Things to do nearFrench Quarter
The French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the city's oldest neighborhood, celebrated for its live jazz, ornate ironwork balconies, and vibrant street life.
The French Quarter, known locally as the Vieux Carré, was established by French colonists in 1718 and later shaped by Spanish rule, which explains the wrought-iron lacework that defines so many of its facades. The neighborhood survived fires, floods, and centuries of change while retaining a streetscape unlike anywhere else in North America.
Jackson Square anchors the neighborhood's heart, where St. Louis Cathedral presides over portrait artists, fortune tellers, and street performers. The surrounding Pontalba Buildings, among the oldest apartment buildings in the country, frame the square with red-brick grandeur.
Food is central to any visit. The French Quarter is home to some of Louisiana's most storied restaurants, serving dishes rooted in Creole tradition, from rich gumbo to delicate trout meunière. Smaller lunch counters and po-boy shops offer equally satisfying, unpretentious meals.
By evening the Quarter shifts tone, with live brass bands spilling onto sidewalks and the air thick with music. Few places in the world concentrate so much history, flavor, and sound into so compact a space, making the French Quarter genuinely irreplaceable.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting French Quarter
Visit during the early morning hours when the streets are quiet and the architecture is easiest to appreciate without the crowds.
Try a cup of café au lait and a fresh beignet at Café Du Monde, a French Quarter institution open around the clock.
Bring comfortable, closed-toe shoes since the historic cobblestones and uneven sidewalks can be hard on your feet.
Catch live jazz on Frenchmen Street rather than Bourbon Street for a more authentic, local music experience.
Explore the side streets off Jackson Square, such as Pirates Alley and Exchange Alley, for hidden galleries and quiet corners.
Top tours & experiences near French Quarter
Creole Heritage Bike Tour of New Orleans
Pedal through New Orleans history across five distinct neighborhoods
2-Hour Guided City Tour of New Orleans
See key New Orleans neighborhoods by air-conditioned minibus
French Quarter Kitchen: Cook 3 Cajun Dishes
Prepare iconic Jambalaya, barbecue shrimp, and dessert in a hands-on French Quarter kitchen.
New Orleans History Guided E-Bike Tour
Pedal through New Orleans history on an electric bike
Explore French Quarter Craft Cocktail Walking Tour
Sip 3 classic cocktails on a small French Quarter walking tour
French Quarter Haunted Ghost Tour with AR
Explore haunted French Quarter streets and experience augmented reality encounters on a two-hour guided evening walk.
Cajun Swamp Tour: Gators, Cypress & Culture
Discover Cajun culture and spot wildlife on a guided pontoon cruise through Louisiana's cypress swamps
Marie Laveau Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans
French Quarter walking tour focused on Marie Laveau and New Orleans voodoo history
Explore Whitney Plantation & Black History Tour From New Orleans
Visit Whitney Plantation and trace Black history from plantation grounds to city streets
3-Hour Guided Bike Tour of New Orleans Landmarks
Bike the French Quarter, City Park, and Bayou St. John with a local guide
New Orleans 3-Hour Guided E-Bike Tour
Ride an electric cruiser from the French Quarter to City Park and Congo Square
Guided 3-Hour New Orleans City Tour
See New Orleans highlights by air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed guide
Witches of the French Quarter Walking Tour
Hear ancestral witchcraft stories from descendants on a guided French Quarter walk
Guided Bike Tour in New Orleans City Park
Cycle from the French Quarter to City Park and Bayou St. John with a small group
3-Hour Guided Bike Tour of New Orleans
Bike through New Orleans’ historic neighborhoods with a small group guide
24-Hour Cruiser Bike Rental in the French Quarter
Explore at your pace with 24/7 return, secure storage, helmet and ABUS lock included
Half & Full Day Cruiser Bike Rental
Enjoy flexible cruiser rentals with 24/7 return, plus lock, helmet, and handlebar bag
Explore French Quarter Ghost & Voodoo Walking Tour
French Quarter walking tour covering ghosts, voodoo, vampires, witches, and mysteries
2-Hour New Orleans Ghost & Cemetery Bus Tour
Ride a ghost bus to haunted sites and cemeteries with a licensed guide
Private French Quarter Ghost & Legends Tour in New Orleans
Walk the French Quarter with your own guide on a private haunted history tour
Explore Oak Alley Plantation & New Orleans City Tour
Tour Oak Alley Plantation, then ride a mini-bus through New Orleans highlights and cemeteries
Explore Oak Alley Plantation & 9-Passenger Airboat Tour
Tour Oak Alley Plantation, then ride a 9-passenger airboat swamp tour
French Quarter Ghosts & True Crime Tour in New Orleans
Walk the French Quarter at night for ghost stories and true crime
Taste Cajun & Creole Food on a 3-Hour French Quarter Tour
Eat your way through the French Quarter and learn the stories behind Cajun and Creole cuisine
Self-Guided 3-Hour Kayak Rental in New Orleans
Paddle Bayou Bienvenue at your own pace, minutes from the French Quarter
Explore French Quarter Witchcraft & Voodoo Ghost Tour
Walk the French Quarter and explore Voodoo, witchcraft, and haunted history
Night Cemetery Bus Tour in New Orleans
Ride a night bus tour to New Orleans “Cities of the Dead”
Ride a Private Carriage Tour in New Orleans
Private French Quarter carriage tour from Jackson Square, for 2–4 passengers
Private Shrimp Boil Cabaret in New Orleans
Book a private French Quarter shrimp boil with live music for your group
Explore the French Quarter on a 3-Hour Food Tour
Walk to 5 French Quarter tastings with a guide
Explore New Orleans French Quarter Food Walking Tour
Taste local classics on a 3-hour French Quarter walking food tour
Hands-On 3-Hour Creole Cooking Class in New Orleans
Cook Creole classics with a chef in the French Quarter
Cook New Orleans-Style Brunch in the French Quarter
Make shrimp and grits, eggs Benedict, and praline bacon in a hands-on brunch class
New Orleans Hands-On Roux Cooking Class
Master gumbo, étouffée, and Bananas Foster in a fun, hands-on kitchen
Vegetarian Cajun & Creole Cooking Class in New Orleans
Cook vegetarian Cajun and Creole favorites in a hands-on French Quarter class
Explore New Orleans on a 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour
See New Orleans neighborhoods beyond the French Quarter in 2.5 hours
Explore Storyville on a 2-Hour Adult-Only Walking Tour
Adult-only French Quarter walking tour focused on Storyville after dark
Explore New Orleans by Bus on a 2-Hour City & Cemetery Tour
See top New Orleans neighborhoods plus St. Louis Cemetery #3 in an air-conditioned bus
Explore French Quarter History on a 2-Hour Walking Tour
Walk the French Quarter with a storyteller and dig into New Orleans history
Explore the French Quarter History Walk With Beignets
Walk the French Quarter and finish with Café Du Monde beignets
Party Barge Cruise in New Orleans Bayou Bienvenue
Cruise Bayou Bienvenue on a party boat with possible alligator and wildlife sightings
Explore New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl Ghost Tour
Haunted French Quarter pub crawl with drinks and local ghost stories
French Quarter Food Walking Tour & Cooking Class
Taste New Orleans favorites, then join a hands-on cooking class
Explore the French Quarter on a Guided Tour in New Orleans
Walk the French Quarter with a guide and pick up local tips in 2 hours
Explore the French Quarter on a 45-Minute Walk
See French Quarter highlights fast, starting at Jackson Square
Garden District Mansions Guided Walking Tour in New Orleans
See Garden District mansions and peek into Lafayette Cemetery #1 gates in 45 minutes
French Quarter & Cemetery Guided Bike Tour in New Orleans
Bike the French Quarter with a licensed guide and find hidden local spots
2-Hour Warehouse District Architecture Walking Tour
Walk New Orleans’ Warehouse District and learn its architecture with an expert guide
Whitney Plantation & Airboat Swamp Tour From New Orleans
Tour Whitney Plantation, then ride a narrated small airboat swamp tour
Take a French Quarter Breakfast Tour in New Orleans
Start your morning with breakfast and a guided French Quarter walk
Take a Vampire VIP Tour & Speakeasy Visit in New Orleans
French Quarter Vampire VIP walking tour with speakeasy access
New Orleans Cooking Class & Cocktail Tour
Sample Creole classics, then stroll the French Quarter’s historic cocktail bars
New Orleans Swamp Monsters Tour
Trace Louisiana cryptid legends on a private, customizable evening outing
Storyville Guided Tour in New Orleans
Follow Storyville’s history through a live, guided museum narrative
New Orleans French Quarter & City Park Tour
Explore historic neighborhoods, live oaks, and New Orleans stories by car and on foot
3-Hour New Orleans Citywide Driving Tour
See New Orleans neighborhoods in air-conditioned comfort
New Orleans Yacht Charter for Bachelor & Bachelorette
Celebrate on Lake Pontchartrain with bubbly, music, and your private yacht party
2-Hour Guided Bayou Tour in St. Bernard Parish
Discover bayou life with a captain who knows St. Bernard Parish