Walking these streets feels less like tourism and more like stepping into a living, breathing jazz improvisation where time moves at its own syncopated rhythm, heavy with humidity and history. This is not a museum but a resilient neighborhood where locals fiercely protect their unique dialects and traditions while adapting to the challenges of modern climate change and urban decay.
Do New Orleans the way locals do: start slow at Audubon Park, eat where the regulars do at Cafe Du Monde, let the evening run long at Pat O'Brien's.
Top things to do in New Orleans
Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
The National WWII Museum
Multi-building museum with interactive submarine exhibit, planes, 4-D theater & eatery downstairs.
Check tours & tickets2
Cafe Du Monde
Iconic New Orleans cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets since 1862.
Check tours & tickets3
Jackson Square
Artists & performers ply their trades in a park built in 1721 & lined with historic buildings.
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New Orleans City Park
This expansive urban greenspace with a lake & paths features a dog run, museums, disc golf & more.
Check tours & tickets5
Audubon Aquarium
Insect & marine life exhibits plus a 400,000-gallon tank with reefs, sharks & a walk-through tunnel.
Check tours & tickets6
Audubon Park
Park with oak trees, jogging & bike paths, a lagoon, picnic shelters, tennis courts & playgrounds.
Check tours & tickets7
The Sazerac House
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Napoleon House
Muffalettas, po' boys & other Creole staples in a circa-1914 house with a palm-filled courtyard.
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St. Louis Cathedral
Grand, spired circa-1700s church with stained glass, a painted ceiling & an active congregation.
Check tours & tickets10
Audubon Zoo
Leafy home to Amur leopards, orangutans & white alligators, with presentations & feedings.
Check tours & ticketsWhere to eat
Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
Cafe Du Monde
Iconic New Orleans cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets since 1862.
Website12
Acme Oyster House
Lively New Orleans-based chain offering oysters, po' boys, gumbo & other Cajun-Creole classics.
Website13
Oceana Grill
Classic New Orleans fare including seafood in a laid-back space, plus courtyard & late-night dining.
Website14
Cochon RESTAURANT
Lauded choice in charming, historic digs specializing in pork dishes & imaginative Cajun eats.
Website15
Commander's Palace
Notable spot for refined Creole fare & an elegant jazz brunch in a chandelier-hung space since 1880.
Website16
GW Fins
Creative, ever-shifting seafood menu featuring fresh catches in a stylish updated warehouse space.
Website17
Napoleon House
Muffalettas, po' boys & other Creole staples in a circa-1914 house with a palm-filled courtyard.
Website18
Mother's Restaurant
Popular cafeteria-style joint drawing crowds with po' boys & down-home Southern fare since 1938.
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Tours worth booking ahead
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19
Cajun Encounters Tours
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Witches Brew Tours
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Tastebud Tours, The French Quarter's Signature Food/History & Cocktail Experiences in New Orleans
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Ultimate Swamp Adventures
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Gray Line New Orleans
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French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tours New Orleans
Check tours & ticketsGet outside
25
Audubon Park
Park with oak trees, jogging & bike paths, a lagoon, picnic shelters, tennis courts & playgrounds.
Website26
Fontainebleau State Park
2,800-acre park on Lake Pontchartrain with a beach, nature trails, campgrounds & cabins.
Website27
Fairview-Riverside State Park
Waterfront park filled with cypress trees draws crowds for camping, fishing & outdoor activities.
Website28
Couturie Forest
Tranquil woodlands within a city park featuring waterways, native trees & diverse birds & wildlife.
Website29
Camp Salmen Nature Park
Wooded park with a playground & walking trails, plus 3 pavilions & an amphitheater for events.
WebsiteAfter dark
30
Pat O'Brien's
Outdoor hangout with a flaming fountain, connected to the bar that invented hurricane cocktails.
Website31
The Spotted Cat Music Club
Weathered bar & intimate jazz venue hosting live acts on a tiny stage for a standing-room crowd.
Website32
The Carousel Bar & Lounge
This classic haunt at the Hotel Monteleone has a circular bar that revolves like a carousel.
Website33
Bourbon Street Drinkery
Creative cocktails & craft beers are served in a glowing, brick-lined space with modern art.
WebsiteEverything above is live data. Real ratings, opening hours, and photos, not AI guesswork. The planner turns it into your day, hour by hour.
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