Explore the French Quarter

The historic French Quarter is iconic New Orleans! Walk through the French Market to browse souvenirs, stroll along the Mississippi River, explore art galleries and shops, and sit for a while in Jackson Square.

The heart of the Quarter is the St. Louis Cathedral: dating back to 1718, it is the longest continuously operating Catholic church in the United States! The Cathedral is free to enter from 9:30AM to 4:00PM daily.

Go down the alleyway to the left of the Cathedral to see some quintessential New Orleans! Pirate’s Alley Cafe is an absinthe bar, and (a few feet from St. Louis Cathedral) is said to be the closest bar to an active church in the United States. Right next door is Faulkner House Books — a small independent book store operating in the house where William Faulkner wrote his first novel.

Turn down Chartres street to visit the Old Ursuline Convent. As the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley, this former convent, completed in 1752, is now a museum with rotating exhibits.

Visit a local museum

  • The Historic New Orleans Collection is a free museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region of the United States. With rotating exhibits, there is always something interesting to see.

  • Voodoo is an important part of the history and culture of New Orleans. This museum’s exhibits focus on mysteries, history, and folklore related to the African diaspora religion of Louisiana Voodoo.

  • The National WWII Museum is a Smithsonian-affiliated institution which focuses on the contribution made by the United States to Allied victory in WWII.

  • Located in beautiful City Park, the New Orleans Museum or Art (NOMA) has permanent and rotating exhibits, as well as a free sculpture garden to stroll through.

  • Mardi Gras World is a year-round attraction dedicated to showcasing the history and craftsmanship of New Orleans’ proudest tradition. Take a tour of the behind-the-scenes work that makes Mardi Gras a reality.

  • Not for the faint of heart, the Museum of Death displays a wide variety of art and artifacts surrounding the subject of death. From historic autopsy apparatuses to antique funeral ephemera to artwork and letters from infamous serial killers — the Museum of Death is a must-see for those interested in the morbid and macabre.

  • Since its founding in 1950, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum has been curating an extensive collection of artifacts documenting the history of pharmacy and medicine in the 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. The museum is housed in the former residence of the first licensed pharmacist in the United States.

  • Enjoy this (free!) museum and micro-distillery tour as it walks you through the history of the Sazerac cocktail, prohibition in New Orleans, and the creation of the Sazerac brand today. Includes free drink samples for those over 21. Lemonade is offered for those under 21 or anyone remaining sober.

  • The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is home to several entities: The Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC), SoFAB Research Center, Deelightful Roux School of Cooking, National Culinary Heritage Register, the Culinary Heritage Sign Gallery, The Gumbo Garden, and Nitty Grits Media Network.

Take a themed tour

Nearby swamp tours allow people to see wildlife up close and learn more about the natural landscape in the Mississippi River Valley.

New Orleans is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the world. Take a ghost tour to learn about the city’s paranormal activity or take a true crime tour to learn about the true, macabre events that have occurred throughout the centuries.

Visit a park

City Park’s 1,300 acres provides access to abundant natural and cultural resources, offering a variety of attractions including an amusement park, botanical garden, golf, tennis, museums, and boat and bike rentals. This is also a great place to try Cafe Du Monde with a shorter line!

For more than a century, people have enjoyed Audubon Park with a myriad of ancient live oaks, a tranquil 1.8-mile jogging path, a lagoon, picnic pavilions, and playgrounds.

Enjoy Frenchmen Street

Northeast of the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street is known as “the locals’ Bourbon.” Make your way over to Frenchmen street to enjoy a drink while listening to live jazz music. The Frenchmen Art Market is open daily, sporting booths from local artists who sell everything from jewelry to glass figurines.

Browse a local bookstore

  • This shop is excellent if you have a lot of time! It’s chock-full of used books from every genre.

  • This combination bookstore and coffee shop is named after writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin. It is Black-owned, and has a mission to increase literacy and book access in low-income neighborhoods.

  • Located in the French Quarter, the store is a second-hand bookshop owned by Mr. Beckham. They have a sweet, beautiful bookstore cat named Joni! If you’re lucky, she’ll follow you around while you shop.

  • Blue Cypress has both new and used books in their quaint two-story shop. They have a sweet calico cat who is always open to attention!

  • Carriage House, located behind the Milton Latter Library, is a second-hand bookstore whose proceeds go to supporting New Orleans libraries!

  • Nestled on Bayou Road, their shop features African-centered books, art, fabric, jewels and an assortment of gifts and trinkets.

  • This store is home to many limited edition and rare books. There is also art you can buy!

  • Located in the French Quarter, Dauphine Street Books has a cute little shop dog named Louie, who you may find napping on a pile of books.

  • This store is located in the house where Nobel-prize winning American author William Faulkner wrote his first novel. Be aware: they are not afraid to enforce their 6-person limit inside the store.

  • Located on historic Frenchmen Street (see above), this bookstore curates a selection that represents New Orleans — both fiction, nonfiction, and local authors can be found here.

  • This store is located in a pretty shopping center near Magazine Street. They have a bar inside if you want to browse with a drink, and a couple friendly dogs to pet!

  • Their friendly staff is always willing to help you select the perfect read from their curated hand-picked selection of books.

  • Parlour Books is small but mighty. Its main display table always features books by local authors, poets or photographers. Parlour’s mission? Promoting local artists!

  • Focused on uplifting underrepresented voices, this bookstore travels and create’s small, “pocket-sized” shops across the city to help engage the community. Check out their website for current locations!