Things to do & places to visit in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

With a little bit of this and a little bit of that all mixed together with flair and panache, beautifully vibrant New Orleans has made the most of marks left by whomever was calling the shots during whatever era over the past few centuries. Hardly a hodgepodge, the result of such a distinctive blend of cultures is an enchanting cityscape, a set of unique traditions that continuously delight the world, and a jaunty way of living that must be experienced to be appreciated.

New Orleans city in Louisiana, United States. Timezone: America/Chicago, current date and time: Wednesday, May 08, 2024, 18:04.

Top things to do (26)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 The National WWII Museum (30.6k reviews) from $20.00
- Amazing
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Military Museums • Speciality Museums

The National WWII Museum is the top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans and #2 in the U.S., and an unforgettable way to experience World War II—from industrial efforts on the home front to the combat experience of the American servicemember abroad. Offering a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail, the Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories to take visitors inside the story of the war: why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Beyond the galleries, the Museum offers unique access to experiential history, including an opportunity to tour and ride on an authentically restored PT-boat, tours behind the scenes to handle artifacts alongside Museum curators, and an impressive collection of restored and working macro-artifacts to discover. Open early through 1/2/18, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. See more..
5.0 The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA (1.383 reviews)
- A well designed sculpture garden
Art Museums

Mixed modern and classical sculptures throughout the garden. It is part of the city park. For sculpture garden only it costs $5 per person. A beautiful garden. We enjoyed walked around about 1.5 miles. There is a Cafe Du Monde in the park. Great for a break after the walk. See more..
5.0 The Sazerac House (324 reviews)
- Great educational experience
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Distilleries • Speciality Museums

The Sazerac House is one part history and traditions, two parts interactive exhibits and experiences, mixed with spirited events and a dash of rich New Orleans culture. Visit us to experience distinctive tastes and traditions worth carrying forward. Where the past, present and future come together-over cocktails, of course. *Holiday and parade hours subject to change. See more..
4.5 French Quarter (22.7k reviews)
- Great Entertainment and Drinks
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

A must-see for its high energy and rich history, the French Quarter is New Orleans’ heart and cultural center. Enjoy the lively atmosphere amid magnificent colonial architecture and skilled street performers—and don’t miss the finest galleries in the city and landmarks like the sumptuous St. Louis Cathedral. Linger around till after dark to jam to live jazz in one of the district’s renowned clubs. For a full experience, you can join a food, haunted or jazz tour from a knowledgeable local guide. Book your visit between February and early March to attend the raucous street parties of Mardi Gras. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Jackson Square (16.3k reviews)
- Beautiful Jackson Square
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

This historic landmark in the French Quarter is the cultural center of the city, home to a vibrant and bustling open-air artist colony. See more..
4.5 RTA - Streetcars (16.2k reviews)
- Unique and cost effective mode of transportation in New Orleans
Spent < 1 hour Public Transportation Systems

Get wherever you want to go in New Orleans with the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Our extensive network of buses and streetcars winds throughout every neighborhood of the Crescent City. From Uptown to Downtown, from Lakeview to the Lower Nine, from Mid-City across the Mississippi River and to the parish lines, the RTA goes there.As streetcars glide underneath grand live oaks and past stately mansions, they offer up relaxing views of the beauty, charm and history of New Orleans for little cost. When riders board these historic vehicles they are boarding a piece of movable New Orleans history. The RTA operates three streetcar lines: the famous, historic St. Charles line, the Canal Street line, and the Riverfront line. All lines either run along or intersect with Canal Street in the area between the French Quarter and the Central Business District (CBD) connecting Uptown/Garden District, Carrollton, Mid-City, City Park and the Marigny. The RTA is currently adding more Streetcar lines. See more..
4.5 Frenchmen Street (12.0k reviews)
- Maison Frenchmen 508 Frenchmen St
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Neighborhoods

This popular stretch is the go-to spot for the best live music venues in the city—the Faubourg Marigny area is particularly popular. See more..
4.5 Garden District (8.923 reviews)
- Garden District with D.J
Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

Once favored by America's elite, this iconic neighborhood is home to grand historic mansions, quirky indie boutiques, and beautifully cultivated gardens. See more..
4.5 St. Louis Cathedral (8.390 reviews)
- Peace, Perfect Peace
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent < 1 hour Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

Dating all the way back to 1727, this historic church is the oldest continuously active cathedral in the U.S. It overlooks Jackson Square in the French Quarter. See more..
4.5 Royal Street (7.778 reviews)
- Greeeeaaaat Shopping
Spent < 1 hour Historic Walking Areas

One of New Orlean's oldest streets in the French Quarter, this stretch has tons to explore thanks to its curio shops, concept stores, and art galleries. See more..
4.5 Preservation Hall (5.876 reviews)
- Can't Miss Experience
Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Theaters

New Orleans' Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to honor one of America's truest art forms - Traditional New Orleans Jazz. Operating as a music venue, a touring band, and a non-profit organization, Preservation Hall continues its mission today as a cornerstone of New Orleans music and culture. Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, the Preservation Hall venue presents intimate, acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts over 350 nights a year featuring ensembles from a current collective of 100 local master practitioners. On any given night, audiences bear joyful witness to the evolution of this venerable and living tradition. See more..
4.5 Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World (4.355 reviews)
- MARDI GRAS UP CLOSE - The Backstage Experience!
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Mardi Gras World is the most unique attraction in America’s most uniquely attractive city. Come see how Mardi Gras is made and get up close to Mardi Gras' grandest floats and sculptures. See more..
4.5 New Orleans City Park (4.332 reviews)
- Art museum sculpture park
Wednesday: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Parks

One of the largest urban parks in the country, City Park has golf, tennis and horseback riding. See more..
4.5 St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (3.959 reviews)
- Charles is the BOMB
Cemeteries

Founded in 1789, this cemetery is the oldest in New Orleans and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See more..
4.5 Audubon Zoo (2.918 reviews)
- The Secret of the Star Parking Spots
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Zoos

Located in historic Uptown New Orleans Audubon Zoo offers an exotic mix of animals from around the globe, engaging educational programs, hands-on animal encounters and lush gardens. Unique natural habitat exhibits—such as the award-winning Louisiana Swamp and Jaguar Jungle—showcase the relationship between people and nature. Don't miss the daily animal presentations, chats and feeds; our highly endangered whooping cranes, Amur leopards and orangutans; our white tiger; and our mysterious white alligators. Audubon Zoo is often ranked among the country’s best for innovation and entertainment value! See more..
4.5 Lafayette Cemetery No.1 (2.850 reviews)
- A very cool historic cemetery.
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM Cemeteries

The burial site for many of the people who lived in the mansions of the surrounding Garden District. See more..
4.5 Audubon Park (1.694 reviews)
- Lovely Park
Wednesday: 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Parks

This park is filled with graceful Spanish Oaks and has open spaces perfect for all sorts of recreational activities and dog-walking. See more..
4.5 Magazine Street (1.160 reviews)
- Great way to spend time away from French Quarter.
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Eclectic collectors and professional browsers will love this six-mile long street which starts at the French Quarter and is known worldwide for its antiques and art. See more..
4.5 New Orleans Museum of Art (1.147 reviews)
- Well worth a visit
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

NOMA is committed to preserving, presenting, and enriching its collections and renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden; offering innovative experiences for learning and interpretation; and uniting, inspiring, and engaging diverse communities and cultures. NOMA is New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution and most ambitious cultural convener. NOMA’s permanent collection is at the heart of all museum programs and has grown from 13 works in 1912 to more than 40,000 today. See more..
4.5 New Orleans Pharmacy Museum (1.126 reviews)
- Wow, one of the best tours ever!
Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums

Located at the site of the first licensed apothecary shop, the Pharmacy Museum includes cures for anything that ails you including voodoo potions and other weird medicines. See more..
4.5 Mercedes-Benz Superdome (1.067 reviews)
- Great! Section 607 Row 16
Sports Complexes • Arenas & Stadiums

This huge domed stadium is the home of the city's NFL team, the New Orleans Saints. See more..
4.5 Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (992 reviews)
- OMG there’s a baby alligator to play with!!!
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Nature reserve, consisting of several sections, preserves significant examples of the natural and cultural resources of the Mississippi Delta region. See more..
4.5 The Presbytere (982 reviews)
- Presbytere a Really Good NOLA Deal
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums

The Presbytere was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, alongside St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. It stands today as a beautiful reminder of both Louisiana's singular past and its vibrant present.The Presbytere, originally called Casa Curial or "Ecclesiastical House," was built on the site of the residence, or presbytere, of the Capuchin monks. The building was used for commercial purposes until 1834 when it became a courthouse. In 1911, it became part of the Louisiana State Museum. Two exhibitions are on display-"Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond" tells of rescue, rebuilding and renewal, and "Mardi Gras: It's Carnival Time in Louisiana" captures the fun and fantasy of the annual celebration. See more..
4.5 Lake Lawn Metairie (895 reviews)
- Nice visit
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Cemeteries

This final resting place is home to some exotic tombs, such as a pyramid-and-Sphinx mausoleum. See more..
4.5 The Historic New Orleans Collection (685 reviews)
- Great collection.
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Speciality Museums

The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center, and publisher with three locations in the French Quarter: * the original location at 533 Royal St. (featuring a a house museum and a self-guided exhibition chronicling the history of Louisiana) * the Williams Research Center at 410 Chartres St. (where materials relating to the history and culture of the area are made available for further study) * the new exhibition center at 520 Royal St., which opened in 2019 and features educational galleries, a French Quarter exhibition, and changing exhibitions. Admission is free. Guided tours are $5 per person. Royal Street properties are open Tues-Sun, and the research center on Chartres Street is open Tues-Sat. In addition to being closed on Monday, THNOC is closed New Year's Day, MLK Jr. Day, Mardi Gras weekend (Sat-Tues), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. See more..
4.5 Hermann-Grima House (502 reviews)
- Excellent tour - highly recommend
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • History Museums

This restored French Quarter home built in 1831, includes a Federalist architectural façade, original operating open-hearth kitchen, urban slave quarters, and expansive courtyard. The Urban Enslavement Tour at Hermann-Grima House, looks at the experiences of those who were enslaved in an urban setting, how that differed from those enslaved in rural settings, and how the contributions of people of African descent have shaped New Orleans. Condé Nast Traveler voted it one of the best tours in New Orleans and the only tour listed from a museum. We believe that nothing tells a story like a home. In addition, the property’s 19th-century carriage house is home to the The Exchange Shop, originally founded in the 1881 by The Woman’s Exchange and one of the oldest women-led non-profits in the South. See more..
4.5 Basin St. Station (487 reviews)
- Perfect start
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Visitor Centers

Welcoming thousands of visitors into New Orleans every day, Basin St. Station provides an authentic and exciting introduction to our richly diverse and historic city. The first floor contains a staffed visitor information center featuring educational community exhibits, a performance venue, a walking tour kiosk, and an authentically New Orleans and Louisiana gift shop. Located in the lobby of Basin St. Station Welcome Center, the Basin St. Cafe is a French Market style grab-n-go New Orleans coffee bar run by Messina’s. The Rooftop on Basin, a special event space perched atop Basin St. Station, offers stunning views overlooking the French Quarter. The salon and terrace spaces offer guests a unique flavor of New Orleans by merging the traditional with an elegant chic style of New Orleans. See more..
4.5 Saenger Theatre (390 reviews)
- Great Venue
Theaters

Originally built in 1927, the Saenger Theatre was designed to reflect a magnificent 15th century Italian courtyard and gardens, with a starlit evening sky ceiling, arched surroundings, statuary, columns and decorative moldings. In January 2012, the City of New Orleans, Canal Street Development Corporation (CSDC) and ACE Theatrical Group formed a public-private partnership to carry out a $52 million restoration project after the iconic theatre was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina. The Saenger Theatre reopened in fall 2013, authentically restored to the finest level of detail, with state-of-the-art technological improvements and updated first-class amenities. The theatre hosts a wide variety of performing arts attractions including live theater, comedy shows and musical acts. The Saenger Theatre is located at the corner of Canal and North Rampart streets in downtown New Orleans and is on the National Register of Historic Places. See more..
4.5 Longue Vue House and Gardens (255 reviews)
- The Longue Vue House tour is so worth it!
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Gardens

Longue Vue House and Gardens is a multifaceted historic estate featuring a world-class house museum and eight acres of stunning gardens that include an interactive Discovery Garden for children of all ages. From art to architecture, gardens to gift shop, there's something for everyone to enjoy at Longue Vue. Longue Vue is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The last house tour is at 4 p.m. Tours start at $12.00 for the day. Discounts for groups, seniors, and children are available. See more..
4.0 Audubon Aquarium (3.370 reviews)
- Decent Aquarium
Wednesday: Spent 2-3 hours Aquariums

Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter Audubon Aquarium of the Americas immerses you in an underwater world. The colors of a Caribbean reef come alive in our walk-through tunnel, while our penguins and Southern sea otter enchant you with their antics. Touch a sting ray, feed a parakeet, and marvel at our gigantic sharks, tarpon, and rays in the 400,000 gallon Gulf of Mexico Exhibit. Watch for sea turtles throughout the Aquarium-as coordinator of the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, we prepare many of them for release to the wild. See more..