Things to Do in New Orleans
DESTINATION GUIDE

Things to Do in New Orleans

50 curated spots from New Orleans itineraries

Activities & Attractions

30 curated experiences

Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral
Do
morning

Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral

Explore the historic square with artists, the oldest cathedral in the US, and admire surrounding Creole architecture; covers historical sites, architecture, street markets, and art.

1h 30m · Free
Preservation Hall
Do
afternoon

Preservation Hall

Intimate traditional jazz performance in historic wooden hall.

1h 30m · $25
French Market
Do
late_morning

French Market

Browse this open-air market’s food vendors, local products, and casual stalls stretching along the riverfront.

1h 30m · Free to enter; pay for food or shopping
Frenchmen Street live music crawl
Do
evening

Frenchmen Street live music crawl

Move to Frenchmen Street for one or two music stops rather than trying to overschedule the night.

2h 30m · $10-25 cover or Free
Backstreet Cultural Museum
Do
afternoon

Backstreet Cultural Museum

Learn about Mardi Gras Indians, Skull and Bones gang traditions, and second-line culture through colorful exhibits and suits. Small but deeply authentic.

1h 30m · $8-12 per person
Frenchmen Street Live Music
Do
evening

Frenchmen Street Live Music

Pop into a few music clubs along Frenchmen Street after dinner, sampling jazz, funk, and brass bands in small venues.

2h 30m · Often free entry or small cover, plus drinks
Louis Armstrong Park
Do
afternoon

Louis Armstrong Park

Free paths, Congo Square history, wildlife ponds; 10-min walk.

1h 30m · Free
Audubon Park Loop Walk or Bike
Do
late_afternoon

Audubon Park Loop Walk or Bike

Continue on the St. Charles streetcar to Audubon Park for a 1.8-mile paved loop under massive oaks; rent a bike nearby if you prefer to ride.

1h 30m · Free to walk; bike rental ~$10-20
Audubon Park Stroll
Do
late_morning

Audubon Park Stroll

Take a short rideshare or streetcar Uptown for a peaceful walk around the park’s loop under huge live oaks near the river.

1h 30m · Free
Bayou St. John / Mid-City Evening Stroll
Do
evening

Bayou St. John / Mid-City Evening Stroll

After dinner, walk or rideshare a few minutes to Bayou St. John’s banks for a calm waterside stroll and golden‑hour photos along this scenic waterway.[5]

1h · Free
Bayou St. John Paddle
Do
afternoon

Bayou St. John Paddle

Rent cheap kayaks or canoe free edges for wildlife.

1h 30m · $20/hour tandem
Bayou Swamp Airboat Tour
Do
morning

Bayou Swamp Airboat Tour

Early-morning alligator spotting and wildlife; 30-min rideshare from French Quarter.

2h · $50-65
Bourbon Street & Surrounding Nightlife Stroll
Do
night

Bourbon Street & Surrounding Nightlife Stroll

Walk Bourbon and nearby streets in the early evening to experience the neon, music spilling from bars, and general chaos; duck into a bar with a live band if it feels right, then retreat to quieter side streets when you’ve had enough.

2h · Free to stroll (drinks extra)
Bourbon Street Nightlife Stroll
Do
evening

Bourbon Street Nightlife Stroll

Live music bars and people-watching; 5-min walk from lunch.

1h 30m · $20-40 drinks
Bywater neighborhood walk and Crescent Park
Do
afternoon

Bywater neighborhood walk and Crescent Park

Walk the colorful streets, stop for murals, and spend time in the park along the river.

2h · Free
Cajun Encounters Kayak Tour
Do
afternoon

Cajun Encounters Kayak Tour

Budget tandem kayak spotting gators; book ahead, wear water shoes, medium fitness.

3h · $50/person
Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone
Do
night

Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone

Have a round of cocktails at the famous slowly rotating carousel bar, then wander nearby streets for more drinks as you like.[4][5]

1h 30m · $15-25 per drink
Carousel Bar & Lounge Nightcap
Do
night

Carousel Bar & Lounge Nightcap

End the trip with a drink at the historic rotating Carousel Bar inside the Hotel Monteleone, listening to live music on select nights.

1h · $15-30
Chartres Street Wander
Do
evening

Chartres Street Wander

Explore hidden courtyards, galleries, and iron-lace balconies with tropical foliage.

1h · Free
City Park & Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Do
morning

City Park & Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Start at City Park’s live oaks and lagoons, then wander the adjacent sculpture garden and, if you have time, the New Orleans Museum of Art for a mix of nature and art.[1]

2h 30m · Sculpture garden free; NOMA ~$15-20
City Park Big Easy Trail
Do
morning

City Park Big Easy Trail

Free 2-mile nature hike around lagoons; 20-min streetcar.

2h · Free ($1.25 streetcar)
City Sightseeing New Orleans Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (Red Route Segment)
Do
afternoon

City Sightseeing New Orleans Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (Red Route Segment)

Use a 1-day or multi-day ticket to ride a portion of the loop in the afternoon, getting narrated history while you rest your feet between key stops like Basin St. Station and the Garden District.

2h · $45-55
Crescent Park & Bywater Riverfront Walk
Do
morning

Crescent Park & Bywater Riverfront Walk

Start your last day with a walk along Crescent Park’s elevated paths and gardens for river views and murals, accessed via stair or ramp entrances.

1h 15m · Free
Free Explore in the French Quarter
Do
afternoon

Free Explore in the French Quarter

Spend a couple of hours wandering Royal Street, Jackson Square, and nearby side streets for architecture, galleries, and quick photo stops.

2h · Free
French Market & Riverfront Walk
Do
afternoon

French Market & Riverfront Walk

Browse local crafts, food stalls, and souvenirs at the French Market, then stroll the adjacent Moonwalk along the Mississippi River for skyline and riverboat photos.[1]

2h · Free to browse
French Market and Decatur Street browsing
Do
morning

French Market and Decatur Street browsing

Return for shopping, people-watching, and souvenir browsing in one of the city’s easiest market areas.

1h 15m · Free to browse
French Market Browse
Do
morning

French Market Browse

Free historic market with stalls.

1h 30m · Free
French Market Shopping Stroll
Do
afternoon

French Market Shopping Stroll

Browse stalls for local crafts, souvenirs, spices, and small artworks, then wander nearby Chartres and Royal Street shops.

1h 30m · Free to browse
French Quarter architecture walk
Do
afternoon

French Quarter architecture walk

Spend the afternoon wandering the smaller streets for balconies, courtyards, and classic Creole townhouses.

2h · Free
French Quarter Walking Exploration
Do
morning

French Quarter Walking Exploration

Stroll Jackson Square, Royal Street shops, and historic architecture; photography-friendly.

1h 30m · Free

Restaurants & Food

20 local favorites

Cafe du Monde
Eat
morning

Cafe du Monde

Order beignets and chicory coffee at outdoor tables.

45m · $8-10 per person
Café du Monde
Eat
morning

Café du Monde

Iconic open-air spot for fresh beignets and chicory coffee.

45m · $10-15 per person
Willa Jean
Eat
morning

Willa Jean

Chic bakery-café known for Southern-inspired breakfasts, biscuits, and excellent coffee in a bright, modern room.

1h · $20-35 per person
Cafe Beignet (Decatur Street)
Eat
morning

Cafe Beignet (Decatur Street)

Grab beignets, chicory coffee, and maybe a simple egg plate in the leafy courtyard near Jackson Square; aim for a 9:30–10:30 AM start so the light is good but the crowds are still thin.[2][4][7]

1h · $10-18 per person
Cafe Beignet (Royal Street)
Eat
morning

Cafe Beignet (Royal Street)

Classic beignets plus a full breakfast menu on a pretty Royal Street patio; pair powder‑sugar beignets with café au lait and some eggs to start your day.[1]

1h · $10-20 per person
Cochon
Eat
evening

Cochon

Popular restaurant in a converted warehouse serving wood‑fired Cajun and Southern dishes with an emphasis on pork and Gulf ingredients.[2]

1h 30m · $30-50 per person
Cochon Butcher
Eat
evening

Cochon Butcher

Casual offshoot of Cochon with excellent sandwiches, charcuterie, and small plates; try the muffuletta or pork belly sandwich and share a few sides.

1h 15m · $20-35 per person
Commander's Palace
Eat
afternoon

Commander's Palace

Turtle soup and pecan-crusted gulf fish; upscale Creole.

1h 30m · $40-50 per person
Commander’s Palace
Eat
evening

Commander’s Palace

Make this the one splurge meal if you want a polished Creole dinner and classic service.

1h 30m · $35-60 per person
Coop's Place
Eat
evening

Coop's Place

Casual, locals-beloved spot for jambalaya, fried chicken, and other hearty Cajun dishes; expect a bit of a line, but it moves.

1h 15m · $20-30 per person
Dooky Chase
Eat
afternoon

Dooky Chase

Try Creole classics such as fried chicken, gumbo, or other house specialties if available.

1h 15m · $20-35 per person
The Vintage
Eat
morning

The Vintage

Enjoy coffee, beignets, and small plates in a cozy, stylish café on Magazine Street before a day of walking and shopping.

1h · $10-18 per person
Verti Marte
Eat
afternoon

Verti Marte

Tiny takeout spot known for big, overstuffed po’boys—order a shrimp, roast beef, or all-that-jazz style and eat on a nearby bench or back at your hotel.

45m · $12-20 per person
Adolfo’s
Eat
evening

Adolfo’s

Intimate, cash-only Italian-Creole spot above a bar on Frenchmen Street; arrive a bit early, order a fish topped with their famous Ocean Sauce, and share a bottle of wine.

1h 30m · $25-40 per person
Arnaud’s
Eat
evening

Arnaud’s

Classic, white-tablecloth Creole institution; try the shrimp Arnaud, oysters, and a flambé dessert, and request a quieter corner for romance.

2h · $80-140 per person
Ayu Bakehouse
Eat
morning

Ayu Bakehouse

Grab pastries or a light breakfast before a neighborhood-hopping day.

45m · $10-18 per person
Bearcat CBD
Eat
morning

Bearcat CBD

Fuel up with hearty scrambles, breakfast bowls, and good coffee in a modern café setting just upriver from the Quarter.

1h · $12-20 per person
Brennan's Restaurant
Eat
evening

Brennan's Restaurant

Historic restaurant where Bananas Foster was invented. Elegant courtyard dining; dress code smart casual.

2h · $45-65 per person
Café Bacchanal
Eat
evening

Café Bacchanal

Casual spot near Jackson Square serving bistro fare and cocktails. Comfortable for couples; good for evening strolls.

1h 15m · $20-35 per person
Cafe Beignet
Eat
afternoon

Cafe Beignet

Beignets and poboys; 20-min streetcar from Lakefront.

45m · $12-20 per person

More on New Orleans

New Orleans Travel GuideWhen to Visit New Orleans

BUILD YOUR NEW ORLEANS PLAN

Insider picks, smart timing, and a plan ready when you are.

Start Planning