New Orleans Tours & Attractions

New Orleans Tours & Attractions

Attractions

Family Attractions

  • Mardi Gras World Mardi Gras World Next to Convention Center
    1380 Port of New Orleans Place
    New Orleans, LA 70130
    504-361-7821

    A tour of Mardi Gras World is truly magical.   Because Mardi Gras World is literally the place where Mardi Gras magic is made.  Nowhere else can you watch the artists of Blaine Kern Studios—the world-renowned masters of Carnival sculpture and floatbuilding—at work in their shops, weaving spells of wonder.  Walk among towering figures of fantasy.  Marvel at the skill and technology that animate mega-floats.  Acquire an insider’s appreciation of the history and traditions of Carnival.  Take home Mardi Gras memories you’ll cherish forever.

  • Audubon Zoo Audubon Zoo 6500 Magazine Street
    New Orleans, LA 70118
    504-861-2537 or 866-ITS-AZOO

      One of the country’s top-ranked zoos, Audubon Zoo offers an exotic mix of animals from around the globe, engaging natural habitats, lush gardens and resting spots, the mystical Louisiana swamp and ‘hands-on’ animal encounters. With innovative natural habitat exhibits and an animal collection ranging from the unique white alligators to the extraordinary white tigers, Audubon Zoo has become one of the Gulf South’s favorite family gathering spots. 

  • Audubon Insectarium Audubon Insectarium U.S. Customs House
    Canal Street at Decatur
    504-861-2537 or 800-774-7394

    Located in the historic U.S. Custom House on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, Audubon Insectarium will delight you with ‘up close and personal’ live insect encounters, the indelible story of the Crescent City and insects, and “Life Underground,” where you’ll be shrunk to insect size. Discover global insect customs, sample exotic insect cuisine, learn about the history of termites and the latest technologies used in pest control management.  Take in a fun animated insect film at our immersion theater, traipse through the Louisiana swamp, enjoy the tranquility of our Japanese butterfly garden and watch hundreds of winged beauties as they flit about.   

  • Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Audubon Aquarium of the Americas 1 Canal Street
    New Orleans, LA 70130
    504-861-2537 or 800-774-7394

      Walk beneath the vivid Caribbean Reef, marvel at the lush beauty of the Amazon Rainforest and journey the Mississippi River at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas where penguins, sting rays and other deep sea creatures await your visit. One of the top-five aquariums in the country featuring the largest collection of sharks and jellyfish. Don't miss our rare white gator, otters and a changing exhibits gallery. Steps away from the French Quarter and area hotels. 

  • Entergy IMAX Theatre Entergy IMAX Theatre 1 Canal Street
    New Orleans, LA 70130
    504-861-2537 or 800-774-7394

      The wonders of nature are magnified at Entergy IMAX® Theatre, where larger-than-life adventures explode with the help of the world’s most advanced motion picture technology. The theater is located next door to Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas and is one of the finest motion picture systems in the world featuring a special six-channel, multi-speaker sound system and a silver screen reaching five-and-a-half stories tall. 

Shopping

  • The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk Foot of Poydras St. at the Mississippi River 504-522-1555

    Located along the Mississippi, the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is the nation’s first downtown outlet center and opens as a vibrant waterfront destination offering upscale fashion, local culinary flavors and the revelry one would expect to find in the City of New Orleans. Save 25% to 65% every day at over 75 stores including Neiman Marcus Last Call Studio, Coach, Tommy Bahama Outlet, Kenneth Cole, The PUMA Store and many more!

  • Lakeside Shopping Center Lakeside Shopping Center 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
    Metairie, La 70002
    504-835-8000
    Shop 120 of the Louisiana's finest specialty stores, boutiques and restaurants including BRAVO!,Macy's, Dillard s, J. Crew, JC Penney, Coach, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Guess, White House/Black Market and Restoration Hardware. Lakeside is conveniently located at the intersection of Causeway North and I-10, just 15 minutes from the French Quarter.
  • The Shops at Canal Place The Shops at Canal Place 333 Canal Street
    New Orleans, LA   70130
    504-522-9200
    The Shops at Canal Place – New Orleans’ most sophisticated shopping destination. Walking distance to the French Quarter, hotels and attractions including the Convention Center, Aquarium of the Americas and Harrah’s Casino.
  • Jackson Brewery Jackson Brewery 600 Decatur St.
    New Orleans, LA   70130
    504-566-7245

    Over 110 years old, and long since the days of being a brewhouse, The Shops at Jax Brewery has endured as a great landmark in the City of New Orleans. Designed and constructed by German-born and educated architect Dietrich Einsiedel in 1891, the Brewery was the largest independent brewery in the south and the tenth largest single-plant brewery in the country. Today the building is no longer a brewery, but the view is still intoxicating.

    Drop into the monumental Shops at Jax Brewery for a taste of New Orleans history and shopping. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, The Shops at Jax Brewery offers four full floors of stores, attractions, kiosks, restaurants, bars, and cafés. Enjoy breathtaking views of historic New Orleans, and take home more than just memories.

  • French Market French Market 1008 N. Peters St.
    New Orleans, La 70116
    504-522-2621

    The French Market District encompasses six blocks on the riverside of the Lower French Quarter. The district includes over 20 unique retail shops, performance venues, restaurants, cafes, a flea market and a farmers  market. In addition to the recreational shopping opportunities and ongoing free special events, the District boasts historical monuments such as Washington Artillery Park (across from Jackson Square) and New Place de France (home of the Joan of Arc statue),  public art, scenic walkways, and convenient riverside parking.  The RTA’s red streetcars can also be taken to reach various sections of the District. The New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, located in Dutch Alley, offers free educational and musical presentations Tuesday-Saturday.  The French Market, “America’s Oldest Public Market”, has existed on the same site since 1791. What began as a Native American trading post has become a cultural and entertainment destination that hosts annual festivals and events like The Creole Tomato Festival, French Market Christmas Tree Lighting, and Boo Carré Halloween and Harvest Festival.  The recently renovated farmers market is home to a diversity of food vendors serving prepared foods as well as fresh produce stands.

Plantations

  • Oak Alley Plantation Oak Alley Plantation 3645 Louisiana 18
    Vacherie, LA 70090
    225-265-2151
    Oak Alley is truly the quintessential Southern Antebellum Plantation home. It is a massive Greek Revival home, supported by 28 columns, each 8 feet in circumference, with 15 foot high ceilings and 16 inch thick brick walls. The 13 foot wide veranda surrounds the house on all four sides, offering a splendid view, and ample shade and protection from the sun or rain. From the main entrance, two rows of 14 magnificent oak trees (now 250 years old) line the walk to the Mississippi River, a quarter mile away, hence the name "Oak Alley". 
  • Nottoway Plantation Nottoway Plantation 31025 Louisiana Hwy. 1
    White Castle, LA 70788
    225-545-2730 or 866-527-6884
    The largest of the Antebellum Plantations remaining in Louisiana, is Nottoway Plantation, located on River Road (LA 405), in White Castle, south of Baton Rouge. It was second in size and grandeur only to Belle Grove Plantation Home, which suffered a series of disasters, and finally succumbed to fire.  Nottoway was built in 1857 by John Hampden Randolph, of Virginia, who amassed a great fortune in sugar. The house has 50 rooms, which were certainly needed, as John Randolph had 11 children. It is said that Nottoway was the first Plantation Home to have a bathroom on the second floo
  • St. Joseph Plantation St. Joseph Plantation 3535 Highway 18
    Vacherie, LA 70090
    225-265-4078
    St. Joseph Plantation is one of the few fully intact sugar cane plantations in the River Parishes.  In addition to the Manor Home, we have numerous outbuildings for you to explore. These include original slave cabins, detached kitchen, blacksmith’s  shop , carpenter’s shed, and schoolhouse.  Several buildings have been moved to their present location from another part of the property, but most remain exactly where they were built.  Composed of 2500 acres (including our “sister” plantation, Felicity), our property stretches back from the Mississippi River as far as the eye can see - and beyond!  Take a walk through time as you enjoy a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the many interesting people who have called this plantation "Home." 
  • Laura Plantation Laura Plantation 2247 Highway 18
    Vacherie, LA 70090
    225-265-7690
    Laura is a little different than most of the Louisiana antebellum plantations, in that it is built in the French "Creole" style, rather than in the style of the English or American antebellum homes common throughout the area. While it has the wide veranda that most plantation homes had, the ceilings were not quite as high, and the architectural style is noticeably different.  According to Mr. Norman Marmillion, owner and manager of Laura, "Twenty five years ago, before we knew anything about Laura or her Memoirs, we wanted to save this small place. It was because of those last houses you can see in the back. We have four of the old slave cabins standing. There were once 69 cabins and people lived in those houses until 1977."
  • San Francisco Plantation San Francisco Plantation 2646 Hwy 44
    Garyville, LA   70051
    985-535-2341 or 888-322-1756
    In Garyville, La. stands the most distinctive and authentically restored 'great house' in color and design in Louisiana with five hand painted mural ceilings, faux marble and bois wood graining, and includes one of the finest collections within the U.S. Built in 1856, by Edmond Marmillion in Old Louisiana Colonial-Steamboat Gothic Style, this National Landmark offers a museum store, 1830's Slave Cabin, and1840's one-room Schoolhouse nestled under 300 year old Live Oaks. Opened daily for tours with period dressed guides sharing the French and German heritage of the family, slaves and civil war. 'Best Historic Plantation Tour in Louisiana' says E. R. Troha.  Tours begin daily at 9:30 / last tour at 4:40. Tours begin every 20 minutes daily and one of our period dressed guides will captivate your attention through a 45 minute tour of all 14 rooms of the plantation + schoolhouse + slave cabins. 
  • Destrehan Plantation Destrehan Plantation 13034 River Road
    Destrehan, LA 70047
    985-764-9315 or 877-453-2095

    Destrehan Plantation was built in 1787, originally of West Indies new orleans plantation  architecture, but later renovated to the then popular Greek Revival Style. It is the oldest documented plantation house left intact in the lower Mississippi Valley. The plantation bears the name of its builder, Jean Noel Destrehan, who acquired the estate from his father-in-law, Robin de Longy. It was here that the process of producing granulated sugar was perfected, and helped to establish sugar cane as the major crop of the area, replacing indigo. After years of neglect, restoration is now continuing. Today, the house is open for guided tours, and is available for dinner parties, wedding receptions and special events.

  • Houmas House Plantation Houmas House Plantation 40136 Highway 942
    River Road
    Darrow, Louisiana 70725
    225-473-9380

    One of the most visited Antebellum Plantation Homes near New Orleans is the Houmas House Plantation. Not only do tourists come by the busloads, but locals may make the drive to spend a couple of hours on the grounds, followed by lunch in nearby restaurants, before returning home. Houmas is a home with the architectural style that most people envision when they think of the old plantations. It was used as the filming location for the film "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charolette," starring Bette Davis.  Located in the small river community of Darrow, LA, it sits on a few acres on the Mississippi River, much smaller than the 20,000 acres that it once had. The present Houmas House was built in 1840 by Col. John Smith Preston, on land originally owned by the Houmas Indians, hence the name.

Museums

  • Louisiana State Museums Louisiana State Museums 701 & 751 Chartres Street
    New Orleans, LA 70116
    504-568-6968

    The Cabildo (A National Historic Landmark) - 701 Chartres St


    The site of the Louisiana Purchase Transfer and the flagship building of the Louisiana State Museum historical museum complex, the Cabildo was constructed in 1795-99 as the seat of the Spanish municipal government in New Orleans. The name of the governing body who met there was the "Illustrious Cabildo" or city council. Over the years, the building also served as the home of the Louisiana Supreme Court; it was here that decisions in the nationally significant Slaughterhouse and Plessy vs. Ferguson cases were handed down. It was established as the home of the Louisiana State Museum in 1911. In 1988 the Cabildo was severely damaged by fire. Over the next five years, the landmark was authentically restored using 600-year-old French timber framing technology. It reopened to the public in 1994 with a comprehensive exhibit focusing on Louisiana's early history.

    The Presbytere (A National Historic Landmark ) - 751 Chartres St.


    The Presbytere, originally called the Casa Curial (Ecclesiastical House), derives its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the residence, or presbytere, of the Capuchin monks. It was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, or Town Hall, on the other side of St. Louis Cathedral. As with the Cabildo and the Cathedral, construction was financed by philanthropist Don Andres Almonester y Roxas. The second floor, however, was not completed until 1813, when the Wardens of the Cathedral assumed responsibility for the final phase. The building initially was used for commercial purposes until 1834 when it became a courthouse. In 1847 the structure's mansard roof was added. The Presbytere was then used by the city as a courthouse until 1911 when it became part of the Louisiana State Museum.

  • New Orleans Museum of Art New Orleans Museum of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle
    City Park
    New Orleans, LA 70119
    504-658-4100

    The New Orleans Museum of Art, the city's oldest fine arts institution, has a magnificent permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects, valued in excess of $200 million. The collection, noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, African and Japanese works, continues to grow. The five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA is one of the most important sculpture installations in the United States, with 50 sculptures situated on a beautifully landscaped site amongst meandering footpaths, reflecting lagoons, Spanish moss-laden 200-year-old live oaks, mature pines, magnolias, camellias, and pedestrian bridges.

River Cruises

  • Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat NATCHEZ Toulouse St. Wharf behind JAX Brewery(French Quarter)
    New Orleans, LA 70116
    504-586-8777 or 800-233-BOAT

    See New Orleans as you can only experience from the decks of the authentic Sternwheeler Steamboat NATCHEZ! Daily two-hour Harbor Lunch Cruises at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. Dinner Jazz Cruise at 7 pm featuring the Dukes of Dixieland (reservations recommended, credit card required).

  • Creole Queen Creole Queen Canal St.Dock at Spanish Plaza 504-524-0814 or 800-445-4109
    Chalmette Battlefield River Cruise by day... View the French Quarter and the Port of New Orleans from the river as the Captain entertains you with a detailed narration of New Orleans landmarks, history, vessel information, and river lore. Disembark at the site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and tour the Chalmette Battlefield including the Malus-Beauregard House and the Chalmette Monument before the return cruise.  Dinner/Jazz Cruise when night falls... step on board and cruise into the night where the sleepless activity of America's busiest port buzzes. The sounds of a lively jazz band fill the air as you enjoy a lavish Creole buffet in elegantly appointed dining rooms.

Tours

Swamp Tours

  • Tours by Isabelle Swamp/Air Boat Tour Tours by Isabelle Swamp/Air Boat Tour HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE 504-398-0365
    Tours By Isabelle is the oldest locally owned and family run New Orleans tour company, providing first class, small scale, personalized service since 1979! 
  • Honey Island Swamp Tours Honey Island Swamp Tours Crawford Landing
    Slidell, LA
    985-641-1769
    Enjoy a trip into one of the least-altered river swamps in the country. Nearly 70,000 acres of the Honey Island Swamp is a permanently protected wildlife area. The beauty of nature surrounds you and wildlife abounds ... the guides really love the swamps, have a great sense of humor, and can answer all of your questions.
  • Cajun Pride Swamp Tours Cajun Pride Swamp Tours 110 Frenier Road
    LaPlace, LA  70069
    I-10 LaPlace Exit 209
    800-467-0758

    Cajun Pride features swamp, city and plantation tours 7 days a week and they plan their tours keeping in mind that you are on vacation! Hotel pickup is available from most New Orleans, Metairie and Kenner hotels.

  • Gray Line Swamp & Bayou Cruise Gray Line Swamp & Bayou Cruise Located at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River in the French Quarter 504-569-1401 or 800-535-7788
    Experience the timeless beauty of South Louisiana in a custom built swamp boat through part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park - Barataria Preserve. Native guides will reveal the mysteries of the swamps and bayous and the Cajun “joie de vivre.” Discover how the seafood from our bountiful waters provides a wide assortment of delectable local dishes!

    Observe the nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, raccoons, nutria, and many species of snakes. Some wildlife are more numerous during the warmer months of the year. Learn why our wetlands are disappearing due to coastal erosion and man’s efforts to correct the damage it has done and restore this vital habitat.

  • Cajun Encounters Cajun Encounters 55345 Hwy 90
    Slidell, Louisiana 70461
    HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE
    866-92-TOURS

    Take a tour operated by New Orleans natives, and experience the Honey Island Swamp with an authentic, safe, personal, and hands-on tour. Ride in a 24-passenger covered or uncovered boat (never an airboat) and get closer to wildlife with a chance to not only see and smell the swamp, but touch the flora and fauna around you. Discover a realistic view of the swamp, one of the only remaining preserved wetlands in Louisiana.

  • Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours 6601 Leo Kenner Lafitte Parkway
    Marrero, Louisiana 70072
    504-587-1719
    Journey with us by boat, Cajun-style, for a 1 hour 45 minute tour through the heart of Southern Louisiana's swamplands. Experience real-life adventure for the whole family from the comfort of our swamp boats. Tour back into our privately owned meandering bayous and take a look into the past. View moss draped cypress trees, fascinating plant life and the creatures who make their homes here.
  • Pearl River Eco Tours Pearl River Eco Tours 55050 Hwy. 90
    Slidell, LA 70461
    985-649-4200

    Experience a journey like no other into one of the least altered river swamps in the country with a Professional Native Ecological Tour Guide. Among majestic cypress trees and winding bayous lies South Louisiana's crowned jewel; the Honey Island Swamp. Journey with us as we guide you through this untouched wilderness of pristine beauty and unrivaled charm. Experience the magnificence of the wildlife in their natural surroundings.

Air Tours

  • Southern Seaplane - Save Our Coast Tour Southern Seaplane - Save Our Coast Tour #1 Coquille Dr.
    Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037
    504-394-5633
    Flying over Louisiana's wetlands for over fifty years, we have witnessed the devastating loss of one of our greatest resources. Let us tell you our story of a once lush landscape made of thriving fresh, brackish and saltwater marshes and cypress swamps.
  • Southern Seaplane - N.O. Bayou Tour Southern Seaplane - N.O. Bayou Tour #1 Coquille Dr.
    Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037
    504-394-5633
    Experience the thrill of New Orleans as you pass the French Quarter and the Superdome. View in amazement the winding Mississippi as you proceed to the beautiful bayous landing for a closer look at the abundant wildlife.
  • Southern Seaplane - Fort Pike Tour Southern Seaplane - Fort Pike Tour #1 Coquille Dr.
    Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037
    504-394-5633
    Did you know about all the civil war fortifications located in southern Louisiana? Take this exclusive tour and see civil war forts and other fortifications that protected the city during the 1700s and 1800s.
  • Southern Seaplane - Cajun Heritage Tour Southern Seaplane - Cajun Heritage Tour #1 Coquille Dr.
    Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037
    504-394-5633
    This exciting package combines all the sites of the New Orleans Bayou Tour with the addition for a swamp tour in the authentic Cajun village of Kraemer, Louisiana. After the flight you'll hop on a boat for a quiet ride into the heart of Louisiana swampland. Get close to wildlife common to this are while learning the intricacies of Cajun life in the swamp

French Quarter Tours

  • New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours Meeting point is 941 Decatur St. in the French Quarter (504) 503-0199
  • Royal Carriages Royal Carriages 1824 North Rampart Street
    New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
    504-943-8820

    Old world ambiance, history, architecture and jazz ... Experience the sights and sounds of the colorful French Quarter as our quaint mule-drawn carriages take you back in time to another era. Our courteous and informative guides will escort you past many landmarks of New Orleans' heritage, including courtyards and iron-laced balconies, famous restaurants and galleries, Bourbon Street and the mighty Mississippi River .. and, of course, legendary Jackson Square. Royal Carriages is conveniently located on Decatur Street at Jackson Square and on the corner of St. Louis and Royal Streets.  Major credit cards are accepted.

City Tours

  • Cajun Encounters City & Cemetery Tour Cajun Encounters City & Cemetery Tour HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE 866-92-TOURS

    Tour begins at the birthplace of New Orleans, the French Quarter and then we’ll take you down creole Esplanade Avenue to the City of the Dead.  City Park and its dueling oaks are our next stop.  From there we head to the “American Sector”, the New Orleans Garden District. Final leg of tour includes the Warehouse & Arts District.

  • Gray Line of New Orleans - Super City Tour Gray Line of New Orleans - Super City Tour Located at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River in the French Quarter 504-569-1401 or 800-535-7786

    Travel through three centuries of history, legends and romance as you encounter "The City That Care Forgot!".

  • City Sightseeing New Orleans City Sightseeing New Orleans 101 Burgundy Street
    New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
    504-636-1029
    City Sightseeing New Orleans is the most entertaining, informative, and flexible City Tour you can find that offers transportation approximately every 30 minutes on an exhilarating open-top, double-decker bus. Visit many popular attractions across town and enjoy the convenient service to visitors staying in any area of the city!
     
    We know that sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation! Well, the greatest part of City Sightseeing New Orleans is that by using our unique and fun transportation, you will always have the chance to save your energy on the way to the best museums, most historic sites, fascinating art galleries, and most of all, the endless shopping!

     
  • Tours By Isabelle Tours By Isabelle HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE 504-398-0365
    Tours By Isabelle is the oldest locally owned and family run New Orleans tour company, providing first class, small scale, personalized service since 1979! 

Plantation Tours

  • Tours by Isabelle Plantation Tours Tours by Isabelle Plantation Tours HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE 504-398-0365
    Tours By Isabelle is the oldest locally owned and family run New Orleans tour company, providing first class, small scale, personalized service since 1979! 
  • Gray Line of New Orleans - Oak Alley Plantation Tour Gray Line of New Orleans - Oak Alley Plantation Tour Located at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River in the French Quarter 504-569-1401 or 800-535-7788

    Experience a bygone era in one of the South's most beautiful settings -- Oak Alley Plantation, built in 1839.  Marvel at the quarter mile alley of 28 Oaks, each over 250 yrs old.

  • Cajun Encounters Plantation Tour Cajun Encounters Plantation Tour HOTEL PICK UP SERVICE 866-92-TOURS

    Spend the day along the old Mississippi River Road, visiting Louisiana’s most famous plantations. With Cajun Encounters you will journey down the historic River Road Region as you make your way to these historic landmarks. On this tour, you will see the grandeur and diversity of New Orleans by visiting Oak Alley and Laura Plantations.

Recreation

Golf

Fishing

  • Southern Seaplane - Guided Fishing Southern Seaplane - Guided Fishing #1 Coquille Dr.
    Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037
    504-779-5188
    Let one of our experienced fishing guides fly your party out to the beautiful Louisiana barrier islands for a day of surf fishing. Just forty-five minutes after you lift off from our facility at Belle Chasse, you’ll arrive at the unspoiled islands off the coast of Louisiana where big redfish and yellow mouth trout are waiting. Enjoy up to five hours of fishing in unspoiled surroundings then just board the plane for a relaxing forty-five minute flight back to Belle Chasse.

Parks

  • Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park 6588 Barataria Blvd.
    Marrero, Louisiana
    504-589-2330
     
  • Bayou Segnette State Park Bayou Segnette State Park 7777 Westbank Expressway
    Westwego, LA 70094
    504-736-7140 or 888-677-2296
     
  • New Orleans City Park New Orleans City Park 1 Palm Drive
    New Orleans, LA  70124
    504-482-4888

    City Park is distinguished by its large menu of sports and recreational activities, attractions for children, and its natural beauty. City Park has a special place in the hearts of generations of New Orleanians and is a must visit for visitors to the city. A popular place to picnic, play a favorite sport, wander through its gardens or take a boat ride, the park hosts 11 million visitors each year. It is located in the heart of the city and is the largest recreation area for the entire metropolitan area.  City Park's attractions include the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Storyland fairytale playground, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park delight visitors of all ages. In addition, several facilities are available to host any public or private event from a formal wedding to a casual picnic, a concert to a business meeting. The hundreds of acres of park land provide enjoyment for young children playing on our playgrounds and walkers, joggers, and bicyclists winding through the park's streets and trails.

  • Lafreniere Park Lafreniere Park 3000 Downs Blvd.
    Metairie, LA 70003
    504-838-4389
  • Audubon Park Audubon Park 6500 Magazine St.
    New Orleans, LA 
    Audubon Park can be found tucked away in the densely populated neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans, six miles from Downtown New Orleans. Here visitors can find a quiet place in a beautiful park setting away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Visitors are welcome to enjoy picnics, bird watching, relaxing, walking, running, cycling and special events during the Park’s operating hours of 5:00am-10:00pm. Dogs are welcome to take part in the fun, but please remember to keep them on a leash. The Park features numerous live oak trees, lagoons, expansive green space and a 1.8 mile paved jogging track.

The Arts

Galleries & Art Museums

  • New Orleans Museum of Art New Orleans Museum of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle
    City Park
    New Orleans, LA  70119
    504-658-4100
    The New Orleans Museum of Art, the city's oldest fine arts institution, has a magnificent permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects, valued in excess of $200 million. The collection, noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, African and Japanese works, continues to grow. The five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA is one of the most important sculpture installations in the United States, with 50 sculptures situated on a beautifully landscaped site amongst meandering footpaths, reflecting lagoons, Spanish moss-laden 200-year-old live oaks, mature pines, magnolias, camellias, and pedestrian bridges.
  • The Ogden Museum of Southern Art The Ogden Museum of Southern Art The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
    925 Camp Street
    New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
    504-539-9650
    The Museum's holdings include Southern artworks from Washington, D.C. and 15 Southern states spanning the 18th-21st centuries, and include paintings, prints, watercolors, photographs, ceramics, sculpture, crafts and design.
    Collections include The Roger H. Ogden Collection,The Andrews-Humphrey Collection, The Michael Brown and Linda Green Collection, The Mary Lee Eggart Collection,The Sonia and Isaac Luski Collection,and The Will Henry Stevens Collection.

Performing Arts

Festivals & Events

Festivals

  • Christmas In New Orleans Christmas In New Orleans New Orleans/French Quarter
    December
    504-522-5730
    Make plans now to spend an unforgettable Christmas in New Orleans. Exquisite sights, wonderful Creole food, attractive hotel rates, and jazz concerts abound. It's all here during Christmas New Orleans Style, a month-long celebration that offers long-treasured Creole traditions spiced with 21st-century fun.  New Orleans celebrates the holiday season like no other place. Many of New Orleans' finest restaurants feature special, elegant Reveillon dinners, consisting of four and five course prix fixe menus. Start the season off right by finding the perfect gifts for family and friends – you might even find a little something for yourself too. Christmas Shopping in New Orleans is an absolute treat –especially since New Orleans was recently voted the best place for antique and vintage shopping! Tour the magnificent Celebration in the Oaks at City Park, a festive display of nearly two million lights decorating one-hundred-year-old oak trees. Ride a horse-drawn carriage through the park or travel by foot or car. Don't miss “Caroling in Jackson Square” where each caroler is given a song sheet and a lit candle, so join the crowd and sing along to your favorite carols.  Literally hundreds of special events, free music concerts, culinary and cultural happenings, and so much more.
  • Essence Music Festival Essence Music Festival Essence Music Festival
    When Essence magazine searched for a home for an annual music festival to sponsor, they naturally fell on New Orleans. As the birthplace of jazz and one of the cradles of rock & roll, rhythm & blues, rap and other musical genres rooted in African American culture and tradition, what better place could there be for a large-scale musical event than the Crescent City.
    EssenceFest has been the highlight of New Orleans summer music scene, and one of the city’s top five annual drawing cards. Many of the top-sellers in the African American – and crossover – music scene have been drawn to the fest like moths to a flame. It has become a “must” for stars making the rounds on the touring circuit. EssenceFest also gives African American artists, writers, craftsmen, culinary artists, businesspeople and others a chance to show and sell their wares. Streets in the Central Business District temporarily become outdoor markets, with booths featuring art, books, food, business, educational information and more. Also, at the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center, the Essence Marketplace features a distinctive exhibit of quality fine art and fine crafts reflective of the rich cultural heritage developed throughout the African Diaspora. Inspirational and business-related seminars, aimed at empowering African American men and women, are also held concurrent with the Fest.
  • New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans Fairgrounds
    1751 Gentilly Blvd.
    The New Orleans "Jazz Fest" is the celebration of the unique culture and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. Featuring an endless amount of music, succulent local and regional delicacies, one-of-a-kind handmade arts and crafts, second line parades and so much more — there is something for everyone at Jazz Fest!  With 12 stages of soul-stirring music—jazz, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, blues, R&B, rock, funk, African, Latin, Caribbean, folk, and much more—the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a singular celebration. The event has showcased most of the great artists of New Orleans and Louisiana of the last half century and has always blended in a wide mix of internationally renowned guests.
  • The Voodoo Experience The Voodoo Experience City Park
    Last weekend of October
    Halloween, New Orleans and V00D00 EXPERIENCE in New Orleans City Park –what could make for a better weekend?    The three-day VOODOO EXPERIENCE will once again celebrate music, as well as New Orleans' bohemian culture, arts and cuisine. Throughout the years, the VOODOO EXPERIENCE has brought together a collection of talent that has bridged the social, economic and generational gaps by creating a unique event with a commitment to every genre of music while at the same time celebrating the sounds of the region. Three distinct performance areas–Le Ritual, Le Flambeau and Le Carnival–and eight stages each highlight a unique side of the personality of New Orleans.  Set in historic City Park, amidst lush lagoons, bayous and one of the largest collections of mature oak trees in the world–all in the shadow of the New Orleans Museum of Art and just minutes from the French Quarter and Central Business District–this festive New Orleans celebration is steeped in the city's culture and influences.

     
  • French Quarter Festival French Quarter Festival French Quarter 504-522-5730
    Voted ‘Best Festival’, as well as ‘Best Event Open to the Public’, the French Quarter Festival celebrates 27 years of showcasing the finest music, food and culture this uniquely New Orleans event has to offer. The award-winning festival is a favorite of locals and tourists alike and is the largest free music festival in the South. It is a Top 20 Destination according to AAA and the Southeast Tourism Society. Over 18 stages in prime locations throughout the French Quarter present over 250 hours of the best music New Orleans has to offer with 450 musicians representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to rhythm & blues and New Orleans funk, to brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, classical and international music.  More than 70 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint will feature authentic local cuisine from the area’s finest restaurants.
  • Satchmo Summer Fest Satchmo Summer Fest Old US Mint at Barracks St. & Esplanade Ave. 504-522-5730
    Satchmo SummerFest started out to be a one-time salute in 2001 to commemorate Louis Armstrong's 100th anniversary and reaffirm his vital role in the development of American musical culture. However, the festival that year succeeded so well that the city and the festival’s sponsor, French Quarter Festivals, Inc., decided to make it an annual event. Satchmo SummerFest has evolved into what one visiting music writer called “a mini-JazzFest.” With three days of outdoor concerts, music history seminars, jazz exhibits, a jazz mass, a second-line parade and plenty of local food delicacies and drinks, the festival has become a travelers’, as well as a local, favorite. Nearly all of the participating musicians are New Orleans-based. 

Events

  • Allstate Sugar Bowl Allstate Sugar Bowl Louisiana Superdome
    1500 Sugar Bowl Drive
    New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
    504-828-2440
    The Allstate Sugar Bowl, born in the depths of the Great Depression, has survived many difficulties, including a World War and a devastating hurricane, and still ranks as one of the most uniquely successful amateur athletic achievements in the history of American sports.  Behind the Sugar Bowl is a story of community spirit and initiative that has been instrumental in spreading the name and fame of New Orleans worldwide.  Colonel James M. Thompson, publisher of The New Orleans Item, and sports editor Fred Digby first presented the idea of a New Year's Day football classic in New Orleans in 1927.
    The Sugar Bowl is comprised of more than 100 male and female volunteer members whose sole purpose is to sponsor and promote amateur sporting events as well as to foster revenue to spark economic growth in the city of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana.