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Best Things to do in New Orleans (2026)

Many of the best experiences in New Orleans cost little or nothing. Walking the length of the French Market, which has operated in some form since the Spanish colonial period, is an easy morning, and the riverside Moonwalk runs alongside it. The St Charles streetcar, the oldest continuously operating street railway line in the world, is both transport and sightseeing, carrying you past the mansions of the Garden District and on towards Audubon Park.

The Garden District itself is best explored slowly on foot, looking at Greek Revival and Victorian houses from the pavement, perhaps with lunch nearby. For a behind-the-scenes look at Carnival, Mardi Gras World on the riverfront shows how parade floats are designed and built, and a free shuttle runs from selected downtown hotels. In the evening, Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny is the place for live music, with several clubs within a few blocks. A good plan is to mix one paid experience a day with free walks, and to keep evenings for music.

5 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 things to do in New Orleans

  1. French Market Historic market, French QuarterA historic riverside market district in the French Quarter, with a farmers market of food stalls, a daily flea market, local shops and a riverfront park.
  2. St Charles Streetcar Historic streetcar ride, St Charles AvenueA ride on the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, running green 1920s cars from Canal Street past the Garden District mansions to Carrollton.
  3. Garden District Historic neighbourhood walk, Garden DistrictA 19th-century residential district of Greek Revival mansions and Victorian houses between St Charles Avenue and Magazine Street, best explored on foot.

Thing to do

1. French Market

Historic marketFrench Quarter

A historic riverside market district in the French Quarter, with a farmers market of food stalls, a daily flea market, local shops and a riverfront park.

View details — French Market

Thing to do

3. Garden District

Historic neighbourhood walkGarden District

A 19th-century residential district of Greek Revival mansions and Victorian houses between St Charles Avenue and Magazine Street, best explored on foot.

View details — Garden District

Thing to do

4. Mardi Gras World

Float studio tourWarehouse District riverfront

Behind-the-scenes tours of Kern Studios on the riverfront, where floats, props and giant sculptures are designed and built for Mardi Gras parades.

View details — Mardi Gras World