15 of the Top Things To Do in New Orleans

What?: New Orleans is a city surrounded by water, so it makes sense that every New Orleans travel guide recommends you explore the waterways on a boat cruise. Book a jazz dinner cruise on the iconic Steamboat Natchez to kick off your visit, and enjoy views of the city from the Mississippi River.

When?: You can find riverboat cruises pretty much any day of the week. Some are sightseeing cruises with live jazz, while others include a meal such as Sunday brunch.

What one reviewer said: "What a fun and entertaining experience! The VIP package is 100 percent worth it, skip all the lines, and our VIP concierge was outstanding. Great music, food, and drinks." Jeff_H, February 2025

What?: New Orleans is a foodie destination, so you'll want to get out and taste some of the local specialties on a food tour while you're there. Food walking tours of the French Quarter are popular, with stops at New Orleans landmarks such as the French Market that offer a glimpse of city life.

When?: Food tours are available most days of the week and typically last a few hours.

What one reviewer said: "Milton is an exceptional guide. He drew upon the fact that he was born and raised in New Orleans and is now in his 70s. He has a VERY rich family history. The food choices were VERY representative of New Orleans, and Milton helped us understand the significance and history of each offering." Alan_S, March 2025

What?: There's no shortage of spooky tales to be told about New Orleans, and the best way to learn all the macabre history is on a haunted walking tour. Ghosts, true crime, and a touch of voodoo—it's all on deck for your New Orleans itinerary.

When?: Ghost tours run most nights once the sun has gone down.

What one reviewer said: "Definitely a must-do in New Orleans! We’ve visited the city four times now and have done this tour every time and learned something new each time. The guides are so knowledgeable and entertaining, especially JuJu ... She works something in for everyone and shares a lot of information as a local." Kaitlin_C, March 2025

What?: The historic Garden District is one of the top New Orleans sightseeing areas, with gorgeous mansions and manicured gardens. A walking tour of the Garden District is a great way to learn about the area's past and see New Orleans landmarks along the way.

When?: Walking tours are available any day of the week. Plan a morning tour if you're visiting during the hot summer months.

What one reviewer said: "Great time walking and seeing the sites and homes of the Garden District. A great mix of history, architecture, nature, and pop culture ... while remaining entertaining and informative. Angie knows her stuff!" Brady_B, February 2025

What?: Louisiana has many unique dishes to enjoy, and a great way to learn about them is during a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Discover the difference between Creole and Cajun cuisine while you enjoy the fruits of your labor. Recipes for the dishes you make are the perfect souvenir to remember your time in The Big Easy.

When?: Classes are offered most days of the week, with morning and afternoon availability.

What one reviewer said: "Highly recommend this experience. Learned about the history of and differences between Cajun and Creole cooking. The hands-on experience taught us so much about preparing food from New Orleans cultures. Chef Maria made it fun." Deborah_R, February 2025

What?: You don't have to visit during Mardi Gras to learn about this colorful and vibrant celebration that takes over the city. Mardi Gras World is one of the must-see places in New Orleans, and you can tour it to see its larger-than-life floats. You might even get to watch artists at work building next year's displays.

When?: Mardi Gras World is open daily and the tour includes a shuttle service from downtown New Orleans locations.

What one reviewer said: “What a fun tour! They have a little video at the beginning explaining Mardi Gras, which was cool. Then a guide takes you through for about 20 min and explains a lot about how they make the floats and what each area is. You even get to go through a working area ... Definitely worth it!” Mara_W, December 2024

What?: New Orleans is known for its above-ground graves, a necessity due to the area's high water table. See the final resting places of notable New Orleans residents, plus hear some spooky stories during a haunted cemetery tour of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 or St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

When?: Tours are typically available throughout the day or at night for a more atmospheric experience.

What one reviewer said: "Fascinating tour of St Louis Cemetery No. 1. Zelda was our tour guide and was wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly … Highly recommended for a daytime activity to learn more about the city of New Orleans." Renee_R, March 2025

What?: For one of the best New Orleans activities, head an hour outside the city to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Here, you'll find bayou tours that range from high-speed airboat tours to mellow pontoon boat rides. You might spot turtles, snakes, alligators, and other swamp creatures.

When?: Tours usually have morning and afternoon options with a shuttle ride included.

What one reviewer said: "This was by far the best part of our trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Our tour guide Jay was so knowledgeable … He also pointed out a bald eagle and told us all about the New Orleans cemeteries. It really was so thrilling and entertaining." Stefanie_L, March 2025

What?: New Orleans boasts several signature cocktails, including the Sazerac, the French 75, and the Grasshopper. Take a cocktail walking tour to stop by a few French Quarter bars and try some drinks along the way.

When?: Tours are available throughout the week, mostly in the afternoon and evening.

What one reviewer said: "Robert was entertaining and knowledgeable. A pleasure to be with. The options of cocktails were awesome. Would definitely do it again. This was our second time doing the tour." Diane_M, September 2024

What?: Listening to a live jazz performance is one of the top things to do in New Orleans. Whether you visit a live music venue, such as Preservation Hall, or join a jazz tour of Frenchmen Street, you'll get a real taste of the city dubbed the birthplace of jazz.

When?: Most tours kick off in the early evening.

What one reviewer said: "Harris did a great job sharing his love of New Orleans and jazz. He's a fun guide—shared jazz and city stories and went out of his way to send us extra info after the tour." Elaine_S, December 2024

What?: There's no better way to see New Orleans tourist spots than on a helicopter tour above the city. Spot Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral before cruising over New Orleans City Park. It's the perfect way to celebrate a birthday or other big occasion.

When?: Tours typically are during the afternoon and early evening, but some are available at night to see the city lights.

What one reviewer said: “Heath was great! Did a thorough preflight check and startup, explained everything that he was doing. The tour was beautiful and he gave a great description of the sights in detail. Highly recommend!” Christine_C, April 2024

What?: New Orleans is known for its beignets—soft, pillowy fried dough that's covered, absolutely COVERED, in powdered sugar. On a beignet and donut tour, you don't have to battle the long lines at Café du Monde, as your tour guide will arrange everything in advance.

When?: Tours are offered throughout the day; no matter when you do it, be sure you don't have a big meal beforehand.

What one reviewer said: "Great experience! Beignets and donuts were excellent and the tour of the [Garden District] was entertaining and informative.” Scott_M, January 2025

What?: You don't have to visit the Ogden Museum of Southern Art to enjoy New Orleans' art scene. The city is full of public street art, including a mural by Banksy that you can see on a walking tour of the Bywater and St. Roch districts.

When?: Tours typically take place in the morning and afternoon—choose the morning tour to avoid the afternoon heat.

What one reviewer said: "We enjoyed the tour very much. Dave was energetic and informative. The mural art has so much history and exemplifies New Orleans culture. Dave knew all the behind-the-scenes stories, which made it fun." Karen_P, February 2025

What?: You can't visit The Big Easy without checking out the infamous Bourbon Street, one of the top attractions in New Orleans. It's typically mellow in the daytime hours, and the debauchery amps up once the sun goes down. Join a haunted pub crawl to make some new friends and learn some spooky stories along the way.

When?: Pub crawls are available in the evening most days of the week.

What one reviewer said: "We did a private haunted pub crawl. Tiny, our tour guide, was great! He had a lot of knowledge and information on the city's history. He was great and totally recommended this to anyone who likes to drink and hear about the stories." Sue_M, July 2024

What?: New Orleans is full of top-notch museums that are great options for hot or stormy days, such as the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the National World War II Museum. Book tickets for the latter in advance to enjoy its engaging interactive exhibits—a must for history buffs.

When?: The National WWII Museum is open daily with guided tours available.

What one reviewer said: This is truly a comprehensive experience about World War II … The memorabilia and news videos were beautifully done. I am not a "history buff" or a big museum person, but ... this is probably one of the best tours we have been on.” Sheila_S, January 2025