Best things to do in New Orleans, including free and rainy-day options

New Orleans rewards a slow trip. The French Quarter is best walked early, before the heat and the crowds; the music is best after dark, on Frenchmen Street or in a bar with no cover. Between those, pick one food-led walk, one riverfront or streetcar ride, and one museum or park.

Three nights is the sensible minimum. Add a fourth if you want a swamp tour, a plantation visit or a full museum day. In rain, the plan barely changes: museums, a long lunch and a bar with live music cover most of an afternoon.

Use this table to pick by time and cost, then read the detail below. Prices are 2026 estimates and change; check current opening hours before you go.

The French Quarter is compact and flat, so walk it. Start at Jackson Square, where the cathedral faces the square and the river is a short walk away. Royal Street has galleries and antiques; Bourbon Street is loudest at night. Go early for photographs and quiet, and expect heat and crowds by midday.

Frenchmen Street, just outside the Quarter in Faubourg Marigny, is where many locals go for live music. Several venues have no cover charge; you pay for drinks. Check who is playing that night rather than committing to one bar.

The National WWII Museum is the big indoor draw and can take half a day. Mardi Gras World shows how floats are made. Both are ticketed; check current prices and hours. The St Charles streetcar runs through the Garden District and Uptown, and is a cheap way to see the city without a car.

For green space, City Park is large, with a sculpture garden and trails; entry to the park is free, though some attractions inside charge. The Garden District is best seen on foot or from the streetcar, with its historic houses and old trees.

Outside the city, swamp tours run from nearby docks and plantation houses line the river road. Both need most of a day and are usually booked as tours; check pickup points and prices.

Many of the best things in New Orleans are free: walking the Quarter, the riverfront, Jackson Square, street music and City Park. Paid items are the museums, tours and any day trip. Budget for drinks and food separately, since music venues often make their money at the bar.

The streetcar is the cheapest paid transport and doubles as a sightseeing ride. Rideshare and taxis cost more but are useful at night or in rain. Prices below are 2026 estimates; confirm before you go.