44 Best Things to Do in New Orleans: Food, Music & More

The best things to do in New Orleans include exploring the French Quarter’s architecture, listening to live music on Frenchmen Street, walking the Garden District, visiting the National WWII Museum, and trying local food. Allow three full days for a first visit, with extra time for a plantation museum or swamp trip.

Research updated September 30, 2026. Suggested visit lengths are editorial planning estimates; allow extra time for travel and lines.

Use this list to choose, not to collect all 44 stops. Several museums, cafés, and music venues overlap deliberately so you can compare alternatives. A short trip benefits from time to listen, eat, and explore between reservations. Seasonal festivals and out-of-town outings require a different plan from everyday city sights.

New Orleans: where to start

Six starting points for a first visit. All 44 recommendations and their practical details follow below.

• History: National WWII Museum
  Allow half to a full day.
• Live music: Frenchmen Street
  Choose a band and stay for a set.
• Architecture: Garden District
  Explore independently or join a guided walk.
• Art and green space: NOMA and the sculpture garden
  Pair the museum with the free garden.
• Food: Beignets at Café du Monde
  An easy stop during your French Quarter walk.
• An active outing: Manchac kayak tour
  Allow half a day including travel.

1. Take a French Quarter history and ghost walk

Recommended by Lindsey of Have Clothes, Will Travel 

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, a haunted history tour can be a fun way to explore the French Quarter. Don’t expect Ouija boards or seances: the appeal is in the storytelling and the streets you explore.

Treat supernatural stories as folklore, not verified history. Choose a guide who distinguishes documented events from legends, and do not assume every itinerary visits the same house or includes a bar stop.

Book one walking tour that matches your interests rather than several overlapping ghost walks. A later departure changes the atmosphere, but it does not guarantee quieter streets.

Other tour options: Haunted History Crawl, Ghost Tour, Drunk History Tour.

2. Visit a cemetery with the correct access arrangements

Recommended by Talek from Travels with Talek 

The delicately carved statuary and stately mausoleums make New Orleans cemeteries distinctive places to visit. A guide can explain burial traditions and the people commemorated here.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not a free-roaming tourist stop: its owner directs visitors to Cemetery Tours New Orleans. Do not assume that a general ghost walk includes admission.

Respect graves and family visitors rather than treating the cemetery as a haunted-house attraction.

3. Slow down in City Park

Recommended by Stella from Around the World in 24 Hours 

Many tourists spend their entire trip in the French Quarter. City Park gives you a reason to explore farther, with oak trees, gardens, and cultural attractions that can fill a relaxed half day.

You can visit the Botanical Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art, or Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Families should check the operating calendars for Storyland and Carousel Gardens instead of assuming every attraction runs daily.

Keep that approach: a park visit need not become a checklist of every attraction within its boundaries.

4. Learn about slavery at Whitney Plantation

Recommended by Lori from Travlinmad

Visitors looking beyond central New Orleans can explore the history of slavery along the Great River Road. Whitney Plantation centers the lives and experiences of enslaved people.

That distinction matters more than the appearance of a plantation house. Make Whitney the focus of the day if this history is your priority; adding another estate should allow time for its interpretation rather than just photographs.

This is an out-of-town visit, not an extra stop between French Quarter attractions. Check the transport option separately from the admission ticket.

5. Kayak through the Manchac swamp

Recommended by Aleah of Solitary Wanderer

A kayak tour trades city traffic for the soft sounds of paddling through cypress wetlands. Look for birds and turtles as well as alligators, without expecting any particular sighting.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Keep your distance, do not feed or approach animals, and never use a paddle to push a snake away; follow the guide’s directions and wear the supplied safety equipment.

Choose this if you want an active outdoor outing. It is a different experience from an airboat ride, and the journey to the launch point needs to be included in your day.

6. Browse art galleries on Royal Street

Recommended by Michelle of That Texas Couple

On Royal Street, historic buildings and iron balconies frame art galleries and antique shops. Step inside the galleries that catch your attention instead of treating the street as a shortcut to Bourbon Street.

Choose a few galleries that interest you rather than expecting every shop to suit the same taste or budget. If you plan to buy, ask about shipping and total costs before committing.

7. Ride a streetcar

Recommended by Annick from The Common Traveler

The streetcars are both transport and part of the experience of visiting New Orleans.

The St. Charles corridor pairs naturally with a Garden District visit. A streetcar stop is not necessarily at an attraction’s entrance, and historic vehicles and routes differ in accessibility.

The fare page lists a $3 one-day Jazzy Pass and an $8 three-day pass. Compare your actual trips and pass conditions rather than buying a pass simply because it is available.

8. Hear live music on Frenchmen Street

Recommended by Theresa from Fueled By Wanderlust

The jazz clubs on Frenchmen Street are significant to the city’s culture. Make listening to a band the purpose of the evening, with time to settle in for a set.

Choose a band and stay for its set rather than rushing between as many doors as possible. The Spotted Cat is one option; check its calendar, admission rules, and minimum purchase before you arrive.

This particular club is not a family activity. Plan the journey back to your accommodation before the end of the night.

9. Stop at Café Lafitte in Exile

Recommended by Derek and Mike of Robe Trotting

Café Lafitte in Exile adds LGBTQ history to a French Quarter evening. It is a stop for travelers interested in the neighborhood’s gay nightlife as well as its better-known landmarks.

It is a separate venue from Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. Choose the evening’s program and atmosphere that suit you, and do not rely on old superlatives or decades-old opening hours to plan the visit.

10. Have beignets at Café du Monde

Recommended by Dave Chant

Here, the coffee is cut with chicory. The classic combination is with a beignet: a square French-style pastry, fried and covered with powdered sugar. The coffee can be served black or au lait.

Make this a pause during your French Quarter day rather than a separate journey.

11. Order a po’boy

Recommended by Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan

There’s a great deal of flexibility regarding the ingredients that go into a po’boy. The sandwich starts with local French-style bread, but the filling can range from seafood to vegetable-based alternatives.

Keep that inclusive approach, but use the current menu rather than promising the exact sweet-potato recipe from an older visit. Ask about bread, sauces, and shared preparation surfaces if they matter to you.

12. See how parade floats are made at Mardi Gras World

Recommended by Charles McCool of McCool Travel

Mardi Gras World takes you into the workshop behind the parades. Seeing floats and sculptures in different stages of production gives the celebration a dimension you cannot get from watching a finished parade.

Check the current tour format and allow travel time to the warehouse.

The attraction closes on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Mardi Gras Day. A ticket here is not a ticket to a street parade.

Charles McCool recalled his visit: “I saw sculpted figures of Jimi Hendrix, Willie Nelson, KISS, and Elvis Presley.” The figures on display can change.

13. Choose the right Mississippi River cruise

Recommended by Trijit from Budget Travel Buff

A Mississippi cruise gives you a different view of New Orleans and time on the river that shaped the city. Choose the type of sailing as carefully as the departure time.

The booking in this guide is the Creole Queen History Cruise, listed at two and a half hours with optional lunch. Choose it for narrated history; check a different sailing if your priority is a jazz dinner.

For a short river crossing rather than an excursion, compare the public Algiers ferry. Its standard adult one-way fare is $2 on the RTA fare page; it is not a substitute for the cruise’s narration and itinerary.

14. Book a burlesque brunch

Recommended by Margarita from DownshiftingPRO

Brunch and a burlesque performance combine costumes, comedy, dance, and a meal. Legs & Eggs at 3rd Block Depot is an option for a trip focused on adult entertainment.

The current listing is Legs & Eggs at 3rd Block Depot, not a promise of the former SoBou schedule.

15. Walk the Garden District

Recommended by Christine from Live Love Run Travel 

If you want the history of the homes and more about the architecture, a guided Garden District walk adds context. For an independent visit, choose a manageable route through streets such as Coliseum, Chestnut, and the numbered cross streets.

Christine’s advice to wear comfortable walking shoes still applies because sidewalks can be uneven. In hotter weather, move the longer walk earlier and leave room for a break.

Cemetery access requires particular care: the city lists Lafayette No. 1 as closed to the public, while the preservation organization advertises authorized tours. Confirm the exact access with the operator; do not promise an independent visit.

Christine’s practical advice remains useful: “Some of the sidewalks are fairly uneven, and you will want comfortable walking shoes.”

16. Explore the New Orleans Jazz Museum

The Jazz Museum is housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint, linking a museum visit with the nearby Frenchmen Street music corridor. It offers an opportunity to learn about the music before hearing it in a club.

Exhibitions and performances are different reasons to visit.

17. Explore Faubourg Marigny

A walking tour of Faubourg Marigny introduces Creole cottages and neighborhood streets beyond the Quarter. It is also the setting for Frenchmen Street, so these recommendations overlap rather than requiring two separate excursions.

Let architecture and a meal shape a daytime visit, then choose a particular music venue for the evening. Respect residential entrances when taking photographs.

18. Give the National WWII Museum enough time

The National WWII Museum explores the American experience of the Second World War. It deserves a substantial part of the day, particularly if you want time for both the galleries and a film experience.

Beyond All Boundaries is a separate paid addition, not something to assume comes with general admission. If history is your priority, reduce the number of other museum stops rather than rushing through this one.

19. Plan a trip around Jazz Fest, if the dates fit

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival brings music and food together on a scale that can shape an entire trip. Treat it as a seasonal alternative to an ordinary sightseeing day, not a year-round attraction.

Choose tickets, transport, and accommodation around the confirmed edition and lineup. A past program or a “see you next year” message does not by itself establish the dates you should book.

20. Pair NOMA with the sculpture garden

NOMA gives an art-focused visit to City Park a clear anchor. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is a separate outdoor experience and can be visited without buying museum admission.

That distinction is useful for a mixed-interest group or a limited budget. Pair the two if you want a longer art visit, but do not count the sculpture garden again as an additional full City Park day.

21. Choose between Audubon’s zoo, aquarium and insectarium

Audubon Nature Institute is an organization with several visitor attractions, not one building to walk around. Choose the zoo for an outdoor visit or compare the aquarium and insectarium for a downtown plan.

A combination ticket only adds value if you have time for its inclusions.

22. Explore Southern food history at SoFAB

A museum dedicated to food and drink makes sense in a city where meals are part of the reason to travel. The Southern Food & Beverage Museum connects exhibitions with a wider program of culinary activities.

Choose whether you want to browse the museum or take a scheduled class. Leave the rest of the afternoon flexible if cooking is the main event, and confirm dietary arrangements before paying.

23. See the art at StudioBE

StudioBE brings large-scale visual art into a Bywater visit, with work by Brandan “BMike” Odums. Allow time to engage with the subjects of the work, not just its scale.

Check the current exhibitions and consider a docent-led visit if you want more context. Combine the trip with nearby neighborhood time rather than treating Royal Street in Bywater as the same location as Royal Street in the Quarter.

24. Catch an event at Caesars Superdome

Caesars Superdome is a destination for a specific game or concert. Build the visit around the event you want to attend.

Choose the event first and plan the rest of your day around entry, security, and the journey afterward. Seeing the exterior is not the same experience as attending an event inside.

25. Visit Longue Vue House and Gardens

Longue Vue combines a historic house with designed gardens, making it a good choice when architecture and landscape interest you more than nightlife. Plan it as its own visit rather than a quick stop on a French Quarter walk.

Pick a house tour or garden visit first, then add an event only if it is actually listed for your date.

26. Check Barataria Preserve access before a wetlands outing

Barataria Preserve needs careful planning: as checked September 30, 2026, the visitor center and most trails are closed for storm-damage reconstruction.

NPS directs visitors to the Wetland Trace area; Twin Canals remains available for day use without restrooms. The temporary education center has a separate admission charge.

Never approach, harass, or feed alligators. Treat wildlife as something you may observe from a distance, not an encounter a guide can promise.

27. Visit the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

This smaller museum puts the history of pharmacy and healthcare into a French Quarter visit. It is a manageable alternative when you want a focused museum rather than another full-day institution.

Choose self-guided entry or a scheduled tour deliberately. Historical treatments belong to the history being interpreted, not to present-day health advice.

28. Cycle near Bayou St. John

Bayou St. John offers a different pace from the Quarter, with neighborhood streets and waterside time. A bike ride can connect the area with a broader Mid-City outing if you choose a route suited to your comfort in traffic.

Check the service boundary, legal parking, and return rules before setting off.

29. Learn about living traditions at Backstreet Cultural Museum

Sylvester Francis began documenting celebrations before the Backstreet Cultural Museum formally opened. The collection helps visitors understand Black Masking Indian traditions, social aid and pleasure clubs, second lines, and jazz funerals as living culture.

Visit before joining a public parade if you want more context. Do not assume a costume display or a museum ticket grants access to a private ceremony.

30. Browse a section of Magazine Street

Magazine Street combines independent shops and dining with residential blocks. Choose a stretch close to your Garden District walk instead of trying to cover the entire street.

Choose a section near your Garden District route and leave time for lunch. Check actual event listings rather than assuming every shop offers a discount on every first Saturday.

31. Make time for Louisiana Children’s Museum

The Louisiana Children’s Museum is a place for learning through play, including experiences about nature, food, and the river. Its City Park location lets you combine it with time outdoors.

Make it the main family activity rather than something squeezed between adult museums. Use the dated booking calendar to confirm your visit.

32. Walk through the French Market

The open-air French Market brings food and shopping into one part of your Quarter walk.

Use it for a snack or a few specific purchases rather than expecting every stall to tell the same local story. Check individual vendors if a particular food or craft is the reason for your visit.

33. Watch a public second line respectfully

A second line connects brass-band music with social aid and pleasure club traditions. The “second line” includes the followers behind the principal procession, but that does not make every parade an open invitation to tourists.

Choose a publicly announced club parade, follow local instructions, and leave room for musicians and participants. WWOZ publishes the season’s schedule and updates routes closer to the day.

34. Visit the Cabildo

The Cabildo is a historic building at Jackson Square and a branch of the Louisiana State Museum. Its role in the city’s political history makes it more than an architectural backdrop beside the cathedral.

Choose it for historical context during a Quarter day.

35. Step inside St. Louis Cathedral when open

Alongside the Cabildo and Presbytère, St. Louis Cathedral defines the setting of Jackson Square. It remains a working place of worship rather than an attraction with unrestricted tourist access.

If the doors are open to visitors, allow a quiet visit rather than treating the interior as an extension of the street. A short stop fits naturally with a nearby museum or market walk.

36. Consider Hogs for the Cause for a festival trip

Hogs for the Cause combines barbecue and music with fundraising for families affected by pediatric brain cancer. It is a date-specific reason to visit, not something to add to any weekend.

The organizer announces March 19–20, 2027 for the next edition. Check the program and what your ticket includes before treating admission as an all-inclusive food package.

37. Understand Carnival and hurricanes at the Presbytère

The Presbytère adds context to a French Quarter visit through its Carnival material and Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibition.

This is a useful alternative if you want more context than a parade workshop or a neighborhood walk can provide. Leave time to read and reflect rather than adding it as a five-minute stop.

38. Attend the Tennessee Williams literary festival

The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival is a reason to build a trip around writing and theater. The organizer lists March 17–21, 2027 for the next festival.

Pick the sessions that interest you rather than buying a broad pass before reading the program. Leave time to move between venues and distinguish workshops from performances and other ticket types.

39. Pause at Musical Legends Park

Musical Legends Park makes a convenient music and coffee stop in the Quarter. Musician statues and the café give it a different pace from a club evening.

Look up the day’s music before planning around a performance. A beignet break here can replace, rather than automatically add to, another cafe stop.

40. Combine live music and bowling at Rock’n’Bowl

Choose it because you want that combination, not because every evening promises the same band or dance style.

Check whether your booking covers the show, a lane, or both. Leave time for transport instead of trying to squeeze it between two Quarter reservations.

41. Make Abita Mystery House part of a Northshore day

Abita Mystery House is a roadside folk-art attraction in Abita Springs, not a central New Orleans museum. Homemade inventions, found objects, and animated displays are the reason to make the trip.

Keep it optional if your city time is short. It makes more sense within a planned Northshore outing than as a quick detour from lunch in the Quarter.

42. Have a drink at the Carousel Bar

The Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone turns the bar itself into part of the experience.

Order according to your taste rather than choosing a cocktail solely for a photograph. Check the current menu and distinguish a normal bar visit from separately sold private experiences.

43. Walk or cycle in Crescent Park

Crescent Park gives you room to walk, run, or cycle beside the Mississippi with city views.

The riverfront route pairs with Marigny and Bywater, but entrances matter because tracks and flood protection separate parts of the city from the water. Check access rather than assuming every river-facing street leads directly into the park.

44. Plan a meal at Antoine’s

Antoine’s has been part of New Orleans dining since 1840 and is associated with French-Creole cooking. Make the meal the occasion rather than fitting it between two tightly timed tours.

Look at the menu and dining expectations before reserving. This is a different decision from grabbing a po’boy, and it deserves both the time and budget of a sit-down restaurant visit.

A realistic three-day New Orleans itinerary

Day 1: French Quarter and live music: Combine Royal Street, Jackson Square, the cathedral, and a beignet stop. Add one small museum or a booked walking tour. Choose a Frenchmen Street performance for the evening, checking entry rules and the journey back.

Day 2: History and an unhurried evening: Give the National WWII Museum a substantial part of the day, with time for lunch and dinner afterward. If a river cruise matters more, replace part of the museum plan with the sailing rather than squeezing both into tightly timed reservations.

Day 3: Garden District or City Park: Choose the Garden District and a stretch of Magazine Street for architecture and shopping. For art and green space, choose NOMA, the sculpture garden, and City Park instead. Fully covering both alternatives creates unnecessary travel.

With a fourth day: go beyond the city: Choose Whitney Plantation or the Manchac kayak trip as a separate outing. Arrange transport and check weather conditions. Barataria’s closures mean it should not be treated as an uncomplicated substitute for a planned excursion.

Getting around and planning costs

Group visits by neighborhood. A rental car is not automatically necessary for the city portion; for excursions, compare rental and parking costs with an included-transfer tour. RTA lists $1.25 for a standard streetcar ride, $3 for a one-day pass, and $8 for three days. Check the current RTA fares and conditions.

Build your budget from the paid activities you actually choose. Include food, applicable taxes, gratuities, travel, and ticket add-ons rather than relying on a single citywide daily estimate. Free neighborhood walks can balance a museum-heavy day. Check music-club identification rules before leaving your accommodation.

Planning around festivals and your travel dates

Check major events before booking accommodation. Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, and specific performances change the shape of a trip; an event is not a year-round sightseeing stop. Move longer walks earlier in hot weather, keep an indoor alternative, and check operator notices before water-based outings.

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Pauline Joie

Pauline has a bachelor’s degree in Tourism and is a professional content writer. She specializes in writing about travel and food. Pauline spent most of her career life in Dubai and is a Travel Expert for the United States and Costa Rica.

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