The Big Easy! New Orleans is such a vibrant city and an excellent option for a city break in the US. I went mainly due to flights to get to my best friend’s wedding in Florida, but turns out New Orleans is one of the most fun cities I’ve ever visited. There is a lot to see and do here – and especially, a lot to eat (and drink). New Orleans is definitely a city for foodies, so come hungry! Here’s my guide on the best spots around NOLA.

How to Get Around New Orleans

The easiest and cheapest way to get around New Orleans is by streetcar. A streetcar ride costs $1.25, or $3 for an all-day pass (cash only and have exact change). Areas like the French Quarter are easily explored on foot – you won’t want to bother driving all the one-way streets there. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft are a bit more expensive, but convenient. There is a dedicated shuttle bus from the airport, which costs $24 one-way. Bus E1 runs from the airport into downtown, which takes about 1 hour but is the cheapest option. It costs $2 (cash only and exact change), and the last stop is Canal Street and Elk Place.

What to Do in New Orleans

Wander around the French Quarter

The French Quarter is the most popular part of New Orleans. It’s the oldest part of the city, and full of beautiful architecture. I absolutely loved wandering around here in the morning, taking photos of all the gorgeous balconies and buildings! A lot of the French Quarter now is galleries, artists’ shops, and boutiques. There’s a great atmosphere here – and you’ll find plenty of amazing live music, with musicians playing right in the streets. Don’t miss Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street if you’re wanting that Big Easy buzz.

Listen to live music

New Orleans is the home of jazz and with good reason – if you’re a fan of live music, this is the best place to visit. There are so many amazing musicians in this city, and the best part is you can find them everywhere! Bands will set up on the corner of a street and you can listen as long as you like – make sure to leave a tip if you enjoy their music, and especially if you take photos or videos of the performance.

See Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral

Jackson Square is one of the main parks in New Orleans, and one of the most notable landmarks in the French Quarter. Back in 1803, it was here that Louisiana became part of the US under the Louisiana Purchase. I was lucky enough to be visiting during the French Quarter Festival, so there was a stage and live music here!

St. Louis Cathedral is right outside Jackson Square, and the oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in the country. While the first church on this site was built in 1718, most of what remains today is from the 1850s. The interior is beautiful and it’s free to go inside, so don’t miss it!

Ride a streetcar on Canal Street

Streetcars are a great way to get around New Orleans – but they’re also just a fun thing to do when you’re in the city! Riding the streetcar on Canal Street in particular is an experience you shouldn’t miss out on.

House hunt in the Garden District

The Garden District is home to an unbelievable number of beautiful, historic homes. You can walk, or take the St. Charles streetcar (number 12) here. There are several walking tours you can join here if you’re interested in learning more information about the houses and the neighborhood! Otherwise, you can just walk around and pretend you can afford a house here (lucky you if you can!).

Take a picture with the NOLA Mural

This bright and colorful mural is on the corner of Josephine Street and Magazine Street. I loved having a little photoshoot here, and look no further if you’re after some classic NOLA shots!

Shop on Magazine Street

Magazine Street, the part that’s in the Garden District, is a great place to do some shopping. There are loads of cute boutiques, vintage shops, and one-of-a-kind places here. If you’re on a budget, there’s no harm in window shopping!

Visit the National World War II Museum

If you’re a history buff or looking for an indoor activity in New Orleans, you simply have to visit the World War II Museum. I wasn’t entirely sure if it would be worth the (fairly steep) entrance price – it was. I legitimately spent 3 full hours here, and learned SO much about the war. My favorites were the exhibits about lesser-known fronts in the war: North Africa, the South Pacific, etc. There is a movie you can add onto your ticket price – I skipped this but have heard good things!

The final exhibition is in a huge hall, where you can see several planes. The best part about this section is you can go up several floors and walk along the elevated walkways, to see the planes from a different perspective!

Cruise on the Natchez Steamboat

Unfortunately I ran out of time to do this, but I wish I had gone on the Natchez Steamboat! The steamboat offers cruises with dining and jazz music, both during the day and in the evening. On Sundays, they have a brunch cruise. Make sure to book in advance!

Visit the city’s cemeteries

It might sound a bit macabre, but New Orleans is home to some remarkable cemeteries. Lafayette Cemetery, in the Garden District, is meant to be one of the coolest – unfortunately it was closed when I was there. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is another important one, which can only be visited on a guided tour (book in advance!).

Take the streetcar up Canal Street to see some of the cemeteries around Mid-City. There are some really beautiful markers and statues at Greenwood Cemetery; Metairie Cemetery is on the other side of the highway. Visit Cypress Grove Cemetery and see the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. Remember that while these are beautiful and poignant places to walk around, they are still graves and the resting places of people’s loved ones, so be a respectful visitor.

Explore City Park

City Park is one of the oldest parks in the country, and at 1300 acres it’s the largest park in New Orleans. There is simply so much to see and do here, you could spend an entire day. Two museums, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Louisiana Children’s Museum, are located in the park. I really enjoyed wandering around the Sculpture Garden, which is free to visit.

Daytrip: Swamp Tour and Oak Alley Plantation

Two of the most popular activities outside of the city are to see the swamp, and to visit a plantation. I booked a full-day combo tour through Get Your Guide. There are several plantations outside of the city – if you had a car, you could make a day and visit a bunch of them, along with a visit to a swamp. As I didn’t have a car and only had enough time for a single daytrip, I booked this tour with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours, which included pick-up (at my hostel in Mid-City) and drop-off, all transport in an air-conditioned van, the swamp tour, admission to the plantation and a guided tour of the house. It wasn’t cheap (about $100 per person), but for a full-day and all transport provided, I felt like it was worth it! Note that lunch isn’t included, so I’d recommend bringing your own.

Swamp Tour

The first part of the daytrip was about exploring a bit of the swampland around Louisiana. This was a really fun activity and I’m glad I went! We went out on a boat into Manchac Swamp, and saw loads of alligators! Our guide/boat driver was very talkative and we learned a lot about the swamp, its history, and how different animals interact.

Oak Alley Plantation

One of the real highlights from my trip to New Orleans was a visit to Oak Alley Plantation. This is a stunning plantation, well-known for its line of 28 oak trees (14 on each side) that form an alley up to the house. Some of the trees are several hundred years old! I learned a lot about the history of the owners of the plantation on the guided tour of the house. I also really recommend spending time at the slavery exhibit, which shares the (horrible) history of slaves on the plantation, both before and after emancipation.

There are several pretty gardens here, along with a shop and restaurant. They even have B&B accommodation if you were wanting to stay the night! You can book the exact tour I did below (day trip option), or look at separate tours.

 

Where to Eat in New Orleans

New Orleans is a foodie destination – you need to come hungry. I actually planned most of my trip around where I’d eat! My advice would be to be strategic, and think in advance where all you want to go. Especially if you need to make reservations!

Café du Monde and Café Beignet

Beignets are a donut-style, deep-fried pastry topped with lots of powdered sugar. There is no way you can visit New Orleans and not try some! Café du Monde is the most famous place for them in the Big Easy (the main location on Decatur Street is cash-only). But I actually think I preferred the beignets from Café Beignet more – it’s a chain so there are loads of locations all around the city.

Napolean House

For the best muffaletta in town, head to Napolean House. This is a great place to eat in a historic building that’s 200 years old, with plenty of ambience to match. The muffaletta is a sandwich, made with round Sicilian sesame bread, and filled with salami, ham, Swiss cheese, provolone, and olive salad. It’s available in quarter, half, or full-size portions here – I was starving and had the half-size here, which was huge! They don’t take reservations, so plan on walking in (and be prepared to wait if it’s super busy!).

Gumbo Shop

You can’t come to New Orleans without trying gumbo – a hearty stew, typically with meat and vegetables, served with rice. Head to the Gumbo Shop for a big variety of choices – the chicken gumbo (with Andouille sausage) is a classic. I also had jambalaya (meat and vegetables mixed with rice) here which was delicious. Pro tip: if you’re traveling with someone, get one dish each and split them in half, so you each get to try some!

Killer Po’boys

 Po’boys are sandwiches, almost always filled with meat, on a crusty bread mixed with some veg. My favorite po’boy was from Killer Po’boys – the shrimp po’boy is a classic NOLA dish, although catfish is popular here, too.

Court of the Two Sisters

I splurged on a brunch buffet at the Court of the Two Sisters, and wow! It did not disappoint! For $33 per person, there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, which includes loads of classic New Orleans dishes. I think this is a great way to try a lot of different dishes in one place – banana’s fosters, red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya, turtle soup, bread pudding… they’ve got it all. There’s also classic breakfast/brunch dishes, like scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, sausage and bacon, biscuits, etc. This is one place you should definitely make a reservation in advance (we ended up with a 2pm brunch reservation as it was one of the last options during our stay in New Orleans!).

Ruby Slipper Café

This is now a chain that isn’t just in New Orleans, but with locations all around the South. But if you’re after another brunch option, they do killer breakfast food. I don’t think you could go wrong with anything here, but I loved the biscuits and gravy!

For another fancy brunch option, check out Commander’s Palace – they have a strict dress code and it might not be cheap, but it’s an experience. Book in advance.

Dat Dog

If you’re craving something simple like a hot dog but want to mix it up, head to Dat Dog. This was one of my favorite food stops of my trip! There are a bunch of different types of hot dogs here – I loved the gator sausage dog. Don’t miss it!

Juan’s Flying Burrito

Craving some Mexican food while in New Orleans? Please go to Juan’s Flying Burrito (particularly their location on Magazine Street). Their food is top-notch and drinks (especially at happy hour) are cheap – I had the burrito of my dreams here!

French Market

The French Market in New Orleans is huge, and covers several blocks. While there are lots of vendors for shopping and souvenirs, there are plenty of food stalls too! You’ll frankly have your pick of street food here – even if you’re not hungry, it’s a great place for browsing all the food options.

I had simply so many other places recommended to me that I don’t think I can fit them all in one post! But you won’t go wrong with eating in New Orleans.

Where to Drink in New Orleans

New Orleans is definitely a party city… if you want it to be! I had so much fun here, but by no means do you need to party to have a good time. There are no open container laws here, so you can walk around with a drink in your hand – something I still think is a novelty, so enjoy it! Here are a few places I’d recommend!

Mahogany Jazz Hall

By far one of my favorite spots in New Orleans – this is an atmospheric jazz club with a vintage vibe and incredible music. My only regret is that it took me until nearly my last night in the city to discover it! It can be difficult to find a seat on busy nights, so I’d recommend looking up when the music is set to start, and getting there a bit early.

Bourbon Street

What happens in New Orleans stays in New Orleans, right?! Bourbon Street is synonymous with street party, and it’s just as fun as you imagine. Grab a drink and head up the street to do a lap first – the people watching is great here, plus there are usually street performers or musicians around too. Most of Bourbon Street is kind of sweaty-bar-sticky-floor vibes, which if you don’t mind will mean you can have a great time. Head to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop (at the top of Bourbon) for some purple drank.

Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub and Maison Bourbon are also meant to be good for music right on Bourbon. I went to several places on Bourbon that I can’t remember or wouldn’t recommend, haha – but if you have the right mindset, you’ll have a fun night here.

Hotel Monteleone (Carousel Bar)

One place I missed on my trip to New Orleans was the Hotel Monteleone! The circular Carousel Bar here (open to non-residents) rotates like a carousel and is meant to be a unique NOLA spot for drinks.

Planning Your Trip to New Orleans

New Orleans is a really popular destination in the South, so it’s definitely accessible with lots of flight options. You probably don’t need a car if you’re planning on staying in the city – you can get around with public transportation (and ridesharing) just fine. Amtrak trains have three main routes into New Orleans. You can also take a look at Greyhound for bus journeys. New Orleans has its own international airport – I use Skyscanner for booking flights. Be prepared to use cash, especially small bills, for things like public transport and the occasional restaurant/bar/café that doesn’t accept cards.

Where I Stayed in New Orleans

I stayed at three different hostels in New Orleans – mainly as I was traveling with a friend for part of it, and had an extra night after visiting Florida before flying back to the UK! Here’s a recap on where I stayed in New Orleans.

India House Hostel

This was probably my favorite hostel! It’s located in Mid-City, but there is a streetcar stop one block away – so it’s easy to get to/from downtown and the French Quarter. There was definitely a good atmosphere for meeting people, with regular events, and as a bonus they have a pool! The air conditioning worked great and it was really good value for money for a private room. There’s a big kitchen and I never needed to wait for the bathroom. My specific room didn’t have great security – only a padlock outside and a flimsy hook to look the door from the inside – which I didn’t really like, but the main door is keypad entry so there’s that.

Keep in mind that if you are staying in a dorm room, they have a strict policy: you must be either an international traveler (with an international passport), or an out-of-state student (with a valid student ID). Under these rules, I wasn’t able to stay in a dorm here, which I thought was a shame and the most restrictive/exclusive hostel policies I’ve come across out of 50-plus hostels over the years.

Book India House Hostel here!

Auberge NOLA Hostel

This is a great hostel in New Orleans, outside of downtown closer to the Garden District, but only one block from a streetcar stop. My dorm room had privacy curtains and plugs by the bed (always appreciated!), and staff were really helpful with letting me store my luggage. There wasn’t a big atmosphere the night I was there, but it’s meant to be a great place for meeting people with regular events. If you’re looking for dorm accommodation, I would say this is the best option in New Orleans (mainly due to India House Hostel’s restrictive policy).

Book Auberge NOLA Hostel here!

City House Hostel

This is the cheapest hostel in New Orleans, but with an unbeatable location right in the French Quarter. I was here for one night and didn’t have any major issues, but I didn’t think it was nice as the other two hostels I stayed at. But you get what you pay for. There is a huge kitchen, and the owner/manager was really friendly when I met her. There are no security lockers in the dorm rooms, but in the kitchen and hallway. For one night it was fine and I don’t have any major complaints – it’s good value for money. But I’d recommend staying elsewhere if you’re visiting more than one night.

Book City House Hostel here!

Booking.com

New Orleans was such a fun destination – I really had the best time. Good food, good music, and a great city break in the South. Overall, I’d recommend a minimum of 3 days, preferably 4 or 5, to really make the most of the city. Especially if you’re planning a daytrip to the swamp or a plantation. I hope this travel guide helps you planning your trip to New Orleans!

Have you been to New Orleans before? What were your favorite places?

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