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
Manchac Swamp Kayak Tour with Ghost Town Views
Paddle through historic Manchac swamp and glimpse ghost-town scenery on a guided 2-hour bayou adventure
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
Ride a Creole & Crescent Heritage Bike Tour in New Orleans
Pedal through early New Orleans history with a licensed guide
2-Hour Guided City Tour of New Orleans
See key New Orleans neighborhoods by air-conditioned minibus
French Quarter Food Walking Tour in New Orleans
Eat your way through the French Quarter with 6–7 tastings and local history
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.
New Orleans Ghost Tour: VIP 15 Guest Max
Explore New Orleans' haunted history with a master storyteller in an intimate 15-guest walking tour.
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 Bayou Alligator Tour by Heated Boat
Cruise Bayou Bienvenue on a heated boat to spot alligators and learn about Louisiana’s coastal ecosystem
Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise on Mississippi
Sail the Mississippi at sunset while live jazz sets the mood on a historic steam-powered vessel
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.
New Orleans Food Tour: Bywater Creole & Art Walk
Taste modern Creole flavors while strolling Bywater’s vibrant art scene and historic landmarks in just three hours
Garden District Culinary Walk with Local Guide
Sample Cajun and Creole flavors while exploring New Orleans' historic Garden District
New Orleans Cocktail Tour of French Quarter
Sip iconic drinks at hand-picked bars and learn French Quarter cocktail history with a local guide.
Guided New Orleans E-Bike Tour of 5 Neighborhoods
Ride an e-bike through New Orleans’ early history with an experienced guide
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.
3-Hour French Quarter Ghost Hunt in New Orleans
Investigate two haunted French Quarter locations with real ghost-hunting gear
Pedal & Sip Through 3 Irish Channel Breweries
Discover top breweries and bars as you pedal a 14-seat bike through the lively Irish Channel.
New Orleans BYOB Bayou Party Boat for 18 Guests
Celebrate with up to 18 friends on a music-filled BYOB bayou cruise
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.
Guided Oak Alley Plantation Tour From New Orleans
Tour Oak Alley’s 1839 “Big House” and gardens with round-trip coach transport
Cajun Swamp Tour: Gators, Cypress & Culture
Discover Cajun culture and spot wildlife on a guided pontoon cruise through Louisiana's cypress swamps
Explore Oak Alley Plantation & Manchac Swamp Cruise
Tour Oak Alley Plantation and cruise the Manchac Swamp from New Orleans
Explore Whitney Plantation Audio Tour From New Orleans
Visit Whitney Plantation on a self-guided audio tour with round-trip transport from the French Quarter
Marie Laveau Voodoo Walking Tour in New Orleans
French Quarter walking tour focused on Marie Laveau and New Orleans voodoo history
New Orleans Ghost & Haunted Walking Tour 21+
Explore New Orleans' darkest legends on a gritty after-dark walking tour exclusively for guests 21 and over
New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour
Explore the French Quarter after dark as an expert guide shares chilling ghost, voodoo and vampire stories
French Quarter Ghost Tour with Bar Crawl
Sip your way through the French Quarter on a small-group ghost tour led by a licensed local guide.
Explore Voodoo History on a French Quarter Walking Tour
Walk the French Quarter and hear stories of Marie Laveau and voodoo history
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
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
Pirate History Guided Walking Tour in New Orleans
Walk the French Quarter with a pirate guide and sort fact from myth in 2 hours
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
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
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 French Quarter & Garden District Guided Tour
See French Quarter highlights and Garden District mansions in a 3-hour walk-and-ride tour