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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Tips 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
Ride a 1-Hour French Quarter & Marigny Carriage Tour
Ride a mule-drawn carriage through the French Quarter and Marigny in 1 hour
Explore French Quarter Craft Cocktail Walking Tour
Sip 3 classic cocktails on a small French Quarter walking tour
New Orleans Mafia & True Crime Walking Tour
Discover the sinister stories behind New Orleans' darker past
Explore the French Quarter on a 2-Hour Guided Tour
Walk the French Quarter with a local and see key landmarks in 2 hours
Bike Tour of the French Quarter & Garden District
Ride New Orleans highlights with a fully licensed guide in 3–3.5 hours
French Quarter Ghost Tour with Live Accordion Music
Follow ghost stories through the Quarter with a live musical score
French Quarter Pirate Guided Walking Tour
Uncover the real Laffite pirate stories behind New Orleans history
Historic French Quarter Walking Tour
Discover New Orleans history through stories passed down by local families
Explore French Quarter & Garden District Guided Tour
See French Quarter highlights and Garden District mansions in a 3-hour walk-and-ride tour
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
New Orleans Ghost Tour Inside Haunted Locations
Step beyond the French Quarter streets to explore New Orleans' haunted history
New Orleans Cooking Class: Gumbo, Grits & More
Prepare iconic New Orleans dishes in a small-group cooking class and enjoy the feast you create.
True Crime Walking Tour in New Orleans
Start your morning with coffee and chilling true-crime tales in New Orleans
New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour with Cocktails
Savor local bites and a welcome cocktail while exploring the Garden District’s grand homes and history.
Private New Orleans City & Cemetery Tour
Cover the French Quarter, Garden District, and a cemetery on a 2.5-hour private tour
French Quarter Ghost Walking Tour in New Orleans
Discover dark history through a storyteller's tales of old New Orleans
Pirate Pub Crawl in the French Quarter
Uncover New Orleans' dark history on a pirate-led French Quarter bar walk
New Orleans Katrina History Walking Tour
See how water, storms, and rebuilding shaped New Orleans
French Quarter History Walking Tour
Explore the French Quarter’s architecture, culture, and layered history
New Orleans Adults-Only Ghost Walking Tour
Uncensored adults-only tales from New Orleans' dark past
Family-Friendly New Orleans City Tour
See New Orleans highlights by air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed guide
Explore French Quarter History Walking Tour in New Orleans
Walk the French Quarter in a small group and get local food tips