New Orleans

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Top attractions in New Orleans

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Top 10 things to do in New Orleans

A slow-brewed Gumbo of cultures with a seemingly immortal music scene, New Orleans still drips with the Southern charm chronicled by Tennessee Williams and other famous sons. Here are the best things to see and do in one of the US' most characteristic cities!

  • 1. S.S. Natchez

    There's no better way to cruise the Mississippi than by steamboat! The original Natchez was destroyed in a fire, but the current S.S. Natchez offers dinner and live Jazz tours of Old Man River.

  • 2. French Quarter

    Boasting many of the city's most elegant buildings and monuments, from the 1850 House to Jackson Square, if you miss the French Quarter then you've missed New Orleans!

  • 3. Lake Pontchartrain

    Having once suffered from careless overdevelopment, the Lake Pontchartrain are now a great place to swim and picnic, particularly by the Mardi Gras fountain.

  • 4. Garden District

    New Orlean's rich and famous still gravitate towards this district's 19th-century mansions. Book a Garden District tour to see the best bits, but it's also a great area just to wander and ponder!

  • 5. Bourbon Street

    Though it's now known primarily for its bars and clubs, by day, Bourbon Street remains one of the best places to tour New Orleans' colonial past.

  • 6. The Cabildo

    The governing-offices-turned-courthouse called Cabildo at Jackson Square is where the Louisiana Purchase was signed. Its blend of Spanish and French colonial architecture is now a museum.

  • 7. Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium

    The Audubon Institute runs a zoo and aquarium too, but as family attractions go, this is one of the best in the US. There's even a creepy-crawly snack bar – Bug Appétit!

  • 8. Mardi Gras World

    Discover what goes into making Mardi Gras' most breathtaking carnival floats at the giant Mardi Gras World warehouse. It's open 7 days a week, closing only for major holidays. Oh, and Mardi Gras!

  • 9. Louisiana State Museum

    Louisiana may have a short history but it's one that warrants 9 state museum buildings! The Cabildo is one, but their flagship is just across Jackson Square at The Presbytère.

  • 10. The Old US Mint

    Here's another branch of the Louisiana State Museum worth visiting. No longer used to mint coins, the Old US Mint is now a huge Jazz museum, exhibiting old recordings, photos, and live music!

Planning Your Visit

  • When to go?

    The height of summer (June-August) can get intolerably hot, but it's worth checking what events are happening the rest of the year before settling on dates. The famous Mardi Gras carnival takes place the day before Ash Wednesday (in February or March). If you want to sample some traditional street food though, arrive for November's Oak Street Po-Boy Festival to try the best Po-Boy sandwiches in town!

  • How long to stay?

    For sightseeing, four days should be enough time to cover the French Quarter and Garden District, however, New Orleans is a city full of life and culture that penetrates deep beneath its surface. Book a few extra days if you can, keep your itinerary loose, and be prepared to get drawn into a few pleasant surprises!

  • How to get around?

    Walking is by far the best way to see New Orleans, but when it's raining you can easily hail one of the city's many reasonably priced taxis. (Bear in mind though, that most cabs are more expensive and harder to come by on special event days.) There is also a well-connected bus network, but why not opt for the streetcars for which the city is famous? The St. Charles Avenue route, between downtown and Uptown, is a National Historic Landmark!

Good to know

  • Language
    English
  • Currency
    American Dollar ($)
  • Time Zone
    UTC (-06:00)
  • Country Code
    +1
  • Best time to visit
    Spring, fall and winter tend to be more pleasant times to visit the city, not only to avoid the heat, but also to experience Mardi Gras, or one of the city's famous festivals. Check event calendars while planning your trip!

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What people are saying about New Orleans

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 10,187 reviews

Fun walking tour that included a bit of history into the ghost stories. Not a scary experience at all but fun. Great tour guide in Andrea. She was a good storyteller, tried to keep us safe and always asked if we had questions.

2-Hour New Orleans Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour Reviewed by Anonymous, 5/3/2021

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The tour guy was real cool and very informative it was our 1st time doing a swamp tour and everyone in my group really enjoyed themselves 10 out of 10 for us. I think the best part was holding the baby alligator

New Orleans Traditional Swamp Tour with Lunch Reviewed by Luis, 5/4/2021

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Angela was amazing! she was so knowledgeable about the culture and cuisine here. She gave some odd suggestions which turned out to be some of the most delicious combinations of food. Book this, now!

New Orleans: French Quarter Food Tour Reviewed by Abby, 5/3/2021

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Lee was amazing! He is funny, dramatic and kind, but most of lol extremely knowledgeable due to his background. I wish we would have found him earlier. Stehe kids are still talking about him!

2-Hour New Orleans Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour Reviewed by Petra, 5/2/2021

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We had an amazing time, drink were good and staff were super friendly. The band was great, really interacted well with the guests. Would recommend to anyone visiting NOLA

New Orleans Jazz Cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez Reviewed by Anonymous, 5/4/2021

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