New Orleans: what's actually worth it
The city’s soul was forged when the Mississippi River shifted course centuries ago, leaving behind a fragile, sinking delta that now dictates every brick and beam you see today. Walking these streets feels less like tourism and more like stepping into a living, breathing jazz improvisation where time moves at its own syncopated rhythm, heavy with humidity and history. This is not a museum but a resilient neighborhood where locals fiercely protect their unique dialects and traditions while adapting to the challenges of modern climate change and urban decay.
Top things to do in New Orleans
The National WWII Museum
Museum · ★ 4.8 (30,245 reviews)
Multi-building museum with interactive submarine exhibit, planes, 4-D theater & eatery downstairs.
Check tours & tickets →Cafe Du Monde
Cafe · ★ 4.5 (45,860 reviews)
Iconic New Orleans cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets since 1862.
Check tours & tickets →Jackson Square
Historical Landmark · ★ 4.7 (28,471 reviews)
Artists & performers ply their trades in a park built in 1721 & lined with historic buildings.
Check tours & tickets →New Orleans City Park
City Park · ★ 4.8 (19,990 reviews)
This expansive urban greenspace with a lake & paths features a dog run, museums, disc golf & more.
Check tours & tickets →Audubon Aquarium
Aquarium · ★ 4.4 (16,651 reviews)
Insect & marine life exhibits plus a 400,000-gallon tank with reefs, sharks & a walk-through tunnel.
Check tours & tickets →Audubon Park
Park · ★ 4.7 (8,901 reviews)
Park with oak trees, jogging & bike paths, a lagoon, picnic shelters, tennis courts & playgrounds.
Check tours & tickets →Napoleon House
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (7,578 reviews)
Muffalettas, po' boys & other Creole staples in a circa-1914 house with a palm-filled courtyard.
Check tours & tickets →St. Louis Cathedral
Church · ★ 4.8 (5,113 reviews)
Grand, spired circa-1700s church with stained glass, a painted ceiling & an active congregation.
Check tours & tickets →Audubon Zoo
Zoo · ★ 4.5 (8,958 reviews)
Leafy home to Amur leopards, orangutans & white alligators, with presentations & feedings.
Check tours & tickets →Where to eat
Cafe Du Monde
Cafe · ★ 4.5 (45,860 reviews)
Iconic New Orleans cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets since 1862.
Website →Acme Oyster House
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (14,061 reviews)
Lively New Orleans-based chain offering oysters, po' boys, gumbo & other Cajun-Creole classics.
Website →Oceana Grill
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.4 (19,343 reviews)
Classic New Orleans fare including seafood in a laid-back space, plus courtyard & late-night dining.
Website →Cochon RESTAURANT
Cajun Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (10,648 reviews)
Lauded choice in charming, historic digs specializing in pork dishes & imaginative Cajun eats.
Website →Commander's Palace
American Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (8,567 reviews)
Notable spot for refined Creole fare & an elegant jazz brunch in a chandelier-hung space since 1880.
Website →GW Fins
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (5,491 reviews)
Creative, ever-shifting seafood menu featuring fresh catches in a stylish updated warehouse space.
Website →Napoleon House
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (7,578 reviews)
Muffalettas, po' boys & other Creole staples in a circa-1914 house with a palm-filled courtyard.
Website →Mother's Restaurant
American Restaurant · ★ 4.2 (17,306 reviews)
Popular cafeteria-style joint drawing crowds with po' boys & down-home Southern fare since 1938.
Tours worth booking ahead
Tastebud Tours, The French Quarter's Signature Food/History & Cocktail Experiences in New Orleans
Tour Agency · ★ 5 (4,397 reviews)
Check tours & tickets →Get outside
Audubon Park
Park · ★ 4.7 (8,901 reviews)
Park with oak trees, jogging & bike paths, a lagoon, picnic shelters, tennis courts & playgrounds.
Website →Fontainebleau State Park
State Park · ★ 4.7 (4,038 reviews)
2,800-acre park on Lake Pontchartrain with a beach, nature trails, campgrounds & cabins.
Website →Fairview-Riverside State Park
Park · ★ 4.6 (903 reviews)
Waterfront park filled with cypress trees draws crowds for camping, fishing & outdoor activities.
Website →Couturie Forest
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.7 (572 reviews)
Tranquil woodlands within a city park featuring waterways, native trees & diverse birds & wildlife.
Website →Camp Salmen Nature Park
Park · ★ 4.6 (495 reviews)
Wooded park with a playground & walking trails, plus 3 pavilions & an amphitheater for events.
Website →After dark
Pat O'Brien's
Bar · ★ 4.5 (10,994 reviews)
Outdoor hangout with a flaming fountain, connected to the bar that invented hurricane cocktails.
Website →The Spotted Cat Music Club
Bar · ★ 4.7 (6,668 reviews)
Weathered bar & intimate jazz venue hosting live acts on a tiny stage for a standing-room crowd.
Website →The Carousel Bar & Lounge
Bar · ★ 4.5 (5,073 reviews)
This classic haunt at the Hotel Monteleone has a circular bar that revolves like a carousel.
Website →Bourbon Street Drinkery
Bar · ★ 4.6 (3,296 reviews)
Creative cocktails & craft beers are served in a glowing, brick-lined space with modern art.
Website →More guides
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