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22 Can’t-Miss Things To Do in New Orleans, Louisiana

ByPaige Watts

The Crescent City, the Big Easy, NOLA — whatever you call it, New Orleans is one of those places everyone should experience at least once! Here are the best things to do in New Orleans that you won’t want to miss.

After multiple trips to the Crescent City, I can say this is one of those places that keeps me on my toes, and every visit brings something new to eat, see, or stumble into. From live jazz and haunted history to Bourbon Street nightlife and unforgettable Cajun food, this city knows how to keep you busy.

Whether you’re here to party, eat, sightsee, or soak up the atmosphere, there’s no shortage of iconic experiences in New Orleans.

Historic St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana with three tall spires rising above a landscaped park, seen on a foggy day with surrounding greenery and nearby buildings.

Best Things To Do in New Orleans

1. Visit Jackson Square

St. Louis Cathedral, a historic cathedral with three tall spires rising above a landscaped park, seen on a foggy day with surrounding greenery and nearby buildings, at Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana.

At the center of New Orleans’ famed French Quarter is Jackson Square, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. The 2.5 acre park is the perfect place to start your trip to New Orleans.

You can shop for works by local artists displayed on the outside of the park’s iron fence. There are also plenty of street performers to keep you entertained. And if you want a palm reading or tarot reading, this is a great place to do it!

If you want to get your bearings while learning some of the area’s history, this is also a great first stop for a guided walk.

Related tour: French Quarter Historical Sights and Stories Walking Tour

2. Indulge on Beignets at Café Du Monde

Plates of powdered sugar–covered beignets on a café table, served with cups of coffee and glasses of water at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, Louisiana.

No first trip to New Orleans is complete without beignets at Café Du Monde. The café is open all day, every day, except for Christmas and when a hurricane blows through.

So what’s a beignet? Basically, it’s a fried square of dough covered with powdered sugar. Be sure to order it with a café au lait for a classic New Orleans treat.

3. Go on a Haunted Ghost Tour

A stately, historic yellow mansion with tall white columns and a balcony, illuminated at night, creating a dramatic contrast against the dark sky on a ghost tour in New Orleans, Louisiana.

If there’s one tour that feels especially “New Orleans,” it’s a ghost tour. With more than 300 years of history and deep ties to voodoo, magic, and the supernatural, the city is made for spooky storytelling.

There are so many great ghost tours in New Orleans exploring everywhere from the Garden District to the French Quarter. You’ll see plenty of haunted homes and cemeteries.

And if you want to add vampires, witches, and voodoo to your ghosts, this New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Tour has you covered. This is the tour I took, and we got to see the city’s best haunted spots from the the LaLaurie Mansion and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.

Book your Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour here.

4. Drink on Bourbon Street

Crowded Bourbon Street in a lively entertainment district in New Orleans, Louisiana with historic buildings, neon signs, and balconies, filled with pedestrians walking between bars and restaurants.

Bourbon Street is famous for its bars, clubs, and nightlife. The street extends for 13 blocks of non-stop partying.

It’s also the place to be for any celebration, from bachelor and bachelorette parties to gay-pride events to Mardi Gras.

Check out the iconic bars like the Old Absinthe House or Café Lafitte in Exile, the oldest gay bar in the country.

If you’d rather experience the nightlife with a group and skip the guesswork, a bar crawl can be a fun option.

Related tour: New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl w/ Shots & Souvenir Cup

5. Walk Down Frenchmen Street

Street musicians playing brass instruments on a lively corner of Frenchmen Street at night, surrounded by colorful buildings and neon-lit nightlife in New Orleans, Louisiana.

For a more local-feeling night out, head to Frenchmen Street. It’s one of the best places in the city to find live jazz music, but you’ll also hear blues, reggae, rock, and more.

Check out popular spots like the Spotted Cat Music Club, d.b.a., Blue Nile, and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. You can also hear some great music just by walking down the street.

If you want help choosing where to go, a music crawl makes this area even more fun.

Related tour: Frenchmen Street VIP Live Music Pub Crawl in New Orleans

6. Take the Streetcar to the Garden District

Elegant historic mansion with ornate columns and a wraparound porch, partially framed by trees and viewed behind a decorative iron fence on First Street in the Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Garden District, New Orleans by Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

After the French Quarter, the Garden District is one of the most beautiful areas to explore in New Orleans. It’s full of oak-lined streets, grand historic homes, and lush gardens.

These antebellum mansions paint a pretty dreamy picture of New Orleans life. You can wander on your own, but taking the streetcar there adds to the experience.

A guided tour is especially worthwhile if you want to learn about the neighborhood’s history, famous residents, and notable architecture.

Book your Garden District tour here.

7. Take an Airboat Swamp Tour

Paige smiling and wearing sunglasses and protective earmuffs while riding an airboat through a narrow swamp channel, with trees and calm water surrounding the boat on a Ragin Cajun Airboat Tour in Luling, Louisiana.

If you want to get beyond the city and see a totally different side of Louisiana, a swamp tour is one of the best day trips from New Orleans.

Airboat tours are especially popular because they’re faster, more thrilling, and let you cover more ground in the swamp than a traditional boat tour. Depending on the season, you may spot alligators, birds, turtles, and other wildlife while cruising through the bayou.

I recommend this tour with Ragin’ Cajun Airboat Tours. Their tours go through a private swamp, so you won’t be surrounded by other noisy boats the whole time. We saw a ton of alligators, including a 12-foot gator named Jack.

Book your Ragin’ Cajun Airboat Tour here.

8. Stroll Through St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Row of above-ground tombs and weathered stone mausoleums in a historic cemetery, with engraved plaques and iron railings lining a narrow walkway at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

New Orleans’ above-ground cemeteries are one of the city’s most distinctive sights, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the most famous of them all.

It’s where Marie Laveau, the famed Voodoo priestess, is said to be buried. The rumor goes that if you want her to grant you a wish, you have to draw an X on the tomb, turn around three times, knock on the tomb, yell out your wish’ and if it was granted, you’re supposed to come back, circle your X, and leave an offering.

But because of this legend, the cemetery has dealt with years of vandalism. Now, you can only tour St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with a guided, licensed tour.

Book your official St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Walking Tour here.

9. Take a Hurricane Katrina Tour

Hurricane Katrina Monument, a powerful metal sculpture of a house lodged in a tree, commemorating the impact of Hurricane Katrina, set in a quiet plaza in New Orleans, Louisiana.
DAVID S. FERRY III from PLANT CITY,FL., U.S.A., CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To better understand modern New Orleans, a Hurricane Katrina tour is well worth your time.

In 2005, flooding from Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the city. Years later, New Orleans still hasn’t fully recovered. The best way to really take in the reality of this storm is to take a quality Hurricane Katrina Tour.

A good tour will go beyond disaster voyeurism and give you important context for what happened, why it happened, and how communities continue to rebuild. You’ll see key sites like the Ninth Ward, Lakeview, Gentilly, St. Bernard, high watermarks at the levee breach sites, and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

Book your Hurricane Katrina Tour here.

10. Day Trip to Oak Alley Plantation

Grand Oak Alley Plantation mansion at the end of a brick walkway, framed by a dramatic tunnel of sprawling live oak trees forming a canopy overhead in Vacherie, Louisiana.

Oak Alley Plantation is one of the most popular plantation visits from New Orleans. It’s best known for its striking oak-lined entrance, and it’s one of the easiest plantation day trips to add to your New Orleans itinerary.

While you can visit the grounds and exhibits on your own, I highly recommend booking the guided Big House tour, which gives much more context about life at the plantation and the enslaved people who lived and worked there.

The upstairs balcony offers a beautiful view down the famous oak alley, and the Slavery at Oak Alley and Sugarcane Theatre exhibits do a good job of telling the plantation’s fuller history.

There are also plenty of day trip options from New Orleans that include transportation, which makes visiting Oak Alley especially easy if you don’t have your own car.

Book your Oak Alley Plantation day trip here.

11. Day Trip to Whitney Plantation

Weathered wooden slave cabin with a small front porch, featuring two child sculptures—one seated and one standing—set in a quiet rural landscape with trees and soft afternoon light at Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana.

If you’re interested in taking a plantation tour from New Orleans but want one that directly centers the history of slavery, Whitney Plantation is one of the most important places to visit in Louisiana.

Unlike many plantation tours, Whitney focuses entirely on the lives of enslaved people rather than the lifestyle of the owners.

The experience is raw and unfiltered. The self-guided audio tour includes interviews with formerly enslaved people and their descendants, and the grounds contain 16 original structures, including two slave cabins, as well as memorials and artwork honoring the people enslaved here, those enslaved across Louisiana, and those involved in the German Coast Uprising of 1811, the largest slave revolt in U.S. history.

If you won’t have your own car, there are plenty of Whitney Plantation day trips from New Orleans that include transportation.

Book your Whitney Plantation day trip here.

12. Day Trip to Laura Plantation

Laura Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana, a historic raised Creole-style plantation house with a wide front porch, colorful shutters, and central staircase, shaded by sprawling oak trees and surrounded by a white picket fence.

Laura Plantation is another excellent plantation day trip from New Orleans. Laura Plantation is known for its Creole history and for being the first historic attraction in Louisiana to include the stories of enslaved people as part of the tour.

The guided tour here takes you through the Big House, the original 1840 slave cabins, and the gardens, and the stories are based on Laura Locoul Gore’s Memories of the Old Plantation Home as well as archival documents. The tour follows four generations of both free and enslaved members of the Creole families who lived here, which gives a much more intimate and honest look at life on the sugar plantation.

There are also plenty of day trip options from New Orleans that include transportation, so Laura Plantation is easy to visit even if you don’t have a car.

Book your Laura Plantation day trip here.

TIP: See multiple plantations in one day

The River Road Plantations are close enough together that it’s easy to visit multiple plantations in one day trip. Here are the plantation duos I recommend:

13. Take a Kayak Swamp Tour

Paige and four friends kayaking together on a calm bayou at sunset, surrounded by tall cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, on the Manchac Magic Kayak Swamp Tour with Wild Louisiana Tours in LaPlace, Louisiana.

If you want a quieter and more immersive day trip from New Orleans, a kayak swamp tour is a great option. Paddling through the bayou gives you a chance to slow down, take in the scenery, and spot wildlife from a different perspective than you would on an airboat tour.

I recommend the Manchac Magic Kayak Swamp Tour with Wild Louisiana Tours. This guided paddle through the cypress swamp lets you glide through the bayou while looking for wildlife like alligators, turtles, and birds. I went just before sunset, and the golden light filtering through the cypress trees was absolutely beautiful.

Book your Manchac Magic Kayak Swamp Tour here.

14. Have a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s

A vibrant red Hurricane cocktail in a tall glass garnished with an orange slice and cherry, set on a patio table beside a small fountain against a warm coral-colored wall at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hurricane by Darren Foreman (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Once you’ve done the big sights and tours, circle back to relax with one of New Orleans’ iconic drinks: the Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s.

This sweet red rum drink is named for the shape of the glass, not the storm. Head into one of their three bars — the main bar, the dueling piano lounge, or the patio.

I highly recommend the patio where you’ll be surrounded by lush foliage and good-time vibes.

15. Grab a Po’boy from Mother’s

A hearty po'boy sandwich on crusty bread, filled with layers of sliced meat, shredded roast beef, and coleslaw, served on a white plate at Mother's Restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Po’boy by Shubert Ciencia (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Mother’s Restaurant has been serving up po’boys since 1938 and is one of the city’s classic casual eats.

They’re especially known for the Ferdi Special and the debris po’boy. The Ferdi Special, named for a regular customer, comes with ham and roast beef. The debris po’boy is packed with the flavorful shavings from freshly carved roast beef.

Both are delicious, and you can’t go wrong with either one!

16. Book a New Orleans Photoshoot with Flytographer

A smiling couple leaning over a wrought-iron balcony, sharing a playful moment above a quiet street lined with historic buildings in New Orleans, Louisiana.

If you want a memorable souvenir from your trip, a vacation photoshoot can be such a fun splurge.

With Flytographer, you can hire a talented local photographer, get local tips, and walk away with professional photos in some of New Orleans’ prettiest spots.

You can use my link here for $25 off your first Flytographer photoshoot.

Book your New Orleans Flytographer photoshoot here, and get $25 off your first photoshoot.

17. Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art

A bold red ‘LOVE’ sculpture displayed outdoors in a landscaped garden, with trees, water, and a modern building in the background at the Sculpture Garden of the New Orleans Museum of Art in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The New Orleans Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the city and has an impressive permanent collection of 40,000 works.

Given the city’s French heritage, it’s fitting that the museum features important French art, including pieces by Degas, Monet, and Renoir.

Don’t skip the adjacent sculpture garden either — it spans 11 acres and includes more than 90 works of art.

18. Boat on Lake Pontchartrain

A peaceful waterfront sunset over Lake Ponchartrain with soft, swirling clouds glowing in shades of orange and pink, silhouetting a wooden pier that stretches out over gently rippling water in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lake Ponchartrain Sunset by Rick Berg (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

Locals love boating and fishing on Lake Pontchartrain, and on a nice day you’ll see sailboats and motorboats dotting the water.

From the lake, you can also get great views of the Causeway Bridge, the longest bridge over water in the world.

This is more of an add-on activity than a must-do for most first-time visitors, but it can be a nice option if you have extra time. I recommend this private luxury yacht cruise where you can sail into the sunset.

Book your Private New Orleans 2-Hour Sail Aboard a Luxury Yacht here.

19. Explore Faulkner House Books

Faulkner House books in New Orleans, Louisiana, a charming bookstore entrance with open double doors, set in a pastel yellow building, featuring arched windows and classic French Quarter-style architecture.

Tucked away in Pirate’s Alley just off Jackson Square, Faulkner House Books is a charming stop for readers and literary travelers.

William Faulkner lived here for six months in 1925 while working on his first novel, Soldier’s Pay. He lived on the first floor apartment, and artist William Spratling lived in the apartment upstairs.

Today, the shop sells new and used books, including plenty of titles related to New Orleans.

20. Stroll Through Washington Square Park

A bronze sculpture of a giant saxophone, set in a quiet park with winding paths, oak trees, and scattered leaves on the ground at Washington Square Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Washington Square Park is a historic New Orleans park with shaded pathways, sculptures, and play areas.

Because it connects to Frenchmen Street, it’s also a good place to catch street performers, concerts, and neighborhood events.

It’s a nice extra stop if you’re already in the area.

21. Visit the Irish Cultural Museum

A cozy courtyard patio with brick walls, potted plants, and small tables, shaded by overhead fabric canopies and centered around a decorative wall fountain at the Irish Cultural Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The small Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans offers an interesting look at the Irish immigrants who helped shape the city. It’s free to visit.

The museum also houses St. Patrick’s Coffee House at the back of the courtyard. Here, you can get coffee, tee, and many different Irish whiskeys.

22. Getaway to Louisiana’s River Parishes

Columned veranda of Oak Alley's Plantation's historic plantation house at sunset, with benches beneath towering live oak branches overlooking landscaped gardens in Vacherie, Louisiana.

When you need a break from noise of Bourbon Street, you can drive just 1 hour away from New Orleans and find an entirely different side of Louisiana in the River Parishes.

Louisiana’s River Parishes are the parishes (or counties) that run along the Mississippi River. This is where you’ll find those famous plantations like Oak Alley and Whitney. It’s also where you’ll find a tiny chapel that’s only reachable by boat, a church museum on African American music heritage, local restaurants with delicious home-cooking, and alligator-filled swamps.

The day trips I’ve already mentioned in this post are actually all in this area. So if those sound good, you might even want to spend a whole weekend in the River Parishes.

Best Things to Do in New Orleans Map

Ready to explore all these top things to do in New Orleans? Use the map below to plan out your trip!

I hope you have a great time discovering all that NOLA has to offer!

Save on New Orleans’s Top Attractions

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Visit bucket list attractions, enjoy top tours, and discover hidden gems handpicked by local experts. With one of these passes, you’ll have everything you need right on your phone.

Get your Go City new Orleans pass here.

Top New Orleans Tours

With so much to see, New Orleans can be overwhelming for any first-time visitor. Take some of the stress out of planning your visit with a guided tour! Check out these top New Orleans tours to make the most of your visit.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

More Louisiana Travel Tips

Ready to visit New Orleans, Louisiana? Plan your trip with these tips.

Cheers!

Paige

22 Can't-Miss Things To Do in New Orleans, Louisiana

What are your favorite things to do in New Orleans? Let me know in the comments below!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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8 Comments

    1. It’s such a fun city, I would love to visit again sometime. I highly recommend the Faulkner Bookstore if you love literature!

      Reply

  2. Being born & raised in New Orleans I am always a bit critical of what people say is can’t miss here in my home but you got some awesome Ideas! I love that you included the Faulkner House to this list! It is one of my favorite places to take people who love literature down Pirate’s Alley!

    Reply

    1. Oh I’m so glad to have a local’s approval! I totally get it, I’m the same way with Huntsville and Atlanta posts lol! The Faulkner House was recommended by one of my writing professors in college, otherwise I would never have known about it! It’s such a great place for literature lovers

      Reply

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