Things to Do in New Orleans
- Mar 31
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 1
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A genuine southern melting pot, New Orleans is an unexpected assault on the senses. The birthplace of jazz is a spectacular fusion of French, Spanish, and African cultures. Our article on things to do in New Orleans will help you experience the city’s unique Creole and Cajun cultures through a series of neighborhood walks and tours.
Visit “The Big Easy” to sample its jambalaya, learn to fais do-do, and see a second-line parade. Explore the French Quarter, party on Bourbon Street, and delve into the city’s lore on a haunted tour. Work your way through our list of things to do in New Orleans to get to know this one of a kind queen.
NEW ORLEANS ATTRACTIONS
WHERE IS NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans (or “NOLA”) is located in the State of Louisiana in the southeastern United States. Nearly surrounded by water, New Orleans is bordered by Lake Ponchartrain to the north, the Mississippi River to the south, and numerous bayous to the west and east.
Founded as a French colony in 1718, New Orleans has a rich Creole identity influenced by its French, Spanish, and African roots. Two well-known New Orleans neighborhoods that personify this history are the French Quarter (known for its Spanish architecture and nightlife) and Garden District (known for its lush grounds and Victorian mansions).
TRUSTED TRAVEL RESOURCES
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT NEW ORLEANS
Summer in New Orleans are hot and humid (July ave. 93/76’F). Winters are mild and cool (January ave. 63/45’ F). Peak hurricane season is between late-August and October. Weather-wise, the best time to visit NOLA is between March and June when the weather is pleasant and the flowers are in bloom.
Study the city’s festival schedule when planning a trip to New Orleans to find the best time. There are festivals held in every month of the year – some larger than others (the Mardi Gras is in the spring; the Jazz Festival is in the fall). If you love crowds, travel during a festival. If you prefer a quieter environment, avoid these times.
NEW ORLEANS HOTELS NEAR BOURBON STREET
Booking a hotel in the French Quarter or Garden District (near Bourbon Street) puts you in the heart of the city’s historic district, and within walking distance to most major city attractions.
Take care when reserving a hotel in New Orleans that you are booking into a safe locale. In this city; the environment changes quickly. We used a strategy of looking for clusters of well-known hotels, and then booking within that immediate area.
Considered these well-reviewed New Orleans hotels:
MOST POPULAR NEW ORLEANS TOURS
A big benefit of taking a guided tour is the opportunity to learn about the city from a local’s perspective. In this section we have listed some of the most popular New Orleans tour types.
Voodoo, Vampire, & Ghost Tours: These tours delve into NOLA spooky, voyeuristic, and paranormal underbelly. Try one of these tours: Voodoo Walking Tour with High Priestess and Adult Only Ghost, Voodoo, & Vampire Tour.
Steamboat Jazz Cruises: Enjoy a meal on a paddleboat with a brass or jazz band for entertainment. Try one of these tours: Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner or Paddlewheel Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise.
Swamp and Bayou Tours: See Louisiana marshes, alligators, and other wildlife aboard a high-speed airboat or pontoon. Try these tours: Swamp & Bayou Boat Tour or Swamp and Bayou Alligator Tour.
Plantation Tours: Learn about antebellum architecture, estates, and the harsh realities of enslaved peoples. Try these tours: Whitney Plantation Tour or Oak Alley Plantation Tour.
Cemetery Tours: See ornate family vaults and tombs in New Orleans above-ground cemeteries. Notes: Cemeteries are known to be an area thick with thieves – so guided tours are wise (or required). (St Louis best) Try this tour: St Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Walking Tour or City & Cemetery Bus Tour.
Garden District Tours: Take a tour that highlights the district’s intricate gates, gardens, mansions, and landscaping. Try one of this tour: Garden District Walking Tour. or Garden District Architectural Tour
Food and Drink Tours: Take a walking tour or cooking classes that sample the city’s Creole and Cajun food, fresh seafood, pastries, and cocktails. Try one of these tours: Food & History Walking Tour or French Quarter Food Tour.
MAP OF NEW ORLEANS HISTORIC DISTRICT
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN NEW ORLEANS
French Quarter Walking Tour
A walking tour of the French Quarter is a must-do New Orleans activity. Laid out in a French-style military grid, the neighborhood consists of a 13 x 6 block area. On your walking tour make sure to include:
Royal Street: Famous for beautiful latticed balconies, elegant boutiques, and fun antique shops. Each afternoon the road is closed to cars, and the avenue fills up with street musicians and performers.
Canal Street: Lively shopping hub with retailers, theaters, and entertainment.
Bourbon Street: Dive bars, dance clubs, music venues, sex clubs, voodoo stores, palm reading parlors, and bawdy shops cluster on the colorful strip. Hold tight to your wallet or purse.
Jackson Square: Once a military practice ground, today the square is an epicenter of fun with street performers, musicians, and mule and buggy carts. St Louis Cathedral overlooks the square.
Decatur Street: Home to the city’s famous French Market and Café du Monde beignets.
Try this tour: French Quarter Walking Tour or French Quarter Cajun-Creole Food Walk
Immerse in the Music Scene and Go Dancing
Music is the language of New Orleans. In the city, there is live music every night. Go to Bourbon Street for a raucous party. Or, try the Frenchmen Street clubs for a dose of jazz, reggae, and Blues. If the music gets your toes tapping, the city is full of dance spots. We love the Mulates Dining & Dance Hall for some home-cooking and fais do do (Cajun dancing).
Try this tour: Jazz History & Music Walking Tour or Driving Tour with Local Jazz Musician
See the City from a Different Vantage
New Orleans has fun options for getting around. Ride a streetcar to get from the French Quarter to the historic cemeteries of Mid-town. Rent a bike through the city’s bike share program (Blue Bike NOLA) or a bike shop, and enjoy the Lafitte Greenway or Lakeshore Drive bike paths. Lastly, a mule and buggy carriage ride around Jackson Square is both fun and romantic.
Try this tour: French Quarter Carriage Ride or Garden District & Cemetery Bike Tour
Dive into New Orleans Food Scene
Food is an art form in New Orleans. Fusing Parisian, Caribbean, and African cookery (and many others), the city is home to more than 1000 eateries. Try gumbo, po-boys, blackened redfish, and Muffaletta. You can dine at a food truck, al fresco on a patio, at a late night café, or at a 5-star restaurant. Be adventurous – while in NOLA try a food tour or cooking class:
Do Bourbon Street by Night
Rascally Bourbon Street must be seen at night to be truly appreciated. When the sun goes down, the neon lights flick on and the street is closed to traffic. Begin with a late supper at Galatoire’s Restaurant. Wander past the spectacle of the sex clubs. Then, drink your way through the cocktail lounges, burlesque parlors, dance clubs, and bars the fill the area.
Discover Mystical New Orleans
Voodoo was first practiced in New Orleans when enslaved West Africans merged their religious practices with local Catholic rituals. Visitors can look for gris gris dolls and potions in Voodoo shops, go to the Voodoo Museum, and visit the grave of a Voodoo Queen in St Louis Cemetery No. 1 (Marie Laveau).
NOLA is also said to be one of the most haunted cities in the world. Book a room at the Hotel Monteleone or Dauphine Orleans Hotel for a chance at a ghostly experience.
Try these tours:
Get Out of the City on a Day Trip
New Orleans is surrounded by the diverse Mississippi delta. From swamp excursions on airboats to zip lining over a bayou – there are many outdoor activities to enjoy. For a slower pace, try a plantation tour or riverboat sojourn into the beautiful countryside. Here we have listed some popular tours into rural Louisiana:
Be a Night Owl
In NOLA, a lot goes on after the sun goes down (and away from Bourbon Street). For a fun night out, get tickets to one of the city’s burlesque shows. New Orleans also has an active theater scene with many local and national touring shows. You can hit a comedy show, go dancing, relax in a romantic blues lounge, or try out new drinks in one of the city’s many cocktail lounges. Try this tour: Frenchmen Street VIP Pub Crawl
Go Shopping
You can learn a lot about New Orleans by visiting its boutiques. The city is known for its antique and vintage shopping scene. As you stroll, keep an eye out for wrought iron gates that lead to statue emporiums. There are custom hat shops, art galleries, mask shops, food markets, tobacconists, and stores that sell Mardi Gras supplies. Browse away!
Explore the Garden District, Parks, and Cemeteries
From where ever you are, take a streetcar to the Garden District. Explore the area between Jackson, St. Charles, Louisiana, and Magazine Streets to see the neighborhood’s lovely mansions, iron balconies, and gardens. Do a tour of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. Try this tour: Cemetery Walking Tour. or Small Group Garden District Walking Tour.
Then, hop back on the streetcar to check out the city’s Sculpture Garden at City Park. Rent a bike and explore the park’s 1300 acres including bike paths along Lake Pontchartrain.
Laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll), Laura and Randy
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