New Orleans Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to New Orleans, Louisiana — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in New Orleans

• French Quarter (Vieux Carré). The oldest neighborhood in the city, the French Quarter is the beating heart of New Orleans — a living stage of wrought-iron balconies, Creole cottages, jazz drifting from open doors, and the iconic Jackson Square anchoring it all. No visit to New Orleans is complete without at least one long wander through its…
• Preservation Hall. Since 1961, this intimate French Quarter venue at 726 St. Peter Street has staged acoustic traditional New Orleans jazz over 360 nights a year, drawing from a collective of 50-plus local master musicians. It is one of the most authentic live jazz experiences in the world.
• The National WWII Museum. Consistently ranked among the top museums in the United States, this Warehouse District landmark tells the full American story of World War II across sweeping pavilions with immersive exhibits, archival films, and firsthand oral histories. Open daily 9 AM–5 PM at 945 Magazine Street.
• Café Du Monde. An institution since 1862, this open-air French Market coffee stand serves just one thing that matters: orders of three beignets — square, pillowy French doughnuts buried under powdered sugar — alongside dark-roasted chicory café au lait. Open 24 hours on Decatur Street.
• Frenchmen Street Live Music. Just outside the French Quarter in the Faubourg Marigny, Frenchmen Street concentrates more live music per block than anywhere in the city — jazz, funk, brass, and blues spilling out of venues like the Spotted Cat and Snug Harbor every night of the week. Locals consider it the real soundtrack of New Orleans.
• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Established in 1789, this above-ground cemetery is one of New Orleans' most iconic and haunting sites — a city of whitewashed plaster tombs, crypts, and society vaults including the reputed resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Guided tours (the only authorized access) depart daily from 9 AM.
• Garden District Walking Tour. Bounded by St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street, the Garden District is a showcase of grand antebellum mansions set behind lush gardens and centuries-old live oaks — a legacy of 19th-century American merchant wealth. Strolling Magazine Street afterward adds six miles of independent boutiques, galleries, and cafes.
• St. Charles Avenue Streetcar. The oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world (running since 1835), the St. Charles line rolls through the Garden District and Uptown for $1.25 a ride — a scenic, living piece of New Orleans history that doubles as practical transportation.

Best time to visit New Orleans

Late March through April, or October through November. Late March–April offers pleasant temperatures (lows 55–65°F, highs 73–79°F), low humidity relative to summer, and major festivals. Oct–Nov is the driest month on average, temperatures moderate (highs 70–81°F), hurricane season winding down, and smaller crowds than spring. Summer (June–Sept) is oppressively hot and humid (highs 90°F+) with hurricane risk

New Orleans weather by month

Getting to New Orleans

You do not need a car. The St. Charles streetcar (world's oldest, running since 1835) and the RTA bus network cover the major neighborhoods. A 1-day Jazzy Pass ($3) or 3-day pass ($8) gives unlimited rides on all streetcars and buses — buy one via the RTA's Le Pass app or at Canal Street machines. For late nights, use Uber or Lyft rather than walking alone in unfamiliar areas. The French Quarter and Frenchmen Street are generally lively and safe with crowds, but side streets and the edges of downtown can be quiet after midnight.

• MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport — 30 min drive
• BTR Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport — 80 min drive
• GPT Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport — 90 min drive

Where to stay in New Orleans

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• French Quarter. Staying in the French Quarter places you at the epicenter of New Orleans history, music, and nightlife — Jackson Square, Café Du Monde, Preservation Hall, and dozens of jazz bars are all within walking distance. Hotels range from grand historic properties to… Good for: First-time visitors, nightlife seekers, romantics, culture-seekers.
• Garden District & Uptown. A quieter, more residential counterpoint to the French Quarter, the Garden District offers tree-canopied streets, antebellum mansions, and easy Magazine Street access for dining and shopping. The St. Charles streetcar connects you downtown in minutes, making… Good for: Couples, families, design and architecture lovers, repeat visitors.
• Warehouse District / Central Business District. Anchored by the National WWII Museum and the growing arts scene in restored warehouses, the CBD/Warehouse District is polished and central — close to the French Quarter, the Superdome, and the riverfront. It draws business travelers and museum-goers and… Good for: Business travelers, museum visitors, families, convention attendees.
• Faubourg Marigny & Bywater. The creative soul of New Orleans — historic Creole cottages painted in vivid colors, Frenchmen Street's live music corridor, the emerging Bywater arts scene, and cozy B&Bs with gas-lit courtyards. This area attracts artists, musicians, and travelers seeking… Good for: Independent travelers, music lovers, art enthusiasts, bohemian-minded visitors.
• Tremé. America's oldest African American neighborhood sits adjacent to the French Quarter's north edge and centers on Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park. Guest houses and B&Bs here offer proximity to deep cultural history — Dooky Chase's, the Backstreet Cultural… Good for: Culture-seekers, jazz and history buffs, travelers interested in Black American heritage.

Where to eat in New Orleans

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• Dooky Chase's Restaurant. Tremé · Creole Soul Food — Founded in 1941 and named a James Beard America's Classic in 2025, Dooky Chase's is the legendary restaurant that Leah Chase built into a civil-rights gathering place and…
• Deanie's Seafood Restaurant in the French Quarter. 841 Iberville St · 4.6★ (15,990 reviews)
• Oceana Grill. 739 Conti St · 4.4★ (19,388 reviews)
• Cochon RESTAURANT. 930 Tchoupitoulas St Ste A · 4.6★ (10,676 reviews)
• Commander's Palace. 1403 Washington Ave · 4.6★ (8,618 reviews)
• GW Fins. 808 Bienville St · 4.8★ (5,504 reviews)
• Napoleon House. 500 Chartres St · 4.6★ (7,633 reviews)
• Daisy Dukes French Quarter. 121 Chartres St · 4.5★ (8,475 reviews)

Cafés, bakeries & casual

• Café Du Monde. French Quarter (French Market) · Coffee & Beignets — Open 24 hours since 1862. The original French Market coffee stand serves exactly what visitors come for: three beignets buried in powdered sugar…
• Cafe Du Monde. 800 Decatur St · 4.5★ (46,025 reviews)
• Café Du Monde – City Park. 56 Dreyfous Dr · 4.6★ (5,281 reviews)
• DISTRICT Donuts Sliders Brew. 2209 Magazine St · 4.6★ (3,930 reviews)
• Café Du Monde Riverwalk. 500 Port of New Orleans Pl · 4.3★ (4,500 reviews)
• La Boulangerie. 4600 Magazine St · 4.6★ (1,945 reviews)
• Drip Affogato Bar NOLA. 336 Camp St Apt 100 · 4.7★ (1,359 reviews)
• Bywater Bakery. 3624 Dauphine St · 4.7★ (1,075 reviews)

Fine dining & Michelin

• Emeril's. Warehouse District · New Orleans Creole / Contemporary American — The sole two-Michelin-star restaurant in the American South. Chef E.J. Lagasse presents an elegant chef's tasting menu showcasing…
• Saint-Germain. Bywater / Ninth Ward · Contemporary American (tasting menu) — One Michelin star. A twelve-seat sanctuary inside a double shotgun house offering a ten-course tasting menu from Chefs Trey Smith and…
• Zasu. Mid-City · French-influenced Gulf Seafood — One Michelin star. James Beard Award–winning Chef Sue Zemanick's passion project — a hidden cottage restaurant with a concise, elegant menu that bridges…
• Galatoire's. French Quarter · French Creole — A New Orleans institution since 1905 at 209 Bourbon Street, run by fourth-generation descendants of founder Jean Galatoire. Famous for its Creole classics — trout…
• Cochon. Warehouse District · South Louisiana / Cajun — Michelin Bib Gourmand. Chef Donald Link's celebration of Cajun and hog-centric cooking at 930 Tchoupitoulas St — wood-fired oysters, fried alligator…
• Pêche Seafood Grill. Warehouse District · Gulf Seafood — Michelin-recognized. Chef Donald Link's wood-fired seafood restaurant at 800 Magazine Street puts whole grilled fish and Gulf oysters at the center of a rotating…
• Acamaya. Bywater · Mexican Coastal Seafood — Michelin Bib Gourmand, New York Times two-star, Esquire Best New Restaurant 2024. Chef Ana Castro's 2024 Bywater debut centers on heirloom maiz masa ground fresh…
• Parkway Bakery & Tavern. Mid-City (Bayou St. John) · New Orleans Po-Boys — Michelin Bib Gourmand. A neighborhood institution since 1911 at 538 Hagan Avenue, Parkway is the city's consensus choice for classic roast beef and…

A 7-Day New Orleans Plan

1. Day 1 — French Quarter First Impressions. Start with café au lait and beignets at Café Du Monde on Decatur Street, then stroll along the Mississippi Riverfront and Jackson Square to soak in the street performers and artists. Explore the heart of the French Quarter (Vieux Carré) — wander Royal Street's antique shops…
2. Day 2 — Jazz Legends & Sacred Ground. Take a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 on Basin Street — the oldest surviving cemetery in New Orleans, home to ornate above-ground tombs including Marie Laveau's. Walk through Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park, the birthplace of American jazz, then visit the New…
3. Day 3 — Garden District Grandeur. Board the historic St. Charles Avenue Streetcar and ride uptown through canopied oak-lined streets to the Garden District, one of America's finest collections of antebellum architecture. Walk the Garden District's shaded avenues past grand mansions on Prytania and Coliseum Streets,…
4. Day 4 — World War II & Warehouse Arts District. Spend the morning at The National WWII Museum on Magazine Street — allow at least three hours for the immersive exhibits, 4D film, and the Solomon Victory Theater. Walk to the adjacent Warehouse Arts District and visit the Ogden Museum of Southern Art or the…
5. Day 5 — Mardi Gras Magic & Carnival Arts. Visit Mardi Gras World on Henderson Street for a behind-the-scenes tour of the enormous float-building warehouse — the most dramatic Carnival collection in the city. Explore the Bywater neighborhood on foot or by bike, stopping at Studio BE — Brandan Odums' massive indoor…
6. Day 6 — Bayou, Swamp & Creole Soul. Take a morning swamp tour departing from the city — operators like Honey Island Swamp Tours bring you face-to-face with alligators, egrets, and ancient cypress forests. Return to the city and visit the French Market on Decatur Street for local crafts, hot sauces, and Creole food…
7. Day 7 — Jazz Fest, Street Music & Farewell Feast. If visiting during late April or early May, spend the day at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course — a bucket-list event with dozens of stages and Louisiana food booths. On non-festival visits, take a leisurely walk back through the…

Events & festivals in New Orleans

• Mardi Gras (January 6 (Twelfth Night) through Fat Tuesday (date varies; February 17, 2026)). Annual Carnival celebration climaxing on Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. First recorded street parade in New Orleans: 1837. Rex krewe established 1872 and introduced purple, green, and gold as official colors.
• French Quarter Festival (April 16–19, 2026 (Thursday–Sunday, second week of April annually)). Free four-day outdoor music festival in the French Quarter, 11 AM–8 PM daily. Largest free music festival in the South by some estimates.
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 23 – May 3, 2026 (two four-day weekends straddling late April–early May)). Founded 1970 by George Wein and Quint Davis; inaugural event at Congo Square drew ~350 attendees. Held at Fair Grounds Race Course since 1972. Peak attendance 650,000 (2001). Features jazz, R&B, gospel, Cajun, zydeco,…
• Essence Festival of Culture (July 3–5, 2026 (Fourth of July weekend)). Annual celebration of Black music and culture at Caesars Superdome and Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. 2026 performers include Cardi B, Patti LaBelle, and Public Enemy.
• Satchmo SummerFest (August 1–2, 2026 (first weekend of August)). Annual tribute to native son Louis Armstrong held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in the French Quarter.
• Southern Decadence (September 3–7, 2026 (Labor Day Weekend)). Annual LGBTQ+ festival centered in the French Quarter with parades, street parties, and costume events.

Top-rated tours & activities in New Orleans

• Ghosts, Gods, & Gangsters of New Orleans — 5.0★ (152 reviews)
• Private Luxury New Orleans City Tour by La Vie NOLA – Highlights — 5.0★ (100 reviews)
• Craft Cider and Mead Tasting in New Orleans — 5.0★ (24 reviews)
• New Orleans Very Reel Game Show — 5.0★ (15 reviews)
• Historic Garden District Walking Tour — 5.0★ (75 reviews)
• Private French Quarter & Garden District Tour: Walk and Drive Combo — 5.0★ (70 reviews)
• New Orleans Culinary Bike Tour — 5.0★ (49 reviews)
• New Orleans Guided Kayak Swamp Tour — 5.0★ (12 reviews)

New Orleans travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit New Orleans?

Late March through April, or October through November.

What are the top things to do in New Orleans?

Top experiences include French Quarter (Vieux Carré), Preservation Hall, The National WWII Museum, Café Du Monde, Frenchmen Street Live Music.

Which airport is closest to New Orleans?

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is the nearest, about 30 minutes away.

Where should I stay in New Orleans?

Popular areas to base yourself include French Quarter, Garden District & Uptown, Warehouse District / Central Business District, Faubourg Marigny & Bywater.

How do I get around New Orleans?

You do not need a car.