Your complete guide to New Orleans
Verified itineraries, honest advice, and no-fluff tips on the French Quarter, the plantations of River Road, and day trips across bayou country and greater New Orleans, from the Garden District to Frenchmen Street.
Top-rated activities in New Orleans
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Top destinations in and around New Orleans
From the French Quarter and the Garden District to the plantations of River Road and the swamps of bayou country.
French Quarter: A First-Time Visitor's Guide
The French Quarter is New Orleans' historic core, not the whole city. Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, Royal Street and beignets, walked, not driven.
Garden District: St Charles Streetcar, Mansions and Lafayette Cemetery
Antebellum mansions under live oaks, the historic St Charles streetcar and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 — a walking guide to the Garden District.
River Road Plantations
The 100 km levee road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, its plantation museums, and the history of slavery they now confront directly.
Honey Island Swamp
Cypress swamp on the Pearl River near Slidell, east of New Orleans: alligators, herons, boat tours and honest travel times.
Cajun Country: Lafayette, Breaux Bridge and Acadiana
Lafayette, Breaux Bridge and Avery Island: a full-day guide to Cajun Louisiana, 2h15 west of New Orleans, and why Cajun is not Creole.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast: A Beach Day Trip from New Orleans
Bay St Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport and Biloxi: the beach and casino coast an hour east of New Orleans, in Mississippi, not Louisiana.
Things to do in New Orleans
Live jazz on Frenchmen Street, cemetery and ghost tours in the French Quarter, swamp tours in bayou country, and plantation visits along River Road — the best things to do in New Orleans.
Swamp and bayou tours
Airboat and pontoon trips into the wetlands around Lafitte, Slidell and the Barataria Preserve to see alligators, egrets and cypress swamp.
Plantation tours
Guided visits to River Road plantations such as Oak Alley, Laura and Whitney, sites of history that center enslaved people's lives and labor.
Jazz, music and nightlife
Live music venues and guided nights out along Frenchmen Street and through the jazz history of Tremé and the French Quarter.
Food and drink tours
Guided tastings and walking tours covering Creole cuisine, po'boys, beignets and cocktails across the French Quarter and beyond.
Essential travel guides
Our most popular guides to help you prepare.
Things to Do in New Orleans: A First Orientation
An orientation to New Orleans: its layout, neighborhoods and character, before you head into the French Quarter or Garden District in detail.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans
New Orleans by season: humid summers, mild-to-cold winters, hurricane risk, and when Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest actually fall.
Where to Stay in New Orleans
Compare New Orleans neighbourhoods for where to stay: French Quarter, Garden District, CBD, Marigny, plus MSY airport and parking realities.
New Orleans for First-Time Visitors
A first-timer's orientation to New Orleans: where it is, getting in from the airport, the key neighbourhoods, and when to go.
New Orleans Cemeteries: A Visitor's Guide to St Louis No. 1 and Lafayette No. 1
How to actually visit New Orleans' historic cemeteries: guided-only access at St Louis No. 1, self-guided Lafayette No. 1, hours, tours and rules.
Live Jazz in New Orleans: A Nightly Guide
How to pick a jazz night in New Orleans by neighbourhood and mood, from Frenchmen Street to brass bands and beyond.
Suggested itineraries
Tested routes to make the most of your time.
One Day in New Orleans: The French Quarter on Foot
A single, walkable day through the French Quarter: Jackson Square, Royal Street, Café du Monde and the French Market, no car needed.
Three Days in New Orleans: The Full City, No Car Needed
A three-day New Orleans itinerary that adds Tremé, Frenchmen Street and the WWII Museum to the Quarter and Garden District, all on foot and streetcar.
Five Days: City, Swamp and River Road
A 5-day New Orleans itinerary with a car: French Quarter, Honey Island Swamp east, and the full River Road plantation route west.
Why trust New Orleans Trip?
Every recommendation is based on verified information and honest, hands-on research. Our guides include real prices in US dollars, practical tips and straight advice — not sponsored rankings. When you book through our links, you pay the same price and we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.