Mississippi River Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Mississippi River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• French Quarter Historical Sights and Stories Walking Tour

• VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option

• New Orleans Helicopter City Tour

• New Orleans City Bike Tour

• Creole Kids Tour in New Orleans

The Mississippi River is free and easy to access from parks and trails throughout New Orleans. Steamboat river cruises start at about US$44, while walking and biking tours range from about US$30 to US$50. To see the river from above, book a sightseeing flight for around US$160.

Yes, the Mississippi River is worth visiting. Not only is it one of the largest rivers in the world, but it's also vital to New Orleans' history, environment, and culture. Whether you watch it flow from along the riverbank on a walking or biking tour or hop on board a steamboat cruise or sightseeing plane, there's no denying it's a sight to behold.

Per one customer who booked the VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option, "...We opted for the  VIP option and this did not disappoint. From our very first welcome glass of bubbles, to the moment we left the tour, Marlon could not have been more attentive. Our private tour with the captain was very interesting, and the jazz band was simply fantastic!!"

The best time of year to go on a Mississippi River cruise is either spring or fall, when temperatures are usually pleasantly warm but not sweltering. Summer is hot, humid, and can be stormy. Winter can be pleasant, too, if chilly, but expect holiday crowds.

There is a range of Mississippi cruises available, and the length of sailing can range from a couple of hours to a few weeks, depending on how much of the river you want to see—most steamboat tours departing from New Orleans last about two or three hours.

Most overnight Mississippi cruise ships departing from New Orleans leave from near the Garden District, at or near the Julia Street Cruise Terminal or the Erato Street Cruise Terminal. Shorter trips, such as dinner cruises, leave from the Steamboat Natchez dock on Toulouse Street in the French Quarter.

Yes, you should book a Mississippi River tour in advance. Doing so guarantees that you'll have a place on board and will save you the hassle of waiting in line to buy tickets before you board. If you're taking a multi-day tour, booking in advance is necessary.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Mississippi River. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in New Orleans:

• The French Quarter

• St. Louis Cathedral

• Jackson Square

• Bourbon Street

• The Garden District

View Viator's guide tov all the best attractions in New Orleans.