Must-Visit Attractions in New Orleans: Top 15 Choices

New Orleans is a vibrant city with a quiet charm. It beckons visitors with its rich history, tours, museums, and a unique atmosphere. The city also has a rich food scene and many upscale spots. If you visit it once, there’s a high chance you’ll want to take another trip. To make your first journey memorable, we’ve listed the top attractions in New Orleans below.

Top Attractions in New Orleans

Book Hotels in New Orleans

Top Attractions in New Orleans

1. Tour the Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World is an informative museum that gives you a dazzling experience. It is filled with flamboyant Mardi Gras floats made by different Krewes, and each has its own specific theme. The place gives plenty of photo opportunities. It is open all seven days, so you can check it out anytime. You will first be shown a short movie about the history of Mardi Gras and Kern Studios, which will be followed by a guided tour of the warehouse. You’ll see Mardi Gras artists working and get a close-up look at the floats of Mardi Gras parades.

Time needed: 1 hour

Book Hotels Near Mardi Gras World

2. Experience History at The National WWII Museum

One of the top attractions in New Orleans is The National WWII Museum. It takes you back to the beginnings of the war and through the entire period when it was fought through exhibits, multimedia experiences, artifacts, and first-person oral histories. It also holds live performances that showcase how the entertainment was during the Second World War. No matter how much you know about the war, you will always leave the museum with more knowledge than before.

Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

Book Hotels Near The National WWII Museum

3. Discover the Beautiful Garden District

One of the best-kept top attractions in New Orleans is the Garden District. This verdant place is more than abundant green spaces, oak trees, and mansions. The neighborhood preserves historic homes like St Charles Ave, Morris-Israel House, Carroll-Crawford House, and the Brevard-Clapp-Rice House. These houses and mansions reflect highly opulent and unique architecture, making Garden District a must-visit site.

Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

Book Hotels Near Garden District

4. Get to Know the French Quarter Attractions

Get to Know the French Quarter Attractions

The French Quarter is the heartbeat of New Orleans that allows you to explore the culture and history of the city. It has large colonial architecture, galleries, and street performers who will blow your mind. The best way to explore it is to visit its major attractions. These include historical museums like the Pharmacy Museum and Historic BK House, Voodoo Shop, French Quarter Kids for touring, St. Louis Cathedral, and Mardi Gras School of Cooking. The city teems with talent, culture, and history, which is why it is one of the top attractions in New Orleans.

Time needed: 2 days

Book Hotels in the French Quarter

5. Stroll Through the Jackson Square

Stroll Through the Jackson Square

Jackson Square, in the French Quarter, is a National Historic Landmark. It is home to St. Louis Cathedral and named in honor of the 7th U.S. President, General Andrew Jackson. Jackson Square is spread over 2 acres and has many attractions, like Cabildo, the three-floor branch of the Louisiana State Museum, open-air markets, and Cafe du Monde. There are many options to eat and drink, which makes Jackson Square a wonderful place to spend countless hours.

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

Book Hotels Near Jackson Square

read also: New Orleans Romantic Getaways

6. Explore the Artwork at Studio Be

Studio Be is a massive warehouse in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood. It is a must-visit place for every art lover because of the awe-inspiring artwork and large murals. You can do a guided tour or a self-guided tour to explore those pieces of art. The creator of this 35,000-square-foot facility is Brandan “BMike” Odums. He collaborated with over 40 other artists to design the murals and exhibits of this place. Most of the artwork touches upon activism, resistance, and Black American history. They are made with spray paint and graffiti techniques.

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

7. Experience the Dark History at LaLaurie Mansion

Are you a fan of spine-chilling tales and dark mysteries? If so, LaLaurie Mansion is a great option. Nestled in the core of the French Quarter, it is considered a haunted location. Madame Marie Delphine McCarty LaLaurie, the owners of the mansion in the 1800s, were charged with torturing slaves, but the extent to which the stories about them are made up is mind-boggling. Today, visitors book Ghost Tours in New Orleans to take a peek at the area around this mysterious mansion.

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

8. Have Fun at the New Orleans City Park

Have Fun at the New Orleans City Park

If you are searching for top attractions in New Orleans that will give you endless fun, New Orleans City Park should be on your itinerary. It’s not only about lush greenery but is packed with recreation options and spots to eat and dine, such as Cafe du Monde

and Acorn. For kid-friendly fun, you can also visit the New Orleans Museum of Art, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and Louisiana Children’s Museum.

Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

Book Hotels Near New Orleans City Park

9. Learn the City’s Musical Heritage at Preservation Hall

The Preservation Hall is a top musical historic site in New Orleans. It was set up in 1961 to honor Traditional New Orleans Jazz, which is America’s truest art form. It is situated at the center of the French Quarter and offers acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts over 350 nights a year. The musicians at Preservation Hall are highly talented master practitioners. They perform four or five times a day to an audience of 100 people.

Time needed: 1 hour

Book Hotels Near Preservation Hall

10. Have a Picnic at Audubon Zoo

Have a Picnic at Audubon Zoo

No place is as good as Audubon Zoo to explore Louisiana’s rich biodiversity. Through its award-winning exhibits, you gain an authentic glimpse of the animal and bird species, many of which are endangered. The zoo provides many educational opportunities and animal encounters. If you visit it in summer, the Coo Zoo helps you beat the heat with its Gator Run, lazy river, and sand beaches. Several events and festivals are held throughout the year in Audubon Zoo to entertain visitors.

Time needed: 3 hours

Book Hotels Near Audubon Zoo

11. Connect with Nature at Lafitte Greenway

The 2.6-mile linear park, Lafitte Greenway, is at the core of New Orleans. It has been the premier bicycle and pedestrian path in New Orleans ever since it was opened in 2015. It links neighborhoods from the French Quarter to City Park and gives you many chances to engage with the local community. Besides biking, you can explore the greenery, like live oaks, cypresses, and southern magnolias, or get fit with free outdoor exercise classes. The different community programs allow visitors to learn the nuances of New Orleans’s unique culture.

Time needed: 1 hour

12. Take a Ride on New Orleans Streetcars

Take a Ride on New Orleans Streetcars

A memorable way to experience New Orleans is through street cars. The St. Charles Avenue Streetcar line is one of the oldest in the city, where a ride costs $1.25 for adults and $0.50 for kids. The ride makes you step back in time and view the city in a leisurely manner. You can book a vintage streetcar built by Perley A. Thomas Company in the 1900s and take a ride from Carondelet at Canal Street in the Central Business District through the majestic and oldest part of Uptown New Orleans.

Time needed: 2 hour

13. Learn About the Past at The Cabildo and the Presbytère

The Cabildo and The Presbytère, located on either side of St. Louis Cathedral, were built in the late 1700s. They were used for Louisiana Supreme Court decisions. Today, they have become museums that give a glimpse of New Orleans’s historical treasures. The Cabildo was also the place of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803. It houses many artifacts and documents that provide a comprehensive view of the various events of the past. The Presbytere’s two exhibits, Mardi Gras and The Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond, share the stories of celebration and resilience.

Time needed: 4 to 5 hours

read also: Romantic Getaways In Louisiana

14. Enjoy Stunning Views at Vue Orleans

Vue Orleans in Louisiana is a unique indoor and outdoor observation deck as well as a cultural exhibit. It is the only place that provides the city’s 360-degree panoramic riverfront views. Vue Orleans is on the 33rd floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. The entrance floor has giant screens with HD maps, and you can learn about the city and its history by simply pointing at those maps. Breakout sessions with digital dancers and videos of New Orleans’s history rendered in rotoscope animation are other ways that enrich the experience.

Time needed: 1.5 hours

15. Visit St. Louis Cemetery

Visit St. Louis Cemetery

The burial grounds at the St. Louis Cemetery are an iconic sight that many tourists love visiting. St. Louis Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans. A visit here allows you to learn about famous personalities, burial styles, and the history of different tombs. The cemetery, which was redesigned after a fire, is also a major National Historic Landmark.

Time needed: 45 minutes

Book Hotels Near St. Louis Cemetery

Summing Up

New Orleans is a city rich in history, architecture, entertainment, and places to eat delicacies. It is full of friendly people from different nationalities and scenic places that’ll charm you. Whether you are a solo traveler or on a family trip, the city will keep you entertained.