25 Best Things to Do in New Orleans, From Streetcar Rides to Bar Crawls

Adventure awaits around every corner in the Big Easy.

With it storied history, traditions, culture, and energy, New Orleans is wildly exciting U.S. destination to visit. If you're heading to this Southern city, you want to be sure to experience its bold flavors (this one of the best food cities around), memorable sights, and spirited sounds through various events and itinerary stops.

Mardi Gras is certainly one of the most famous events on the New Orleans calendar, but the Big Easy offers more than the nearly month-long celebration. For Nathalie Jordi, co-owner of Hotel Peter & Paul, the perfect weekend in New Orleans involves the following: “Walking around the Marigny [and] Bywater [neighborhoods], a tour with Know NOLA, vintage shopping on Magazine Street, dancing behind a second-line, sitting under live oak trees at City Park, catching a jazz set at Snug Harbor, and enjoying drinks and music in the garden at Bacchanal.”

And, like the rest of the South, food is a crucial aspect of New Orleans' identity. Iconic culinary creations range from hearty gumbo to sweet, fluffy snoballs, but there are at least two menu items Jordi says you can’t leave without trying: “a muffuletta from Central Grocery and a French 75 from Chris Hannah at Jewel of the South.”

While you could spend weeks in the dynamic city and only scratch its surface, Jordi says a three-day weekend can still give first-time visitors a feel for the city. Whether you’re headed to the here for a quick trip or a leisurely extended vacation, you’ll want to check off at least a few of the 25 best things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Paddle on Bayou Saint John.

If you want to give your legs a rest while still sightseeing, make your way to Bayou Paddlesports on one of the city’s most famous waterways, Bayou Saint John. If you’re wary of the hot Louisiana sun, opt for an evening paddle, then find a live music show and a cold drink nearby afterwards.

Cycle in the Garden District.

History and architecture are prominent throughout New Orleans, but especially in the highly walkable and photogenic Garden District. Cover more ground by renting a bike, and be sure to pause a few times in order to admire the sights, including the striped awnings of Commander’s Palace, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (although it’s temporarily closed for repairs), and all of the colorful, grand homes that are here.

Have a po’ boy.

Whether you prefer yours filled with shrimp, fried oysters, or roast beef, a po’ boy is the perfect post-walking tour, pre-cocktail hour meal. All New Orleans residents have a favorite po’ boy spot, but Parkway and Domilise's are two of the best (and most authentic).

Stroll along Magazine Street.

Running parallel to the Mississippi River, Magazine Street has six miles of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars, and it plays host to various legs of Mardi Gras parades. If you’re looking for souvenirs, peruse the vintage finds at Funky Monkey or paper products at the Lionheart Prints flagship.

Ride the St. Charles Streetcar.

The St. Charles Streetcar has been running the same route for more than 150 years, making its way from the French Quarter to the Garden District. It takes about 45 minutes each way, but it’s the best way — and one of the cheapest, with single rides costing $1.25 — to see New Orleans architecture and some of the city’s more famous sites, including Audubon Park, Tulane, and Loyola Universities.

Have beignets at Café du Monde.

Yes, it’s touristy, but getting beignets and a café au lait from Café du Monde is a non-negotiable New Orleans experience. If you want to avoid crowds, skip the French Quarter location and instead visit the Café du Monde at Riverwalk Mall — it has the same menu and not the crazy lines.

Zip line across a swamp.

You’ll get a wholly unique experience and views of the skyline when you sign up for a zip line tour through the Maurepas Swamp. If you look down, you’ll likely spot alligators, snakes, turtles, and other Louisiana wildlife.

Make perfume at Tijon.

Why not commemorate your trip with a completely custom fragrance at Tijon? They say scent is one of the most powerful senses, so this souvenir will immediately transport you back to the Crescent City whenever you wear it.

Meander through a museum.

There’s a museum for every traveler and interest in New Orleans, from the National WWII Museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art to the New Orleans Jazz Museum and the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience. If you want something a bit more unusual, book a ticket for the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum or the Museum of Death.

Curate your own bar crawl.

The lack of an open container law is one of New Orleans’ most famous features, though you’ll need to be in the French Quarter to take advantage of the freedom (while being responsible, of course). Historic Royal Street is filled with cute stores, restaurants, art galleries, and bars, and grabbing a refreshing beverage as you meander up and down the street is another quintessential New Orleans experience.

Catch a show at the Spotted Cat Music Club.

Music is part of the heart and soul of New Orleans, so sit back and relax as you take in the sounds of the city. If you’ve already been to the Spotted Cat on Frenchman Street and want to try something new, try Tipitina’s, Maple Leaf Bar, Gasa Gasa, or Preservation Hall.

Visit City Park.

City Park is one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the United States, and it's home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the largest grove of live oak trees in the world. At more than 1,300 acres, this outdoor attraction has something for every type of traveler, from gondola rides and putt-putt golf to kid-friendly activities.

Enjoy a frozen drink.

The Louisiana humidity can be unbearable, especially if you’re walking around for hours on end in July. A cool drink is the trick to bearing the heat. Try a frozen daiquiri from Bevi Seafood Co. or a frozen Irish coffee from Molly’s at the Market.

Attend a festival.

This includes Mardi Gras, of course, but you can also experience New Orleans culture and entertainment by attending Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, or Bayou Boogaloo. With over 130 festivals and celebrations each year, your trip is bound to overlap with at least one of them.

Try a Snoball.

Don’t confuse a snoball (also spelled as snowball or sno-ball) with a snowcone or shaved ice. The ice of a New Orleans snoball is fluffier, and the syrups and other toppings are more evenly distributed throughout the treat. You can find snoballs across the city, but you’ll want to go to Hansen's Sno-Bliz, which opened in 1939, for a true classic.

Go on an airboat tour.

Both a change of scenery and an unforgettable experience are in store when you book a swamp tour on an airboat. Look for local wildlife, including alligators, egrets, snakes, and turtles, while you speed across bayou country.

Visit Mardi Gras World.

Can't make it to New Orleans during Mardi Gras? Not to worry, since you can get a taste of the celebration at Mardi Gras World. This attraction offers tours seven days a week and gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to design and build the incredible floats that roll down the city streets during the parades.

Explore Bourbon Street.

It’s almost always a party on Bourbon Street, the famed road in the heart of the French Quarter. After you get your fill of merriment, stop in at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar for the Voodoo Daiquiri (or the “Purple Drink”), or opt for a fine-dining experience at the famed Galatoire’s Restaurant.

Take a ghost tour.

You can find a variety of history tours in the city, but a cemetery tour is a fun way to experience the darker, more ghostly side of New Orleans. You'll likely visit above-ground tombs as you learn about burial customs, procedures, and famous New Orleans hauntings.

Enjoy the New Orleans art scene.

In a city as creative and lively as New Orleans, it should come as no surprise that the art scene is truly one of a kind. Visit JAMNOLA or Studio Be to appreciate work from a variety of local artists via immersive, rotating exhibitions.

Hang out at a great New Orleans hotel.

This city has incredible hotel options. For an elevated version of Southern hospitality, book your accommodations at iconic properties like Hotel Saint Vincent, Pontchartrain Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, or Hotel Peter and Paul. Even if you’re not spending the night, don your best outfit and head to the bar for an aperitif or digestif.

Have a Muffuletta.

The famous sandwich with ham, salami, provolone cheese, and olive dressing was developed at Central Grocery in the French Quarter. You can find the muffuletta at other restaurants, of course, but this is the original.

Visit the Cabildo Building.

Built under Spanish rule between 1795 and 1799, the Cabildo was the site of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase transfer. It’s served different purposes over the years, but since 1908, it’s been used to promote the education of Louisiana history. Today, there are a variety of exhibitions open to the public.

Eat chargrilled oysters.

You can’t leave New Orleans without trying chargrilled oysters, a menu staple in the Big Easy. Enjoy a dozen of these delicious bites at Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar, a New Orleans institution with several locations throughout the city.

Sip on a Sazerac.

Considered by many to be the world’s first cocktail, the Sazerac was created in the mid-1800s by Creole apothecary Antoine Peychaud, and it is the official cocktail of New Orleans. Opened in 2019, the Sazerac House is a museum completely dedicated to the famous cocktail — guests learn about its origins and the city’s cocktail culture, and they can try the concoction while there.

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