Things to Do in New Orleans
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, New Orleans. Jazz drifting out of every open doorway on Frenchmen Street, gumbo that varies wildly depending who you ask, the genuine birthplace of jazz, layered with centuries of French and Spanish colonial history, and home to one of the biggest annual celebrations in the entire country. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in New Orleans: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the late night. Four main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Frenchmen Street & the Birthplace of Jazz
New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of jazz, a cultural convergence in the early 20th century gave rise to this entirely new sound, African, Caribbean, European, and American musical traditions all converging here in a way that truly produced something new, worth appreciating this history as you take in live music around the city today.
Frenchmen Street, considerably less touristy than Bourbon Street, is the better place to hear proper live jazz, small clubs with cover charges that are often free or minimal, worth an evening wander stopping into whichever venue has music that catches your ear.
Best time Evening
Address Frenchmen Street, New Orleans
The French Quarter's Colonial History
New Orleans' French Quarter reflects a colonial history shared between France and Spain, control of the city passed between the two powers before it eventually became part of the United States, a richly layered history visible directly in the architecture, much of what's now called the 'French Quarter' is actually predominantly Spanish colonial in its surviving buildings, ornate wrought-iron balconies and courtyards reflecting Spanish rather than French colonial style following a fire that destroyed much of the earlier French-built quarter.
The Cabildo, on Jackson Square, was the site of the actual Louisiana Purchase signing, worth a visit for this significant piece of American history, and the wider Quarter's streets are worth a slow wander to take in this layered architectural legacy.
Best time Morning, before the heat and crowds build
Address French Quarter, New Orleans
Mardi Gras
New Orleans hosts one of the largest annual celebrations in the US, held before the start of Lent, called Mardi Gras, elaborate parades, beads, and costumes fill the streets each year in the lead-up to this celebration, a massive event, the city's krewes (parade organisations) spend months preparing elaborate floats and themes, culminating in Fat Tuesday itself.
If your visit lines up with Mardi Gras season (dates shift yearly based on the Christian calendar), book accommodation well ahead, prices spike considerably, and the parades themselves are worth the crowds if you can manage the logistics.
Best time The weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, check current dates
Gumbo & Creole-Cajun Cuisine
New Orleans' food scene reflects the same layered cultural history as its architecture, gumbo, a rich stew with real regional and family variation, worth trying at a few different spots to see this range, local opinions on the correct recipe run surprisingly deep, roux colour, whether okra or file powder is used, and specific proteins all vary by household and restaurant.
Beyond gumbo, po'boys (a beloved local sandwich institution) and beignets (New Orleans' famous fried dough pastries, best at Cafe du Monde) are both worth seeking out, a proper New Orleans food crawl rewards a full day of eating.
Best time Lunch or dinner; beignets any time
Best time to visit New Orleans
February through May and October through November give the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, mild without summer's intense heat and humidity. For the full month-by-month breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit New Orleans guide.
Summer brings genuine heat and humidity, plus hurricane season risk (roughly June through November), worth checking forecasts if travelling during these months, and Mardi Gras season specifically falls within the cooler February-March window most years.
Getting around New Orleans
New Orleans's historic streetcars are a charming, practical way to get around, particularly the St. Charles Avenue line. The French Quarter and Frenchmen Street are both walkable, and taxis or ride-hailing apps cover anything further afield. If you're mapping out exactly how to spend your time, our 24 Hours in New Orleans and 2 Day New Orleans Itinerary guides lay out an hour-by-hour and day-by-day plan.
Keeping an eye on costs? New Orleans on a Budget covers what's free and where the tourist markup actually is. Travelling as a couple? New Orleans for Couples covers Jackson Square at sunset and a steamboat cruise. And once your dates are set, Where to Stay & Eat in New Orleans breaks down the neighbourhoods.
Frequently asked questions
- Is New Orleans worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, one of America's most culturally distinctive cities, the birthplace of jazz, a uniquely layered colonial history, and a food scene with real, defended local identity.
- How many days do you need in New Orleans?
- Three days covers the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street, and a proper food crawl comfortably; longer if Mardi Gras is part of your trip.
- Is New Orleans expensive?
- Moderate, generally affordable for food and drinks outside of Mardi Gras season, when accommodation prices spike considerably.
- What is New Orleans famous for?
- Being the birthplace of jazz, the French Quarter's layered French and Spanish colonial history, and Mardi Gras, one of the largest annual celebrations in the United States.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
