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Top things to do in New Orleans

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New Orleans: the city's best neighborhoods

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About New Orleans

Including tips for the best time to visit New Orleans

Bursting with music, character and a smorgasbord of cultures, if there’s one thing New Orleans promises, it’s a good time. NOLA is home to the legendary Mardi Gras carnival – a parade of colourful revellers donning masks and draped in beads. The city is also regarded as the birthplace of jazz, from street performers belting out top-notch tunes at every corner to the recurring celebration of Jazz Fest attracting thousands every year. Check out a live band at one of the many upscale cocktail lounges on the electric Bourbon Street, or pop into a dive bar for a more casual experience. Whether you’re a jazz lover or not, it’s hard to spend time in New Orleans without grooving to the beat of the city, with music from bars and clubs spilling out into the streets every evening.

Nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’, New Orleans has a laid-back charm about it that offers a welcome contrast to the hectic pace of other popular destinations in the United States. Soak up the city’s atmosphere with a stroll around its French Quarter with a beignet (a French pastry) and a signature cocktail (such as the Sazerac) in hand. Along with the 18th-century architecture, popular sights you’ll see here include the triple-steepled St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square – a hub for local artists and musicians. For a uniquely New Orleans experience, dare to take a voodoo tour covering some of the city’s historic cemeteries, like St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

Tonight

From $97 per night

Next weekend

From $184 per night

Most popular time to visit October-December
Cheapest time to visit January-March
Local currency USD
Language
Average weekend price $27 per night
Average weekday price $28 per night
Average stay 2 nights

Points of interest in New Orleans

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in New Orleans

Latest articles featuring New Orleans

Inspiration and insider tips for things to do in New Orleans

New Orleans in the autumn

Autumn is one of the best times to appreciate the city's distinctive atmosphere.

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Feed your soul with 12 superb New Orleans dishes

When it comes to flavour-packed food, no other city does it quite like the Big Easy.

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New Orleans reviews

What other travelers say about New Orleans

6.0

New Orleans is a small city, absolutely flat and with little...

May 31, 2023

New Orleans is a small city, absolutely flat and with little charm. Bourbon street is totally overrated. If they go in the afternoon, around 7 to 9 PM, the atmosphere is "interesting". Around midnight, the atmosphere is decadent, full of drunks and drug addicts and prostitutes in the doorways of the brothels. The smell in the street is disgusting. Complete decadence. I recommend going to Frenchmen street, where there are nicer clubs and the atmosphere is much better. Well worth the streetcar ride. The district garden is very nice. A walk through the cemetery is interesting. Undoubtedly the best thing was the ride through the swamp in an airboat and the alligators. They can't miss it. Napoleon House is a very good restaurant (try the pig-alligator sausage, really excellent) The Laffitte Blacksmith is the best pub.

Daniel
Daniel Uruguay
10

This was an awesome trip.

May 31, 2023

This was an awesome trip. There is so much to see and do. We enjoyed the food from Beignets to Gumbo. There is the paddle wheeler on the Mississippi river, the fabulous views from the top of the port authority building on the river, the Official National World War II museum, Bourbon Street and much more. If you go to New Orleans, you must go to the Gumbo Shop!!

John
John United States of America
10

Get your walking shoes and sneakers ready.

May 31, 2023

Get your walking shoes and sneakers ready. Have a refillable bottle, portable fan, and be ready for a great time! Highly recommend: -Swamp tour (with hotel pickup) - Hop on/off bus to see more of New Orleans -Visit Frenchmen street during day & night -Visit Bourbon street of course! -Cafe Du Monde, Acme, Tropical aisle, and Cafe De Fleur -Highly recommend Briquette for a nice dinner 10/10

Kiki
Kiki United States of America
10

Loved the atmosphere and culture of the city.

May 30, 2023

Loved the atmosphere and culture of the city. The people are so nice and inviting. Took a swamp tour of Honey Island wih Cajun Encounters. Highly reccomended. I also went to the World War II museum which was so heartbreaking to listen to the stories of the soldiers, see props and experience thow the war impacted America. It is an amazing Museum. I stood there for 3 hours and I still did not see everything. As for food. Well if you are Seafood lover you def. need to try the Po-Boys or the gumbo. Everything is seasoned so well. We went to Oceana's such good food and drinks. I also reccomend the Aquarium. It was not open when I visited last time . Frenchmen street is a fav. of the locals. Amazing Jazz spots to just relax . And of course cafe du-monde Yummy beignets. The only thing that was was the amount of homeless people. Most were ok but we had a couple of scares. One was following my daughter and another was visibly on something and was hurting himself. I am from New York so I am very aware of my surroundings at all time. But I can see how this may be a deal breaker for most thinking of vacation. If you are not on the main strip it is pretty much deserted so just be safe.

Margarita
Margarita United States of America
10

We had a blast.

May 30, 2023

We had a blast. We only stay over night. But we’re coming back next weekend and staying all weekend.. we’re definitely looking forward to it. French Quarter by day and Bourbon St by night. Can’t wait.

James
James United States of America
8.0

I enjoy each time I visit New Orleans, love the food and the...

May 30, 2023

I enjoy each time I visit New Orleans, love the food and the vibe. I don't care for how Google maps routes you in the city. It becomes annoying when it seems to have you take unnecessary steps. It would say make a turn on a street and it's a one way street. I found out certain streets would give me a straight shot to where I wanted to go without hoping on the highway.

Anthony
Anthony

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