Best Things to do in New Orleans

New Orleans is a fascinating city. While it’s known for Mardi Gras and its legendary 24 hour parties on Bourbon Street, New Orleans is so much more than just booze and boobs. It has an amazing music scene, strong ties to Voodoo and the supernatural, and a rich culture. Dig deeper beyond the bars of the French Quarter and you’ll discover a city steeped in tradition while embracing the 21st century. There are so many amazing things to do in New Orleans, you’ll want to go back again and again. (I know we do!).

Things to do in New Orleans

Where to Stay in New Orleans

The InterContinental New Orleans in the Central Business District is just minutes from the French Quarter, we walked there every day. We couldn’t have chosen a better location. We have stayed in the French Quarter before and while it is excellent to be close to all the action, we enjoyed being in the Central Business District to step away from the hustle and bustle. Plus we used our rewards through IHG© Rewards Club and got a sweet upgrade to the presidential suite!

Our trip kicked off with dinner at Trenasse inside the InterContinental NOLA where we enjoyed a Cajun-Creole dinner. It was one of our favourite restaurants in New Orleans which says a lot because New Orleans has one of the best food scenes in America! More about that below.

Balcony Apartment on St. Charles Street – If you are looking for an apartment stay in New Orleans, this lovely apartment rental has its own balcony on St. Charles Street. The Street car is two stops to the French Quarter. It is newly renovated, sleeps four and is the perfect place to people watch from the balcony.

A Little Help Planning our NOLA Experiences

It can be overwhelming when arriving in a new city and with so many things to do in New Orleans it’s difficult deciding where to start. But the Concierge staff at the InterContinental New Orleans helped us plan our complete New Orleans itinerary. This was the most we ever put a concierge to work before and now that we see what they can do we’ll be using them a lot more in our future travels indeed. So with our map of New Orleans in hand and a solid plan, we set out to explore the city.

the French Quarter – Vieux Carré

The French Quarter is the first place you must visit when traveling to NOLA, it’s the heartbeat of the city and party central with talented street performers playing Dixieland Jazz and partiers out until the wee hours of the morning. It’s also where New Orleans got its nickname “The Big Easy.”

The French Quarter has that laid back feel with music clubs and museums interspersed among the bars. As revellers walked down the streets with drinks in hand, we watched on in awe. It’s as if time has stood still in the French Quarter. Some of the most famous landmarks in New Orleans can be found in the French Quarter and you’ll end up finding that when you are looking for things to do in New Orleans, you’ll be spending a lot of time here. Let’s find out why.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is the main street in the heart of the French Quarter and no trip to New Orleans would be complete without walking down this legendary thoroughfare. It’s loud, it’s busy, and it is the place to party. Balconies line the street making it the centerpiece of Mardi Gras bead throwing. Bars line each and every block where you can pop in for a signature cocktail and take your drink to go! From Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street has endless things to do in New Orleans. It’s not just bars and beer along Bourbon Street, there are plenty of things to do in the French Quarter. Let’s take a look.

Voodoo Lounges and Vampires – Haunted New Orleans

Voodoo Lounges, Vampires and tales of ghosts haunt the historic streets. It’s no surprise that the supernatural is alive and well in New Orleans. It is after all, The City of the Dead. Do you believe in vampires? In New Orleans they do, and the Vatican has even frequented the city to keep the vampires at bay. There are haunted hotels, churches and buildings. Plus there are many ghost stories and voodoo legends to be had. See our complete guide to The Most Haunted Places in New Orleans

This guided tour of the French Quarter is a great way to learn of the history and voodoo past of New Orleans. Follow your tour guide through Congo Square, Jackson Square where you’ll learn about the St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytère, and the Cabildo before stopping at the former home of Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau.

Cemeteries of New Orleans

Early settlers had a difficult time keeping corpses down due to New Orleans high water table. They stuffed coffins with stones and filled them with water to try to keep the dearly departed dead and buried. But as the saying goes, “You just can’t keep a good person down!”

The cemeteries of New Orleans really do remind us of the famous Paris cemeteries like Pere Lachaise, and it is no wonder, NOLA was settled by the French. As a matter a fact, New Orleans has a French Canadian connection. The French Quarter was founded by Montreal native Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville who was originally from Dieppe, France. The French culture is still very strong to this day. Today, New Orleans buries their residents above ground in cemeteries that are truly works of art.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

About Marie Laveau

Marie Laveau was a high priestess who was born a free woman of colour in New Orleans. She was a healer and herbalist who was highly revered even after death. Her grave has become quite the attraction similar to Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde’s tombs in the Cemetiere Pere la Chaise. At one time her grave was covered in black crosses and graffiti as people performed rituals at her grave to have wishes granted. We were told that today you simply need to place a hand on the grave and ask her for a blessing. If it comes true, pay it forward in Marie Laveau’s name. I did make a wish on her grave and my wish did come true!

This Cemetery Tour takes you off the beaten path to explore several other cemeteries outside of St. Louis Cemetery Number 1 starting at Greenwood Cemetery. You’ll learn of New Orleans history, and visit the memorial to Hurricane Katrina victims as well as other cemeteries with some of the city’s most impressive tombs, Civil War monuments, Chinese society tombs and a memorial to the unknown Civil War soldiers.

House of Voodoo

After you have visited St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, make sure to add Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on to your list of things to do in New Orleans. The voodoo queen is legendary and it is said that her ghost still walks the halls. You can have your fortune told here and if there is one place in the world to get your fortune told, it is New Orleans. It truly feels like there is a connection to the spirit world here. New Orleans certainly has its fill of the mystical. Check out this Haunted Tour that we did through the French Quarter.

Voodoo Museum

The odd and macabre continues as you visit the Voodoo Museum which tells of the history of how Voodoo made its way to New Orleans. African slaves who were bought and sold in New Orleans had extensive knowledge of herbs and plants. They held on to their African culture and practiced Voodoo with the tradition still continuing on today. You cannot visit New Orleans without learning of Voodoo and its dark slavery trading past.

An interesting stop is the Voodoo Museum. It’s a tiny museum of two rooms that only costs $5 to visit, but it packs a punch. There are articles and photos of voodoo priests and practitioners, there are alters that are not to be touched, but you can leave an offering and ancient relics of Voodoo dolls and magical masks.

Haunted Tours

One of the best ways to learn of the voodoo and dark history is to take a haunted New Orleans tour. New Orleans has the distinction of being one of the most haunted cities in the United States. With its dark past, voodoo history and a lot of debauchery and murder, there are plenty of stories to be told on a haunted walking tour. Enjoy reading our break down of the Most Haunted Place in New Orleans.

Jackson Square

St. Louis Cathedral

St. Louise Cathedral is a National Historic Landmark and stands at the head of Jackson Square facing the Mississippi River. It is the oldest continuously run cathedral in the United States. Like many places in New Orleans, the cathedral is said to be haunted. People have spotted the priest Père Antoine strolling its halls.

For a guided tour of the French Quarter, this affordable, highly rated tour takes you around the French Quarter to sights such as the St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, the French Market, and the Mississippi River.

Cabildo

Located beside St. Louise Cathedral are two other important New Orleans landmarks, the historic Cabildo and Presbytere. Both of these are part of the Louisiana State Museum system due to their important historic significance. . The Cabildo is a Spanish colonial building dating built between 1795 and 1799 that has historic significance being the site of the historic Louisiana Purchase transfer. Today it displays historic artifacts from New Orleans history.

Presbytère

On the other side of St. Louis Cathedral and the equally historic to Cabildo is Presbytere built in 1791 to match the Cabildo, alongside St. Louis Cathedral. A visit to Presbytere take you through the history of Mardi Gras plus the rebuilding and resilience of the New Orlean’s people rebuilding after Hurricaine Katrina. We didn’t go inside these two buildings when visiting New Orleans and I definitely need to fix that when we go back. They look fascinating.

There are five museums in the French Quarter that fall under the Louisiana State Museum system that include the two above, the Jazz Museum, 1850 House and Madam John’s Legacy. (currently under renovations)

Café Beignet

Beignets are a Louisiana staple food and when visiting visiting Jackson Square, take a walk to Café Beignet Decatur for their delicious treats. Beignets are deep fried dough fritters sprinkled with powdered sugar. Café Beignet is one of the most famous restaurants in New Orleans being a part of the food scene for 30 years. So no visit to New Orleans would be complete without tasting a Beignet. Café Beignet is located at 334 Royal Street in the French Quarter. 

Food Tour of New Orleans

New Orleans has one of the best food scenes in America. There are several unique foods to New Orleans and there are so many restaurants to choose from, a food tour really helps to get your bearings. From Gumbo to Muffuletta and Po Boy sandwiches to jambalaya and pralines, eating is one of the best things to do in New Orleans that feels like an event unto itself. If you want to get to the root of New Orleans cooking, pop into Pepper Palace. They have one hot sauce that is so hot, you need to sign a waiver before tasting it! We have an entire article about New Orleans food at our New Orleans Food Tour – Where to Eat in New Orleans.

• Some other restaurants that we ate at in the city include:
  • Meril: Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant known for its small plates and new American cuisine located at 424 Girod St. in the Warehouse District.
  • Peche: A coastal seafood restaurant by Chef Donald Link. Peche was honored as the James Beard Best New Restaurant in 2014. Located at 800 Magazine Street in the Warehouse District.
  • The Country Club – Charming restaurant and pool clubhouse located in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans.
  • Baccahanal Wine – A wine shop with an adorable backyard for sipping located in the New Orleans Ninth Ward.
  • Kingfish: Fresh spins on classic Louisiana dishes located in the French Quarter
  • Sylvain: an intimate gastropub in a former carriage house
  • Cane & Table: Pro-tiki bar and an array of large and small plates
  • Muriel’s – Located in Jackson Square. Muriels is a funky restaurant where you can dine with a ghost in a haunted restaurant. Each night, Muriel sets a table for the resident ghost to keep it from causing disruptions.

There are countless food tours in New Orleans. We took the Doctor Gumbo Food Tour and it was outstanding. We sampled all the top dishes of the city including Po Boy, Jambalaya, Muffuletta, and Gumbo. New Orleans has one of the richest food scenes in America and a food tour is a must. If you want to try some on your own, check out  NOLA Poboys for an authentic Po Boy sandwich, and Central Grocery and Deli for an authentic Muffuletta.

Have a Drink at the The Old Absinthe House

Something that is very cool about going to New Orleans is how old many of the bars and buildings are. This city is filled with history and history lovers will also enjoy visiting The Old Absinthe House. This 200 year old bar played an important role in the war of 1812. It was general Andrew Jackson who approached the outlaw pirate Jean Lafitte who was being held here to help the Americans defeat the British Navy. This iconic bar has attracted celebrities to see its historic setting in a building that has stood the test of time with the same fixtures and walls from the 1800s. It even has the same fountains serving absinthe that the pirate Lafitte and General Jackson may have been served from in history.

Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Haunted Bar

Another historic bar is the Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop located on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in New Orleans that was built around 1770s. Through the years it has been frequented by the likes of Noel Coward and Tennesee Williams. If you are on a haunted walking tour of New Orleans, chances are you will stop here, it’s one of the most haunted places in the city. Jean Lafitte was a privateer adn smuggler who used this house as his headquarters and fun fact, he helped Andrew Jackson fight the British. It is said that he still haunts the walls of this historic building.

Book this New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl to see all the haunted watering holes in the city. We started at Tujagues- The oldest stand up bar in New Orleans. Here, you’ll meet your local tour guide to begin a tour of fascinating and haunted in the city, including the infamous Lalaurie Mansion (as seen on “American Horror Story: Coven”), the Sultan’s Palace and naturally Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop.

New Orleans Jazz

Jazz is at the heart of the culture in New Orleans and there are jazz clubs scattered throughout the French Quarter, Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street. No visitor to New Orleans should miss seeing at least one Jazz performance. The New Orleans musicians are some of the most talented on earth. Here are a few places to immerse in jazz.

Jazz Playhouse in the French Quarter

The haunted tours end late in the evening, but you may only be in The Big Easy once in your lifetime, so head you may want to stay in the French Quarter tonight to feel the nightlife. You can pop into any bar for a party, but we suggest, heading over to The Jazz Playhouse inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel for some authentic Jazz. It is an intimate setting in a upscale location and you get the best musicians in town playing here. Enjoy the night as long as you like. New Orleans is the city that never sleeps so enjoy!

Preservation Hall

Located on St. Peters Street in the heart of the French Quarter, Preservation Hall is an intimate venue for  New Orleans Jazz concerts. It’s one of the most famous music venues in New Orleans. Make sure to book tickets in advance.

Frenchmen Street

Live Music on Frenchmen Street

While the French Quarter is the most famous area of New Orleans, Frenchmen Street in Marigny was our favourite area for nightlife and live music. It is a great alternative to Bourbon Street with plenty of clubs to go club hopping without all the kitschy touristy stuff. If you are looking for authentic jazz music this is the place to be. The short strip along Faubourg Marigny have some of the best music venues in the city. Jazz Clubs like The Spotted Cat, Apple Barrel, The Blue Nile and Maison and our personal favorite, Snug Harbor showcase talented musicians. New Orleans has one of the best music scenes in the entire world. I mean it!  

• The Spotted Cat – One of the most popular clubs on Frenchmen Street.

Along The Mississippi River – Things to do in New Orleans

Steamboat Natchez Riverboat

New Orleans is located directly on the Mississippi River and a trip to the Big Easy wouldn’t be complete without a riverboat tour. The Steamboat Natchez Riverboat is one of the top attractions in New Orleans and with good reason. Cruise along the Mississippi complete with a dixieland jazz trio to entertain. The Steamboat Natchez is the only steam engine left on the Mississippi giving a true historic experience. I can only imagine how the early settlers felt navigating this great river. Book your Riverboat Cruise in advance here.

The trip begins with a musician playing the pipe organ as tourists stand in line under the big umbrella canopy. Once on board the talented dixieland band entertains from the main dining room and we are free to explore the boat from top to bottom checking out the nearly 100 year old steam engine and giant wooden paddle wheel. The two hour tour on Steamboat Natchez gave us a glimpse of like on the Bayou and a fabulous view of the New Orleans skyline. If you want something different, book an evening Jazz Cruise to tick off your music and sightseeing all at once.

Go Shopping at the French Market

French Market is a historic open air market that runs parallel to the waterfront and Decatur Street where you can shop for local art, jewelry, glass and metal sculptures created by local artisans. It’s a great place for travelers to pick up a mask or other New Orleans trinket to remind you of your stay.

Cafe du Monde

If you can’t make it to Café Beignet, you can stop here at Cafe du Monde for beignets as well. Grab a coffee to go and stroll the market for a fun and colourful NOLA trinket.

Stroll the New Orleans Waterfront

The waterfront of New Orleans is an excellent place to spend the rest of the afternoon enjoy the breeze along the riverwalk along the Mississippi River leading to the Aquarium, the outlet mall and the shops lining the French Quarter.

Mardi Gras World

You don’t have to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras to experience Mardi Gras. Just a little out of the main quarter is Mardi Gras World where you can see old floats in storage and see artists working on next year’s masterpieces. There are free shuttles to and from Canal Street with your ticket purchase and it’s a lot of fun to see the floats and costumes from festivals past on display. There are plenty of festivals in New Orleans all year long so make sure to look up what is happening during your visit. I guarantee there is something exciting going on.

The Garden District

Ride the St. Charles Street Car

One of the most relaxing attractions in New Orleans is to ride the St. Charles line takes you directly to the Garden District and the cemetery is located just one block from the streetcar stop. The St. Charles Line costs $3 each for an entire day transit pass.

Make sure to look up from your smart phone, this street car ride is beautiful taking you through tree lined streets passed gorgeous French and Gothic Style mansions. Tennessee Williams made the Streetcar Named Desire famous, and taking the St. Charles line feels as if you have stepped back in time into one of his plays.

Garden District Mansions

The Garden District is a beautiful place to spend time perusing the streets marvelling at colonial mansions, sipping cappuccinos and peruse the shops in The Rink, an old roller skating rink converted to boutique shops and gift stores. See the mansions and former homes of writer Anne Rice, Actors John Goodman and Sandra Bullock and many more famous people who have called New Orleans home.

New Orleans has been home to many movie shoots including Interview with the Vampire and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Most of which were filmed in the Garden District area. You’ll recognize many a mansion from your favourite movies. It is the perfect setting for a movie. Picturesque, historic, colourful, New Orleans has it all.

Lafayette Cemetery No.1

Another famous cemetery we visited was just a short streetcar ride from our hotel. The Intercontinental New Orleans is located just off Canal street along the St. Charles Streetcar line.The Lafayette Cemetery #1 is a cemetery is located in the picturesque Garden District and because it isn’t a Catholic cemetery, you can tour this resting place of souls on your own without a guide.

Dinner at Commander’s Palace

One of the most iconic places to eat in New Orleans is at Commander’s Palace. Located across the street from Lafayette Cemetery #1 it’s a good place to eat after you’ve explored the mansions and tombs. Set in an old plantation style building on the corner of Coliseum and Washington Avenue, eating here is a must. The dress is more on the formal side, so make this your classy night out in the city. And make sure to book reservations, it’s one of the hottest spots in town. You can make reservations here at their website

We toured this district with Welcome New Orleans Tours. You’ll see Anne Rice’s old house, and other famous celebrity homes sprawling in the Gothic Style. There have been many movies filmed here including Django Unchained, and Benjamin Button.

Magazine Street

Try the Oysters at Casamento’s on Magazine Street

Casamento’s is known for its a chargrilled oysters and they are heavenly. We do love raw oysters but once we tasted chargrilled Oysters in New Orleans, we wondered why we didn’t try them earlier. The chargrilled oysters with garlic and parmesan cheese were savoury and satisfying.

Shopping on Magazine Street

While you are up in the Garden District, Magazine Street is just a short jaunt away. This is one of the premier shopping streets in New Orleans with six miles of shopping along this legendary street. Magazine Street runs parallel to St. Charles Avenue stretching from The French Quarter to beyond the Garden District.

Central Business District

Our Hotel was located here and we realized that had we not stayed in the CBD, we most likely would not have explored this part of the city. But for a part of New Orleans that feels more like the 21st century, this is a great location.

• A few things to check out in the CBD are:
  • The Mercedes Benz Superdome – Home to the NFLs New Orleans Saints
  • Harrahs Casino
  • Lafayette Square – often filled with local artists and food vendors
  • The CBD is where you catch the Charles Avenue Streetcar
  • The Warehouse District – The Warehouse District is within the CBD and is fast becoming a destination unto itself.

Warehouse District

Foodie Heaven in the Warehouse District

The Warehouse District is another great neighborhood in New Orleans. One of the best places to enjoy signature cocktails is at Sac-a-Lait. Located on Hospital Road, this trendy restaurant is set in an old cotton mill in the middle of the Warehouse District. They have an extensive array of cocktails and then you can sit down to enjoy southern Louisiana dishes.

You can start with cocktails and appetizers at Sac-a-Lait and then make your way to another amazing eatery in the Warehouse District owned by Celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse. He has roots in New Orleans as he was actually the executive chef at Commander’s Palace in the 1980s.

National WWII Musuem

Located on Magazine Street in the Warehouse District, the National WWII Museum is an interesting stop to learn all about the American effort in the World War. It was designed by the author of Saving Private Ryan and the 4D movie Beyond Boundaries that is played in the museum is narrated by Tom Hanks. You don’t have to be a history buff to get something out of this museum, but If you are a history buff, you will love it.

Bonus Stop: New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden

With so many things to do in New Orleans, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and Sculpture Garden may not be at the top of your list. But the sculpture garden is worth seeing. Spanning across 11 acres acres the gardens represent two giant wings. The  Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is one of New Orleans newest attractions and visitors can stroll through a serene environment of bridges and walkways connecting gardens and large-scale sculptures featuring a Mirrored Labyrinth, a sixty-foot-long mosaic wall ad LOVE Sculpture and other modern art pieces. NOMA is located at City Park quite a ways out of the city. So it might not be on your list for first time travelers to New Orleans.

Suggested Hotels in New Orleans

W Hotel New Orleans – Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the W Hotel is a quiet oasis with modern rooms are inviting and the traditional courtyard is lovely. Their restaurant is a great places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We loved our Creole tasting meal at SoBou followed by cocktails in the Creole saloon. It’s also a great choice for Sunday Brunch with their Legs & Eggs Burlesque Brunch and we had an amazing night of cocktails and Cajun food.

This Apartment Rental located five minutes drive to the French Quarter has a private swimming pool and hot tub.

Whatever you decide to do in New Orleans, you won’t be disappointed. It is definitely one of our favourite destinations in America. While many people go to party and believe me, they know how to party, Dave and I had an amazing time learning about the city and its history, gorging on food, and walking through the streets. Once you visit New Orleans, it will be sure to pop to the top of your favourite destinations in America as well.

Have you been to New Orleans? Let us know what we missed so we can add it to our list of must see things when we go back.

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