Things to do nearVisit New Orleans
Visit New Orleans is the heart of Louisiana's cultural life, drawing travelers to the French Quarter, world-class cuisine, and the city's legendary jazz tradition.
New Orleans sits at the crescent of the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana, a geography that has shaped its identity as a crossroads of French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and American cultures for more than three hundred years. Founded in 1718 by French colonists, the city changed hands between France and Spain before the Louisiana Purchase brought it into the United States in 1803, and each era left architectural and culinary fingerprints that visitors can trace through the streets today. The French Quarter, the oldest surviving neighborhood, is a dense grid of Creole townhouses and Spanish colonial buildings where street musicians perform around the clock and the air carries the mingled aromas of pralines, seafood, and roasting coffee. Beyond the Quarter, the Garden District offers broad avenues lined with live oaks draped in Spanish moss, shading Greek Revival mansions built by American merchants in the nineteenth century.
The city's culinary tradition is one of the most distinctive in North America, built on techniques and ingredients that blend West African cooking methods with French sauces and local Gulf seafood, giving rise to dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice that are deeply embedded in daily life rather than reserved for special occasions.
Live music is not a weekend amenity here but a constant presence, from the Preservation Hall jazz concerts in the French Quarter to the blues clubs of Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighborhood. The city also observes a calendar of public celebrations, most famously Mardi Gras, that reflect a civic culture organized around communal gathering and festivity.
New Orleans earns its place on any serious traveler's itinerary because nowhere else in the country offers the same layered, living combination of history, food, music, and street life in such a concentrated and walkable form.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Visit New Orleans
Visit during the cooler months between November and February to enjoy outdoor festivals and street life without the intense summer heat and humidity.
Try a cup of cafe au lait paired with beignets at Cafe Du Monde in Jackson Square, a ritual that anchors mornings in the French Quarter.
Bring comfortable, waterproof walking shoes, as the historic sidewalks are uneven and afternoon rain showers can arrive without warning.
Ride the St. Charles streetcar line through the Garden District to see the city's grandest antebellum mansions at a relaxed, unhurried pace.
Seek out a second-line parade on a Sunday afternoon in a neighborhood away from the tourist corridor for an authentic taste of local brass-band culture.
Top tours & experiences near Visit New Orleans
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
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
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.
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
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
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