Things to do nearGarden District

The Garden District took shape in the mid-1800s as wealthy American merchants, eager to distinguish themselves from the Creole community of the French Quarter, built lavish homes on former plantation land. The result was one of the best-preserved collections of antebellum architecture in the American South.

Visitors come to admire landmarks such as the Commander's Palace restaurant, a New Orleans institution, and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, whose above-ground tombs and moss-covered walls have appeared in novels and films alike. The cemetery offers free self-guided access and a quiet, contemplative atmosphere unusual for such a lively city.

Magazine Street forms the neighborhood's commercial spine, offering six miles of shops, coffee houses, and restaurants that stretch well beyond the district itself. Within the Garden District's boundaries, the street takes on a relaxed, walkable character well suited to an afternoon of browsing.

The Garden District carries a palpable sense of history in every ironwork detail and wide front porch, making it one of the most rewarding urban walks in New Orleans.