New Orleans walking tour & city guide
Jazz, Creole cooking and wrought-iron balconies.
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New Orleans is unlike anywhere else in America. Founded by the French in 1718 and shaped by Spanish, African, Caribbean and Creole cultures, it gave the world jazz and some of the country's most distinctive food. Music spills from doorways, and every street seems to have a story.
The French Quarter
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city. Its famous architecture, with colorful facades and lacy wrought-iron balconies, actually owes more to Spanish rule after two great fires in the late 18th century. Jackson Square, with St. Louis Cathedral rising behind it, is the heart of the quarter, surrounded by artists, musicians and fortune tellers.
Royal Street is lined with antique shops and galleries and often hosts street performers, while Bourbon Street becomes a neon-lit party zone at night, as the night walk video shows. Nearby, the French Market has operated in some form since 1791, and Frenchmen Street in the Marigny is where locals go for live jazz.
Beyond the Quarter
Ride the historic St. Charles streetcar, in service since 1835, through the Garden District, where oak-shaded streets are lined with grand antebellum mansions. Nearby, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is known for its above-ground tombs, a necessity in a city built near sea level.
City Park, larger than New York's Central Park, has some of the oldest live oak trees in the world. The National WWII Museum, one of the best museums in the country, is in the Warehouse District.
Festivals and practical tips
New Orleans is a city of festivals. Mardi Gras, with its parades and costumes, takes place in February or early March, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival fills two weekends in late April and early May. Summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Stick to busy, well-lit streets at night.
Top sights in New Orleans
- 1
French Quarter
The historic heart of the city with iconic balconies.
- 2
Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
The lively main square of the old city.
- 3
Frenchmen Street
The best street in the city for live jazz.
- 4
Garden District
Oak-lined streets of grand historic mansions.
- 5
St. Charles Streetcar
One of the oldest continuously operating streetcar lines in the world.
- 6
The National WWII Museum
An acclaimed museum telling the story of the war.
Food markets & where to eat in New Orleans
French Market coffee stands
Beignets and café au lait in the French Quarter.
Garden District restaurants
Creole fine dining in elegant settings.
Muffuletta delis
Italian delis serving the city's famous muffuletta sandwich.
Tremé
A historic neighborhood known for Creole cooking and brass bands.
French Market
Food stalls and local produce in the heart of the Quarter.
Food to try in New Orleans
Beignets
Square fried doughnuts buried in powdered sugar.
Gumbo
A rich stew of seafood or chicken and sausage over rice.
Po'boy
A sandwich of fried shrimp, oysters or roast beef on French bread.
Jambalaya
A spicy rice dish with meat and seafood.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to New Orleans
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in New OrleansCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in New Orleans.
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