Things to do nearJackson Square
Jackson Square is the iconic centerpiece of New Orleans' French Quarter, Louisiana, drawing visitors with its cathedral backdrop, living artists, and centuries of layered history.
Jackson Square sits at the oldest settled part of New Orleans, a city founded by French colonists in 1718 on a sweeping bend of the Mississippi River. Originally called the Place d'Armes, the square served as a military parade ground and public gathering space during French and later Spanish colonial rule. It was renamed in honor of Andrew Jackson following the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, and the bronze equestrian statue of Jackson at the center of the plaza has stood there since 1856.
Framing the square on three sides are the Pontalba Buildings, among the oldest apartment buildings in the United States, their cast-iron galleries casting lacy shadows across the flagstones. The dominant presence on the fourth side is St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the country, its white facade and three steeples forming one of the most recognizable silhouettes in American architecture.
On any given afternoon, Jackson Square functions as an open-air gallery and performance space, with tarot card readers, jazz musicians, sketch artists, and tourists all sharing the same worn brick pathways. The nearby Cafe Du Monde, just steps from the square, has served beignets and chicory coffee to visitors for well over a century and remains a deeply rooted local ritual. The Mississippi River levee behind the square offers a broad view of the water and the working port beyond.
Jackson Square earns its reputation not through spectacle alone but through the rare quality of feeling genuinely inhabited, a place where history and daily life have never really separated.
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Chance of rainTips for visiting Jackson Square
Visit during the early morning hours to experience Jackson Square before the midday crowds gather and the light is soft on the cathedral facade.
Browse the work of the portrait artists and painters who set up along the iron fence surrounding the square, as many are longtime locals with deep ties to the neighborhood.
Walk to the nearby French Market after exploring Jackson Square to sample local produce, crafts, and traditional New Orleans snacks.
Bring cash if you plan to tip the street performers, who range from brass bands to living statues and are central to the square's atmosphere.
Look for free ranger-led tours departing from the area around Jackson Square that cover the history of the French Quarter and the Mississippi riverfront.
Top tours & experiences near Jackson Square
New Orleans Cooking Class: Gumbo, Grits & More
Prepare iconic New Orleans dishes in a small-group cooking class and enjoy the feast you create.
Ride a 1-Hour Haunted French Quarter Carriage Tour
Hear French Quarter ghost stories on a 1-hour night carriage ride
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.
Private Bayou Party: BYOB Pontoon for 6
Gather up to six guests for a 1-hour-45-minute BYOB bayou cruise on a luxury pontoon.
Ghost Tour of the French Quarter
Follow dark French Quarter tales with a licensed guide and Haunted Sanctuary access
Explore Destrehan Plantation Guided Tour Combo
Tour Destrehan Plantation with guided house access and time to explore the grounds
Local Cajun Guide's Small Group Swamp Airboat
Glide through Louisiana's wetlands on a nimble airboat with local Cajun guides
Garden District Mansions, Bites & Cocktails Walk
Savor local bites and a welcome cocktail while exploring the Garden District’s grand homes and history.
Louisiana Swamp Airboat Tour & Alligators
Glide across bayous at high speed, spotting alligators and native wildlife with an expert captain.
New Orleans Airboat Swamp & Alligator Tour
Zoom across Louisiana wetlands on a small airboat to spot alligators and native wildlife up close.
24/7 Bike Rental with French Quarter Route Map
Explore the French Quarter at your own pace with quality bikes, a route map, and 24/7 return flexibility.
Pedal & Sip Through 3 Irish Channel Breweries
Discover top breweries and bars as you pedal a 14-seat bike through the lively Irish Channel.
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
New Orleans Ghost Tour Inside Haunted Locations
Step beyond the French Quarter streets to explore New Orleans' haunted history
Marie Laveau Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans
French Quarter walking tour focused on Marie Laveau and New Orleans voodoo history
New Orleans Adults-Only Ghost Walking Tour
Uncensored adults-only tales from New Orleans' dark past
French Quarter Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour
Dark French Quarter stories led by a professional guide
New Orleans French Quarter Voodoo Walking Tour
Uncover Voodoo history and hidden stories on a French Quarter walk
3-Hour New Orleans French Quarter & Garden District Bike Tour
Bike the French Quarter and Garden District, with a cemetery stop
Guided 3-Hour New Orleans City Tour
See New Orleans highlights by air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed guide
French Quarter Cocktail & Food Crawl Near Jackson Square
Taste 4 dishes and sip 4 cocktails on a guided French Quarter walk
Historic French Quarter Walking Tour
Discover New Orleans history through stories passed down by local families
Vampire Walking Tour in the French Quarter
Hear French Quarter vampire legends on a 1.5-hour night walk with a licensed guide
Dark History Walking Tour of New Orleans
Explore New Orleans’ true crimes, disasters and ghost legends on a French Quarter walk
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
French Quarter Pirate Guided Walking Tour
Uncover the real Laffite pirate stories behind New Orleans history
Pirate Pub Crawl in the French Quarter
Uncover New Orleans' dark history on a pirate-led French Quarter bar walk
Ride a 1-Hour French Quarter & Marigny Carriage Tour
Ride a mule-drawn carriage through the French Quarter and Marigny in 1 hour
Ride a Private Carriage Tour in New Orleans
Private French Quarter carriage tour from Jackson Square, for 2–4 passengers
Badly Behaved Women's History Tour in New Orleans
Explore New Orleans women’s history, scandal, and Storyville stories
French Quarter History Walking Tour
Discover scandals, stories, and real history in the French Quarter
Explore the French Quarter on a 2-Hour Guided Tour
Walk the French Quarter with a local and see key landmarks in 2 hours
Take a New Orleans Private City & Cemetery Tour
Cover the French Quarter, Garden District, and a cemetery on a 2.5-hour private tour
Explore French Quarter History on a 2-Hour Walking Tour
Walk the French Quarter with a storyteller and dig into New Orleans history
French Quarter True Crime Ghost Hunting Tour
Investigate New Orleans crimes and spirits in a collaborative ghost hunt
New Orleans Katrina History Walking Tour
See how water, storms, and rebuilding shaped New Orleans
Explore the French Quarter on a 45-Minute Walk
See French Quarter highlights fast, starting at Jackson Square
Explore New Orleans City & Cemetery Tour With Garden District
See New Orleans by bus, tour St. Louis Cemetery #3, and stroll the Garden District
Bike Tour of the French Quarter & Garden District
Ride New Orleans highlights with a fully licensed guide in 3–3.5 hours
Explore New Orleans on a True Crime Walking Tour
Walk New Orleans’ darker history with mafia and true-crime stories
Explore French Quarter & Garden District Guided Tour
See French Quarter highlights and Garden District mansions in a 3-hour walk-and-ride tour
2-Hour French Quarter Segway Tour
Glide past French Quarter landmarks as a guide shares New Orleans stories
New Orleans Mardi Gras City & Cemetery Tour
Explore New Orleans neighborhoods with cemetery stories and Mardi Gras party extras