Top Things To Do in New Orleans
New Orleans can be a mesmerizing city for first-time visitors. There are so many tourist attractions and so much to do here. The Mississippi cuts through New Orleans and adds to its scenic beauty. The river banks have so many tourist attractions lined up for visitors. But the most wonderful thing about New Orleans is the mix of different cultures. The French, Spanish, African American and Creole cultures blend into one vibrant city and make it exciting. What is there to do in New Orleans is a question that has so many answers and here you will find all the top things to do in New Orleans Louisiana along with top things for families to do in New Orleans:
Take a walking tour of the French Quarter
One of the top things to do in New Orleans at French Quarter this weekend is to stroll the iconic streets of the French Quarter. This is a historic area of New Orleans, which is brimming with excitement during the day and night. The streets are lined with bars, restaurants, boutique shops, and art galleries. There is a vintage glory about French Quarter that makes it so attractive to tourists. Bourbon Street is the most famous street here. Some of the buildings here are as old as the early 18th century. The French Quarter is a hotspot for partying and nightlife. You can visit the Historic New Orleans Collection, which is a museum that has preserved the culture and history of this iconic city. You will love the lush greenery of Louis Armstrong Park, which is named after the famous Jazz musician.
Enjoy street performances at Jackson Square
Jackson Square is located in French Quarter. This historic square is as old as 1720 and was named after General Andrew Jackson, who was the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson Square was designed on the lines of Place des Vosges in Paris. Jackson Square has some of the best things to do in New Orleans with friends. You can enjoy street performances, and live music. This place is full of activities and fun. Fortune tellers, artists, painters, and sketchers can be seen here entertaining the people with their art. There are cafes and restaurants in this square. There are historic buildings like Cabildo and Presbytère.
Visit the National WWII Museum
One of the famous things to do in New Orleans this week is to visit the National WWII Museum. The Higgins landing craft was made in New Orleans and was used in the battle of Normandy in 1944. There are many interesting things to see here like battle tanks, military aircraft, boats, and other war ammunition. You can watch a 4D movie and visit interactive exhibits, artifacts, and others. The museum is big and you can spend an entire day here.
Garden District
The Garden District is one of the famous neighborhoods in New Orleans. This is named due to the green gardens that were built here during the olden days. But instead of gardens, there is neo-classical architecture that you can see here today. There are so many fun things to do in New Orleans Garden District for free. The mansions are signs of the prosperous generations of people who lived here. You can on a stroll through this Garden District and watch for the wonderful buildings. There are homes of famous personalities like Sandra Bullock, John Goodman, and others. The house that was featured in the movie ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ is also located here.
Ride a streetcar
The streetcar ride is one of the best ways to explore New Orleans. It feels nostalgic in many ways and this is also one of the fun things to do in New Orleans for adults and couples. The streetcars are an essential mode of transport in New Orleans and they were first introduced in 1835. Buses have replaced the streetcars but even today the ones that are operating on St. Charles Avenue are one of the oldest streetcars in the world that are still in operation. You can also ride streetcars on Canal Street, Rampart Lines, and Riverfront. The cars are a piece of history and a tour through the French Quarter and other parts of the city is worth taking.
St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral is one of the top icons of the French Quarter. Visiting this cathedral is one of the many top things to do in New Orleans at French Quarter this weekend. St. Louis Cathedral was founded in 1720 and is one of the oldest cathedrals in the entire US that is still in service. You can attend the daily mass in the cathedral. The interiors of this cathedral will amaze you with its décor. There are colored stained glass windows that let in the sunlight. The Spanish architecture of this cathedral is very beautiful in its façade and interiors.
New Orleans City Park
The most popular things to do in New Orleans with teens today is to spend your time outdoors in New Orleans City Park. There are a great number of fun things to do in New Orleans for adults at this magnificent park. Boating is on top of every activity that you can do here. Spend time having a quiet stroll through the oak trees. The park was once a huge swamp and men gathered here for dueling. The park is best for picnic parties. You can play golf, walk among the roses at the botanical gardens or play a round of tennis. The recreation activities do not end here though. There is more to do here like attend a concert, and have fun at the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.
Swamp Tour
Exploring the wetlands and swamps is one of the top New Orleans things to do. The swamps in the southern part of Louisiana are filled with marshes, mangrove forests, and all kinds of wildlife teeming within them. Take a tour of the swamps and see turtles, alligators, snakes, boars, ospreys, herons, and other wildlife from close range. These swamp tours generally last for 2-3 hours and during this time, you can experience the Cajun culture and ecosystem of the bayous in Louisiana.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
If you ask what is there to do in New Orleans, then one of the answers is to visit the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The park ranks among the top attractions when it comes to best things to do in New Orleans with friends. The park is named after a French pirate called Jean Lafitte, who helped the United States fight for the freedom of Louisiana in 1812. The park is one of the attractions where you will find swamp land, nature preserve, bayous, and prairie grassland and all these natural features make this one of the best sightseeing places in New Orleans. The park is in the Mississippi delta region. The park is a historical place where the famous battle of New Orleans was fought in 1815. You can visit Chalmette Battlefield which is the site of the battle. You can learn more about the culture of New Orleans in the French Quarter Visitor Center. There is more in store for you here at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Explore the Cajun culture here. The Barataria Preserve is best if you want to explore the wetlands, and marshes, and see the wildlife of this park.
Relish the beignets at Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde is an essential place to be in if you are sightseeing in New Orleans. This place is on the top of all the top things to do in New Orleans Louisiana list. You can have the most delicious and mouth-watering beignets here. A beignet is a square-shaped doughnut, sprinkled with powdered sugar and pairs great with a piping hot cup of coffee. Cafe Du Monde is open at all times of day and you can come here for midnight snacks too.
New Orleans Museum of Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art is one of the best art galleries that you can visit in New Orleans. It is one of the best things to do in New Orleans with friends. This art museum opened in 1911 and since then, it attracts art lovers to appreciate the exhibits of art here. You can spend half a day easily here, wondering about the permanent exhibits here. There are over 50,000 artworks here and you will find paintings of celebrated artists like Monet, and Edward Degas among many others. The galleries here have exhibits of French paintings, Japanese art, American, and African art, and others.
Explore the haunted cemeteries
The cemeteries in New Orleans are famous sightseeing places. Visiting these cemeteries is one of the most popular things to do in New Orleans with teens today. The graves and vaults are well decorated and the most famous among these is the St. Louis Cemetery #1. This cemetery is very old and ranks among the oldest cemeteries in New Orleans. The creepy stories of these cemeteries such as the voodoo queen Marie are particularly interesting. Other cemeteries you can visit are St. Louis Cemetery #2 and Lafayette Cemetery #1.
Enjoy the sculptures at Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The sculptures at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden are one of the top attractions that you should visit on your trip to New Orleans. The abstract sculptures are located amid the lush green surroundings of oak and magnolia trees. You can explore the sculptures of celebrated artists such as Henry Moore, Ossip Zadkine, and Antoine Bourdelle among others. There is a tall tower sculpture that casts its reflection in the water pool below.
Go on a Mississippi river cruise on the steamboat Natchez
One of the most famous things to do in New Orleans this week is to ride a steamboat on the Mississippi river. The SS Natchez is one of the oldest steamboats that still operates. It has been operating since 1823. You can go for the Sunday brunch cruise or the dinner cruise. The Jazz musicians and bands will entertain you as you watch the many sights on the Mississippi river go past you. This is one of the top things to do in New Orleans Louisiana.
Watch live performances at the Mercedes Benz Superdome
You can attend an NFL game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The Mercedes Benz Superdome is one of the largest domed structures in the entire world, and it is in the city of New Orleans. Getting to live sports action at the Mercedes Benz Superdome is one of the best things to do in New Orleans with friends. Football matches are the most popular sports you can enjoy here. But the Mercedes Benz Superdome also hosts music concerts where international bands like Guns N’ Roses, Rolling Stones, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift perform and enthrall audiences.
Get ecstatic at the Mardi Gras
Participate in the Mardi Gras and you would be doing what most visitors dream of doing when they visit New Orleans. Mardi Gras is one of the top things to do in New Orleans Louisiana. Every street becomes a riot of colors during this incredible event. It is a carnival atmosphere at the Mardi Gras, as revelers take to the streets in their colorful floats and weird costumes. Mardi Gras is one of the most anticipated events in New Orleans. No one wants to miss the famous parade at Canal Street. The extravagance and the joyous spirit that this event brings are one of a kind. Try cutting the King Cake, which is a famous New Orleans tradition.
Final Words on Top Things To Do in New Orleans:
You will find all the famous things to do in New Orleans this week. New Orleans is a big tourist destination in the southern United States. There is always some activity of the other that will surprise you. There is never a boring moment in New Orleans. The top things to do in New Orleans Louisiana include both, relaxing kind of activity and thrilling kinds of activities. You can spend time indoors in museums, or enjoy outdoor fun at the parks. With such a plethora of options available to the question of ‘what is there to do in New Orleans’, we are sure you will find one that suits you.
Whether you are looking for best things to do in New Orleans at night or unique things to do in New Orleans at beach to top 10 things to do in New Orleans tonight or must do things in New Orleans tomorrow, above travel guide covers everything.
Don’t forget to list down things for top things to do in New Orleans in December, best things to do in New Orleans in November, unique things to do in New Orleans in March and fun things to do in New Orleans in September.
Go through our other travel guides to explore best places to stay in New Orleans.
