New Orleans Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

New Orleans
French Quarter featuring a city, heritage architecture and street scenes
New Orleans
New Orleans
New Orleans

New Orleans Travel Guide Video

Listen to jazz at its best, eat spicy Creole food and dress in costume for parades and festivities during Mardi Gras in this fascinating southern U.S. city.

Visit New Orleans during spring Carnival season for one of the world’s most exuberant Mardi Gras celebrations. Explore this exciting city in any season to enjoy its music and signature foods.

The “Big Easy” has more than 80 music clubs. Walk along the streets of the French Quarter to listen to jazz and other genres in the birthplace of music greats Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Harry Connick, Jr. and Wynton Marsalis. Preservation Hall offers intimate acoustic concerts more than 350 nights a year. Find a zydeco dance club and shimmy to the sounds of accordions and washboards.

In the restaurants around Jackson Square sample the city’s distinctive dishes, including spicy jambalaya, catfish po’boys, blackened Cajun specialties, sugar-covered beignets and sweet tea. Look up at the three spires of the St. Louis Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Church standing where worshippers have gathered since 1727. Next door, the Cabildo museum provides a look at important pieces of the history of New Orleans and Louisiana. Tour the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and its Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Gardenin New Orlean’s City Park.

For a glimpse of the country’s past, visit the National World War II Museum. Listen to oral histories, see life-size photographs and inspect recovered artifacts. View tombs of local families at the gothic Lafayette Cemetery, established in 1833.

Have outdoor fun with boating or fishing on Lake Pontchartrain and indoor fun watching the New Orleans Saints playing football in the Superdome. See the exotic animals at the Audubon Zoo and watch colorful butterflies in its Butterfly Park.

Watch floats being made at Mardi Gras World overlooking the wide Mississippi River. Leading up to Easter every year, individual krewes of New Orleans stage more than 50 parades and concerts over several weeks in celebration of Mardi Gras. Put on a colorful costume and catch some beads thrown from floats to join the Carnival fun in the exciting city of New Orleans.

Where to stay in New Orleans

French Quarter featuring a city, heritage architecture and street scenes

French Quarter

4.5/5(151 area reviews)

Known for its fantastic nightlife and great live music, there's plenty to explore in French Quarter. Check out top attractions like Bourbon Street and Canal Street, and jump on the metro at Dumaine St Station or Ursulines Ave Stop to see more of the city.

French Quarter
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New Orleans Central Business District

4/5(98 area reviews)

Known for its fantastic nightlife and great live music, there's plenty to explore in New Orleans Central Business District. Check out top attractions like Canal Street and Caesars Superdome, and jump on the metro at Carondelet at Poydras Stop or Poydras Street Stop to see more of the city.

New Orleans Central Business District
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Arts/Warehouse District

4/5(6 area reviews)

Known for its abundant dining options and interesting museums, there's plenty to explore in Arts/Warehouse District. Top attractions like National World War II Museum and The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk are major draws, and you can catch the metro at St. Charles at Julia Stop or Saint Charles at Saint Joseph Stop to see more of the city.

Arts/Warehouse District
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Garden District

5/5(2 area reviews)

Unique features of Garden District include the gardens and restaurants. Make a stop by Lafayette Cemetery or Magazine Street while you're exploring the area.

Garden District
Mardi Gras World featuring interior views and art as well as an individual female

Lower Garden District

4/5(13 area reviews)

Travellers love Lower Garden District for its beautiful gardens, and you can see more of New Orleans by jumping on the metro at St. Charles at St. Andrew Stop or St. Charles at Josephine Stop. You might spend time checking out top sights like Port of New Orleans and National World War II Museum.

Lower Garden District
St Louis Cemetery which includes heritage elements

Mid-City District

If you're spending time in Mid-City District, check out sights like Fair Grounds Race Course or Mahalia Jackson Theater and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Canal at White Stop or Canal at Salcedo Stop.

Mid-City District
Hyatt Centric French Quarter

Hyatt Centric French Quarter

4 out of 5
800 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA
The price is ฿3,570 per night from 18 Aug to 19 Aug
฿3,570
฿5,184 total
18 Aug - 19 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 3 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,698 reviews)
"It was a very nice hotel!"

Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025

Hyatt Centric French Quarter
New Orleans Marriott

New Orleans Marriott

4 out of 5
555 Canal St, New Orleans, LA
The price is ฿3,406 per night from 21 Aug to 22 Aug
฿3,406
฿5,017 total
21 Aug - 22 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,662 reviews)
"The staff was great and housekeeping was great w/cleaning the room and regularly replenishing bathroom w/clean towels."

Reviewed on 29 Jul 2025

New Orleans Marriott
Bourbon Orleans Hotel

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

4 out of 5
717 Orleans St., New Orleans, LA
The price is ฿3,210 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
฿3,210
฿4,545 total
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this historic hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the pool and the bar in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,904 reviews)
"Stunning hotel in the heart of the French Quarter with the most comfortable bedding, the prettiest pool and the friendliest staff! 100000/10"

Reviewed on 31 Jul 2025

Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Memoir Warehouse District

Memoir Warehouse District

4 out of 5
808 Constance Street, New Orleans, LA
Stay at this 4-star hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 bars/lounges and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions National World War II Museum and Caesars ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (157 reviews)
AN ABSOLUTE MUST!
"This was one of our favorite accommodations in NOLA in a long while (we go often). Gorgeous property, excellent and quiet location, easy walk to all the things, kind staff, lovely rooftop pool and club access. The interior appointments were lovely and so well thought out. Comfortable bed, outstanding ..."

Reviewed on 15 Jul 2025

Memoir Warehouse District
Seabrook Villa

Seabrook Villa

3.5 out of 5
6001 France Rd, New Orleans, LA
Stay at this 3.5-star golf aparthotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free parking, a fitness centre and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8/10 Very Good! (537 reviews)
"This is a quiet and relaxing place, just minutes away from the attractions. Amy is very kind and helpful, a sweet addition to an already great place. 100% recommendation!"

Reviewed on 27 Jul 2025

Seabrook Villa
Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy The Schaeffer Apartments French Quarter

Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy The Schaeffer Apartments French Quarter

3.5 out of 5
201 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in New Orleans. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, concierge services and housekeeping. Popular attractions Canal Street and Bourbon Street ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (262 reviews)
"It was very easily accessible . Tge rooms were very clean. Great water pressure in the showers. Pool on roof was a nice touch."

Reviewed on 30 Jul 2025

Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy The Schaeffer Apartments French Quarter
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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