Things to Visit in New Orleans: Jazz, Creole Food, and Bayous
A locals-approved guide to New Orleans covering the French Quarter, Garden District, live jazz on Frenchmen Street, swamp tours, above-ground cemeteries, and the best Cajun and Creole food spots across the city.
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French Quarter Essentials
Walk through Jackson Square and see St. Louis Cathedral
Street performers and artists set up around the square daily from 9 AM to dusk. The cathedral is free to enter and dates back to 1727, making it the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the US.
Watch the street musicians and tarot readers along the iron fence
Step inside the Cabildo museum next door ($9 entry)
Walk down Bourbon Street after dark
The 13-block stretch between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue gets loud by 8 PM and peaks around midnight. Open container laws allow drinks on the street — just no glass containers.
Browse the French Market
The market runs 6 blocks along Decatur Street and opens daily at 10 AM. The flea market section at the far end has better prices than the shops closer to Jackson Square.
Pick up hot sauce and pralines from local vendors
Order beignets at a café on Decatur Street
Most spots serve them 24 hours. An order of 3 runs about $5-7. They arrive buried in powdered sugar — wear dark clothes at your own risk.
Visit the Historic Voodoo Museum
This tiny one-room museum on Dumaine Street charges $7 admission. Guided voodoo walking tours depart from nearby and last about 2 hours for $25-30 per person.
Live Music and Nightlife
Catch live jazz on Frenchmen Street
Frenchmen Street between Chartres and Dauphine has 8-10 live music venues within 3 blocks. Most have no cover charge on weeknights; weekend covers range from $5-15. Music starts around 9 PM.
Check the Spotted Cat Music Club for traditional jazz (no cover)
Visit the Frenchmen Art Market on weekend nights
See a brass band play at a second line parade
Second line parades happen most Sundays from September through June. Routes run 1-2 miles through various neighborhoods. Check local event calendars on Friday for that week's route and time.
Attend a show at Preservation Hall
This intimate 1961 jazz hall on St. Peter Street seats only 80 people. Tickets cost $25-50 and shows run nightly at 5 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM. Book online at least a week ahead — walk-ups often sell out.
Grab a cocktail on a rooftop bar overlooking the Quarter
Several hotel rooftops along Canal Street and in the Warehouse District offer sunset views. Cocktails run $14-18 each. The Sazerac — rye whiskey, absinthe, and Peychaud's bitters — was invented in New Orleans in the 1830s.
Garden District and Uptown
Ride the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District
The St. Charles line is the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world (since 1835). A single ride costs $1.25 and runs 7 miles from Canal Street to the Riverbend. The full loop takes about 45 minutes each way.
Board at Canal Street and ride to the Garden District stop at Washington Avenue
Walk the oak-lined streets of the Garden District
The 16-block area between Magazine Street and St. Charles Avenue has some of the best-preserved antebellum mansions in the South. A self-guided walking loop takes about 90 minutes starting at Washington Avenue and First Street.
See the Buckner Mansion at 1410 Jackson Avenue (exterior only)
Pass by the Commander's Palace restaurant building (turquoise Victorian)
Shop along Magazine Street
Magazine Street runs 6 miles from Canal Street to Audubon Park with over 200 shops, galleries, and restaurants. The stretch between Napoleon and Jefferson avenues has the densest concentration of independent boutiques.
Walk through Audubon Park
This 350-acre park has a 1.8-mile jogging loop, a lagoon with herons and turtles, and century-old live oaks. The adjacent Audubon Zoo costs $29 for adults and closes at 5 PM.
Cemeteries and History
Tour St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
New Orleans' oldest cemetery (1789) requires a licensed tour guide for entry — you cannot visit solo. Tours cost $20-25 and last about 1 hour. This is where the tomb attributed to Marie Laveau sits.
Book a morning tour to avoid the afternoon heat and crowds
Visit Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District
This 1833 cemetery at Washington Avenue and Prytania Street is free to enter and open daily until 4 PM. Unlike St. Louis No. 1, you can explore it on your own without a guide.
Explore the National WWII Museum
This Smithsonian-affiliated museum spans 6 acres in the Warehouse District. General admission costs $32 for adults. Plan at least 4-5 hours to see the main exhibits — most visitors underestimate the size.
Watch the Beyond All Boundaries 4D film ($7 add-on, 40 minutes)
Swamps and Nature
Take a guided swamp tour in the bayou
Tours depart from various landings 30-45 minutes outside the city. A 2-hour boat tour costs $30-60 per person. March through June is the best window for spotting alligators, herons, and turtles.
Choose a small flatboat tour over a large airboat for closer wildlife encounters
Bring bug spray — mosquitoes are heavy from May through October
Walk the Barataria Preserve boardwalk trail
Part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, this free preserve is a 25-minute drive south of downtown. The Marsh Overlook Trail is a 1.8-mile out-and-back boardwalk where wild alligators are commonly spotted from the path.
Stroll through City Park
At 1,300 acres, City Park is 50% larger than Central Park. The Besthoff Sculpture Garden inside the park is free and has over 90 works spread across 11 acres. The park's ancient live oaks are estimated at 600-800 years old.
Rent a pedal boat on Big Lake for $15 per half hour
Cajun and Creole Food Trail
Eat a shrimp or roast beef po'boy
A dressed po'boy (with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo) at most neighborhood spots costs $10-15 for a full-size sandwich that's about 12 inches long. The bread — crispy French loaf baked locally — is what sets it apart.
Try a bowl of gumbo at a sit-down restaurant
Gumbo ranges from $8 for a cup to $16 for a large bowl. Creole gumbo uses tomatoes and okra; Cajun gumbo uses a dark roux without tomatoes. Most restaurants serve it over white rice with hot sauce on the side.
Get a muffuletta sandwich
This olive salad-topped Italian cold cut sandwich originated in the French Quarter in 1906. A whole muffuletta is 10 inches across and easily feeds 2 people — halves cost $10-14 at most delis.
Eat boiled crawfish in season
Crawfish season runs from late February through June. Prices fluctuate between $5-10 per pound depending on the week. A typical serving is 3-5 pounds per person. Look for signs outside restaurants advertising the current market price.
Learn the pinch-and-pull technique from a local at the table
Order a Sazerac cocktail at a French Quarter bar
The Sazerac is considered America's first cocktail, created in New Orleans around 1838. A well-made one costs $12-16 at most Quarter bars. It's served in a chilled, absinthe-rinsed rocks glass — no ice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in New Orleans?
Three to four full days covers the highlights including french quarter essentials, live music and nightlife, garden district and uptown at a relaxed pace. Five or more days lets you dig into local neighborhoods and take day trips. Most first-time visitors find four days strikes the right balance between seeing enough and not feeling exhausted.
What is the best time of year to visit New Orleans?
Spring and early autumn typically offer the best weather with manageable crowds. Summer brings peak tourism pricing and longer queues at popular spots. Shoulder season travel saves 20-30% on accommodation and gives you shorter lines at top attractions.
How much should I budget per day in New Orleans?
A mid-range daily budget of $100-180 per person covers a comfortable hotel, two restaurant meals, and attraction tickets. Street food and local markets cut food costs significantly. Pre-booking tickets for popular sites online often saves 10-15% and lets you skip long queues.
What is the best way to get around New Orleans?
Public transit handles most tourist routes efficiently and cheaply. Walking between central attractions is often faster than waiting for buses or trains during peak hours. Multi-day transit passes pay for themselves after 3-4 rides per day and remove the hassle of buying individual tickets.
Do I need to book attractions in advance in New Orleans?
Top-tier attractions and museums frequently sell out during peak season so book 2-4 weeks ahead for guaranteed entry. Lesser-known sites and neighborhoods rarely require advance tickets. Morning time slots (before 10:00) are the most popular; afternoon slots after 14:00 often have shorter waits.