19 Coolest Things to Do in New Orleans You Don't Want to Miss

Ferns overflow from hanging baskets, dangling from intricate wrought-iron balconies; buskers blast trumpets and play electric violins; and drinkers weave along this elegant avenue of mansions, built in the tiered Creole townhouse style. This is the main artery of New Orleans’ history-steeped district, the French Quarter. It’s party central during the yearly Mardi Gras festivities, but buzzing with locals and visitors all year round. Stroll down it to soak up the atmosphere of the city, stopping in at century-old restaurant Galatoire’s or the Old Absinthe House for a taste of the past.

A great reason to explore New Orleans is to gain an understanding of its long and colorful history. This dainty, twin-spired white cathedral, facing a pin-neat square in the French Quarter, looks like something out of the Magic Kingdom, but it’s the oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in America, built in 1727. It’s not just a pretty façade, either: you should take a peek inside to see the perfectly polished checkerboard flooring and high, curved ceilings with rich depictions of Jesus and the disciples.

This strangely familiar square unravels from the base of St Louis Cathedral like a neat green carpet, topped by a statue of seventh President Andrew Jackson in full battle mode. It’s one of the most photographed settings in the city – just try and photograph it without a bridal party wandering into view – but more importantly it’s a hub of local life, with musicians, fortune tellers setting up card tables, and street artists selling rainbow-bright crafts, including the odd voodoo doll.

This sultry southern city gets hot in the spring and summer months, and a great way to cool off is by gliding along the Mississippi River on a scarlet-and-white paddle steamer. The Steamboat Natchez is the definitive vessel: board it for a two-hour lunch or jazz cruise and you’ll have plenty of vintage style and atmosphere – loading up on brunch as a trio riffs and jams inside, then taking to the breezy balcony, stars and stripes fluttering overhead, a paddle wheel the size of an elephant thundering behind.

A great way to see the French Quarter and Garden District at night is with a spooky haunted history tour. Recommended by the Travel Channel as the number one tour in New Orleans, a city riddled with ghost, voodoo, zombie and vampire lore. Unraveling the ghastly occurrences that took place years ago, while alluding to the actual history and circumstances of the time, the tour guide will lead the intimate crowd though a wave of emotions. Recommended by Audra Clemons

Situated to the left of St Louis Cathedral opposite Jackson Square, the Cabildo is one of New Orleans’ most historic buildings. Built in 1795 for the city’s Spanish governor, it was where the first town council convened in 1799 and, even more significantly, where the Louisiana Purchase was finalized in 1803. Nowadays, it’s home to the Louisiana State Museum, which is focused on the state’s rich history and the people and traditions of New Orleans. Recommended by Sarah Ravits

This striking cement-and-glass structure contains the stories of American soldiers who served in World War II, told in a modern, immersive style – in one room, you can ask a pre-recorded videoed serviceman questions, and be answered using voice recognition technology. This is a big museum, so allow yourself a whole afternoon to take it all in, from national propaganda to artistically suspended warplanes, code-breaking machines and staged battlefield scenes.

More like a nature reserve than its curt name suggests, this 1,300-acre (526ha) green sprawl has multiple waterways, a sculpture garden, a stadium and a driving range to stumble upon, not to mention the city’s wedding-cake Museum of Art. Stroll to the Botanical Gardens to see its prehistoric plants, giant staghorn ferns and exotic purple orchids, attractively woven around trickling cascades, rock formations and ornamental bridges; then ride the tilt-a-whirl at the delightfully olde-worlde Carousel Gardens amusement park.

While you’re exploring City Park, stop in at this proud, colonnaded building, fronted by a tranquil lily pond. Stepping into its spacious, balconied white interior, you’ll find heavyweight American and European fine art, including a couple of Picassos and Degas as well as thought-provoking mixed media pieces by contemporary Louisiana artists. Don’t miss the outside, either – a serene sculpture garden with Rodins, Oldenbergs and Moores, and a natural canopy of mossy, 200-year-old oaks.

This city has a strong theme of ghost stories and black magic running through it – embrace the spooks by taking a tour of the ornate mausoleums and crumbling crypts of this (still in use) 1700s resting place. You must book a guided tour to enter, but you’ll get to visit the grave of voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, where occultists leave trinkets and flowers, and the strange pyramid-shaped tomb that actor Nicolas Cage – still living – bought in 2010, presumably as his future resting place.

Along with history, voodoo and cocktails, NOLA’s music scene is one of its biggest attractions – jazz music, to be exact, blasted from every street corner as well as from stages and bars across town. Hear the best of it along this brightly painted street in the French Quarter, where neon signs and bohemian murals indicate basement clubs and packed watering holes soundtracked by trumpeters and double bassists. Squeeze into legendary spots such as Snug Harbour or The Spotted Cat or just follow your ears to anything you like the sound of.

A great pleasure in this town is simply wandering its uniformly pretty, period-perfect neighborhoods – the loveliest of which has to be the Garden District. Ride the nearly 200-year-old St Charles Streetcar there from the French Quarter for a thoroughly vintage experience, taking to Prytania and Jackson streets by foot to see its towering 19th-century mansions set in tropical-feeling gardens, all flamingo-pink façades, lacy balconies and fairytale turrets. For lunch, stop by Magazine Street, lined with characterful seafood, Creole and hot dog joints.

The reputation precedes Café Du Monde, the famous open aired coffee and beignet spot in the French Quarter or NOLA. It might be one of the busiest tourist attractions in the city, and for a good reason. Serving consistently delicious, piping hot and well sugared products, Café Du Monde remains a genuine experience. Be patient and prepared to stand in line for a seat at this outdoor café. A trip to New Orleans is not complete without tasting its beignets. Recommended by Audra Clemons

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge is a shack, basically. But it’s the best dive bar in New Orleans, and you must go there. Smoking indoors is allowed, and there’s a surplus of cheap drinks and live entertainment. Snake and Jake’s is simply the essential dive bar. Recommended by Kate Harrington

Located twenty-miles or so outside of New Orleans downtown, Lafitte National Park is a swampy park filled with old trees and stunning views. Named after the explorer Jean Lafitte, this national park is historical and beautiful – the full package. Fitting the ‘bayou’ theme of New Orleans, this historic park is ideal for an active afternoon. Recommended by Kate Harrington

Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to honor traditional New Orleans jazz, offering patrons the chance to witness the continuous evolution of the city’s most famous art. The popular bar hosts over 350 performances a year of gospel, hip-hop, bluegrass and rock – and is a key feature of Culture Trip’s exclusive four-day tour of New Orleans. Preservation Hall’s group of 60 resident musicians also run a program of non-profit educational activities, encouraging young musicians all over the city to get involved with jazz. Recommended by Sarah Ravits

Home to one of the largest collections in the South, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is a must-see for art aficionados or anyone with an interest in seeing the work of the region’s diverse artists. The museum offers educational programming for all ages, as well as an acclaimed music series held every Thursday in its atrium, and it’s located within walking distance of restaurants, bars, shops and the French Quarter. Recommended by Sarah Ravits

Brimming with shops, galleries, flea markets, eateries and bars, Magazine Street is a 6mi (10km) road running parallel to the Mississippi, extending from Uptown to the Lower Garden District. You can jump on and off the Magazine Street bus, but it’s best to explore on foot, as there’s usually a lot of traffic around traffic, especially on weekdays. Plus, you’ll be freer to stop in at the colorful farmers’ markets and irresistible food trucks scattered along its length. Recommended by Sarah Ravits

Once a place where slaves gathered to sing, beat drums and sell meals to “earn” their way to freedom, this park in the musical neighborhood of Treme, adjacent to the city’s French Quarter, is now named for Louis Armstrong in honor of his contributions to jazz. Since the park is a historical site, the National Park Service has a notable presence in the activities organized. NPS allows Louis Armstrong Park to host annual Martin Luther King Day celebrations, weddings, festivals and concerts. Within the park is the famous and stately Mahalia Jackson Theater, and it also hosts a free weekly concert series in the springtime, as well as other festivals and music performances put on by the nearby New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.