Ultimate 20 Things To Do In The French Quarter Of New Orleans Louisiana

1. Discover The French Quarter

New Orleans’ oldest district, the French Quarter, is a classic and vibrant hub of culture, history, and thrill. Exploring the French Quarter is like unearthing an exquisite treasure trove because of its exhilarating ambiance.

Culinary delights abound here with popular cuisines such as Creole and Cajun classics among many others; for example, you have not visited Cafe du Monde until you’ve tried their world-famous beignets. Hence, this is one of the best things to do in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

2. Immerse Yourself In Preservation Hall

Located at the heart of France’s Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, Preservation Hall is a legendary site created to protect and commemorate the flourishing of Jass music. Established in 1961, this former Venue is popularly known for its intimate and enthralling live performances.

Vintage ambiance fills the venue; a simple but welcoming atmosphere where one can truly relish all the soulful melodies and songs that traditional jazz has to offer. Thus, attending a performance at Preservation Hall gives you an opportunity like no other – an authentic look at the vibrant jass scene that forms New Orleans’ musical lifeline.

3. Uncover The Charm Of Jackson Square

Unveiling the aura of live culture and history that defines the soul of this great city, Jackson Square situated at the core of the French Quarter in New Orleans is an obligatory stopping point for tourists.

This public space has existed since long ago but underwent name changes becoming Place d'Armes and changing again totally transforming it into what it is now - a remarkable historical spot framed by magnificent buildings such as Saint Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo as well as Presbytere. Trekking within it provides an opportunity to see its green vegetation, ancient sculptures, and vibrant atmosphere. At the same time, many local painters within the area transform their creativity into street performances, thus providing incessant entertainment.

4. Experience The New Orleans School Of Cooking

If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss when in the French Quarter, it’s the New Orleans School of Cooking; it is recognized for an immersive and interactive culinary experience. Here, visitors are invited to savor the flavor-filled dishes that Creole and Cajun cultures are known for.

At its hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations held by professional chefs, participants will learn how to make exemplary dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, or pralines. These classes provide practical skills related to cooking in New Orleans while at the same time recounting stories that depict how culture and history have affected New Orleans’ cuisine.

5. Dive Into Audubon Aquarium

The Audubon Auditorium, which is found in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, serves as a great place for all tourists who come to this region. This renowned aquarium allows visitors to enjoy life beneath the surface with different types of fish.

Exhibition areas are filled with such creatures as those living on the Caribbean seas or the Gulf of Mexico – for example, colorful coral reef habitats, playful penguins, or gigantic sharks that look like they are swimming right in front of our eyes. In addition, there are also interactive sections that help us understand diverse aquatic ecosystems and conservation work happening around them.

6. Uncover The History At The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

At the center of the French Quarter, one can find the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, which is a captivating place that presents an exclusive insight into medicinal and pharmaceutical history.

This museum is hosted in a well-preserved nineteenth-century building that displays an astonishing assortment of antique medical tools, old-style apothecary bottles, and cosmetics retailer literature.

Travelers can examine the displays which highlight ancient healing methods, customary cures as well as developments within the pharmacy industry over time. Additionally, the vintage elements of the premises make it an unforgettable journey.

7. Discover The National WWII Museum

The National World War II Museum is an exceptional place that is both touching and educational as it tries to maintain the legacy and past of the Second World War. It is a famous museum that presents a broad understanding of the war through detailed exhibits, personal stories, and interactive displays.

In these permanent galleries, visitors can explore different aspects of warfare while viewing works that range from military campaigns to life on the home front to deriving first-hand experiences of those who went through it. Interesting artifacts and firsthand accounts through speech or writing alongside digital collections are what make this museum stand out as everything related to the Second World War is made alive.

8. Delve Into The Historic New Orleans Collection

The Historic New Orleans Collection is a reservoir of the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage and is home to many treasures. With its wealth of artifacts, documents, and artworks, this prestigious museum and research center offers an opportunity for visitors to journey through time in the history of New Orleans.

It covers different facets of local history–from early American settlement and slave trading days to the period preceding America’s Civil War (1861-1865) as well as the city’s juiciest cultural metamorphoses. In addition, there are interactive exhibitions that allow visitors to explore some aspects of New Orleans while paying attention to carefully conceived galleries and learning programs to appreciate the tales behind this great city.

9. Immerse Yourself In The New Orleans Jazz Museum

For those who love music and history, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is a place to be. In the ‘old’ U.S. Mint, this museum has documented the heritage of Jazz music that surged from New Orleans.

The visitors can see many things inside like old instruments, unique recordings, and personal items belonging to famous jazz musicians. Along with this, there are mesmerizing displays about how Jazz has evolved and its great artists. Therefore, it is the best things to do in New Orleans French Quarter.

10. Visit The Cabildo

This remarkable place is The Cabildo, a historic landmark as well as a museum that provides deep insight into the history of the city. In its original construction, it served as a seat for the Spanish colonial government but now it contains avid collections which illustrate extensive history about New Orleans and Louisiana.

Exhibits related to diverse things like the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, or cultural transformation over time can be examined by visitors. The structure itself is an architectural masterpiece that reflects wealth during Spanish colonial times. Lastly, it is the best things to do in the French Quarter Louisiana.

11. Discover BK Historic House And Gardens

BK Historic House and Gardens is a beautifully preserved historic home dating back to the 19th century offering visitors an immersive experience of New Orleans’ past. The house exhibits meticulously restored interiors showing period furnishings, works of art, and decor items that highlight the richness associated with its finish.

Lush gardens encircle the house making it a tranquil paradise filled with rare plants, elaborate water fountains, and pretty paths winding through them. It is here where one can have guided tours that enlighten on its historical importance.

12. Uncover The History At The Old Ursuline Convent Museum

The Old Ursuline Convent Museum is claimed to be a treasure of history in the city’s rich past. It is well preserved at least for generations and that is why it stands out as one of the oldest buildings in the Mississippi Valley.

The museum has many exhibits that visitors can enjoy such as artifacts and displays about Ursuline nuns, who contributed to both education and healthcare in New Orleans's early days, thereby influencing its early development. The terrific gardens surrounding it and its quiet chapel make it an excellent escape from the busy streets of the French Quarter.

13. Stroll Along The Louis Armstrong Park

The Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, Louisiana is a must-see that highlights the city’s vibrant culture and rich musical history. Named after jazz superstar Louis Armstrong himself, this 32-acre park offers an escape from bustling French Quarter streets.

People can walk on beautifully landscaped gardens, look at statues and sculptures honoring influential jazz artists, as well as enjoy its quiet lagoons and bridges. It also has Congo Square which is historically important for it was where enslaved Africans gathered to sing and dance thereby preserving their cultural heritage.

14. Unveil The Mysteries Of The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum

The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is a fascinating place that allows one to understand Voodoo, a mystical yet often misunderstood religion. In this small, charming museum, the history of Voodoo in New Orleans and its cultural significance are conserved.

Here, visitors will find numerous intriguing artifacts, such as altars, paintings, and ritual objects which they can examine while learning more about where the religion comes from, its founders like Marie Laveau, and the lasting impact it has had on the city’s culture. Thus, the museum serves as an institution where individuals may acquire knowledge of the customs that define this religion.

15. Relax At New Orleans City Park

Running across an expanse of about 1,300 acres, it represents one of the biggest urban parks that provides an assortment of activities available for every kind of visitor. You could go around the landscaped botanical gardens; stroll on the delightful walking tracks, or hire a paddleboat for a quiet time in lagoons.

In addition to being elegantly decorated with flowers, the park houses the New Orleans Museum of Art and appealingly relaxing Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden giving an engaging cultural exposure in the middle of nature’s glamour. Hence, this is one of the most beautiful things to do in the French Quarter New Orleans.

16. Uncover The Treasures Of The New Orleans Museum Of Art

One of the best things to do in the French Quarter in New Orleans is to explore the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). It has a large collection of more than 40,000 objects made over 5,000 years which include works done by European artists, as well as those from Asia, Africa, and America. 

Here, visitors can take pleasure in great works made by famous artists such as Monet, Picasso, and O’Keeffe and also a wide variety of decorative arts photography and sculpture. The museum also contains the charming Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden where more than 90 sculptures sit on verdant surroundings and mirror pools.

17. Visit The French Market

French Market represents a bustling marketplace that is historical and full of culture, food, and shopping. One of the oldest public registries in America, this place was founded in 1791 hence it has occupied several square blocks within a defined area which makes it appealing since residents there can explore it if they want to. 

It has different vendors that sell various items such as fresh vegetables or fruits, unique handmade artworks, locally painted pictures, or mementos. A food lover’s paradise awaits with everything from old-fashioned Creole or Cajun specialties to foreign cuisines served from different countries around the world. Street performances sometimes bring out that lively atmosphere live music generates for everyone who visits.

18. Experience The St. Louis Cathedral

Visiting the St. Louis Cathedral should be on your to-do list because it takes you into the depth of this city’s history and architectural beauty. It is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the world.

With its stunning three spires and intricately designed front face some of the things that represent New Orleans’ French as well as Spanish colonial past; this has made it an iconic place located at Jackson Square. Within the cathedral, there are wonderful stained glass windows, richly decorated altars, and beautiful murals which create an atmosphere that is peaceful yet full of wonderment.

19. Delve Into The Audubon Insectarium

This is a captivating and one-of-a-kind educational destination within the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, which serves as an engaging point of interest for people of all ages. It houses one of the largest insect museums in America with vast amounts one can see including live insects, interactive exhibits, as well as amazing displays that delve into their world.

There are colors in butterflies seen within the butterfly garden; ants’ intricate lifestyle can be experienced through the colony exhibition while tasting bug food may be found at Bug Appetit cafe. Therefore, this insectarium offers an amusing means of appreciating how important insects are to our ecosystem.

20. Discover St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of the French Quarter’s most renowned and historically significant sites in New Orleans, Louisiana. This amazing burial ground has been around since 1789 and serves as a final resting place for some of the prominent figures such as Marie Laveau, who is famously known for her craft in Vodoo.

This is interestingly made of above-ground tombs that were carved in response to the city’s high water table thus providing a magnificent scene into the past life of New Orleans. As they wander through twisted paths, visitors will find themselves confronted with elaborate grave markers that date back centuries while being able to learn about this hauntingly attractive location.