New Orleans Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

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

French Quarter

4.5/5(113 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

4.5/5(74 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

3.5/5(2 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

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 showing art and interior views as well as an individual female

Lower Garden District

4/5(6 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
Bourbon Orleans Hotel

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

4 out of 5
717 Orleans St., New Orleans, LA
The price is NZ$230 per night from 29 July to 30 July
NZ$230
29 July - 30 July
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this historic hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the pool and the bar in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,911 reviews)
"Hotel was clean & conveniently located"

Reviewed on 22 Jul. 2025

Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter

Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter

4 out of 5
124 Royal St, New Orleans, LA
The price is NZ$220 per night from 28 July to 29 July
NZ$220
28 July - 29 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (4,285 reviews)
"Did not like the DESTINATION FEE at check out time."

Reviewed on 22 Jul. 2025

Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter
InterContinental New Orleans by IHG

InterContinental New Orleans by IHG

4 out of 5
444 St Charles Ave New Orleans Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
The price is NZ$217 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
NZ$217
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in New Orleans. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,482 reviews)
"very well maintained. Loved that they cleaned the room everyday. The staff were wonderful. Restaurant was awesome. Pool could use some tlc."

Reviewed on 23 Jul. 2025

InterContinental New Orleans by IHG
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 WiFi, 2 bars/lounges, and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions National World War II Museum and Caesars ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (155 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
Roami at St. Helene

Roami at St. Helene

3 out of 5
508 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA
Stay at this 3-star apartment in New Orleans. Enjoy free WiFi, an in-room coffeemaker, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Bourbon Street and Canal Street ...
7/10 Good! (56 reviews)
"The parking is so expensive"

Reviewed on 8 Jun. 2025

Roami at St. Helene
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 center, and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8/10 Very Good! (534 reviews)
We will be back
"Everyone was so friendly. The room was more than what we expected. The beds were super comfortable and we enjoyed the amenities."

Reviewed on 19 Jul. 2025

Seabrook Villa
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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