Things to Do in New Orleans
7 experiences in New Orleans
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About New Orleans
New Orleans doesn't feel like anywhere else in America, and that's the whole point of going. This is a city built on Franco-Spanish-Caribbean-African bones, where jazz still spills out of open doorways on a random Tuesday afternoon, where funeral processions turn into street parties, and where the architecture — wrought-iron balconies, shotgun houses, above-ground cemeteries — tells you within five minutes that you've crossed into a different cultural climate zone entirely. It's humid, faded in the most charming way, occasionally chaotic, and utterly unconcerned with impressing you in a shiny, generic way. That's its appeal.
The French Quarter gets the tourist traffic, but the city's real character lives in the details: a brass band rehearsing in a garage in Treme, a po'boy shop that's been slinging the same recipe since the 1930s, a Mardi Gras Indian suit displayed in a corner grocery. Food and music aren't separate attractions here — they're the connective tissue of daily life, and locals take both extremely seriously. You'll eat better, and more strangely, in New Orleans than in most American cities, and you'll hear live music of a caliber that would headline festivals elsewhere, playing for free or the price of a cocktail.
It's best for travelers who want atmosphere over efficiency, who don't mind heat and a bit of grit, and who are willing to stay up late — this is not an early-to-bed city. Bachelorette parties and rowdy Bourbon Street crowds get the headlines, but New Orleans rewards people who wander a few blocks off the main drag, who eat at a small family-run place instead of the hyped spot, and who treat a trip here less like a checklist and more like an immersion. Families can absolutely make it work (aquarium, streetcars, beignets), but this is fundamentally an adults' city — one built around eating, drinking, and listening to music slowly and well.
Good to Know
Tipping: 18-20% at restaurants and bars is standard; tip street musicians a few dollars if you stop to listen, and tip your bartender per round, not just at the end.
Cash for tips and street performers: Keep small bills handy — many buskers and walking tour guides expect cash tips even if the venue itself takes cards.
Heat and humidity: Summer visits require sunscreen, water, and a pace that accounts for afternoon downpours; locals plan around the heat rather than fight it.
Safety: Stick to well-lit, populated streets at night, especially around the edges of the French Quarter and Marigny; use rideshares rather than walking long distances late at night.
Dress code: New Orleans is casual almost everywhere except a handful of upscale dinner spots like Commander's Palace, which prefers smart casual (no shorts or flip-flops in the evening).
SIM cards: Major US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) all have good coverage downtown; an eSIM or prepaid US SIM at the airport works fine if you're arriving internationally.
Mind Bourbon Street fatigue: It's worth seeing once, but the better music and food are usually a block or two away on quieter streets or over on Frenchmen Street.
Hurricane season awareness: If traveling June-November, check weather forecasts in the days before your trip, as tropical storms can disrupt flights with little notice.
