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New Orleans is unlike any other city in the US. It has French and Spanish colonial streets, brass bands on the corner, a food culture all its own and a calendar packed with festivals. It is also a city where some of the best experiences, like a walk through the French Quarter or an evening of music on Frenchmen Street, cost little or nothing. Here is how to spend your time there.
The French Quarter
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, is the oldest part of the city and the place most visitors start. It is compact and easy to explore on foot.
Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
The heart of the Quarter. Artists, fortune tellers and street musicians gather around the square, with St. Louis Cathedral rising behind it. The cathedral is one of the oldest in the country and usually free to step inside, outside of services.
Royal Street
One block over from Bourbon Street and a world apart. Royal Street is lined with antique shops, art galleries and wrought-iron balconies, and in the afternoons parts of it are closed to cars so street performers can play.
Bourbon Street
Loud, neon and famous. Walk it at least once, ideally in the evening, to see what the fuss is about. Many visitors prefer to have a look and then head somewhere quieter for music and food.
The riverfront and the French Market
Walk along the Mississippi River on the Moonwalk and through Woldenberg Park, then browse the French Market, which has stalls selling local food, crafts and souvenirs. It is a good place to try a praline.
Ride the ferry across the river
The ferry from the foot of Canal Street to Algiers Point is a short, cheap ride with great views back toward the city skyline. Algiers Point itself is a quiet neighborhood of old houses with a levee path along the river.
Live music
Music is the reason many people come to New Orleans, and you can hear it almost anywhere, any night of the week.
Frenchmen Street
Just outside the French Quarter in the Marigny, Frenchmen Street has a cluster of small clubs and bars with live jazz, blues, funk and brass bands. Many places have no cover charge but expect you to buy a drink, and a tip for the band is always appreciated. It is where many locals go for music instead of Bourbon Street.
Preservation Hall
A small, historic hall in the French Quarter dedicated to traditional New Orleans jazz. Shows are short and intimate, and seats are limited, so buy tickets ahead.
Street musicians and second lines
Brass bands often play on street corners in the Quarter and on Frenchmen Street. If you are lucky, you may also see a second line, a street parade with a brass band and dancers that anyone can follow along with.
What to eat in New Orleans
New Orleans food is a mix of Creole and Cajun cooking, with French, Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. Some dishes to try:
- Beignets: square fried dough covered in powdered sugar, best with a café au lait. Café du Monde in the French Market is the classic spot.
- Gumbo: a rich stew with a dark roux, made with seafood or chicken and sausage, served over rice.
- Jambalaya: rice cooked with meat, seafood and spices.
- Po'boys: sandwiches on crusty French bread, usually with fried shrimp, oysters or roast beef with gravy.
- Muffuletta: a big round sandwich layered with Italian meats, cheese and olive salad.
- Red beans and rice: a traditional Monday dish you will still see on many menus.
- Crawfish: boiled with spices and served by the pound, mostly in late winter and spring.
To eat well for less, go for po'boy shops, neighborhood restaurants and lunch specials, which are often much cheaper than dinner at the famous old-line restaurants.
Neighborhoods beyond the French Quarter
Garden District
Ride the St. Charles streetcar, one of the oldest streetcar lines in the world, from the edge of the French Quarter to the Garden District. The neighborhood is full of grand 19th-century mansions and oak-shaded streets. Walk around on your own or join a guided tour to learn the history behind the houses.
Magazine Street
Running for miles from the Warehouse District uptown, Magazine Street is the city's best street for browsing, with boutiques, vintage shops, cafes and restaurants.
The Marigny and Bywater
Colorful shotgun houses, murals, music venues and relaxed bars. In the Bywater, Crescent Park runs along the river with views of the city skyline.
Tremé
One of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the country and a cradle of jazz. Visit Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square, where enslaved and free people of color gathered on Sundays to play music and dance.
Mid-City and City Park
City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the US, with huge live oak trees, lagoons and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Nearby, Bayou St. John is a pretty spot for a walk or a picnic.
Museums and tours
- The National WWII Museum: one of the city's top attractions, with exhibits that can easily fill a full day.
- Swamp tours: boat trips into the bayous outside the city to see cypress swamps, birds and, often, alligators.
- Cemetery tours: New Orleans is famous for its above-ground tombs. Some cemeteries can only be visited with a licensed guide, and access rules change, so check before you go.
- Ghost and history tours: walking tours of the French Quarter at night are a popular way to hear the city's stories.
- Plantation tours: several historic plantations along the river road offer tours, and some focus on the lives of the people who were enslaved there.
You can compare tickets for the WWII Museum, swamp tours and walking tours on Tiqets, or see tours and tickets on one map on our things to do in New Orleans page.
Free things to do in New Orleans
- Walk the French Quarter, Jackson Square and Royal Street
- Step inside St. Louis Cathedral
- Listen to street musicians and brass bands
- Stroll the Moonwalk and Woldenberg Park along the river
- Walk among the mansions of the Garden District
- Explore City Park and the free Sculpture Garden next to the New Orleans Museum of Art
- Walk Crescent Park in the Bywater
- Visit Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square
- Catch a free festival, like French Quarter Festival in the spring
Best time to visit New Orleans
Late winter and spring (February to May)
This is the most popular time to visit. The weather is pleasant, crawfish season is in full swing and the festival calendar is packed. Mardi Gras falls in February or early March, depending on the year, and brings weeks of parades. French Quarter Festival in April is free, and Jazz Fest runs over two weekends in late April and early May. Hotels fill up and prices rise sharply around these events, so book early if you plan to go.
Summer (June to August)
Hot, humid and often stormy in the afternoons. It is the quietest time of year, and hotel prices are usually lower. Plan indoor activities like museums for the hottest part of the day.
Fall (September to November)
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest risk in late summer and early fall. Late October and November usually bring cooler, drier weather, Halloween celebrations and fewer crowds than spring, which makes fall a great choice.
Winter (December to January)
Mild and generally cheaper, with holiday lights and special Christmas menus at many restaurants. Nights can be chilly, so pack a jacket.
Where to stay
Staying in or near the French Quarter puts you within walking distance of most sights, but it is the most expensive area. The Marigny, the Warehouse District and the Central Business District are good alternatives, and hotels along the St. Charles streetcar line make it easy to get around. Compare prices on our New Orleans hotels page.
You don't need a car to explore the city itself. If you plan day trips to plantations or swamps on your own, look at our New Orleans car rental page, and read our guide on how to get a cheap car rental.
Getting to New Orleans
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is about 15 miles west of downtown. Compare fares from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas and Washington, D.C.. To save more on the flight, see our tips on the cheapest day to fly.
Frequently asked questions
- What is New Orleans best known for?
- New Orleans is best known for jazz and live music, Creole and Cajun food, the historic French Quarter and festivals like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
- How many days do you need in New Orleans?
- Three to four days is enough to see the French Quarter, the Garden District and Frenchmen Street, eat well and visit a museum or take a swamp tour.
- What is the best month to visit New Orleans?
- Spring (March to May) and late fall (late October and November) have the most pleasant weather. Spring is busiest because of festivals, so book early if you go then.
- Is Frenchmen Street better than Bourbon Street?
- For live music, many visitors and locals prefer Frenchmen Street, which has small clubs with jazz, blues and brass bands. Bourbon Street is more about bars and nightlife.