check out Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo : This museum and store–located in the former home of the Scond Voodoo Queen of New Orleans–will introduce you to the practice that’s deeply embedded into the city’s culture and heritage. Window shop, have a psychic reading, or grab a souvenir at this totally unique-to-New Orleans store.
• See the St. Louis Cathedral : The oldest Catholic cathedral in the continental US, this historical church dates back to the 1700’s and is an ideal place for some peace in Jackson Square.
• Go on A Bike Tour : One of the best ways to take in New Orleans is from the seat of a bike! Yup–the city is surprisingly cycle friendly and a self-guided or group tour is a fab way to see all of the city’s most iconic sights.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

Here are some of the top things to do in New Orleans that you just shouldn’t skip:

1. Eat everything

There are so many places to eat in New Orleans that it’s hard to know where to start. Cajun food, French, BBQ, seafood; you’re just going to be excited for the next time you can eat it. You could spend a week in New Orleans, eating out for every meal, and still not come close to grasping the full breadth of the food here.

2. Join the party

Mardi Gras is one huge party and one of the most famous festivals in the world . But there are so many other festivals in New Orleans too! The likes of Jazz Fest , Satchmo , and Voodoo are all worth attending, if not for their cultural offerings than for their great fun.

3. …Or the dead

New Orleans isn’t necessarily the first place you think of if you’re into dark tourism . But here’s a bit of New Orleans’ insider information: did you know that there are seven supposed entryways to the underworld here? Referred to as the Gates of Guinee, these portals are fabled in voodoo culture.

Explore New Orleans and see if you can discover their location. Otherwise, visit the graveyards for a more literal deathly experience.

4. Visit a plantation

There are a number of plantations on the outskirts of New Orleans that have been preserved for the means of modern education. Louisiana was an area where slavery was extremely high and it has affected New Orleans history dramatically. Visit either the Whitney Plantation or the Oak Alley Plantation to educate yourself about this horrible era.

5. Listen to live music everywhere

If you don’t know what to do in New Orleans at night, then just step outside. Almost immediately, you should hear music blaring from some local lounge or street corner. Just follow the sweet sounds of rhythm and harmony and you’ll find your place soon enough.

6. Be a pedestrian

No matter where you stay in New Orleans, there’s always a cool and exciting street nearby. Between the likes of Freret, Royal, St Claude, and everything in between, there is always something going on nearby. Just leave the flat and wander around a bit.

7. Chill out under the trees

Two points of interest in New Orleans that may go unnoticed are the Spanish Moss and the enormous trees that host it. For locals, these two floras are among the most iconic features of the city and are great sources of nostalgia. Hang out under a mighty oak and just watch the Old Man’s Beard blow in the wind.

8. Ride the tram on St. Charles

New Orleans has several historic streetcars that are wonderfully vintage. The St. Charles line is particularly pretty though as the way is lined with beautiful trees. You’ll get to pass by the Garden District as well, which is one of the most elegant neighborhoods in New Orleans.

9. Fall in a second line

If you only have 3 days in New Orleans, the one thing that you have to look for is a second line march. These mini-parades are led by Jazz ensembles and are usually organized for specific celebrations. They also have a tendency to grow, as most people can’t resist joining in the line.

10. Learn about New Orleans history

Some of the absolute must-see places in New Orleans are the many museums that explain its heritage and identity. Places like the Cabildo, the Ogden, and Mardi Gras World provide a wealth of knowledge concerning one of the most culturally unique places in the USA. Don’t forget to ask the homegrown New Orleanians about where they live either.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

New Orleans hostels are dirt cheap and, given New Orleans’ wild reputation, are a great way to meet other people. A lot of hostels in New Orleans are inherently social and can be pretty loud at times. Hopefully, you’re not the introverted type who hides in the dormitories.

Keep in mind that New Orleans is a tourist town and tourist towns are meant to have lots of accommodation! You’ll find all kinds of different lodges in New Orleans besides just hostels, from weird bungalows to the ritziest penthouse suites along with eco-friendly digs. The choice is yours!

I generally prefer   Airbnb in New Orleans . They are more personable and homier than hotels, and New Orleans has endless options to choose from for every kind of traveller! If you like nature, you can find some incredible Louisiana cabins in the French Quarter and in rural areas outside the city.

For more variety in your accommodation choices, be sure to check out Airbnb’s top competitor: VRBO. VRBOs in New Orleans are fun, quirky vacation rentals, perfect for a trip to one of the US’ most unique locales.

New Orleans actually has a number of RV parks/campgrounds within the city limits and these should appeal to people traveling on a shoestring budget. Just remember to lock your car and bring a quality backpacking tent !

The Best Places to Stay in New Orleans

Deciding where to stay in New Orleans isn’t complicated when you’re armed with the right information. Check out some of the top neighborhoods to come home to while out in the Big Easy:

French Quarter

The oldest and most famous neighborhood in New Orleans, there’s no better place to stay on your first visit than the French Quarter.

Central Business District

Don’t let the name fool you; New Orleans’ Central Business District isn’t all stuffy suits and quiet nights. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. This downtown neighbourhood is bursting with fun and excitement.

Bourbon Street

Home to Mardi Gras, big brass bands and plenty of colourful buildings, Bourbon Street is without a doubt the liveliest and craziest part of the city.

Faubourg Marigny

If you’re looking for a dynamic neighborhood with a unique atmosphere, interesting history and wonderful culture, then Faubourg Marigny is for you!

North of the city center are the neighboring districts of Mid-City and Lakeview. These two charming neighborhoods are packed with lush landscapes, interesting art, and plenty of unique experiences. And, they are our pick for where to stay for families visiting New Orleans.

New Orleans Budget Accommodation Hacks

Sometimes you need your own roof above your head – I know the feeling. Other times, you’re doing everything you can to save a nickel and dime.

If you’re trying to cut the costs of travel to New Orleans then maybe it’s time to stay somewhere besides a hostel. And you might struggle to find a Bourbon Street hotel that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If you need to save money, try one of these:

• Couchsurf! – Couchsurfing is the best way to save on cash when it comes to accommodation since most of the time you’re crashing for free. Staying with a local host is also a great chance to experience a more authentic side of the city and to visit hidden New Orleans.
• Tap into your backpacker network – You never know when you have a friend in a foreign city! If you’ve traveled a lot, you may have met someone from New Orleans or know someone who knows someone.
• Camp ! – Urban camping is a growing trend in many cities. These campsites are comfortable, sociable, safe, and cheap. They are often located on the outskirts of town, which means they are quieter too.

New Orleans is a very seasonal town, which means prices will fluctuate greatly depending on when you visit. Come during Mardi Gras and be ready to spend a pretty penny. During the low seasons though, visiting New Orleans can be very cheap.

Regardless of when you are planning a trip to New Orleans, there are always ways to cut costs and spend less. Having some budget travel tips is crucial to visiting anywhere in the USA on the cheap and extending your trip.

I’ve gotten pretty good at limiting my travel expenses. It took me years to perfect some methods, but here I’m going to share my best New Orleans travel tips. With this advice, you’ll be able to visit New Orleans on the cheap, no matter what time of year.

A lower daily budget for New Orleans would be around $50-$60. This will get you a dorm bed, groceries, bus tickets, and some extra money for beers or whatever.

Accommodation in New Orleans will undoubtedly be your highest expense. Hotels in New Orleans can be affordable in the summer and fall, but watch out for the spring – prices are highest from February-May.

To save the most on lodging in New Orleans, stick to hostels, use local campgrounds, or check out a New Orleans eco-lodge to spice things up.

Food can be more or less as expensive as you want it to be. Fancy Michelin-star French cooking in the Garden District? Good luck wrapping your head around that bill. You’re better off eating in one of the food halls or just sticking to street gumbo if you’re on a budget.

As always, be mindful of how much you drink as well. Lack of inhibition can really do a number on your wallet.

A Daily Budget in New Orleans

Here’s a breakdown of a daily budget in New Orleans including the average daily costs of various expenses!

A Few Free Things to Do in New Orleans

The best way to visit New Orleans on a budget is to take advantage of all the free activities. Some of the most fun things to do in New Orleans are totally free as well, so enjoy yourselves!

• Movies – New Orleans is a big fan of outdoor screenings. These are often held in public places, like parks, and are free to the viewing public as well. Be sure to check out the Moonlight Movies series, Cinema Sundays in the French Quarter, and Rivertown Movies in the Park.
• Free museums – New Orleans has quite a few cultural centers that offer free entry on certain days of the week/year. The Historic New Orleans Collection, Newcomb Art Gallery, World War II Museum, and the House of Dance and Feathers are all such places. The Ogden Museum and Art Museum offer free days, but only to Louisiana residents.
• Concerts and jam seshes – There is music everywhere in this city – a lot of the time, it’s totally free as well! There are numerous free concerts in New Orleans held year round, like Wednesdays at the Square and Jazz in the Park. Local Bon Operatit also hosts free opera performances every 2nd Wednesday. If you strike out with these, there’s always a street performer around to serenade you.
• Comedy shows – New Orleans has an enormous comedy club scene and every week there is something free going on. Open mics, workshops, and improv sessions are just a few of the events . You may have to buy a drink at the bar and we suggest you do just that – being cheap is easy heckling material.
• The finer things – Many of New Orleans local breweries offer free guided tours of their facilities. NOLA Brewing offers free beer to participants! The New Orleans Cigar Factory also offers tours of their facilities from 10am-10pm. Smoking is allowed.

Travel Tips – New Orleans on a Budget

If you’re looking for more ways to do New Orleans on the cheap, then try using one of these money-saving techniques!

• Be a coupon clipper – There are visitors coupons on New Orleans official webpage! Print a sheet out and take advantage of some extra discounts.
• Practice the three-martini lunch – Though the three-martini lunch harkens to a time when it was socially acceptable to get day drunk, nowadays it mostly refers to amazing drink deals. Some New Orleans eateries offer martinis for as low as $0.25! This shit is just dangerous.
• Cheap (sometimes free) oysters – One of the cheapest things to do in New Orleans is to take advantage of the many oyster deals around town. You can find these for as low as $0.50 per shellfish or less. They’re even free at Le Bon Temps Roule on Fridays!
• Eat at the local restaurants – New Orleans’ is renowned for its culinary scene, but eating in the touristy areas or at a 5-star restaurant is going to ruin you. Go to a dive bar and eat the house gumbo once in a while or visit a greasy spoon diner.
• Happy hour – If you aren’t already impressed by the free oysters or the quarter martinis, well there’s plenty more offers in town. New Orleans has a crazy array of happy hours. Just wander around the city between 4 and 6 pm and you’ll definitely find something.
• Cook at home as often as possible – One of the most proven ways of saving money for backpackers: buying your own groceries and cooking at home will save you heaps of cash.

Why You Should Travel to New Orleans with a Water Bottle

The plastic problem is global now… so we need to work globally to make a difference.

It’s not going to change overnight, but you can be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel, avoiding single-use plastic is one of the ways you can do that. I know it’s tasking at times, but together, being a responsible traveler with plastic use is only going to get easier.

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

New Orleans is massively affected by various festivals and weather seasons, so there definitely is the best time to visit. Avoid Mardi Gras season if you’re not a fan of mass tourism.

If money is no issue for you, then the best time to visit New Orleans is, without question February to May. During this time, New Orleans’ weather is calm and the temperatures are pleasant.

More importantly, this is the time when the best parties in New Orleans occur e.g. Mardi Gras , French Quarter Fest , and Jazz Fest .

Prices during these months will be absolutely ridiculous though. Most forms of accommodation – hotels, Airbnb, fuckin’ cardboard boxes – will be booked up months in advance.

On that note, a lot of the local businesses and attractions in New Orleans close during Mardi Gras. Unless you’re visiting NOLA specifically for this holiday, you may be better off just waiting until everything has passed.

As June approaches, so does the rain, humidity, and steamy temps. During the summer season (June-September) the city can feel barren at times, as hardly any tourists visit for fear of the heat or hurricanes.

As such, you can get some screaming deals on lodging during this time.

Visiting during the summer can be a more authentic New Orleans experience. The city is definitely sifted of tourists and a lot of really important festivals, like ESSENCE and Satchmo, happen at this time as well.

August and September are peak hurricane months , which is usually a grim time for New Orleans. These storms can wreak havoc on the city and are often treated with a high degree of severity. If a big storm is on the way, don’t be surprised to see stores boarded up and shut down.

October- December is post hurricane season and just like spring, it’s possibly the best time of year to go to New Orleans as weather will still be pleasant and there will be less tourists than in the spring months.

Decmber-February are the coolest months of the year in NoLa, yet they still tend to be much warmer than the rest of the continental United States.

Don’t expect to see many tourists at this time, and be prepared for variable temperatures. You can also rest assured that your chances of encountering a hurricane will be reallll slim . 

What to Pack for New Orleans

While your exact packing list will depend largely on the season, here are some essentials you shouldn’t skip out on.

Osprey Daylite Plus

Any city slicker needs a SLICK daypack. In general, you can never go wrong with an Osprey pack, but with its array of awesome organisation, durable materials, and a comfy build, the Daylite Plus will make your urban jaunts buttery smooth.

Grayl Geopress Filtered Bottle

Save $$$, save the planet, and save yourself the headache (or tummy ache). Instead of sticking to bottled plastic, buy a Grayl Geopress, drink water no matter the source, and be happy knowing the turtles and fishies thank you (and so do we!). 🙂

OCLU Action Camera

Wait, it’s cheaper than a GoPro and… better than a GoPro? The OCLU action cam is the cam for budget backpackers that want to immortalise all their wildest adventures – including that time you dropped it off a Himalayan mountain – WITHOUT breaking the bank.

Solgaard Solarbank

Resourceful travellers know how to find power outlets anywhere on the road; smart travellers just pack a solar power bank instead. With 4-5 phone cycles per charge and the ability to top up literally anywhere the sun is shining, there’s no reason to ever get lost again!

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

ALL travellers need a headtorch – no exceptions! Even in the hostel dorm, this beauty can save you in a real pinch. If you haven’t got in on the headtorch game, DO. I promise you: you’ll never look back. Or at least if you do, you’ll be able to see what you’re looking at.

Safety in New Orleans took a bit of a dive following Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of the horrific storm, New Orleans became a wasteland as entire neighborhoods and communities were decimated. What resulted was widespread displacement, food shortages, and an increasing reliance on federal aid.

As time went on, the city became somewhat lawless . Like a purgatory, the poor souls that remained in NOLA had to resort to criminal means to survive. There was looting, theft, and violence. Even after the city began to rebuild, endemic crime still hung around.

Today, New Orleans has returned quite close to its former self and is certainly not the chaotic mess it was following Katrina. Almost all of New Orleans’ points of interest are safe and accepting visitors.

That being said, New Orleans is still one of the most violent cities in America. Though much of the violence is located in the outer neighborhoods – places that should hold little appeal to tourists.

Before even going near these districts, be sure to check their status with the local authorities. Venturing into one of these areas randomly could put you in a bad place.

Regardless of where you are, you must exhibit common-sense safety precautions at all times when visiting New Orleans. Pickpockets and scammers still hang around touristy areas and will take advantage of you.

Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll in New Orleans

In the opinion of many, it’s New Orleans that’s the best place to party in the USA – it makes visiting Las Vegas look like a kid’s party. With its infamous Mardi Gras, eccentric characters, and daily opportunities for debauchery, you’re going to want to get lit at least once while in the Big Easy.

Alcohol is obviously plentiful, and while nothing else is legal in Louisiana, you can certainly find everything and everything in the city if you know where to look.

If you plan on partaking in drug tourism in New Orleans, be very careful of who you buy from. Dealers are notorious for cutting their blow and selling God knows what to tourists. Wait until you’re with a savvy local who knows the difference before diving in nose-first.

New Orleans has many strip clubs and other adult entertainment scenes–whether you dabble in this and sex on the road , make sure you’re being respectful of everyone you meet and practise safe sex, too.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting New Orleans

Traveling without insurance in New Orleans would be risky. Especially with the infamous (and ridiculous) for-profit health system in the USA. So do consider getting good travel insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure.

I have used World Nomads for years now and made a few claims over the years. They’re easy to use, professional, and relatively affordable. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once you’ve started your trip and are already abroad which is super handy.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

New Orleans has one major airport that handles most of its air traffic – Louis Armstrong International Airpor t . The airport is located quite close to the city but getting to and from is not as easy as it should be.

The airport is a quick 20-minute drive away from the French Quarter but costs a minimum of $35, Uber or taxi. If that sounds like a bit much to you, that’s because it is.

Those who want to travel cheaply to the city center from Louis Armstrong can use the E-2 bus, which stops on the second floor. Travel time is 45 minutes.

There are numerous Amtrak trains and mainliner bus companies offering services to New Orleans. Union Passenger Terminal is the primary arrival/departure port for all of these.

Visiting New Orleans with a car is a relatively straightforward task. I-10 is the main highway in and out of New Orleans and it runs right through the heart of the city.

When driving in the city center just be aware of where you park – parking meters can be expensive and carjackings are on the rise .

When you’re ready to leave New Orleans, there are plenty of onwards destinations. A sunny Florida road trip is a good choice if you’re living the vanlife. Just be aware that the South is a pretty big region and that drive times can be longer than you think. Refer below for a list of Southern cities and their distances.

• Baton Rouge (LA) – 1.5 hours
• Mobile (AL) – 2 hours
• Tallahassee (FL) – 5.5 hours
• Houston (TX) – 5.5 hours
• Memphis (TN) – 5.5 hours
• Atlanta (GA) – 6.5 hours
• Dallas (TX) – > 8 hours

Getting Around New Orleans

Once you can wrap your head around the weird layout, New Orleans is actually relatively easy to get around. New Orleans is pretty fun to walk in and the public transport is good enough that you can just about anywhere you need to.

The city itself is shaped like a crescent and tends to disorientate those who are not used to its odd shape. Cardinal directions seemingly don’t exist in New Orleans, which is a phenomenon you can test out simply by asking a local which way is north. (They’ll look at you like you’re crazy.)

The best way to navigate New Orleans is to just refer to major landmarks in the city. If you ask for directions, you will often be told to just “head towards the river” or “the lake.” Figure out where these places are at all times, and you’ll be golden.

Thanks to its overwhelming array of shopping streets, one of the most fun things to do in New Orleans is to just walk around.

You could spend an entire afternoon just browsing around the likes of Magazine Street , Freret Street , or Royal Street , and you wouldn’t be wasting your time.

New Orleans has several historic trams that are as useful as they are enjoyable. The streetcars themselves resemble their European cousins and could fit right in Milan or Lisbon.

There are two streetcar lines: r ed for Canal Street and green for St Charles. Both are major throughways and can get quite busy.

New Orleans has a public transport system, referred to as RTA . There are plenty of buses running throughout the city. Rides cost $1.25 one way or $3 for an entire day.

Get 15% OFF when you book through our link — and support the site you love so dearly 😉

Booking.com is quickly becoming our go-to for accommodation. From cheap hostels to stylish homestays and nice hotels, they’ve got it all!

While New Orleans isn’t a well-known digital nomad destination, it might just be one of the coolest places to visit in the USA and work online. Actual brick and mortar jobs will be hard to come by without US citizenship or other work permits.

But because the cost of living is cheap in New Orleans compared to other American cities, it’s certainly a quality place to base. Especially if you’re a live music, seafood, or Spanish Moss lover.

Volunteering, on the other hand, is a good travel job opportunity in New Orleans, mostly in the form of working in hostels. If you do want to volunteer in the Big Easy, I recommend you do so with a trusted company.

The Broke Backpacker recommends Worldpackers as an easy to use and reputable volunteer platform . It’s transparent and filled with real reviews, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before you arrive.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with  meaningful travel experiences.

New Orleans nightlife reputation certainly precedes itself – this is one of the most fun, drunkest, most laissez-faire cities in the entire USA and almost never lets up!

There are so many things to do in New Orleans at night. Comedy, live music, honky tonks, line dancing, parties, traditional New Orleans jazz, festivals, binge drinking; you name, New Orleans has it.

Obviously, a live music act is a must-see in New Orleans. You can easily walk into a show on the likes of Frenchman Street, which is booming pretty much every night. Diehard jazz fans ought to head to the Spotted Cat, the original Tipitina’s or Kermit’s Mother-in-law Lounge in the Treme . All are hallowed jazz club venues among the Orleans jazz community.

Bourbon Street is Bourbon Street – and by that I mean it’s flooded with tourists – all the time. I’d spend about 15 minutes walking through here if I could. Although, there are a number of quality cabarets and strip clubs here (if you’re into that kind of thing).

A much cooler area to drink in is Bywater . This neighborhood is a lot more local and, as such, way less snooty or idiotic. St Claude Street is a bit of an artist’s haunt and has a bunch of unpretentious bars.

If you wanted the opposite of this, then you should probably head to the Warehouse District. This is New Orleans redeveloped, darling. Think SoMa in SF or the Pearl in Portland – and as such it attracts a lot of yuppies.

Finally, Oak Street in Uptown mainly attracts students. If you were looking for cheap drinks and opinionated young adults to go with them, then this is probably the place to be.

Wherever you choose to spend it, you can rest assured that nightlife in New Orleans will surely be entertaining.

Dining in New Orleans

It is no secret that New Orleans is a foodie town. In fact, it’s home to some of the most prized dishes in the entire USA. People travel from all over the world to sample local favorites, like beignets or banana fosters, and to search for the best Cajun food in New Orleans.

The food of New Orleans is a divine mix of Creole, African, French, and Southern cooking styles. Honestly, I don’t think I can define the heavenly flavors of New Orleans cuisine simply with words – I can only say that it is supremely delicious and not at all healthy.

Since it’s located right on the Gulf of Mexico, seafood is very big in New Orleans. Crawfish is the primary catch of the day and can be found on just about every menu.

If you get a boiled craw and its tail is straight, don’t eat it – it was already dead when it was cooked. Catfish is a personal favorite of mine, especially when it’s blackened and spicy.

Beignets are those little, fried dough balls that you get at breakfast. The Muffuletta sandwich is an awesome collab between New Orleans and its Sicilian population (go to Central Grocery & Deli for the original). Sandwich lovers should be on the lookout for Po Boys, which usually contain a healthy dose of fried meats and a bit of veg.

You can go to the most famous restaurants in New Orleans to sample delicacies if you like. Honestly, though, you can consistently find some really good food at the smaller, less upscale eateries as well. If you want to ensure you don’t miss any of the iconic treats the Big Easy has to offer, a New Orleans food tour is the best shout.

Slick Restaurants and Cheap Eats

Here are some of my favorite restaurants in New Orleans:

• Elizabeth’s – One of the most delicious diners in New Orleans, Elizabeth’s brings impeccable quality and great prices to the table. With classic southern and seafood options, you definitely won’t leave hungry.
• Dat Dog – Complete with a colorful outdoor seating area, Dat Dog serves up creative takes on the original American hot dog. For ultimate savings, stop by their hot dog happy hour every weekday from 4-7.
• Coop’s Place – Since 1983, Coop’s has been bringing delicious Cajun food flavors. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even give their Rabbit & Sausage jumbalaya a go for around $12. They’re closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays though.
• Daisy Dukes Cafe- Known for its incredible service and Cajun eats, Daisy’s is a can’t miss if you’re traveling New Orleans on a budget. Portion sizes are insane and so is their variety–you can even try alligator sausage here!
• Willie Mae’s Scotch House – Established in 1957, Willie Mae’s is another longstanding Big Easy staple famous for its fried chicken. You can get 3 big pieces for around $16. Not bad if you’re splitting!
• Any Po Boys Place – Po boys are the official sandwich of the city, and as such, they can be found pretty much anywhere. Hole in the walls should always be your go to, as are any po boys that include seafood instead of your traditional sandwich meats!

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

Pop your email here & get the original Broke Backpacker Bible for FREE.

Festivals in New Orleans

Some of New Orleans’ best attractions are its lavish parties! This wouldn’t be a legit New Orleans travel guide if I didn’t recommend you to plan your trip around any one of these festivals for instant good times.

• Mardi Gras (February/March) – the most raucous cultural festival in the country. Mardi Gras AKA “Fat Tuesday” is New Orleans’ version of Carnival. It includes parades, Mardi Gras Indians, costumes, binge drinking, music, and, of course, beads.
• Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival (March) – Dedicated to the beloved author. Features writing competitions, spoken performances, a book fair, and other literary activities.
• French Quarter Fest (April) – A showcase of Southern music styles. Quite large and totally free to attend. Claimed to be “the largest free music festival in the USA.”
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April) – The single most important music festival in New Orleans. Showcase of everything the city is known for including jazz, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, and then some.
• New Orleans Oyster Fest (June) – Celebration of the greatest mollusk ever. Here’s a fun game: eat 20 and try to figure out if you’re sick or horny.
• ESSENCE (July) – The largest celebration of African-American music and culture in the USA. Described as a “party with a purpose.” Features rap, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, gospel, and more soulful sounds.
• Running of the Bulls (July) – New Orleans own version of the Spanish tradition, but instead of bulls, there is a great stampede of roller-blading Derby girls. They chase people with plastic bats so I hope you’re nimble.
• Satchmo Summerfest (August) – A New Orleans jazz festival celebrating the great Louis Armstrong with citywide performances. St. Augustine church holds a “jazz mass” that is purportedly amazing.
• Blues and BBQ Fest (October) – Fairly self-explanatory festival held in Lafayette Square Park. Free admission!
• Voodoo Music (October) – New Orleans biggest Halloween party! A multi-day music festival that features a huge array of genres.

Getting Off the Beaten Path in New Orleans

As cool as mainstream NoLa is, there’s plenty more to be experienced off the beaten path ! While I’m not saying you shouldn’t do all the classic activities while visiting New Orleans, just make sure you take some time for some lesser-known ones, too.

In the famous French Quarter for example, you can hit up three very weird museums: the Pharmacy Museum , the Voodoo Museum , and the Museum of Death . Certainly unique if you ask me.

To get a feel for New Orleans history, you can spend a few hours touring the Whitney Plantation Museum where you’ll discover some pretty dark shit. For example, the city (and Louisiana as a whole) was entirely built by enslaved people . The museum focuses exclusively on the lives of the people who suffered the most and gives you insights you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

You can also marvel at the cute and quirky architecture of Algiers Point , a residential neighborhood that’s just a short ferry ride away from the French Quarter and filled with lovely old homes in all colors.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

No doubt you’re going to have a few questions before traveling to New Orleans. Luckily, I’ve got answers!

What is there to do in New Orleans?

Of course, New Orleans jazz is legendary. You couldn’t visit without checking out some jazz clubs to make sure you spend a night on Bourbon Street. Other top things to do in New Orleans include admiring the French Quarter, trying the city’s iconic cuisine, and getting lost in City Park.

How much will 5 days in New Orleans cost?

You can get away with $250 for 5 days on a New Orleans itinerary – IF you stay in a hostel, eat cheap food, and don’t overspend on party favors. If you’re looking for some privacy and/or luxury, expect to spend 3x that.

Is New Orleans safe to visit?

Yes. These days, visiting New Orleans is certainly safe enough and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. That being said, the city still has a high crime rate and neighborhoods far from tourist areas should be avoided.

Is New Orleans expensive?

It’s not that expensive. New Orleans is one of the cheaper cities in the US, but being a mass tourism destination, it can catch you out easily. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars a day to see NoLa in full luxury. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do in New Orleans for backpackers on the cheap.

Where are the best drinks in New Orleans?

Some delicious (and unique) alcoholic drinks to try in New Orleans include a Sazerac, Bourbon Punch, Absinthe Frappe, and a Cajun Bloody Mary. But I suppose the later it gets, the less important the taste is!

The Big Easy is an adventure waiting to happen. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another city in the US with so much character, entertainment, and delicious food.

While other party destinations in the USA have become tacky these days, NoLa has retained its charm even as its popularity has skyrocketed.

New Orleans is a city with a whole lot of soul, and delicacies that I can absolutely assure you can’t be found anywhere else. Fill up on crawfish, pop your Sazerac virginity, and get acquainted with New Orleans’ interesting paranormal scenes.

Just make sure you roll up into town with an open mind and a bit of spontaneity: while Bourbon Street is an experience to be had, the rest of the city is teeming with jazz clubs, food tours, and just as many memorable moments.

So what are you waiting for?

Go enjoy the Big Easy–just make sure you show up with an empty stomach!

Updated February 2022 by Samantha from Intentional Detours

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Share or save this post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.

New Orleans Travel Guide

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• North America
• new-orleans
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Travel Advice
• Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

Infused with a dizzying jumble of cultures and influences, NEW ORLEANS is a bewitching place. Here, people dance at funerals and hold parties during hurricanes, world-class musicians make ends meet busking on street corners and hole-in-the-wall dives dish up gourmet Creole cuisine. There’s a wistfulness here too, along with its famed joie de vivre – in the peeling facades of the old French Quarter, its filigree cast-iron balconies tangled with ferns and fragrant jasmine, and in the cemeteries lined with crumbling above-ground marble tombs. New Orleans’s melancholy beauty – along with its ebullient spirit – has always come with an awareness of the fragility of life, due at least in part to its perilous geography.

Brief history

Accommodation in new orleans, new orleans drinking and nightlife, eating in new orleans, historic new orleans collection, mardi gras and other new orleans festivals, new orleans food, new orleans jazz, staying safe in new orleans, the french quarter, the garden district and uptown, the old ursuline convent.

It has become painfully clear to the rest of the world, too, since the events of August 2005, that there’s a lot more to the “Big Easy” than its image as a nonstop party town. Even at the best of times this was a contradictory city, repeatedly revealing stark divisions between rich and poor (and, more explicitly, between white and black); years after Katrina, with the emotional and physical scars slowly healing, those contradictions remain. While you can still party in the French Quarter and the Marigny till dawn, dancing to great jazz and gorging on garlicky Creole food, just minutes away are neighbourhoods that are still struggling to rebuild. That’s not to say that enjoying life is inappropriate in today’s New Orleans – while it was let down not only by nature but also by federal and local government after Katrina, the city’s vitality, courage and stubborn loyalty remain strong. The melange of cultures and races that built the city still gives it its heart; not “easy”, exactly, but quite unlike anywhere else in the USA – or the world.

New Orleans is called the Crescent City because of the way it nestles between the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain and a horseshoe bend in the Mississippi River. This unique location makes the city’s layout confusing, with streets curving to follow the river, and shooting off at odd angles to head inland. Compass points are of little use – locals refer instead to lakeside (toward the lake) and riverside (toward the river), and, using Canal Street as the dividing line, uptown (or upriver) and downtown (downriver).

New Orleans began life in 1718 as a French-Canadian outpost – an improbable, swampy setting in a prime location near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Development was rapid, and with the first mass importation of African slaves, as early as the 1720s, its unique demography took shape. The Black Code, drawn up by the French in 1685 to govern Saint-Domingue (today’s Haiti) and established in Louisiana in 1724, gave slaves rights unparalleled elsewhere, including permission to marry, meet socially and take Sundays off.

In 1760, Louis XV secretly handed New Orleans, along with all French territory west of the Mississippi, to his Spanish cousin, Charles III, as a safeguard against British expansionism. Despite early resistance from its francophone population, the city benefited greatly from its period as a Spanish colony between 1763 and 1800: by the end of the eighteenth century, the port was flourishing, the haunt of smugglers, gamblers, prostitutes and pirates. Newcomers included Anglo-Americans escaping the American Revolution and aristocrats fleeing revolution in France. The city also became a haven for refugees – whites and free blacks, along with their slaves – escaping the slave revolts in Saint-Domingue (Haiti). As in the West Indies, the Spanish, French and free people of colour associated and formed alliances to create a distinctive Creole culture with its own traditions and ways of life, its own patois and a cuisine that drew influences from Africa, Europe and the colonies.

Louisiana remained Spanish until it was ceded to Napoleon in 1801, under the proviso that it should never change hands again. Just two years later, however, Napoleon, strapped for cash to fund his battles with the British in Europe, struck a bargain with President Thomas Jefferson known as the Louisiana Purchase. This sneaky agreement handed over to the USA all French lands between Canada and Mexico, from the Mississippi to the Rockies, for just $15 million. Unwelcome in the Creole city – today’s French Quarter – the Americans who migrated to New Orleans were forced to settle in the area now known as the Central Business District (or CBD) and, later, in the Garden District.

New Orleans’s antebellum golden age as a major port and finance centre for the cotton-producing South was brought to an abrupt end by the Civil War. Economically and socially ravaged by the conflict, Louisiana was almost brought to its knees by Reconstruction, with the once great city suffering a period of unprecedented lawlessness and racial violence. As the North industrialized and other Southern cities grew, the fortunes of New Orleans slipped.

Jazz exploded into the bars and the bordellos around 1900, and, along with the evolution of Mardi Gras as a tourist attraction, breathed new life into the city. And though the Depression hit here as hard as it did the rest of the nation, it also – spearheaded by a number of local writers and artists – heralded the resurgence of the French Quarter, which had disintegrated into a slum. Even so, it was the less romantic duo of oil and petrochemicals that really saved the economy – until the slump of the 1950s pushed New Orleans well behind other US cities. The oil crash of the early 1980s gave it yet another battering, a gloomy start for near on two decades of high crime rates, crack deaths and widespread corruption.

By the turn of the millennium things were improving, until Hurricane Katrina and its subsequent floods ripped the place apart. In 2010 the Saints football team, amazingly, won the Superbowl; so deeply emotional was this victory that the election of Mitch Landrieu, the black-majority city’s first white mayor in thirty years, went barely noticed in even the local newspapers. A few months later, the sense of new beginnings was dealt a savage blow from the disastrous BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its long-term implications for the economy; if ever a city knew how to hold on and to fight back, however, New Orleans is it.

New Orleans has some lovely places to stay, from rambling old guesthouses seeping faded grandeur to stylish boutique hotels. Room rates, never low (you’ll be pushed to find anything half decent for less than $100 a night), increase considerably for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, when prices can double and rooms are reserved months in advance. Most people choose to stay in the French Quarter, in the heart of things. much of the accommodation here is in atmospheric guesthouses, most of them in old Creole townhouses. Outside the quarter, the Lower Garden District offers a couple of budget options, while the Marigny specializes in B&Bs and the Garden District has a couple of gorgeous old hotels. The CBD is the domain of the city’s upmarket chain and business hotels.

New Orleans’s drinking scene, like the city itself, is unpretentious and inclusive: whether sipping Sazeracs in the golden glow of a 1930s cocktail bar or necking an Abita at dawn in a down-and-dirty dive, you’ll more than likely find yourself in a high-spirited crowd of bohemian barflies. It is also legal to drink alcohol in the streets – for some visitors it’s practically de rigueur – though not from a glass or bottle. Simply ask for a plastic “to go” cup in any bar and carry it with you. You’ll be expected to finish your drink before entering another bar, however.

New Orleans is a gourmand’s dream. Restaurants here are far more than places to eat: from the haughtiest grandes dames of Creole cuisine right down to rough-and-ready po-boy shacks, they are fiercely cherished as the guardians of community, culture and heritage. Gratifyingly, prices are not high compared to other US cities – even at the swankiest places you can get away with $40 per head for a three-course feast with wine.

Standing proud among Royal Street’s antique stores and chichi art galleries is the splendid Historic New Orleans Collection. Entry to the streetfront gallery, which holds excellent temporary exhibitions, is free, but to see the bulk of the collection you’ll need to take a guided tour. Tours might take in the galleries upstairs, where fascinating exhibits – including old maps, drawings and early publicity posters – fill a series of themed rooms, or they might venture into the neighbouring Williams House. The Williamses, prominent citizens in the 1930s (no relation to playwright Tennessee), filled their home with unusual, exotic objects, and the house is a must for anyone interested in design and decorative arts.

New Orleans’s carnival season – which starts on Twelfth Night, January 6, and runs for the six weeks or so until Ash Wednesday – is unlike any other in the world. Though the name is used to define the entire season, Mardi Gras itself, French for “Fat Tuesday”, is simply the culmination of a whirl of parades, parties, street revels and masked balls, all tied up with the city’s labyrinthine social, racial and political structures.

Official carnival took its current form in 1857. At this time, the concept of the “krewes”, or secret carnival clubs, was taken up enthusiastically by the New Orleans aristocracy, many of them white supremacists who, after the Civil War, used their satirical float designs and the shroud of secrecy to mock and undermine Reconstruction. Nowadays about fifty official krewes equip colourful floats, leading huge processions with different, often mythical, themes.

Each krewe is reigned over by a King and Queen, who go on to preside over the organization’s closed, masked balls. There are women-only krewes, enormous “super krewes”, and important African American groups. The best known and most significant of these is Zulu, established in 1909 when a black man mocked Rex, King of Carnival, by sporting a banana stalk sceptre and a tin can on his head. Today the Zulu parade on Mardi Gras morning is one of the most popular of the season (and the krewe’s coconut throws some of the festival’s most coveted). There are also many alternative, or unofficial krewes, including the anarchic Krewe du Vieux (from Vieux Carré, another term for the French Quarter), whose irreverent parade and “ball” (a polite term for a wild party, open to all) is a blast. The gay community plays a major part in Mardi Gras, particularly in the French Quarter, where the streets teem with strutting drag divas. And then there’s the parade of the Mystic Krewe of Barkus, made up of dogs, hundreds of them, all spiffed up on some spurious theme.

Tourists are less likely to witness the spectacular Mardi Gras Indians, African American groups who gather on Mardi Gras morning to compete in chanting and dancing dressed in fabulous beaded and feathered costumes – sewed themselves over the previous year. For a chance of seeing the Indians, head to the Backstreet Cultural Museum in Tremé on Mardi Gras morning; this is also the meeting place for other black Mardi Gras groups including the “skeleton” gangs, who don bloody butcher’s aprons and “wake the day” at dawn by beating bones on drums, and the Baby Dolls, grown women frolicking around in silky bonnets and bloomers.

Another New Orleans Mardi Gras ritual is the flinging of “throws”. Teasing masked krewe members scatter beads, toys and doubloons (coins) from parade floats into the crowds, who beg, plead and scream for them.

The two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras are filled with processions, parties and balls. The fun starts early on Mardi Gras day, with walking clubs striding through uptown accompanied by raucous jazz on their ritualized bar crawls, and the skeletons gathering in Tremé. Zulu’s big parade, in theory, sets off at 8.30am (but can be as much as 2hr late), followed by Rex. Across town, the Indians are gathering for their sacred Mardi Gras rituals, while the arty St Ann walking parade sets off from the Bywater to arrive in the Marigny at around 11am. Anyone is welcome to join them, as long as they are wearing something creative and/or surreal. The gay costume competition known as the Bourbon Street awards gets going at noon in the Quarter, while hipsters head back to the Marigny, where Frenchmen Street is ablaze with lavishly costumed carousers. The fun continues until midnight, when a siren wail heralds the arrival of a cavalcade of mounted police that sweeps through Bourbon Street and declares through megaphones that Mardi Gras is officially over.

Other New Orleans festivals

St joseph’s day.

(March 19). Sicilian saint’s day, at the midpoint of Lent. Altars of food are erected in churches all around town, and there’s a parade. Celebrated in conjunction with the holiday, on the third Sunday in March (“Super Sunday”) the Mardi Gras Indians (see Entertainment and nightlife) take to the streets – their only official parade outside Mardi Gras.

French Quarter Festival

(early April; fqfi.org). Superb free four-day music festival that rivals Jazz Fest for the quality and variety of music – and food – on offer.

(two weekends, Fri–Sun & Thurs–Sun, end April/early May; nojazzfest.com). Enormous festival at the Fairgrounds Race Track, Mid-City, with stages hosting jazz, R&B, gospel, Afro-Caribbean, Cajun, blues and more, and evening performances in clubs all over town. Also features crafts and phenomenal food stands.

Southern Decadence

(six days around Labor Day weekend; southerndecadence.net). Huge gay extravaganza, bringing around 100,000 party animals to the Quarter, with a costume parade of thousands on the Sunday afternoon.

(Oct 31). Thanks to the local passion for dressing up, New Orleans is a fabulous place to spend Halloween, with haunted houses, costume competitions, ghost tours and parades all over town.

Voodoo Experience

(Halloween weekend; worshipthemusic.com). Three-day rock festival held in City Park with two hundred acts – from Nine Inch Nails to Calvin Harris, plus an eclectic span of local bands – performing to a mixed, high-spirited, Halloween-costumed crowd.

New Orleans food, commonly defined as Creole, is a spicy, substantial – and usually very fattening – blend of French, Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisine, mixed up with a host of other influences including Native American, Italian and German. Some of the simpler dishes, like red beans and rice, reveal a strong West Indies influence, while others are more French, cooked with long-simmered sauces based on a roux (fat and flour heated together) and herby stocks. Many dishes are served étouffée, literally “smothered” in a tasty Creole sauce (a roux with tomato, onion and spices), on rice. Although there are some exceptions, what passes for Cajun food in the city tends to be a modern hybrid, tasty but not authentic; the “blackened” dishes, for example, slathered in butter and spices, made famous by chef Paul Prudhomme.

The mainstays of most menus are gumbo – a thick soup of seafood, chicken and vegetables – and jambalaya, a paella jumbled together from the same ingredients. Other specialities include po-boys, French-bread sandwiches overstuffed with oysters, shrimp or almost anything else, and muffulettas, the round Italian version, crammed full of aromatic meats and cheese and dripping with garlicky olive dressing. Along with shrimp and soft-shell crabs, you’ll get famously good oysters; they’re in season from September to April. Crawfish, or mudbugs (which resemble langoustines and are best between March and June), are served in everything from omelettes to bisques, or simply boiled in a spicy stock. Everyone should enjoy a café au lait and beignet (featherlight doughnuts, without a hole, cloaked in powdered sugar) at Café du Monde in the French Quarter. And for another only-in-New-Orleans snack, look out for the absurd, giant, hot-dog-shaped Lucky Dogs carts set up throughout the Quarter. Featured in John Kennedy Toole’s farcical novel A Confederacy of Dunces, they’ve become a beloved institution, though in truth the dogs themselves are nothing great.

Jazz was born in New Orleans, shaped in the early twentieth century by the twin talents of Louis Armstrong and Joe “King” Oliver from a diverse heritage of African and Caribbean slave music, Civil War brass bands, plantation spirituals, black church music and work songs. In 1897, in an attempt to control the prostitution that had been rampant in the city since its earliest days, a law was passed that restricted the brothels to a fixed area bounded by Iberville and Basin streets. The area, which soon became known as Storyville, after the alderman who pronounced the ordinance, filled with newly arrived ex-plantation workers, seamen and gamblers, and, from the “mood-setting” tunes played in the brothels to bawdy saloon gigs, there was plenty of opportunity for musicians, in particular the solo piano players known as “professors”, to develop personal styles. Nowadays jazz remains an evolving, organic art form, and you’re spoilt for choice for places to hear it, whether in Second Lines, at the city’s many festivals, in dive bars or sophisticated lounges.

At the heart of it all are the brass bands. Although these have been integral to New Orleans’s street music and parade culture since the nineteenth century, their resurgence in the 1990s led to an explosion of energy on the local jazz scene. Young, ragtag groups blast out a joyful, improvised and danceable cacophony of horns – a kind of homegrown party music that goes down as much of a storm in the student bars as on the backstreet parades. Favourites include ReBirth, the Soul Rebels and the Stooges, who mix trad brass stylings with hard funk, hip-hop, carnival music and reggae. The more traditional bands, meanwhile, whose line-up will typically include old hands and up-and-coming youngsters, play music that is just as danceable and equally popular.

Although the heavily touristed French Quarter is comparatively safe, to wander unwittingly beyond it – even just a couple of blocks – can place your personal safety in serious jeopardy. While walking from the Quarter to the Marigny is usually safe enough during the day, it’s not a good idea to stray far from the main drag of Frenchmen Street. Wherever you are, take the usual common-sense precautions, and at night always travel by cab when venturing any distance beyond the Quarter.

The beautiful French Quarter is where New Orleans began in 1718. Today, battered and bohemian, decaying and vibrant, it remains the spiritual core of the city, its cast-iron balconies, hidden courtyards and time-stained stucco buildings exerting a fascination that has long caught the imagination of artists and writers. It’s a wonderful place simply to wander; early morning, in the pearly light from the river, is a good time to explore.

The Quarter is laid out in a grid, unchanged since 1721. At just thirteen blocks wide – smaller than you might expect – it’s easily walkable, bounded by the Mississippi River, Rampart Street, Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue, and centring on lively Jackson Square. Rather than French, the architecture is predominantly Spanish Colonial, with a strong Caribbean influence. Most buildings date from the late eighteenth century; much of the old city was devastated by fire in 1788 and 1794. Shops, restaurants and bars are concentrated between Decatur and Bourbon streets, while beyond Bourbon, up toward Rampart Street, and in the Lower Quarter, downriver from Jackson Square, things become more peaceful. Here, you’ll find quiet, residential streets where the Quarter’s gay community lives side by side with elegant dowagers, condo-dwellers and scruffy artists.

Pride of uptown New Orleans, the Garden District drapes itself seductively across a thirteen-block area bounded by Magazine Street and St Charles, Louisiana and Jackson avenues. Two miles upriver from the French Quarter, it was developed as a residential neighbourhood in the 1840s by an energetic breed of Anglo-Americans who wished to display their accumulating cotton and trade wealth by building sumptuous mansions in huge gardens. Today, shaded by jungles of subtropical foliage, the glorious houses – some of them spick-and-span showpieces, others in ravishing ruin – evoke a nostalgic vision of the Deep South in a profusion of porches, columns and balconies. While it’s a pleasure simply to wander around, you can pick up more details about the individual houses on any number of official or self-guided tours.

The historic St Charles streetcar is the nicest way to get to the Garden District and uptown, affording front-row views of “the Avenue” as St Charles is locally known. It’s a popular Mardi Gras parade route; keep an eye out for the tossed beads and favours that missed outstretched hands and now adorn hundreds of tree branches here. Just before the streetcar takes a sharp turn at the river bend, it stops at peaceful Audubon Park, a lovely space shaded by Spanish-moss-swathed trees. You can also approach the Garden District and uptown via Magazine Street, the city’s best shopping stretch, a six-mile string of clothing boutiques, restaurants and stores that runs parallel to St Charles riverside.

Built between 1745 and 1753, and established by nuns from Rouen, the tranquil Old Ursuline Convent is the oldest building in the Mississippi valley, and the only intact French Colonial structure in the city. Following the decisive Battle of New Orleans in 1815, General Andrew Jackson came here personally to thank the Ursuline sisters for their wartime prayers, claiming that “divine intervention” was what had saved him on the field. Inside, the hushed quarters are lined with wordy old information panels explaining the history of the convent; the real interest, however, is in the time-worn rooms, the spectacular gilded chapel and the lovely working herb garden at the back.

In the 1800s, Tremé, the historic African American neighbourhood where jazz was developed in the bordellos of Storyville – long since gone – was a prosperous area, its shops, businesses and homes owned and frequented by New Orleans’s free black population. By the late twentieth century, however, blighted by neglect and crime, Tremé had become a no-go zone. Despite this, its rich tradition of music, jazz funerals and Second Lines (loose, joyous street parades, led by funky brass bands and gathering dancing “Second Lines” of passers-by as they go) continued, and the turn of the millennium saw signs of gentrification. While many of its houses remain in bad shape post-Katrina, David The Wire Simon’s HBO series Tremé, which premiered in 2010, brought the area appreciated visibility.

Subscribe to The Rough Guide to Everywhere now ( iTunes ; Soundcloud ; Spotify ).

Discover more places in USA

• Travel Guide Morocco
• Travel Guide Namibia
• Travel Guide South Africa
• Travel Guide China
• Travel Guide India
• Travel Guide Indonesia
• Travel Guide Japan
• Travel Guide Laos
• Travel Guide Malaysia
• Travel Guide Myanmar (Burma)
• Travel Guide Nepal
• Travel Guide Philippines
• Travel Guide Singapore
• Travel Guide South Korea
• Travel Guide Sri Lanka
• Travel Guide Taiwan
• Travel Guide Thailand
• Travel Guide Australia
• Travel Guide Fiji
• Travel Guide New Zealand
• Travel Guide Belize
• Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Travel Guide Cuba
• Travel Guide Guatemala
• Travel Guide Honduras
• Travel Guide Jamaica
• Travel Guide Nicaragua
• Travel Guide Panama
• Travel Guide Puerto Rico
• Travel Guide Trinidad and Tobago
• Travel Guide Albania
• Travel Guide Austria
• Travel Guide Belgium
• Travel Guide Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Travel Guide Bulgaria
• Travel Guide Cyprus
• Travel Guide Czechia (Czech Republic)
• Travel Guide Denmark
• Travel Guide England
• Travel Guide Estonia
• Travel Guide Finland
• Travel Guide France
• Travel Guide Germany
• Travel Guide Greece
• Travel Guide Hungary
• Iceland Travel Guide

The Rough Guides to USA and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find even more inspiration here

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

Ready to travel and discover USA?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

• Complimentary Planning Assistance
• Destination Wedding Guide Digital Copy
• Elopement Packages
• Marriage License & Legal Essentials
• Welcome Bag Ideas
• Second Lines
• The History of Wedding Umbrellas and More in New Orleans
• Wedding Cake Pulls
• Destination Wedding Guide Printed Copy
• Wedding Inspiration
• Wedding and Event Planners
• Photographers & Videographers
• Transportation
• Beauty, Hair & Makeup
• Spas, Health & Wellness
• Cakes & Bakeries
• Entertainment
• Engagement Photos in New Orleans
• Bridal Shower & Brunch
• Joint Bachelor/ Bachelorette Parties
• Bachelor Parties
• The Ultimate New Orleans Bachelorette Party Guide
• Honeymooning
• LGBTQ Bachelor / Bachelorette Party Itinerary
• Walkable Downtown
• Corporate Group Incentive
• LGBTQ New Orleans
• Convention Center
• Caesars Superdome
• Smoothie King Center
• Special Events Venues
• Hotels with Meeting Space
• Venue Search
• Custom Maps
• Services Directory
• Convention Services Request
• Exhibitor Services Request
• Custom Post Cards & Save the Date
• New Orleans Print Materials Request
• Visitor Guide Request
• Corporate Social Responsibility & Donations
• Emergency Planning
• Meeting Planner Guide
• Transportation Directory
• Transportation & Getting Around
• Promotional Videos & Images
• Stats and facts
• Free Things To Do
• Talk like a New Orleanian
• Local Outreach
• Social Media Resources
• Marketing e-Templates & Ads
• Convention Calendar
• Testimonials
• Submit Your Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Availability Grid
• Coupons Deals
• Group Transportation
• Assistance Request
• Bulk Brochure Request
• Photos & Videos
• Microsite Request
• Itineraries
• Performance Venues
• Motorcoach/Group Transportation
• Educational Opportunities
• Student Itineraries
• voluntourism
• Class Reunions
• Venue & Services
• Hotel Assistance
• Promote Your Reunion
• Family Reunions
• Military Reunions
• Regulations and Maps
• Motorcoach Parking
• Tax Free Shopping
• International Travel Tips
• Consulates in New Orleans
• Maps & Transportation
• Advisor VIP Pass
• Brochure Request
• Photos/Videos
• Cruise Coupons
• Pre-Post Packages
• General Coupons
• Voluntourism
• Group Travel Planner Guide
• Travel Advisor Certification
• International Groups
• Group Travel
• Cruise Lines
• Meet the Team
• Did You Know | New Orleans Facts
• Member Benefits
• Maximize Your Membership
• Application NOT USED
• Membership Policies
• Member Directory
• Company Stats & Facts
• Event Photos
• Member Anniversaries
• New Members
• Member Login
• Media Assistance Request
• What's New in New Orleans
• New Orleans Awards & Accolades
• Image Library
• B-roll Assets
• New Orleans & Company Press Releases
• Hospitality Industry Press Releases
• Image / Video Request
• Communications & PR Contacts

• New Orleans Festivals And Events
• French Quarter
• A Guide to New Orleans Nightlife
• Attractions
• Cultural Arts
• Mystical/Haunted New Orleans
• Family-friendly Guide to New Orleans
• Multicultural
• Recreation & Outdoors
• Architecture
• Find Restaurants
• Where to Eat
• Traditional Foods
• Top Chefs In New Orleans
• Restaurant Deals
• Love To Eat Video Series
• Find a Place to Drink
• Where to Drink
• Classic New Orleans Cocktails
• Book a New Orleans Hotel
• Hotel Directory
• Bed And Breakfasts: Hotels - New Orleans & Company
• Saint Charles Avenue Hotels
• Luxury Hotels
• Garden District Hotels
• French Quarter Hotels and Lodging
• Downtown/Central Business District Hotels and Lodging
• Bourbon Street Hotels
• Green Hotels
• Bourbon Street Balcony Hotels - New Orleans & Company
• Haunted Hotels in New Orleans
• Pet-Friendly Hotels
• Historic Hotels
• Upcoming Events
• Ultimate New Orleans Event Calendar
• New Orleans LIVE Music Calendar
• Submit an Event
• Major Events and Festivals in New Orleans
• New Orleans Neighborhood Guide
• Streets to Visit
• Request a Guide
• Deals & Coupons
• Essential New Orleans Three-Day Itinerary
• Bleisure Itinerary
• Monthly Newsletter
• Insider's Blog
• Virtual Tour
• Accessibility
• New Orleans Artist Database
• LOVENOLA.TV 24/7 Broadcast

New Orleans Tour Guide

Our handy guide to the city is full of valuable travel info to help you get the most out of your new orleans trip .

Our guide has:

• Valuable coupons for dining, tours, music, museums and more
• A detailed city map showing neighborhoods, streetcar lines and New Orleans attractions
• Itineraries for almost any interest - history, shopping, live music and family fun
• Festival guide and events calendar to plan the perfect time to visit

As a destination we are committed to being more sustainable by reducing waste, please consider using the digital Official Visitors Guide.

• Things to Do
• Trip Planning Tools
• Meeting Planners
• Travel Professionals
• Press and Media
• Privacy Policy
• Site Search
• Doing Business in New Orleans
• About NewOrleans.com
• Report Fraud
• Accessibility Options

Sign up for special tips, offers, and info about all the latest happenings around NOLA with our monthly Insider’s Guide, delivered right to your inbox.