George Bannister, CC BY 2.0
New Orleans
New Orleans is a port city in Louisiana, known for the French Quarter, jazz, Creole cooking and Mardi Gras.
Affiliate link: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend.
Where to stay, by what matters to you
- Places to stay in New Orleans that work without a car
- Quiet places to stay in New Orleans: few bars nearby
- Lively places to stay in New Orleans: bars and clubs close by
- Within 30 minutes by car of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- Within 20 minutes of French Quarter
- Within 20 minutes of Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
- Within 20 minutes of The National WWII Museum
- Within 20 minutes of Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery
Best things to do in New Orleans
The one thing not to miss
Start in the French Quarter, New Orleans' oldest neighbourhood, which grew around a central square after the city's founding in 1718. Most of its historic buildings date from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
French Quarter1. French Quarter
The oldest neighbourhood in New Orleans, developed around a central square after the city's founding in 1718. Most surviving historic buildings date from the late 18th century under Spanish rule or the first half of the 19th century.
8,826 readers a month
Sources
2. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
Jackson Square is a historic park and National Historic Landmark in the French Quarter, where Louisiana became U.S. territory in 1803. Beside it, St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States, alongside the Royal Presidio Chapel in Monterey.
Check visiting hours and any restrictions during services with the cathedral.
7,550 readers a month
Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain 3. Mardi Gras
The Carnival season runs from 6 January until the night before Ash Wednesday. Parades start in earnest as Fat Tuesday nears, and the largest and most elaborate fall in the last five days.
Dates move each year; check the official parade calendar. Expect very busy streets and book accommodation early.
7,019 readers a month
4. Bourbon Street
A historic street running twelve blocks through the French Quarter from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, with many bars, restaurants and strip clubs.
5,593 readers a month
Sources
5. Oak Alley Plantation
A historic plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi in Vacherie, named for a double row of live oaks about 800 feet long. It is a National Historic Landmark, including for pecan grafting done there in 1846-47 by an enslaved gardener.
It is outside the city, so you will need a car or a tour. Check tour details with the site.
4,371 readers a month
6. Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery
A neighbourhood bounded by St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street, with a National Historic Landmark district. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, founded in 1833, is the city's first planned cemetery, noted for its tombs and cruciform layout.
Check cemetery opening hours before you go.
2,931 readers a month
7. The National WWII Museum
A military history museum in the Central Business District, founded in 2000 as the National D-Day Museum. Congress designated it America's official National WWII Museum in 2003.
We have not confirmed ticket or entry arrangements; check the official site before you go.
2,756 readers a month
8. Whitney Plantation
A preserved historic district on the River Road near Wallace, run by a non-profit that teaches about slavery and its legacies in the Southern United States. It was founded in 1752 by Ambroise Heidal.
It is outside the city; check how to book and get there with the site.
2,152 readers a month
9. St. Charles Streetcar
Running since 1835, it is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. It runs along St. Charles Avenue as RTA Route 12 and is used by commuters and tourists.
Check current fares and passes with the New Orleans RTA.
2,035 readers a month
10. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
An annual celebration of local music and culture at the Fair Grounds Race Course, organised by a non-profit foundation set up in 1970.
Check the official festival dates and ticketing.
1,690 readers a month
Just missed the list: Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 (11th by readers; one of three Catholic cemeteries with above-ground vaults); Preservation Hall (12th by readers; a French Quarter jazz venue)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. French Quarter leads with about 8,826 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.