Things to do in New Orleans
Top things to do in New Orleans include French Quarter and Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, French Quarter (Vieux Carré). Plan each day around one neighborhood to avoid backtracking, then add your dates to check opening hours and booking needs.
First visit? Start with these — and plan each day around one neighborhood:
- French Quarter and Jackson Square★ 4.7 · 28.6k reviewsThe French Quarter is the 18th-century colonial core, and Jackson Square sits where the Place d'Armes faced the Mississippi River.
- St. Louis Cathedral★ 4.8 · 5.2k reviewsThe cathedral on Jackson Square traces its parish to 1720, with the present triple-spired building completed in the 1850s after earlier fires and…
- French Quarter (Vieux Carré)The Quarter is dense and old, with Jackson Square, Royal Street galleries, Bourbon Street bars, hidden courtyards, Creole townhouses, and the…
- Getting aroundRTA streetcars and buses cover the French Quarter edge, St.
By TripSapien · Updated November 3, 2026
About New Orleans
City overview
New Orleans sits on a bend of the Mississippi River, where the French Quarter, Tremé, Marigny, Bywater, Garden District, and Uptown turn Creole architecture, brass-band music, Catholic parade calendars, and river commerce into one city. The French and Spanish colonial grid, St. Charles Avenue streetcar, above-ground cemeteries, and festival schedule make the visitor map unlike any other U.S. city.
Food & drink
New Orleans food is specific: gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, po'boys, muffulettas from the Central Grocery orbit, oysters, pralines, and beignets at Cafe du Monde. Use the French Quarter for old Creole dining, Magazine Street for neighborhood restaurants, and the Tremé-Marigny-Bywater corridor for music plus late meals.
What New Orleans is best for
New Orleans is best for food, nightlife, music, history, and architecture.
- How long to stay
- A weekend to a week
- Typical budget
- Mid-range
Top sights
Ranked using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1National WWII Museum
- 2Frenchmen Street
- 3Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- 4St. Charles Avenue Streetcar
- 5Audubon Park
- 6New Orleans Museum of Art and City Park
- 7Steamboat Natchez and Mississippi riverfront
- 8Mardi Gras World
1National WWII Museum
4.8★ · 30,542The museum opened in 2000 in the Warehouse District and grew from the Higgins Boats built in New Orleans for Allied landings. Exhibits cover the European and Pacific theaters, aircraft, oral histories, and the U.S. Freedom Pavilion.
Wikipedia
2Frenchmen Street
4.7★ · 500Frenchmen Street in the Marigny has music clubs such as The Spotted Cat, Blue Nile, d.b.a., and Snug Harbor within a few blocks. It is a short walk downriver from the French Quarter, beyond Esplanade Avenue.
Wikipedia
3Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
3.2★ · 24The Garden District developed in the 19th century with Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian mansions along Prytania and Coliseum streets. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 sits opposite Commander's Palace, though access can change during preservation work.
Show 5 more sights
4St. Charles Avenue Streetcar
The streetcar line began in 1835 and now runs from Canal Street through the Garden District, Uptown, and Carrollton. It passes oak canopies, universities, mansions, and restaurants on one of the city's easiest low-cost rides.
Wikipedia5Audubon Park
The Uptown park sits beside the Mississippi River and Tulane University, with live oaks, lagoons, walking paths, golf, and the Audubon Zoo. The St. Charles streetcar stops nearby at Audubon Place and Tulane.
6New Orleans Museum of Art and City Park
NOMA opened in City Park in 1911 and holds French, American, African, Japanese, and decorative arts collections. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden sits beside bayous and live oaks in the same park.
7Steamboat Natchez and Mississippi riverfront
The Natchez paddlewheeler docks near the Toulouse Street wharf and runs jazz cruises on the Mississippi River. The Moonwalk and Woldenberg Riverfront Park give free views of ships, bridges, and the French Quarter levee edge.
8Mardi Gras World
Blaine Kern's warehouse on the riverfront shows parade floats, sculpted props, costumes, and workshop processes used by Carnival krewes. It is near the Convention Center and Warehouse District.
Wikipedia
Neighborhoods
1Marigny and Bywater
Marigny and Bywater are downriver and music-heavy, with Frenchmen Street clubs, Crescent Park, colorful cottages, St. Claude Avenue venues, and neighborhood restaurants.
2Tremé
Tremé is tied to Black New Orleans culture, with Congo Square, Backstreet Cultural Museum, brass-band history, Creole cottages, and second-line routes near North Rampart Street.
3Garden District and Lower Garden District
The Garden District is mansion-lined and leafy, with St. Charles Avenue, Magazine Street shops, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, Commander's Palace, and streetcar stops.
Show 26 more neighborhoods
- 4Uptown and Carrollton
Uptown stretches along St. Charles and Magazine, with Tulane, Loyola, Audubon Park, Maple Street bars, old oaks, and po'boy counters.
- 5Warehouse District and CBD
The Warehouse District and CBD feel more modern, with the National WWII Museum, Ogden Museum, Julia Street galleries, hotels, Superdome access, and convention crowds.
- 6Algiers
A historic New Orleans neighborhood on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, once home to many jazz musicians. It was established in 1719 as a plantation and later developed with shipbuilding and railroad industries.
- 7Algiers Point
A safe neighborhood with a friendly atmosphere, Algeirs Point features historic architecture and local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. The Algiers Ferry provides easy access to the French Quarter, and there are parks and the levee for walks along the Mississippi River.
- 8Audubon
Audubon features Audubon Park, one of the largest parks in New Orleans, and is home to Tulane and Loyola Universities. The area is known for its local atmosphere and includes Jefferson Avenue and South Claiborne Avenue.
- 9Aurora
- 10Bayou Bend
- 11Bayou St. John
This area features tree-lined streets, historic homes, and a range of local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. It's close to City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Lafitte Greenway.
- 12Behrman
Behrman has local stops such as McArthur Shopping Center and Dimartino's Famous Muffulettas. Seafood Zone serves seafood favorites like po' boys and gumbo.
- 13Bellemeade
- 14Black Pearl
A quiet area with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques within walking distance. It's close to Audubon Park, Tulane and Loyola Universities, and the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line.
- 15Bonnabel Place
Bonnabel Place in New Orleans is known for its jewelry stores, including Aucoin Hart Jewelers and Ramsey's Diamond Jewelers.
- 16Broadmoor
The Broadmoor Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood is bordered by Eve Street, Washington Avenue, and South Claiborne Avenue.
- 17Bywater
A historic New Orleans neighborhood, part of the Ninth Ward, that was less affected by Hurricane Katrina due to its higher elevation. It hosts the Society of Saint Anne marching krewe's Mardi Gras procession and includes the Bywater Historic District.
- 18Carrollton
- 19CBD
The CBD features a mix of high-rises, trendy bars, and restaurants serving modern Cajun-Creole cuisine, with the French Quarter just a short walk away. Key attractions like the National WWII Museum and Harrah's Casino are also nearby.
- 20Central Business District
The Central Business District features a mix of modern skyscrapers and historic architecture, with numerous restaurants, bars, and shops within easy reach. Key attractions include the Caesars Superdome, Smoothie King Center, and Lafayette Square.
- 21Central City
A historic part of New Orleans known for its local culture and traditions, including Mardi Gras Indian celebrations and Second Lines. It's centrally located near the Central Business District, with Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard as a key street for shops and restaurants.
- 22City Park
City Park has local stops such as the New Orleans Museum of Art, featuring more than 40,000 pieces by global artists, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, which includes 16 rides and an antique wooden carousel. It is a public park in New Orleans.
- 23Cutoff
- 24Desire Area
- 25Dillard
Quiet streets and a strong residential feel, with easy access to downtown attractions like the French Quarter and Superdome. It's close to Dillard University and offers a friendly atmosphere where neighbors often greet each other.
- 26East Carrollton
East Carrollton has a low crime rate and is a walkable area with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops along Oak Street and Maple Street.
- 27East Riverside
East Riverside has local stops such as Peaches Records for vinyls and books, The Club Ms Mae's for drinks and games, Lower Coast Coffee Co. for freshly roasted beans, and Mojo Coffee Roasters known for its small-batch coffee.
- 28Fairgrounds
The Fairgrounds has a mix of residential streets and local businesses, with plenty of restaurants like Liuzza's by the Track and Café Degas nearby. City Park, featuring the New Orleans Museum of Art and outdoor activities, is just a short walk away.
- 29Faubourg Lafayette
Historically a suburban development to the southwest of New Orleans, formed from the Panis plantation. The modern area is part of Central City, bordering St. Charles Avenue and Simon Bolivar Avenue.
Day trips
85km / 1-1.5h by car from the French Quarter
Oak Alley and River Road plantations
River Road sites such as Oak Alley, Whitney Plantation, and Laura Plantation interpret sugar estates, architecture, and enslaved labor along the Mississippi.
30km / 35-45min by car from the French Quarter
Barataria Preserve
The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park preserve has boardwalks through swamp, bayou, marsh, alligator habitat, and birding areas close to the city.
70km / 1h by car across Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Abita Springs and the Northshore
The northshore route adds Abita Brewery, the Abita Mystery House, small towns, and the long bridge crossing over Lake Pontchartrain.
Getting around
RTA streetcars and buses cover the French Quarter edge, St. Charles Avenue, Canal Street, Rampart Street, cemeteries, City Park, and parts of Uptown using Le Pass fares. Walking works in the Quarter and Marigny, the St. Charles streetcar works for Garden District days, and rideshare is practical for late-night Bywater or airport trips.
Planning a New Orleans trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs before you go.
Things to do in New Orleans by month
Pick a month for weather, any sourced events, holidays or observances, and seasonal timing. April, March and November have the most comfortable weather (tagged below).
Common questions about New Orleans
- Which neighborhoods should I explore in New Orleans?
- French Quarter (Vieux Carré), Marigny and Bywater, Tremé are useful starting points. Plan each day around one or two neighboring areas to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
- When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
- April, March, November balance comfortable temperatures with fewer rainy days in New Orleans.
- How many days do you need in New Orleans?
- a weekend to a week gives you time for food, nightlife, and music in New Orleans. Choose your month to see date-specific details.
- What is New Orleans known for?
- New Orleans is best for food, nightlife, music, history, and architecture. For matched places, TripSapien checks available hours, closure signals, and booking links.
Ready to plan New Orleans?
Turn everything above into a day-by-day New Orleans plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.