Things to Do in New Orleans

New Orleans’ appeal is partly in its specific attractions—the WWII Museum, the above-ground cemeteries, the steamboat cruises—and partly in the texture of simply being in the city: the live music spilling out of doorways on Frenchmen Street, the powder-sugar residue from beignets, the architectural detail on the French Quarter ironwork. Most of the city’s best experiences don’t require booking far ahead; the main exception is the WWII Museum, which is worth allocating a full day for.

The French Quarter and Jackson Square

Jackson Square (Decatur and St. Peter Streets) is the historic centre of the city. The St. Louis Cathedral—the oldest continuously active cathedral in the US, completed in 1794—is free to enter, open daily 8:30am–4pm. The square itself is always busy with street musicians, fortune tellers, and portrait painters who charge varying amounts ($10–$40 for a quick sketch).

Royal Street runs parallel to Bourbon and is the better street for walking—antique shops, art galleries, and independent boutiques in some of the best-preserved French Quarter architecture. Street performers work the 300–500 blocks most afternoons.

Frenchmen Street (in the Faubourg Marigny, one block beyond the French Quarter) is where live music is concentrated for locals. The Spotted Cat Music Club, d.b.a., and Snug Harbor all operate within a short walk of each other, with different acts starting most evenings around 9pm. No cover charges at most venues, though a drink purchase is expected (approximately $6–$12 per drink as of 2026). Better music, lower prices, and less aggressive commercialisation than Bourbon Street.

The National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum (945 Magazine St, Warehouse District) is the definitive museum on the American experience in World War II and one of the most substantive museums in the country. Admission is approximately $30 per adult as of 2026; the 4D film “Beyond All Boundaries” costs an additional $7.

The museum is large—allow a minimum of 4 hours; a full day is not excessive. The D-Day exhibit in the Normandy galleries and the Pacific theatre coverage in the “Road to Tokyo” section are the strongest components. The Solomon Victory Theater hosts the 4D film on the half-hour. Open daily 9am–5pm; closed Mardi Gras day and Christmas Day. Book tickets online to avoid queuing at the box office.

Above-Ground Cemeteries

New Orleans’ above-ground burial is one of the most distinctive architectural traditions in the US, driven by the city’s high water table (below-ground coffins would float to the surface). Three cemeteries are accessible and worth visiting.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (1400 Washington Ave, Garden District) — Open Monday–Friday 7am–2:30pm, Saturday 7am–noon. Free entry. A working cemetery with above-ground vaults dating to the early 19th century; quieter and more atmospheric than St. Louis No. 1.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (425 Basin St, Tremé) — The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, open since 1789. Entry only permitted on tours ($25–$35 per person as of 2026); independent visits were ended to prevent vandalism after the alleged Marie Laveau tomb was damaged. Tours run daily; the most reputable operators are Save Our Cemeteries and the Archdiocese-sponsored tour.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 (3421 Esplanade Ave, Esplanade Ridge) — Free entry; open daily 9am–3pm. Less visited than No. 1 but easier to walk independently. Take the Esplanade bus from the French Quarter.

Swamp and Bayou Tours

The wetlands surrounding New Orleans—the Atchafalaya Basin, Barataria Preserve, and the bayous of St. Tammany Parish—are home to alligators, egrets, roseate spoonbills, and cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Multiple operators run half-day boat tours from New Orleans departing in the morning.

Airboat tours cover more distance at higher speed; expect approximately $55–$75 per adult as of 2026 for a 90-minute to 2-hour trip. Departures typically from Marrero or Lafitte, approximately 30 minutes south of downtown.

Pontoon boat tours are slower and quieter; better for wildlife observation and photography. Operators like Honey Island Swamp Tours and Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours charge approximately $25–$40 per adult as of 2026 for a 2-hour tour. Transport from downtown is not usually included; book through your hotel or a tour aggregator that includes a shuttle.

City Park and the Arts District

City Park is 1,300 acres of greenery north of the French Quarter—larger than Central Park. The New Orleans Museum of Art (1 Collins Diboll Circle) is inside the park; admission approximately $15 as of 2026; free Wednesdays. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm. The adjacent Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free and contains an outstanding collection of 20th and 21st century sculpture in a landscaped setting with lagoons.

The park also contains a carousel, mini golf, a botanical garden (entry approximately $6 as of 2026), and miles of walking and cycling paths. The Esplanade bus from the French Quarter reaches the main entrance.

The Steamboat Natchez

The Steamboat Natchez (Toulouse St Wharf, French Quarter) is a steam-powered sternwheeler operating 2-hour cruises on the Mississippi River. The daytime cruise (departing 11:30am and 2:30pm) includes Dixieland jazz and costs approximately $40 per adult as of 2026. The evening jazz dinner cruise (departing 7pm) includes a buffet dinner and a full jazz band; approximately $90–$120 per person as of 2026.

The daytime cruise is the better value if you just want the river experience and music; the evening cruise is suitable for a special occasion meal. Book through steamboatnatchez.com.

Audubon Institutions

Audubon Zoo (6500 Magazine St, Uptown) — Well-regarded zoo with a strong Louisiana swamp exhibit featuring white alligators and native wetland species. Admission approximately $25 as of 2026. Open daily 10am–5pm. Take the Magazine Street bus or the St. Charles streetcar to Audubon Park.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (1 Canal St, French Quarter) — On the riverfront at the foot of Canal Street. Admission approximately $30 as of 2026. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm. The Amazon section and the Gulf of Mexico shark tank are the strongest exhibits.

Audubon Insectarium (423 Canal St) — Located in the Custom House building on Canal Street. Admission approximately $20 as of 2026 or combined with the Aquarium. Unusual and memorable if visiting with children.

Neighbourhood Walking

The Bywater — One block downriver from the Marigny; one of the city’s most architecturally interesting residential neighbourhoods. Shotgun houses, Creole cottages, and art studios. Walk along Royal Street (a different Royal Street than in the French Quarter) for street art and independent businesses.

Tremé — The oldest African American neighbourhood in the US, immediately behind the French Quarter. St. Augustine Church (1210 Governor Nicholls St) has a free music garden. The neighbourhood is compact and walkable; combine it with the St. Louis Cemetery and Dooky Chase’s restaurant for a focused half-day itinerary.

Magazine Street — Runs approximately 6 miles through the Garden District and Uptown. The blocks between Washington Avenue and Octavia Street (roughly the 2800–4900 blocks) are the most concentrated for independent boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. Take the Magazine bus from Canal Street.

Practical Tips

• Mardi Gras parade routes are published by the city weeks in advance; viewing is free from the street.
• Jazz Fest general admission is approximately $85/day as of 2026; book directly at nojazzfest.com.
• Rideshares surge significantly during festival periods and late-night Bourbon Street crowds; the Canal Street streetcar is usually faster and predictable.
• Drink in a go-cup (plastic cup to go) on the street—it’s legal in the French Quarter and is part of the city’s culture. Glass containers are prohibited in public.