Visiting New Orleans: what are the best things to do and see in this city nicknamed « The Big Easy »?
Since Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, has been back in the spotlight, attracting increasing interest. This city, with its shared history with the United States and France, continues to fascinate, seduce and eternally charm. It’s the French heart of the USA: visiting New Orleans is like visiting no other American or even French city. Between the French Quarter, the old cathedral, the multitude of jazz clubs, the ever-festive streets and the antique shops, New Orleans offers a ceaseless, heady whirlwind that makes it so endearing.
But what are the best things to do in New Orleans? What is there to discover? Where are the best spots to avoid the masses of onlookers and tourists? We’ll help you plan your stay with our top things to do in New Orleans.
1. Tour of the French Quarter
Photo credit: Flickr – David Ohmer
The French Quarter is inevitably one of the best places to visit in New Orleans: also known as the Vieux Carré, you’ll discover it through its architecture, with its distinctly Hispanic influence. With its wrought-iron balconies, private courtyards, fountains, gardens and patios, it’s hard not to feel like you’re in paradise in the heart of a bustling, lively and charming city like New Orleans. For lovers of antiques and objets d’art such as paintings and sculptures, you’ve come to the right place.
2. A cruise on the Mississippi
Photo credit: Flickr – Peter Guthrie
How about a trip down the Mississippi? With 3 boats sharing the area, namely the Creole Queen, the Cajun Queen and the Natchez, you’ll be able to sail aboard a ship that still has a paddle wheel on its stern, while enjoying a delicious local meal. You’ll discover New Orleans from an original point of view: between the French Quarter, a visit to the port and the various historic battlefields of the early 19th century, this trip will leave an indelible mark on your French heart.
3. Walk the Moonwalk along the Mississippi River
Photo credit: Flickr – Derek Bridges
Speaking of walks, why not take the Moonwalk? It runs along the Mississippi River, and you’ll be able to imagine what it was like (not so long ago) in the days of the plantations. And when night falls on this Promenade, a whole new life comes to life, and Bourbon Street bustles late into the night to the sound of jazz, blues and party music.
4. Preservation Hall jazz club
Photo credit: Flickr – Phil Roeder
To stay in the party mood, you’ll have to visit Preservation Hall: this old building dating back to the early 19th century, with its old wooden façade, is now a veritable jazz conservatory. Every day, a different orchestra comes to play and gives concerts until midnight, much to the delight of fans and neophytes alike, who can’t help but soak up the magic. The decrepit appearance of the building, both inside and out, is carefully maintained to retain its old-world charm.
5. Superdome
Photo credit: Flickr – Don Pirolo
Whether you’re an American soccer fan or not, you’ve got to experience the gigantism of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome stadium, simply nicknamed the Superdome by the locals. Today, it’s the home stadium of the Saints American soccer team. With a footprint of 25,000 m², an interior volume of 3.5 million cubic meters, a capacity of 87,500 spectators, a height of 77 meters and a diameter of 207 meters, it’s a truly unique venue that shouldn’t be missed.
6. Garden District
Photo credit: Flickr – Daniel X. O’Neil
The Garden District owes its name to its gardens and parks. This unique neighborhood is recognized by its magnificent neo-renaissance and typically Victorian mansions. Today, many American stars such as Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock have their pied-à-terre in this district.
7. Art District
Photo credit: Flickr – Julie McGalliard
The Art District is located near the French Quarter, and is currently the hottest neighborhood in the city. This former warehouse district has been rehabilitated and transformed to house New Orleans’ various museums, art galleries and artists’ studios. And let’s not forget the famous restaurants that are now established in this trendy area.
8. Saint-Louis Cemetery
Photo credit: Flickr – Wayne Hsieh
It may not be very common to suggest a cemetery as a place to visit in New Orleans on a tourist trip, but the St. Louis Cemetery is a must-see, not least for its above-ground tombs. It lies to the north of the French Quarter and is surely the city’s oldest cemetery. While traditionally, tombs and other vaults are buried, here everything seems above ground level, as the city is built below sea level and the land is extremely marshy. The various tombs and crypts are like little houses, neatly arranged and lined up in a variety of architectural styles. Try to take a guided tour where you’ll be told stories of voodoo, haunted houses and other supernatural tales.
9. City Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Infrogmation
For those who want to enjoy a little serenity, City Park is the place to go. Nearly 4 km long and 1.5 km wide, it’s one of the largest urban parks in the USA. The park is home to centuries-old oak trees, an art museum, a botanical garden and even a stadium! Finally, City Park is also home to New Orleans’ highest point, ironically named The Mountain (16 m above sea level).
10. Voodoo Museum
Photo credit: Flickr – Jennifer Boyer
In Creole culture, voodoo holds a very important place, and is a belief deeply rooted in local minds and memories. That’s why there’s a voodoo museum in New Orleans! This atypical little museum features a variety of cult objects, including human skulls, stuffed alligators, dolls, snakes in formaldehyde, grigris, oils supposed to be magical… enough to feed anyone’s imagination, don’t you think?
11. Attend a gospel mass
Photo credit: Flickr – Social_Stratification
New Orleans is also about the South, and the South is about incredible Gospel services lasting at least 2 hours. When you visit Greater Saint Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church, you’re guaranteed to attend a mass like no other with 2,000 faithful. The choir is magnificently dynamic and upbeat, and you’ll get caught up in a mass that feels more like an oratorical speech than a traditional mass. A must-see event.
12. More things to do in New Orleans
Photo credit: Flickr – Jumaï Hadrien
But is a visit to New Orleans really all there is to it? Of course not: discover the aquarium, insectarium and zoo, and sample insect-based specialties! Visit the Mardi Gras Museum to see the beautiful floats from the carnivals of yesteryear! Or visit the Conti Wax Museum, a wax museum that traces the city’s history with 40 unique exhibits, including the emergence of jazz, the importance of voodoo, the sale of Louisiana by Napoleon I, etc. You can also take a ride on the red Canal Street tramway and the green Charles Street tramway.
How to get to New Orleans
New Orleans is served by all U.S. airlines and Air France with a stopover. There are no direct flights from France. You can find a cheap flight to New Orleans on the website of our partner Ulysse.
Where to stay in New Orleans?
If you’re visiting New Orleans, choose a hotel in the French Quarter, the Marigny or the Tremé. Avoid the area around Bourbon Street, which is very busy and noisy at night. To find a cheap hotel in New Orleans, use our hotel comparison service.
Have you ever visited New Orleans? What did you think of it?
Main photo credit: Flickr – .distracted
Map of hotels and accommodations – New Orleans,us