Top New Orleans Attractions & Museums

Step into the captivating realm of illusions, where reality is never exactly as it appears. Museum of Illusions is a one-of-a-kind, visual, sensory, and educational experience designed to engage your sense of wonder and challenge perceptions through the science behind optical illusions. We offer over 50 immersive, hands-on exhibits to explore. Our illusion rooms, installations and holograms let you defy gravity, grow and shrink your body, walk into a life-size kaleidoscope, and play tricks on your senses at every turn. It’s a mind-bending journey that deceives the senses and reveals how the brain interprets reality.

Take a peek beneath the surface with a visit to the reimagined, state-of-the-art Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium in New Orleans. Marvel at more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species in an AZA-accredited aquarium voted one of the top five aquariums in the USA Today 10 Best reader poll. Explore a vast underwater world spanning the Caribbean and the Amazon Rainforest to the waters that give New Orleans its lifeblood: the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Touch sharks and stingrays in the Shark Discovery Touch Pool, and enter a 30-foot-long tunnel to admire aquatic creatures of all shapes and sizes as they swim through the Great Maya Reef habitat. In the Amazon Rainforest gallery, discover lush plant life, free-flying birds, stunning aquatic species such as piranhas and pacus, an anaconda snake, and much more. Feel amazed by the array of aquatic life in the aquarium’s largest exhibit, the 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat.

Set on a sprawling 6-acre (2.5-hectare) campus in downtown New Orleans, the National World War II Museum is the official United States museum of World War II and a must for any visiting history buffs. This ticket package includes timed entry to the groundbreaking 4D *Beyond All Boundaries* film narrated by Tom Hanks, with vibrating seats, atmospheric effects, and more: pick your desired screening time and arrive beforehand.

Guarantee your entry to New Orleans' Storyville Museum by securing your tickets ahead of time. Conveniently located in the French Quarter, the museum dives into the history behind Storyville, the city's Red-Light District known for music, entertainment, gambling and prostitution in the early 1900s. Explore immersive exhibits, artifacts, and more at your own pace.

Enjoy stunning and Iconic collections in world class accredited facilities, set aside the famous Mississippi river in both Uptown and Downtown New Orleans. Set aside the time to connect with the wonders of nature in these celebrated local favorite attraction as an oasis of inspiring animals and lush tropical scenery.

Enjoy an only-in-New-Orleans experience when you embark on a paddle-wheel boat tour of the mighty Mississippi River. In the evening, hop aboard the Steamboat Natchez or her sister vessel, the Riverboat City of New Orleans, and admire views of the city from the water's edge. This cost-saving package additionally includes a Creole‐inspired dinner (if option selected), plus live jazz music to set the mood.

Maximize your New Orleans experience with a convenient digital pass that offers entry to over 25 top attractions in the area, including the National WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, and more. Get skip-the-line for many of the attractions, and choose from different pass durations to fit the length of your stay. Enjoy flexible exploration of the city's rich culture and history.

Discover a different side of New Orleans–and learn about wildlife you can’t spot anywhere else–with a ticket to the city’s famous Audubon Zoo, including the option to upgrade to include access to the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium located downtown. See endangered species including whooping cranes and Amur leopards, watch animal care demonstrations, and learn facts about the over 1,700 animals who live here.

This restored French Quarter home built in 1831, includes a Federalist architectural façade, original operating open-hearth kitchen, urban slave quarters, and expansive courtyard. The Urban Enslavement Tour at Hermann-Grima House, looks at the experiences of those who were enslaved in an urban setting, how that differed from those enslaved in rural settings, and how the contributions of people of African descent have shaped New Orleans. Condé Nast Traveler voted it one of the best tours in New Orleans and the only tour listed from a museum. We believe that nothing tells a story like a home. In addition, the property’s 19th-century carriage house is home to the The Exchange Shop, originally founded in the 1881 by The Woman’s Exchange and one of the oldest women-led non-profits in the South.

If you're looking for no-holds-barred frights in New Orleans, explore the city’s dark history on this adults-only tour. Set off after nightfall to discover a new perspective on the city, and steel yourself for gruesome tales and fearsome encounters: Your guide saves the most grisly true-crime stories, voodoo legends, and paranormal frights for this tour, and takes you past the French Quarter's most supposedly haunted locations.

Visit the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley, where New Orleans’ rich past comes to life. Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, this iconic landmark reveals the enduring influence of the Catholic Church through captivating permanent and temporary exhibits. Delve into our newest exhibit featuring Pope Leo XIV. The fascinating legacy of Pope Leo XIV, whose ancestral ties to New Orleans run deep—traced through his maternal lineage, connecting him to the city’s vibrant history. Discover the remarkable contributions of the Ursuline nuns, pioneers in education and community service who helped shape the region. From its days as a meeting place for the Louisiana Legislature to its role as the residence of the Archbishops of New Orleans, this historic site has witnessed centuries of change. Explore the stories that unfolded within these walls—from 1752 to the present day—and immerse yourself in the culture that defines the Crescent City.

The American South has a fascinating Jewish history that most New Orleans visitors (and locals) know little about. Gain a better understanding of the struggles and successes of the Jewish community from the Revolutionary War era through the Civil Rights Movement years at the unique Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience. Book your ticket in advance to optimize your time and explore the permanent galleries and rotating special exhibitions at this award-winning museum.

Learn about four generations of Creole history at the Laura Plantation during a tour of this well-preserved estate. Located roughly an hour from New Orleans, Laura Plantation provides a vivid window into Louisiana's past. Learn about the family and enslaved people who lived here during a guided tour of the manor house, slave quarters, and gardens.

Discover historic New Orleans in an open‐top double‐decker bus on this hop‐on hop‐off sightseeing tour. With your 1-day ticket, design a personal itinerary with multiple stops, including the French Market, Jackson Square, and the Garden District. Enjoy unobstructed views and fun onboard commentary as you soak up The Big Easy.

Gain a deeper understanding of American history–and discover a popular filming location–on this visit to the Felicity Plantation, including a guided tour inside, access to its grounds, and those of the neighboring St. Joseph Plantation too. Learn about the legacy of enslaved people, step inside preserved cabins, and view exhibits related to agricultural history. Hear stories and insights from local guides along the way.

In a city known for its rich culture and layered history, the BK House stands out as one of the French Quarter’s oldest—and most storied—residents. Built in 1826 and located on a quiet residential block, this house has lived through nearly 200 years of change, from antebellum opulence to wartime struggles, from immigrant resilience to modern preservation. Join us for a guided tour through elegant rooms, hidden corners, and a lush courtyard, and hear the real stories of the people who lived and labored here—enslaved people, free people of color, Sicilian immigrants, and others who helped shape the house and the city around it. ️ Walk through nearly two centuries of New Orleans history Hear French Quarter stories you won’t get anywhere else Experience the house as a witness to the city’s evolving cultural landscape ✔️ Small group tours ✔️ Family-friendly ✔️ Air-conditioned ️ Book now—tours fill fast, especially on weekends!

Be enchanted by the historic and iconic French Quarter on this guided small-group walking tour that reveals the area’s past, superstition, and individuality. Your passionate guide will show you what life was like in the past and provide you with access to the Pontalba Apartments of 1850 House Museum.

Visit a real Louisiana sugar plantation that's off the radar of most New Orleans visitors. St. Joseph’s Plantation was sold after the Civil War and has remained in the same family ever since. It's now used as a living museum, and has been featured in many TV shows and films. Explore the well-preserved main house on a guided tour, and learn about the free and enslaved people who have lived here throughout its long history.

Gain insight into American history–and visit two important landmarks in one day–on this tour of Louisiana’s St. Joseph and Felicity Plantations. Learn about the legacy of enslaved people while seeing inside original plantation houses, visiting their outbuildings, and taking in exhibits at a museum with documents and objects relating to the sugarcane industry. Along the way, look out for locations that have been used to film movies.

Enter the exceptional and private sanctuary of ICONS. The world's only art museum dedicated exclusively to the greatest modern icons. The private tours, carried out by the artist himself, makes for one of the most unique and fascinating art experiences available anywhere.

Get a glimpse into the history and life along the Mighty Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Experience one-of-a-kind pieces such as Napoleon's Death Mask, Lincoln's life mask, a 1916 Rex costume, crowns and jewelry, the original Mr. Bingle, the only 35-star American flag, sugar cane carriages and equipment, and the original Mardi Gras Indian costume. Visit original oil paintings of the local landscape, steamboat paintings, and portraits of the plantation owners in the area. Explore the history of the Louisiana Purchase, the Battle of New Orleans, and the Civil War. This 30,000-square-foot museum also offers a buffet for breakfast and lunch for an additional $25, available to purchase on site. Located beside Houmas House Estate and Gardens!

Maximize your trip with a 2-in-1 combo of a New Orleans city tour and Oak Alley Plantation excursion—with transportation, hotel pickup, and logistics done by someone else. Experience a guided cultural tour of New Orleans before heading to Oak Alley Plantation to learn about what life was like on a plantation, for enslavers and the enslaved. Comprehend how slavery shaped the Crescent City and contributed to its vibrant and distinct culture.

Immerse yourself in New Orleans’ vibrant art scene and see things most tourists don’t experience. Visit galleries and see colorful murals and street art, plus meet artists in their studios on this private, customized tour. You’ll see Banksy’s Rain Girl, visit curated galleries on Magazine Street, and explore the art scenes of Warehouse District and the French Quarter, stopping for an included lunch along the way.