New Orleans
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Our most recommended things to do in New Orleans

New Orleans: Evening Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

New Orleans: Evening Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

Journey back in time aboard the newly renovated Riverboat City of New Orleans. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the New Orleans atmosphere as the smooth jazz of the Dukes Trio fills your ears on this two-hour cruise on the mighty Mississippi, enjoying craft cocktails, and the sites. Depart from the heart of the French Quarter and experience breathtaking views of New Orleans as the city skyline slips away. Seating is available indoors and on the outdoor decks for the very best views of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. Make sure you check out all four decks as the top deck view is a sight to see.  Choose the dinner buffet option for a dinner menu including: Salad Du Jour, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Top Round Angus Beef, Louisiana Fried Chicken Thighs, Bayou Seafood Pasta, Crawfish Etouffee, Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Corn Maque Choux, Southern Stewed Okra, and New Orleans Bread Pudding.  

New Orleans: Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Lunch Option

New Orleans: Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Lunch Option

Savor the beauty and romance of New Orleans on a cruise aboard the Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez, the only authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Cruise along the Mississippi River, listen to live jazz music, and enjoy an optional lunch of local fare. Your cruise from the heart of the French Quarter and takes you back to a time when life was as slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi. Set out to see New Orleans from the Mississippi River, one of the world's most active ports. While on board, visit the museum-quality engine room to learn how steam powers this magnificent boat through the "Mighty Mississippi." Add an optional Creole lunch to your cruise, prepared fresh on board and served with your choice of coffee and iced tea. Savor the tastes of New Orleans before docking back where you started the tour. Sample Menu Lunch (subject to season and availability) • Southern fried fish• Red beans and rice• Jambalaya• Salad du jour •New Orleans Bread Pudding

New Orleans: Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire City Tour

New Orleans: Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire City Tour

Walk with your 5-star local guide through the haunted, historical French Quarter on this haunted historical tour. Explore the historical French Quarter, as you indulge in stories of magic, ghosts, vampires, and Vodou practitioners from your expert guide. Meet your local guide and set off on a journey through New Orleans’ haunted history at a hidden gem of an oddities shop. Pass outside well-known sites such as Muriel’s Restaurant and the Old Ursuline Convent. See the exterior of the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, where bloodletting and leeching took place in the 19th century. From the outside, see the house where Jacques Saint Germain — who was rumored to be a vampire — once lived. Plus, hear chilling tales of LaLaurie House and its mistress, Madame LaLaurie. Let your guide entertain you with local folklore as you continue past the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. The final stop of your activity is outside Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, where your spooky experience will end. Don't miss out on an experience you won't soon forget.

New Orleans: Walking Tour Inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

New Orleans: Walking Tour Inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Uncover the history of one of America's oldest and most famous cemeteries that is not open to the general public on this walking tour of the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 cemetery. View interesting burial customs and stroll past facinating above ground tombs.  Check in and meet your guide at the Basin St. Station Visitor Center where you can find an array of exhibits about New Orleans, an interactive map of the Hurricane Katrina floodwaters, a café, restrooms, and a gift shop. Get your tour stickers and depart on time for your adventure into the macabre. Head to the the front gates of the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and listen as you guide takes you back in time with the story of the cemetery. Make your way through New Orleans' most famous tombs and hear about the city's unique burial customs. Get up close to the elaborate above-ground crypts and below-ground sites. Meander among the and find out about the storied pasts of those residing here, including Voodoo Queen Mariel Laveau, the former mayor Homer Plessy and other notable figures from the city's history.

New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark with Exclusive Access

New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark with Exclusive Access

Experience the creepy side of New Orleans on a tour of the city and one of its most paranormally active cemeteries. Listen to chilling tales from your local guide and learn about the darker parts of the city's history. Learn from an expert in the paranormal how to properly use an EMF reader to search for the unexplained. Meet at a location centered in the heart of the French Quarter where you will have an opportunity to grab a beer, cocktail, cocktail, or food before your tour. Travel with Experienced guides through the creepy underbelly of the haunted history of New Orleans Iconic cemeteries. Your guide will give everyone an opportunity to look at documented evidence of the unexplained captured on tour. Gain exclusive access into a private cemetery owned by a centuries old secret society with the only company allowed in. Remember those who were lost during Hurricane Katrina. Visit and view one of the largest cemeteries of the yellow fever pandemic in the country while visiting Charity Hospital Cemetery and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery. Walk with your expert guide exploring the paranormal with emf readers as they explain how to use them to search for paranormal activity and to help locate any paranormal phenomena from the other side.

New Orleans: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

New Orleans: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

Embark on a high-speed adventure through the swamps and marshes just 35 minutes from New Orleans and experience the amazing scenery by airboat. Slow down or stop to take pictures and get a personal tour from your local captain. Avail of airboats with stadium-style seating so that the person in front does not obstruct your view. Be amazed as alligators come so close to the boat that you can stare into their reptilian eyes! Encounter magnificent birdlife, including bald eagles, pelicans, ospreys and owls. Every tour is unique and you never know what will be around the next corner! Reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, propelled by a huge fan that blows air from the back of the boat in excess of 200 miles per hour. Ride in shallow water and access areas where traditional boats cannot go.

New Orleans: Sightseeing Bus Tour

New Orleans: Sightseeing Bus Tour

Get an introduction to the sites of New Orleans on a 2.5-hour guided bus tour. Benefit from pickup at Bon's New Orleans Street Food which is nearby Jackson Square and visit the Garden District, the 9th Ward, and more. Travel through the beautiful French Quarter, and make your way down lively Frenchmen Street, where live music pours from every venue. Arrive at the alternative Marigny district as you make your way towards the 9th Ward. Enter the Musicians' Village and continue to Tremé. Travel down Esplanade Avenue to City Park and Lake Pontchartrain, and then learn about Creole culture at Saint Roch Cemetery #1 and St. Louis Cemetery #3. See the oldest streetcar in the world on St. Charles Avenue as you move on to Tulane and Loyola universities. Enter the Garden District to look at some of the celebrity homes. Continue along Magazine Street to arrive at the Warehouse District and Arts District before getting dropped off at your hotel.

New Orleans: French Quarter Ghost and Murder Tour

New Orleans: French Quarter Ghost and Murder Tour

Learn about the ghostly history of New Orleans on this tour of the French Quarter. Visit famous landmarks, hear fascinating stories, and immerse yourself in the haunted world of this atmospheric district. Make your way to the French Quarter to meet your historian guide. Visit places like the infamous Lalaurie Mansion (as seen on 'American Horror Story Coven'), May Bailey's Brothel (as seen on Travel Channels 'Ghost Adventures'), and many other sites. Embark on the only ghost tour in New Orleans with access inside a haunted building. Enjoy a tour that is kid and alcohol friendly. Take a leisurely stroll through the haunted history of New Orleans´ French Quarter with frequent stops and restroom breaks.

New Orleans: Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise with Optional Pickup

New Orleans: Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise with Optional Pickup

Discover the Manchac Swamp by boat on a family-friendly adventure in the great outdoors. Embark on an unforgettable tour led by an experienced captain and marvel at Louisiana's diverse wildlife as you explore the bayous of Cajun Country. Journey by boat, Cajun-style, for a tour through the heart of Southern Louisiana's swamplands. Navigate the meandering bayous and gaze at the moss-draped cypress trees, fascinating plant life, and the creatures who make their homes here. Listen to informative commentary from your captain as you wind your way into the bayou. Swamp creatures are used to seeing the tour boats, so you'll likely catch a glimpse of various birds, snakes, deer, fish, and possibly even an alligator. As your boat drifts through the waterways, learn about the Louisiana Wetlands, the inhabitants of the swamp—particularly the life and habits of the American Alligator—as well as the unique history of the local Cajun town of Frenier.

French Quarter Walking and Storytelling Tour

French Quarter Walking and Storytelling Tour

Take a walking and storytelling tour through New Orleans' famous French Quarter. See famous landmarks and learn about local history as you make your way from the jazz fountain to Jackson Square, hearing fascinating stories along the way. The night before the tour, your guide will send an email with their photo, contact information, and directions to the meeting spot. The tour begins at the jazz fountain at the intersection of Decatur and Dumaine Streets in the historic French Market district. These are small-group tours, making for a more comfortable, customized experience.  After a brief overview of New Orleans history, your guide will lead you around the oldest neighborhood in the city, and point out the locations that have made New Orleans famous: St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and the Mississippi River - and lesser-known treasures such as the French Market, an almost 300 year old convent, and courtyards hidden behind the 18th and 19th century buildings. Your guide will also be an enthusiastic storyteller, and the stories about this neighborhood are like no other. Established as a French colonial outpost in 1718, its earliest inhabitants were the quirky, gritty, fascinating types who are still attracted to it today. Every block has a story which will be shared with you. The tour concludes in or next to Jackson Square, but it is by no means over. Your guide is full of recommendations for enjoying the neighborhood and the city further. When you finish the French Quarter tour, you will be energized to go out and explore this jewel of a neighborhood even further, and the knowledge you gained walking with your guide will only deepen your understanding of New Orleans, and  stay with you long after you have left its quaint streets and alleys.

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14 must-see landmarks for your New Orleans itinerary
14 must-see landmarks for your New Orleans itinerary

New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the US when it comes to culture, history, and architecture. From its French and African-inspired heritage to delicious Creole cuisine and scenic boat trips down the Mississippi River, there are things to do in New Orleans for everyone.

Its historic landmarks worth exploring include colonial architecture in the French Quarter, the Garden District of the woodlands and waterways of City Park, and Bayou St. John. Here's 14 iconic New Orleans landmarks to get you started.

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New Orleans at night: The 8 after-dark activities to know
New Orleans at night: The 8 after-dark activities to know

Famous for its heady mix of jazz, voodoo, and delicious Creole food, New Orleans is a must-visit for night owls, culture vultures, and thrill-seekers. From the soul-stirring rhythms echoing through the French Quarter to the live music pouring out of historic clubs in the Marigny, New Orleans offers an intoxicating blend of music, culture, and history to bewitch your senses.

If you haven't made your evening plans yet, start with this list of top things to do in New Orleans at night.

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Explore off the beaten path with New Orleans's best hidden gems
Explore off the beaten path with New Orleans's best hidden gems

Want to spice up your New Orleans experience? If you've done the French Quarter of New Orleans and indulged in some of the delicious local dishes, what other attractions await you in the Big Easy? We have found the best hidden gems in New Orleans so you can discover lesser-known places that are far from the usual tourist crowds.

New Orleans is home to some amazing points of interest like the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetary. There's another side of the city that many visitors miss out on. Themed walking tours, fascinating historic sites, and unique nightlife experiences are there to be discovered, and below are some great suggestions for things to do in New Orleans.

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Seven ways to experience New Orleans’ Voodoo culture
Seven ways to experience New Orleans’ Voodoo culture

New Orleans, Louisiana, or simply NOLA, is filled with fascinating cultures and historical places rooted in Voodoo. Experience it firsthand with one of these interesting and, at times, spine-chilling experiences. Walk through centuries-old cemeteries where the bodies lie above ground, visit the city’s prominent Voodoo landmarks and the Voodoo Museum, and have a reading — just a few ways to experience Voodoo culture in New Orleans.

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Frequently asked questions about New Orleans

What top attractions are a must-see in New Orleans?

The must-see attractions in New Orleans are:

See all must-see sights in New Orleans

What are the best day trips and excursions from New Orleans?

The best day trips and excursions from New Orleans are:

See all day trips and excursions from New Orleans on GetYourGuide

Insider tips: Planning a trip to New Orleans

There are so many reasons to visit New Orleans, this is one of the most unique cities in the world with cultural influences from African Americans, French, and Spanish throughout their world-class cuisine, music, traditions, and architecture. This is a destination full of energy any time of year but also the highly anticipated and attended Mardi Gras celebrations annually. Megan Indoe is a Brooklyn based travel enthusiast who shares her adventures with her husband and photographer Scott Herder across their travel channels on social media and their blog, Bobo & Chichi.

What should I do on my first trip to New Orleans?

There are so many wonderful things to do in New Orleans, but for any first time visitor you can’t miss strolling through the lush and beautiful mansion-lined streets in the Garden District and explore the French Quarter by day and by night head to all the jazz clubs on Frenchmen Street by night.

What are some hidden gems to see in New Orleans?

One of the best hidden gems is the Faubourg Marigny & Bywater area of NOLA. Be sure to explore this vibrant neighborhood on foot and enjoy the colorful, shotgun style homes. When you need a drink or a meal check out St. Roch Market and Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits for live music and drinks in the evenings.

How much time should I spend in New Orleans?

You need at least a weekend if not longer in New Orleans. But, not matter how much time you spend you’ll likely want to come back for more because like most destinations, you can’t possibly see everything in one visit.

What food is New Orleans known for? 

The beauty of New Orleans is that there’s no place in the world like it. There are influences from various cultures including Caribbean, French, Spanish, West African, and Native Americans to name a few. You’ll want to explore the Cajun and Creole dining scene here. Don’t miss trying powdered sugar covered beignets, Gumbo, po-boys, jambalaya, and local seafood like crawdads and shrimp to name a few of the local specialties.

What is the best way to get around New Orleans?

Much of New Orleans is walkable, but there are a few places that might be a little too far to reach by foot. Try taking a fide on the old fashioned street cars from the French Quarter to the Garden District for a unique experience or use a ride share app to get around when the walk is just a little too far.

What are the best months to visit New Orleans?

Avoid New Orleans in the month of June and perhaps through early fall, this is the rainiest time of year and hurricane season. The best time to visit would be February through May when it is much less humid and temperatures are more comfortable. Keep in mind if you’re hoping to visit during Mardi Gras, always around the Easter holiday, you’ll need to make your reservations well in advance.

What is neighborhood French Quarter known for?

The French Quarter is the most famous neighborhood in New Orleans famous for its gorgeous, historic buildings with gas lanterns. The neighborhood is famous for being home to the rowdy crowds on Bourbon Street, tons of shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels as the heartbeat of tourism in the city.

What are the best neighborhoods for food?

The French Quarter has plenty of incredible dining options including some of the city’s most well-known and historic dining establishments like Galatoire’s as well as where you can find the famous Cafe du Monde for their beignets 24/7. The Garden District is also full of great restaurants, be sure to hit up Commander’s Palace for their famous 25 cent martinis at lunch and if you’re looking for a great po’boy and dive spot, head to Parasol’s.

What are the best neighborhoods for shopping? 

One of the best spots for shopping in New Orleans, besides all the stores and shops in the French Quarter, can be found all along Magazine Street. You can find everything from vintage shops to home goods and quirky boutiques plus there are plenty of cafes and eateries to take a shopping break along the way.

What neighborhood should I stay in when I visit New Orleans?

If its your first time to New Orleans you should stay as close to the French Quarter as possible. Don’t worry about the noise, even the hotels that are near Bourbon Street somehow manage to remain quiet and have one of the best locations for exploring during your stay

What is the best family-friendly thing to do in New Orleans?

Take a half day tour or trip to a nearby swamp to get up close and personal to the famous Louisiana bayous and swamps while having wildlife encounters along the way.

What are the best annual events in New Orleans?

The most famous annual event are the Mardi Gras celebrations each year! Expect the two weeks celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans to be full of daily parades, floats, music, end loads of energy! Another great annual event to check out is Jazz Fest which celebrates the famous music scene here typically taking place at the end of April through early May.

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What people are saying about New Orleans

Overall rating

4.6
(19,050 reviews)

Wolfy MADE the tour: From the impeccable and intriguing way that he was dressed to his engaging, electric storytelling we were enamored from start to finish. He gave us deep insight into the French Quarter’s history covering topics like the origins of jazz, bluegrass country music, what the practice of vodoo really was, to some pivotal female figures in the French quarter, influence behind its beautiful architecture and all the beautiful cultures that contribute to making New Orleans the melting pot that it is. Moreover, he did all this while the neighborhood was recovering from a winter storm in icy conditions and ensured our utmost safety and comfort. Incredible, vibrant, sassy tour, highly highly recommend it??

Bryant was an amazing guide. Very informative and knowledgeable! The tour was a great experience. Loved that it was self paced with great audio guides to follow along with. Would highly recommend this trip, especially with Bryant as your guide!

Great day out, Kin was a brilliant tour guide, informative and fun. I would recommend his tour.

Briant was very professional, well informed and interesting to listen to.

Guide (beebop) was very knowledgeable and pleasant