New Orleans

Creole institutions, Frenchmen Street jazz, and oak-lined streetcar rides — our local guide to eating, exploring, and staying in New Orleans.

Browse New Orleans

Find hotels in New Orleans Book tours & experiences

New Orleans is one of the most rewarding US cities to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include the French Quarter, the live jazz of Frenchmen Street and a ride on the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar, with Creole cooking and festival spirit year-round. Below you will find a set of hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

New Orleans at a glance

Ideal stay: 3 days
Best time to visit: February to May
Highlights: the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street
Where to stay: the French Quarter or the Garden District
Local picks: hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable Quarter, plus historic streetcars

Where to stay in New Orleans

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Mid-City

New Orleans City Park

One of the country’s largest urban parks, City Park is a sprawling green escape known for its grove of centuries-old live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Wander Big Lake, rent a pedal boat, or visit the

City Park

New Orleans Museum of Art & Besthoff Sculpture Garden

NOMA holds a strong collection of French, American and African art in a stately Beaux-Arts building at the entrance to City Park. Just outside, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden sets more

Bayou St. John

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

A local favorite for po-boys since 1911, Parkway does the New Orleans sandwich right, from roast beef dripping with gravy to fried shrimp on crackly French bread. Order at the counter, grab a cold dri

★ 4.7

French Quarter

Preservation Hall

Since 1961 this bare-bones French Quarter hall has been a shrine to traditional New Orleans jazz, with no drinks, no frills and world-class musicians a few feet away. Sets are short and run several ti

Uptown

St. Charles Avenue Streetcar

The olive-green St. Charles line is the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world, rattling under a canopy of oaks past Garden District mansions, Loyola and Tulane universities and Audubon

Uptown

The Chloe

The Chloe turned a stately St. Charles Avenue mansion into an intimate boutique hotel with just over a dozen individually designed rooms, layered wallpapers and vintage furnishings. Locals come as muc

Uptown

The Columns

This 1883 Italianate mansion on the streetcar line has long been an Uptown gathering spot, recently refreshed with a stylish restaurant and bar. Rooms lean historic and characterful rather than cookie

Warehouse District

The National WWII Museum

Consistently rated among the best museums in the country, the National WWII Museum spans several pavilions of immersive exhibits, restored aircraft, oral histories and personal artifacts. Plan for at

Marigny

The Spotted Cat Music Club

The quintessential Frenchmen Street club, the Spotted Cat is a small, sweaty, no-cover room where trad-jazz and swing bands play nightly and dancers spill toward the stage. There is no food and it can

Uptown

Tipitina’s

Named for a Professor Longhair song, ‘Tips’ has been an Uptown temple for New Orleans music since 1977 and is now owned by members of the band Galactic. The calendar runs from brass bands and funk to

French Quarter

Two Chicks Walking Tours

Why it matters: This woman-owned company, founded by Christine Miller, runs small-group walking tours led by knowledgeable local guides. Choose from French Quarter history, Garden District mansions, c

Wallace (River Road)

Whitney Plantation

Why it matters: Whitney is the only plantation museum in Louisiana that centers the lives and voices of the enslaved rather than the enslavers, with memorials naming thousands of people held in bondag

Treme

Willie Mae’s Scotch House

Why it matters: Started by Willie Mae Seaton in the 1950s and carried on by her family, this Black- and family-owned kitchen earned a James Beard America’s Classic award and rebuilt after Hurricane Ka

★ 4.2

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing's Nomad Insurance works like a subscription: pay by the month, cover in most countries worldwide, and you can sign up even after your trip has started.Check prices on SafetyWing

Data the moment you landAn Airalo eSIM gets your phone online in 200+ destinations before you even leave the airport - no SIM swap, no surprise roaming bill. Use code UNLIMITED4YOU for 15% off your first Unlimited eSIM (through Sept 30, 2026).Get an eSIM on Airalo

Book your trip to New Orleans

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in New Orleans Book tours and experiences

New Orleans travel FAQ

How many days do you need in New Orleans?

Around three days is enough to explore the French Quarter, hear live jazz and take in the Garden District at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in New Orleans?

The French Quarter keeps you in the middle of the action, while the Garden District offers a quieter, tree-lined base on the streetcar line.

What are the best things to do in New Orleans?

Browse the local picks above, from the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street jazz to Creole restaurants and where to stay.

What is the best time to visit New Orleans?

February to May brings mild weather and the city’s biggest celebrations, though New Orleans is worth visiting year-round.