25 of my favorite things to do in New Orleans (2026)

There is no other city like New Orleans! It is just so different to any other city in the United States, and was on my list of the best places to visit in 2025.

I’ve visited ten times, hosting small groups on three occasions and I just love this city!

The Big Easy is unique in so many ways: It boasts a vibrant nightlife, there are big celebrations almost every week, the incredible food, fabulous live music in venues all over town – most of it free, eye catching architecture and historic southern charm.

I’ve put together this totally awesome New Orleans guide filled with things you won’t want to miss, wonderful restaurants to try for everything from po boys to fine dining, tips for shopping in New Orleans and fun things to do on your trip to NOLA. There is so much to do here, even when it is not Mardi Gras season. 

But if you’re wanting less FOMO and more SLO-MO, then use this post as a guide for things you might like.

But if you only have one day in New Orleans, I’ve listed my ideal day over in my new Day Tripping USA blog.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click and make a purchase, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Thank you!

New Orleans is a great place to experience with your friends or the family regardless of age, and if you’re planning to visit during the holiday season, I’ve got this great post filled with everything there is to do in New Orleans at Christmas!

I brought my parents here at the end of our music road trip which started in Nashville and included Memphis. We stayed a week with my brother and his family who flew in from the Cayman Islands.

Another time I came with my cousin and did all the touristy things. Another time I brought my husband because we were in town for a conference and got to see loads of hidden gems, thanks to inside information from the tourism department.

I had been raving about New Orleans to anyone who would listen, and I’ve now hosted three small group tours here, then up to Memphis and Nashville.

Check out my list below for some must-visit attractions when visiting the Crescent City. 

My quick picks for the best tours and attractions in New Orleans

1. Take a sightseeing bus tour around the city and see the amazing architecture, stroll through a beautiful cemetery, drive through the Garden District and Treme. I loved this one.
2. Take an evening jazz cruise on a steamboat on the Mississippi River
3. Have lunch and a cooking lesson. Learn to cook cajun and creole food – and then get to eat 3-4 courses!
4. Take a tour of Whitney Plantation – the only plantation that tells the slavery story.
5. Enjoy the famous all-you-can-eat Jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters on Bourbon Street with live music.

The best things to do in New Orleans, hands down! 

I wrote about my five favourite jazz venues in New Orleans here. There are just so many choose from, but if I have only a couple of nights in town, these are the ones I head to first.

1. Stroll Bourbon Street

But only once! Lively Bourbon Street is the main artery of the historic French Quarter, but I find it overwhelming and even a little sleazy, especially at the Canal Street end where you’ll pass girlie bars and potty-mouth T-shirts. Fortunately the streets running parallel either side are much better!

During the day you can explore the souvenir shops and pick up beads, masks and T-shirts and pop into the bars where you’ll find live music all day and fresh oysters.

By night, on the other hand, Bourbon Street is the epicenter of partying. It gets crowded down here, but there are so many bars to hop in and out of as the night goes on for music and a drink.

What to drink in New Orleans: I recommend trying a few New Orleans staple cocktails such as the Hurricane (named long before Hurricane Katrina), Sazerac (where I was given the original Sazerac recipe), Hand Grenade and Shark Attack. You can walk from bar to bar with drinks here too, they give you plastic cups for that purpose.

There are also brilliant jazz clubs and bars. You’ll also find rock music, piano bars and plenty of places to enjoy cocktails and toe-tapping live music.

But keep some singles in your pocket because the music in Nawlins is not just in the clubs. The street performers and buskers along the pedestrianised streets are super talented and you could easily spend an hour or so just soaking in the free music of New Orleans.

2. Throw beads from a balcony during Mardi Gras

This is a once in a lifetime (or once a year) opportunity! During Mardi Gras you don’t need to be down on the streets with the plebs screaming out for a bead, get a ticket and go and join a balcony party and throw them down. Here’s my post on being on a Mardi Gras float AND joining a balcony party.

Check our balcony party tickets here >

3. Watch the musicians in Jackson Square

Jackson Square is a beautiful city park in the heart of the French Quarter anchored by St Louis Cathedral. It boasts lovely statues and a water fountain. It’s edged in historic buildings housing small stores and local artists, street musicians, tarot card readers, and art vendors selling their wares creating a fantastic vibe.

I love this photo (below) that I took in Jackson Square. Notice the jazz band on the balcony while all the vendors and artists sit below and groups of visitors stand drinking it all in. Classic New Orleans!

At the road end, opposite the historic Saint Louis Cathedral is legendary Café Du Monde (#8 below), on the corner of Decatur Street and St Ann.

4. Visit New Orleans Museum of Art

The NOMA is the city’s oldest art museum. It has an excellent collection of contemporary and modern art pieces from around the globe.

Exhibitions change frequently, so you are sure to have a different experience with every visit. Ticket prices begin at $15 for adults and discounted tickets for students and seniors. The museum is also free for children, teens, and military families. Closed Mondays, although the Sculpture Garden is open 7 days.

Visitors can also access the museum’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden utterly free of charge from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It is a unique and budget-friendly experience that allows for some great photo opportunities. 

5. Browse the French Market

This historic flea market has been around since 1791, offering a one-stop shop for the best New Orleans souvenirs.

From novelty apparel to art and hand made goods, there is so much to find at the French Market. You’ll find unique shops like a custom jewelry store in which you select a crystal to turn into a necklace, earrings or ring. It is such a fun experience and highly recommended for crystal fans!  

The French Market is also home to various local eateries, even featuring a live oyster shucking stand and if you dare, try fried alligator. You can also find several candy shops, like Evan’s Creole Candy Factory, that serve delicious local pralines.

6. Photograph Saint Louis Cathedral

This national historical landmark is located right at the entrance of Jackson Square Park, in the heart of the French Quarter.

It was built in 1727 and has since been a place of worship for locals and travelers. The interior is beautiful, with stained glass windows and Victorian architecture. 

It is another excellent budget-friendly attraction with free admission. You may also attend Sunday Mass at 9:00 am or 11:00 pm. Remember, it is a church, after all; therefore, please silence your phone upon entering. Photography is allowed, but nobody wants to interfere with the quiet and peaceful vibe that the St. Louis Cathedral offers. 

7. Eat Banana’s Foster at Brennans

This famous and delicious dessert was created at Brennan’s, an institution in New Orleans, and the cool thing is they flambé it table side.

It’s made with loads of butter and brown sugar to form a caramel sauce, then when it’s super hot a shot of banana liquer and dark rum is added causing the dramatic flame. The bananas sliced in half lengthwise, added to the sauce and served over ice cream. You can thank me later!

Here’s the recipe to make it at home! >

8. Visit Storyville Museum

I really liked this museum for its fascinating history into the arrival of the French in New Orleans and the red light district that emerged in the Storyville neighborhood of the French Quarter.

Back when the French settled here there weren’t enough women to ensure they populated the region. So, in a nutshell, they sent for some from France. But the wrong ladies were sent!

Ladies of ill-repute, released imprisoned women… and pretty soon brothels opened and the title Sin City was its moniker. The French soldiers didn’t want to marry them, but they were happy to “play”.

So reputable women were sent for so that marriage and families would proliferate. The museum tells it in easy to read illustrations, some rooms created to look like a brothel. Lots of pictures of life back in those times.

The song ‘House of the Rising Sun’ is about this aspect of New Orleans settlement.

9. Explore The Garden District

New Orleans’ historic garden district is famous for its beautiful homes with large gardens, delicious restaurants and unique boutiques.

This is the oldest neighborhood in the city, established in 1833 after being part of the Livaudals Plantation. A great way to travel around the area is by trolley on the famous Saint Charles Streetcar Line starting on Canal Street with fares starting at $1.25.

You can also purchase a “Jazzy Pass” that will allow for multiple rides depending on which package you are buying. This is a fun way to spend a couple of hours, even if you don’t get off the streetcar!

If you are a fan of the popular TV Show American Horror Story, you may recognize the famous Buckner Mansion, which was featured in season 3. It is located on the corner of Jackson Avenue and Coliseum Street. There are many other stunning Victorian-style mansions around the area as well.  

Staying in the garden district is also a great idea if you are trying to avoid all the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter. 

10. Live music on Frenchmen Street

This is where the locals come to listen to music. Frenchmen Street, on the edge of the French Quarter, boasts a fantastic live music scene. It is not as well known by the tourists as Bourbon Street but is a stellar night out. However don’t expect it to be quiet, you’ll still want to book a table if you plan to eat.

Some of my favorite music venues along here include Blue Nile, Café Negril, Maison, and The Spotted Cat for live jazz. There are also several delicious eateries in the area, such as The Three Muses and Dat Dog.

However, this street does not include my top picks for music venues in New Orleans.

 

11. Eat Beignets at Cafe du Monde 

No one should leave New Orleans without trying beignets (donuts, pronouned ben-yay) from the historic Café du Monde on Decatur Street. This super popular place originated as a coffee stand, started by the Fernandez brothers back in 1942.

They only serve two items: beignets and coffee. Their frozen Cafe Au Lait is absolutely out of this world and so refreshing on a hot summers day. They also only take cash.

It is hard to miss the stand with a line stretching down the road, but don’t be scared, it moves quickly. Although, the sugary beignets are well worth the wait, if you don’t have the time or the inclination to wait, head down to Cafe Beignet on Royal Street. It’s a small cafe, and if you can get a table, a lovely place to start the day.

An excellent way to shorten your time in line is to wait for takeout rather than a seat inside. The stand is open 24/7, so feel free to head over for some late-night snacks after a night out if you want to avoid the long lines during the day. 

12. Visit New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

This unique museum has an exciting and curious collection of apothecary jars, historical medical instruments, and a beautiful backyard area. You will learn so much during your time at this museum, which offers some wild facts about medicinal practices during the early 1800s and 1900s.

The museum has two floors where two adorable cats on the stairwell may greet you. The second floor has an extensive spectacle exhibit that depicts how eyeglass styles have evolved. You can also check out the living quarters of Dr. J William Rosenthal, a famous ophthalmologist in New Orleans. 

Admission to the museum is $10 per adult with a discounted rate for students, seniors, and the military. Ask about the ghosts said to roam in here and don’t forget to check out their gift shop for some fascinating souvenirs.

13. Visit Faulkner House Books

If you love a tiny bookstore and are looking for local, unique and rare titles, you could spend hours in here. Located in Pirates Alley, just off Jackson Square, this tiny store with floor to ceiling books allows six people in at a time.

A sanctuary for fine literature, is their tag line, and it’s been described as America’s most charming bookstore.

14. Visit the Jazz Museum

The small New Orleans Jazz Museum is located down my the French Market and has some nice interactive pieces featuring the biggest jazz musicians who left their musical mark on the fabric of the city. I loved the Fats Domino exhibit and sat with his music playing for a while, before moving on to look at artwork, instruments and reading more about this great sound.

15. Tour Mardi Gras World

This fabulous art museum features some spectacular floats that make their debut at New Orleans’ famous Mardi Gras parade.

Tickets are $22 for adults and $14 for children under twelve years old. Tours are held between the hours of 9:30 am to 4:30 pm are approximately half an hour long. 

It is a great destination for photoshoots and to learn about the history of the most beloved holiday in the city. I especially recommend visiting if you miss Mardi Gras season to still enjoy all the fun. 

16. Visit the National World War II Museum

Located in the Warehouse District, the National WWII Museum is such a great (and huge) attraction regardless of age. Admission for the museum begins at $30 for adults with discounted rates for students, children, seniors, and the military. It is also free to visit for members and World War II veterans. 

There are several fascinating exhibits for the history buff, including an assortment of warplanes and weaponry from the war.

Many of the exhibits have interactive elements and provide a ton of information on the effects of the war. It is a vast museum, so be sure to dedicate a few hours there to ensure you get the most out of your experience. If you just walked through without reading everything you’d need about rhree hours.

17. Wander through a Cemetery

Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 is no longer available for public tours but you can buy tickets from their official website, or at 501 Basin Street, which is also the stop of the Hop on Hop off sightseeing bus.

I love cemeteries and this historic cemetery is beautiful yet eerie with its above ground graves and mausoleums (because that’s the way the Spanish buried people when this city was first established). No. 1 has the vaults of Voodoo queen Marie Levaux and actor Nicolas Cage, see his pyramid below.

This nine-foot pyramid tomb belongs to actor Nicolas Cage, who bought it in 2010 and was recently spotted coming back for a look at his future resting place!

But you can walk into Cemetery No. 3 on the outskirts of the French Quarter, which we did.

18. Take a Guided Tour including the Garden District and Cemetery No.3

This French Quarter and Garden District tour is the one I mentioned above, and actually now having done it, I would recommend it as a must-do in New Orleans. It’s a 2-2.5 hour bus ride with a local guide taking you round the outskirts of the French Quarter, along Frenchmen Street – where the locals go to watch jazz.

You’ll visit the above Cemetery, drive through Treme (you need to see Kermit Ruffins at the Mother-in-Law Lounge!)

It’ll drive you through the Garden District where you’ll see some super elegant homes, and catch a peek of Beyonce’s place, and the home of author Anne Rice. You’d never be able to cover all this ground on foot, or even on a bicycle tour (save that for the French Quarter). I loved it.

19. Visit Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park

Not many visitors to New Orleans find this spot in Louis Armstrong Park, but it’s a must-see when I host tour groups to NOLA. This little area of the park is the birthplace of jazz music.

In this corner (pic below) the slaves from Africa, West Indies, Haiti and other nationalities, would gather on a Sunday afternoon – their only time off. They would play music and make handicrafts, sing, dance together from about the 1740s.

By 1819 up to 600 people would gather here and drum and dance in Congo Square. This was the beginning of Mardi Gras and eventually jazz and rhythm and blues.

Louis Armstrong popularised the sound and thus the park is named after the legendary jazz great.

20. Buy fun gifts!

I love the kitchen stores for souvenirs. As well as all the T-shirts and a gazillion plastic beaded necklaces, you’ll find fun items like this Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning, which I use om salmon and roasted veges.

There’s lots of fleur d’ lys items like dinner wear, coasters, measuring spoons and tea towels.

Then Royal Street is famous for antiques and galleries.

21. Take a jazz cruise on the Mississippi

Add the buffet dinner option and enjoy your evening listening to live jazz on a paddlesteamer on the Mississippi River.

It’s a unique opportunity to cruise on such a ship (I spent a few days cruising on the Mississippi a few years back too). You can book this tour with or without the dinner, if you’re on a tight budget.

22. Take the kids to Audubon Aquarium and Zoo

The Audubon Nature Institute in Audubon Park is the perfect family-friendly activity in the city.

It is home to an abundance of wildlife, such as Asian elephants, giraffes, spider monkeys, rare white alligators, tigers, and penguins. Ticket prices begin at $24.95 for the zoo and $29.95 for the aquarium. 

There are various unique experiences to enjoy during your time here. The aquarium’s new shark discovery exhibit features a touch tank where you can interact with sharks and rays firsthand. In addition, be sure to check out the Mississippi River exhibit to learn more about the animals that live within Louisiana’s ecosystem.

And pack your swimsuits because Audubon Zoo also features a large lazy river and waterslides that are perfect for staying cool. 

23. Visit the Voodoo Museum – if you dare

I actually hate this stuff but if you’ve never been to New Orleans you’ll see voodoo and ghost tours offered everywhere.

New Orleans is a spooky city with lots of voodoo and ghostly tales. It was home to famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau and if you’re so inclined, the historic Voodoo Museum might be for you.  

Although it is relatively tiny compared to some of the others on this list, the museum is full of interesting artifacts, sculptures, paintings and memorials. You’ll learn about the history of voodoo culture and practices. Specifically, the impact both had in New Orleans. 

Admission to the museum is $10 for adults and $8 for students, seniors, and military families.

24. Check Out A Swamp Tour!

If you want to see real gator, racoons and other wildlife, a swamp tour is great fun. You will have to travel out of the city for this, but they offer hotel coach pick ups if you don’t have a car.

Louisiana is home to some of the most beautiful swamps and wildlife where tour guides educate you on the history and fun facts about the area’s ecosystem. Many of these tours also provide the opportunity to hold baby alligators, allowing for the perfect Instagram shot. 

A couple of swamp tours that I recommend looking into are: 

I prefer the Honey Island Swamp tour. This one includes pick up from your hotel. It’s more photogenic than Jean Lafitte and we saw raccoons and wild boar as well as gators.

Or if you want a ride from the French Quarter, you might like this tour to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.

24. Visit Jamnola

JAM: Joy, Art, Music, NOLA: New Orleans Louisiana. JAMNOLA is an interactive and immersive cultural funhouse located on Frenchmen Street featuring nearly 30 exhibits celebrating the art, music and theatrics of New Orleans, brought to life by over 100 local artists and collaborators.

In fact, 85% of the exhibits are created with recycled or upcycled materials. 

Look, touch, laugh and take tons of selfies. Perfect for all ages – the kids will love it and a great rainy day activity in New Orleans. You start with a quirky entry into New Orleans – through its sewers when they were famously cleared out of literally tons of Mardi Gras beads and continue to explore the cultural gems of the city.

Make time to stop at the gift store, as you’ll find pieces from local artists that you won’t get anywhere else.

Get your JAMNOLA tickets here >

Where to stay in New Orleans

After 10 visits, I’m a fan of staying in the French Quarter, less walking to everywhere you want to go! Here are my top 7 hotel picks in this post, or browse the map below for instant price comparisons.

Where to Do Laundry in New Orleans

Because this is important! There is a lovely lady named Dinah who owns Suds Dem Duds on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, and we have used her services several times now.

She doesn’t have a website, but you can find her business at 1101 Bourbon St.

Pop in and use the coin operated washers and dryers for about $6 per machine, or you can drop your clothes in and pay Dinah to do it for you. It’s pretty expensive to leave it – my 12lb pile cost US$72, but she did wash, dry, fold and wrap in cellophane with a ribbon top!

Best way to get around New Orleans

Sightseeing bus

If you’re a regular reader of the blog, you’ll know I’m a big fan of Hop On Hop Off sightseeing bus tours to orientate yourself to a new city. But not only that, they provide your transportation to the best highlights AND you get a guide telling you interesting tidbits along the way.

Yes, it’s really touristy, but it’s honestly the best way to get an overview, then you can do the circuit again and hop on and off at the places that grabbed you after you did the full loop. The City Sightseeing bus will take you out of the French Quarter and into Treme, the Arts District and the beautiful Garden District.

Walk!

Most of the attractions in this post are in the French Quarter and if you’re staying in the Quarter (I can totally recommend that you do and here are 7 amazing hotels I wrote about to check out), you’ll walk and walk. Bring sensible shoes, because seriously – you will walk!

But when you get exhausted or you want to go out for dinner and those little shoes are just not going to cut it, there’s always Uber.

Bicycle Tour

You can also rent bicycles, which is another great way to see the city. A cycle tour (which I did in this link) is also especially good when you first arrive so you can get your bearings on where everything is for when you want to return.

Got a spare night? Stay on a plantation!

One of the best ways to finish your NOLA experience is to head along the Mississippi River to Houmas House and stay in your own luxury villa on the grounds of this majestic plantation home. Or you could do this as a day trip and come out here for lunch and a tour of the mansion.

I’ve stayed here three times now and brought my tour group here recently, and will be back again soon.

This such a unique experience in possibly the finest, best restored historic house in the region. You need to book a ticket on one of the house tours where you’ll be taken through every room, lovingly and lavishly restored by current owner Kevin Kelly who is still collecting period memorabilia.

He has built several accomodation villas, some with four-poster beds, and you’ll have an amazing dinner at the Coach House restaurant, built from plans he found for a coach house. Arrive a few minutes early to start with a drink in the Turtle Bar first.

More of my New Orleans posts

Where to stay in New Orleans: I love these 8 French Quarter properties and think you will too.

How to have a wonderful Christmas in New Orleans

How to do New Orleans in a day, I’ve listed my ideal day over in my new Day Tripping USA blog.

My 4 favorite jazz bars in New Orleans

I just love this short video I made of super talented street musicians in Jackson Square