New Orleans
The most unique city in America — a blend of French, Spanish, and African cultures that produced jazz, Mardi Gras, and the world's greatest culinary tradition. The French Quarter is endlessly explorable.
Things to do in New Orleans
Tour a New Orleans
200 tour · prices per person, book with partner
No American city sounds, tastes or feels like New Orleans. A melting pot of French, Spanish, African and Caribbean cultures gave birth to jazz, to Creole and Cajun cooking, and to the wildest street party in the country. The Big Easy runs on music, food and a deep sense of its own history.
Top Things to Do in New Orleans
The French Quarter is the historic core — wrought-iron balconies, courtyard restaurants and live music spilling from every other doorway on Frenchmen Street. Dig into the city's past on a guided history or cemetery tour, and don't miss the powerful museums of the Garden District and beyond.
Venture out into the bayous on a swamp tour to spot alligators, take a paddle-wheeler down the Mississippi, and eat everything — gumbo, jambalaya, beignets and po'boys.
Tours Worth Booking
- French Quarter history and food walking tours
- Swamp and bayou airboat tours
- Ghost, vampire and cemetery evening tours
- Steamboat jazz cruises on the Mississippi
Best Time to Visit
February to May brings warm, pleasant weather and the biggest celebrations, including Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. Summer is hot, humid and prone to storms; autumn cools down nicely. Book well ahead if you're visiting during Mardi Gras, when the city fills to capacity.
Getting Around
The French Quarter and neighbouring areas are very walkable, and the historic streetcars are a charming, cheap way to reach the Garden District and beyond. Ride-hailing apps cover everywhere else; a car isn't needed for a city-focused visit.