This world-famous city is popular for its distinctive music, delicious food and fun celebrations and festivals like Mardi Gras. New Orleans truly has something for every type of traveler. Whether you’re exploring the historic French Quarter or walking along the bustling Bourbon Street, you’ll never run out of things to see or do. A trip to this city, often referred to as The Big Easy, wouldn’t be complete without listening to some jazz music or tasting Creole and Cajun delicacies. With its unique history and blend of different cultures, the city is also a great place to visit museums.
While certain parts of New Orleans are known for being quite walkable, it’s typically easiest to have access to a vehicle or use ride services, as this will make it simple for you to travel between different neighborhoods and explore sights that are more removed from the city center. Be sure to plan ahead if you need a taxi so you can order ahead and have one waiting for you when you need it.
- 1. New Orleans Museum of Art
- 2. Bourbon Street
- 3. Jackson Square
- 4. National WWII Museum
- 5. New Orleans City Park
- 6. St. Louis Cathedral
- 7. Mardi Gras World
- 8. Preservation Hall
- 9. Frenchmen Street
- 10. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
- Best Places to Eat & Drink in New Orleans
Must-see attractions in New Orleans
1. New Orleans Museum of Art
Considered the oldest fine arts museum in the city, the New Orleans Museum of Art can be found within City Park and was first opened in 1911. It has an impressive permanent collection that contains more than 40,000 unique objects, including works from American, French and Japanese artists. The museum is also home to the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which covers 12 acres and contains more than 90 different sculptures.
Address: 1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124
Entry fees: https://noma.org/visit/visitor-information/
Hours: https://noma.org/visit/visitor-information/
Time required to see the attraction: You will need approximately 3 hours to visit the museum.
2. Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is an iconic road that can be found right in the heart of the French Quarter, one of the most popular neighborhoods in New Orleans. It spans 13 blocks, from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, and is famous for its nightlife. For an authentic New Orleans experience, you won’t want to miss out on taking a stroll along this street.
Address: Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
Entry fees: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours a day
Time required to see the attraction: You will want at least 2 hours to wander the entire length of the street.
3. Jackson Square
Found in the French Quarter, Jackson Square is a historic park that has been a National Historic Landmark since 1960. It has a unique history, as it is the place where in 1803 the United States took the first steps to acquire the territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Now, it is a place where local artists congregate to paint, draw and sell their artwork.
Address: 701 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Entry fees: Free
Hours: https://www.nola.gov/parks-and-parkways/parks-squares/jackson-square/
Time required to see the attraction: You will need at least 1 hour to explore the square and take in all the sights.
4. The National WWII Museum
Located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, The National WWII Museum specifically focuses on contributions from the United States to the victory secured by the Allies in World War II. It was first opened in the year 2000 and has since become a Smithsonian Institution-affiliated museum. It has a variety of exhibits, as well as planes and a 4D theater.
Address: 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Entry fees: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/plan-your-visit
Hours: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/plan-your-visit
Time required to see the attraction: You will need approximately 2 to 3 hours to visit the museum.
5. New Orleans City Park
This 1,300-acre public park is one of the most popular and visited parks in the United States. The park is home to several different museums, as well as the New Orleans Botanical Garden. It also offers many different recreational activities, including bird watching, boating, fishing and tennis.
Address: 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Entry fees: Free
Hours: https://neworleanscitypark.com/info/faq
Time required to see the attraction: You will want at least 2 hours to explore the entire park.
6. St. Louis Cathedral
Those who enjoy architecture will want to make sure that they visit the St. Louis Cathedral, which was first built in the 18th century. Dedicated to King Louis IX of France, this is the oldest cathedral in the United States. It can be found directly next to Jackson Square, facing the Mississippi River.
Address: 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116
Entry fees: Free
Hours: https://www.stlouiscathedral.org/about/tours
Time required to see the attraction: It will take you approximately 1 hour to visit the cathedral.
7. Mardi Gras World
One of the most popular attractions in New Orleans, Mardi Gras World is a 300,000 square foot working warehouse where the floats for the famous Mardi Gras parade are constructed. It’s situated along the Mississippi River next door to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
Address: 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130
Entry fees: https://www.mardigrasworld.com/tours/
Hours: https://www.mardigrasworld.com/tours/
Time required to see the attraction: You will need approximately 1 hour to visit Mardi Gras World
8. Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is a historic jazz venue in the French Quarter and was first opened in the 1950s. The venue hosts a variety of local artists for intimate concerts more than 350 days a year and is dedicated to preserving the living tradition of jazz within the city.
Address: 726 St Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116
Entry fees: https://www.preservationhall.com/events/
Hours: https://www.preservationhall.com/events/
Time required to see the attraction: The time required to see this attraction will depend on the performance that you are attending.
9. Frenchmen Street
A popular road known for its live music, Frenchmen Street can be found in the 7th Ward of New Orleans. It spans three blocks within the neighborhood of Faubourg Marigny that are particularly famous, as they contain some of the city’s biggest music venues, including Favela Chic, Vaso and Apple Barrel.
Address: Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Entry fees: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours a day
Time required to see the attraction: You will need around 1 to 2 hours to explore the entire street.
10. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Situated between Bourbon and Royal Streets, this museum is an interesting place to learn about the city’s unique heritage. This small museum consists of just two rooms and is one of the only museums in the world dedicated to the art of voodoo. It also has its own voodoo priest on-site who gives readings.
Address: 724 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Entry fees: https://voodoomuseum.com/
Hours: https://voodoomuseum.com/
Time required to see the attraction: You will need 1 to 2 hours to visit the entire museum.
Best Places to Eat & Drink in New Orleans
With its Cajun and Creole influences, New Orleans is known for having delicious and unique food that you can’t find anywhere else. During your stay in the city, you will want to make sure that you try some of the local specialties such as beignets, gumbo and jambalaya.
Brigtsen’s Restaurant: Since it first opened in 1986, Brigtsen’s Restaurant has been a local favorite, with its famous dishes like the seafood platter, a pan-roasted pork chop with grits, and parmesan-crusted Gulf fish. It also has several soups that are great for warming up in cold weather.
Barrow’s Catfish: Considered to be the city’s most beloved catfish restaurant, Barrow’s Catfish is a family-owned establishment that offers New Orleans classics like fried shrimp, gumbo and po’ boys.
Charlie’s Steak House: Charlie’s Steak House is a well-known New Orleans establishment that has been around since the 1930s. It serves high-quality steaks and classic sides and has extensive wine and whiskey menus.
