If you’ve looking for a great city break destination and visit one of the most historical and unique destinations in the United States plan a trip to New Orleans.
This is one of those cities that’s jam-packed with interesting things to see and do. Whether you want a comprehensive itinerary of attractions or simply want to soak in this city’s eclectic and charming atmosphere by getting lost in the French Quarter, there’s no doubt that New Orleans is simply intoxicating.
The Big Easy is one of my favourite cities not only in the United States, but the entire world. It is just one of those cities, like New York, Buenos Aires, and Bangkok, that just has that little something extra. That energy that I love about certain cities; a feeling I get just by being there that is difficult to put into words. Whatever that feeling is, New Orleans definitely has it.
I’ve now visited New Orleans a few times now and gone through many of the stages of a New Orleans tourist. Food is obviously a very important part of the New Orleans experience. But what else is so great about New Orleans? What is it that keeps bringing me back here again and again, with no urge to stop?
Best Things to See and Do in New Orleans
These are some of the most popular tourism destinations you need to add to your New Orleans itinerary, and also some lesser know places which are also worth checking out.
The French Quarter
The oldest and most famous neighbourhood of the city, the French Quarter is New Orleans at its finest. Take in the exotic colonial architecture, smell the whiff of bourbon in the air, munch on tasty jambalaya or hear the echoes of saxophones playing from the walls of jazz lounges.
Your port of call will be Bourbon Street, filled with pulsating bars and restaurants specialising in all the local dishes, while Royal Street, as its name suggests, is a bit more upmarket with its galleries, antique stores and high-end shops.
The Old French Market is also fantastic, having sold local produce for over 250 years. And if all of that sounds too active for you, just take a carriage ride around the quarter – they have been operating since the 1940s.
Experience the Legendary Live Music
Anyone who knows me and has been following this site for any length of time knows that live music is a passion of mine. In fact, it’s what helped start my travel obsession. The fact that NOLA is one of the best cities in the world for live music certainly factors in to my love for this city. Live music can be found in so many places around the city, from clubs on Bourbon Street and around the French Quarter to musicians performing on the streets.
Frenchman Street
When we visited the Big Easy back in 2008, we learned about Frenchman Street, which was right around the corner from the hotel we chose. While some still dub it as where the locals go, many tourists have found out their little secret.
While this may take away some of the charm it once had, it doesn’t change the fact that Frenchman Street contains several blocks of top notch live music 7 nights a week. Sure, it may not be that great secret that it once was for tourists, but wandering down the road any night of the week, you’re sure to find a plethora of great music to choose from.
Some places have covers, though many are only $5, while a good portion of the bars are free of charge. For the quality of music these clubs put out on a nightly basis, it’s a bargain that’s hard to find anywhere.
Go in Search of the Best Local Musicians
There are so many talented musicians in the New Orleans music scene, from blues to jazz to funk to everything else in between. Find out the names of some of more popular local musicians, and you’re likely to find little local holes in the wall where they play on a weekly basis.
Kermit Ruffins was one of those musicians we had heard of before, but never seen, and a trip to his weekly Tuesday night shows at Bullet’s this past trip was a major, major highlight of our trip. We got out of the French Quarter and downtown to a neighborhood bar to see some fantastic NOLA music.
The Maple Leaf
We have still yet to make it to the famed Maple Leaf uptown, but I’ve heard nothing but great things about this music venue located away from downtown and the Quarter. Check out who’s playing when you’re in town.
Bourbon Street
Whether you like it or not, boozing is just part of a trip to New Orleans. Stage 1 and 2 tourists make this their priority, and while you certainly don’t have to spend your entire trip drinking yourself into a stupor, you certainly can.
For any first time visitor to NOLA, one of the first places to visit is the infamous Bourbon Street. And while locals and seasoned New Orleans tourists may scoff at the mention of this street filled with debauchery, there’s a reason it’s packed 365 nights a year. It’s just simply a fun time.
Since I’ve now been to NOLA many times, I don’t have any interest in spending my entire trip on Bourbon, I still like to at least take a gander down the street and pop in and out of a few bars, having a hurricane, or a hand grenade, or a huge ass beer.
Once you get those first two stages of being a New Orleans tourist out of your system, you may want to start looking for other things to do, particularly if you are traveling as a couple or family.
The Garden District
Less than a mile away from the chaos of the French Quarter, the Garden District is quieter, cleaner, nicer, and is a great place for those not in college or here solely for the partying. This is where the famous New Orleans cemeteries are located, along with impressive mansions lining many of the blocks.
This is where our hotel was on this latest trip, and it was a very cool place to stay. Simply driving, walking, or riding a bicycle around this area could keep you occupied for quite a while. It’s a great place to wander and soak in a different part of the city, and one that’s easy to get to even if you’re staying in the Quarter.
Audubon Park
We had heard of Audubon Park before, but we never visited until this past time. A massive, beautiful park located uptown (but still accessible via the St. Charles street car), Audubon Park is a great place to visit for an afternoon or two.
I suggest going to Cajun Seafood and getting yourself some steamed shrimp and crawfish and having yourself a New Orleans picnic. There is also a zoo and golf course, and I highly suggest trying to find the Tree of Life, a popular wedding and hang out spot on the edge of the park near the river.
Something that made this park so perfectly New Orleans was laying on a blanket, reading our books, and hearing some music in the distance. Shortly thereafter, a man just walking through the park came upon playing his violin, offering some nice, laid back music for everyone’s enjoyment.
Jackson Square
Located in the French Quarter is this National Historic Landmark and idyllic spot to relax in the afternoon. Around the green space, you’ll find the red-brick Pontalba Buildings dating back to the 1840s, the stunning St Louis Cathedral, and the Cabildo public museum.
All year round, the square plays host to local musicians and formal concerts, so be sure to check what’ll be on during your visit. Walking around Jackson Square and checking out the artists, fortune tellers, and street musicians is always a fun time, especially for the kids. With trees providing shade, it’s also a good place for a little picnic.
Louisiana State Museum
This museum, located right on Jackson Square, has a fantastic exhibits going on. Previously there was a fantastic exhibit with a Before, During, and After Hurricane Katrina. It gave a great recap of this devastating hurricane and gets into the how’s and why’s of what happened that made everything worse. A great way to spend a rainy or hot afternoon.
French Market
It’s certainly touristy, but the French Market, which houses both a flea market and farmer’s market, is a cool place to wander through, grab some treats, maybe a drink, and pick up some souvenirs for friends and family.
City Park
This vast green space is the sixth largest public park in the USA (even 50 per cent larger than New York’s Central Park). You can either soak in the rays among what is the world’s largest collection of oak trees, or you can walk around the lush Botanical Garden that is home to interesting exotic plants from all over the world. Other highlights here include the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Chow Down on Some Great Jambalaya
You can’t go to New Orleans without sampling the best jambalaya you’re ever likely to find, EVER! While the city is packed with great eateries, Coop’s Place serves up finest grub going. Located at 1109 Decatur St., its signature Rabbit & Sausage Jambalaya is unmissable. A traditional dish of Creole rice simmered with tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, seasoning and the meat. Try a cup for just $5.75 or a “supreme” portion for $11.95, yum!
Preservation Hall
For the past 50 years, this music venue has showcased the best jazz talent that Louisiana has to offer – and it’s the place to go for your musical fix. Based in the French Quarter, this place hosts daily concerts, while the actual Preservation Hall Jazz Band tours all-year over the USA. Louis Armstrong once said, “Preservation Hall. Now that’s where you’ll find all of the greats.”, and you’ll soon understand why.
The 1850 House
For something a bit more alternative, this public museum will allow you to step back in time. The Pontalba Buildings on Jackson Square were built in 1850 and while they had various owners, they were eventually sold to the local authorities, who decided to kit them out to what they might have looked like during the Antebellum era. The house is filled with antique furnishings, decorative arts and middle-class family items; history has never been more realistic.
St Louis Cemetery
Whether you choose to take the Voodoo & Cemetery Tour with our expert guides or decide to wander around on your own, this creepy spot reminds you just how much history and heritage New Orleans has. And with the cemetery being home to the graves of Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau and cruel slave owner Delphine Lalaurie, both of whom were depicted recently in ‘American Horror Story: Coven’, it’s not hard to feel genuinely creeped out here.
Mardi Gras
The two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday is a period of celebration in the city, with parades and parties throughout. You can enjoy riotous street parties, firework displays, booze flowing down the roads and an explosion of feathers and glitter. An attraction in its own right, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has often been dubbed the best festival in the world, and it won’t take long for you to understand why.
Mississippi River
Tying the entire city together, this iconic river is what many tourists come here for, and you can enjoy fantastic views of it in the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, Bywater and Tremé. Now, let’s all spell it out together.
New Orleans on a Budget
New Orleans really does feel different to any other United States city. With its unique Cajun and Creole cuisine, notorious wild nightlife and steeped history, a stay in the French Quarter is a must. Want to enjoy The Big Easy on a budget? Read on for my top money-saving tips
Ride the St. Charles Streetcar
A fun and cheap way to see the city is to ride the St. Charles Streetcar, the world’s oldest continuously operating streetcar. One-way fare is only USD 1.25. Hop on it just west of the French Quarter in the Central Business District.
The route winds through the Garden District, a stunning, tree-lined area with antebellum mansions, historic monuments, and two college campuses. Alight and explore Lafayette Cemetery #1, a historic graveyard with aboveground tombs, for free.
Eat Beignets
New Orleans is famous for these delicious fried pieces of dough with powdered sugar, and they are dirt cheap — just under USD 3 for an order of two to three. Café Du Monde in the French Quarter is the most famous beignet spot, but there is always a huge line. It moves fast, but if you’re hungry, there are plenty of other great ones such as Café Beignet. Other traditional and affordable things to eat here are pralines or red beans and rice.
See Free Jazz
New Orleans is where jazz was created, and it’s everywhere. Many of the jazz clubs charge a cover fee or require a minimum drink purchase. Instead, listen to the plentiful free street music. Bands set up all over the French Quarter.
There is always one in Jackson Square, and you can find others on Royal Street and at random intersections. They often set up in areas where you can sit on steps. It’s polite to tip a dollar or two if you watch for a while, but that’s a small price for good local jazz.
Explore Bourbon Street
In the heart of the French Quarter, this infamous street and its surrounding area is the hub of New Orleans’ nightlife. While some bars have pricey drinks, many bars here also offer incredibly cheap drinks. Best of all, you can get them to-go and walk down the street with them — something very rare in the U.S.!
New Orleans really has to be visited, and hopefully with my tips you will enjoy the best of the city. For more recommendations view my United States travel tips.