New Orleans with Kids: The Best Family Itinerary

New Orleans is fun for families, with swamps and steamboats. Here is how to spend a family trip in the Big Easy — with the best-rated kid-friendly tours to book.

At a glance

1Swamp airboat
2Steamboat cruise
3Aquarium
4French Quarter

Swamp airboat

Spot alligators in the bayou.

Steamboat cruise

Ride a paddlewheeler with jazz.

French Quarter & aquarium

Beignets and the Audubon Aquarium.

New Orleans with kids — FAQ

Is New Orleans good for kids?

Yes — swamp airboat tours with alligators, paddlewheel steamboat cruises, the Audubon Aquarium and the lively French Quarter make New Orleans fun for families.

What are the best things to do in New Orleans with children?

Top family picks are a swamp airboat tour, a steamboat river cruise, the Audubon Aquarium, and a stroll through the French Quarter for beignets.

Are swamp tours suitable for children?

Yes — covered boat tours are gentle and family-friendly, while older children often love the thrill of a faster airboat ride.

Explore more in New Orleans

French Quarter & City Swamp & Airboat Ghost, Voodoo & Cemeteries Steamboat & River Cruises Plantation Tours