Louisiana · best-of list
9 Top Things to Do in Louisiana
All 9 things to do our route editors picked in Louisiana, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. 9 come with an insider tip, and 3 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
9 things to do in Louisiana, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
French Quarter & Riverfront 3 picks
Algiers Point
French Quarter & Riverfront · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
Quiet neighborhood across the river with a levee path that looks straight back at the Quarter and the skyline.
Tip: Take the ferry from Canal Street and check its late-night schedule before you rely on it to get back.
Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 4.0
Jackson Square
French Quarter & Riverfront · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
The Quarter's old parade ground, facing St. Louis Cathedral, a short walk from the riverfront viewing areas.
Tip: Cross to the Moonwalk on the levee behind it for a clear view of the fireworks.
Photo: Clark Mills · Public domain
Woldenberg Park
French Quarter & Riverfront · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
Riverfront park at the foot of the Quarter, home of the free New Orleans Eve concert and countdown in 2025.
Tip: Enter from the Canal Street end, where the bag-check lines are usually shorter.
Photo: Jesse James · CC BY 2.0
Garden District & Uptown 3 picks
Caesars Superdome
Garden District & Uptown · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
Downtown dome that hosts the Sugar Bowl, a college football game typically played on or around Jan 1.
Tip: Check the game date before booking; it has moved in recent years.
Garden District homes
Garden District & Uptown · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
Greek Revival and Italianate mansions from the 1800s on Prytania, First and Chestnut streets.
Tip: Walk the blocks between Washington and First streets; the houses are private, so stay on the sidewalk.
Photo: Daniel Hartwig · CC BY 2.0
St. Charles Streetcar
Garden District & Uptown · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
Green streetcars running since 1835 under the oaks of St. Charles Avenue, from Canal Street to Carrollton.
Tip: Bring exact change or buy a Jazzy Pass in the GoMobile app.
Photo: Infrogmation · CC BY-SA 4.0
New Orleans 3 picks
Preservation Hall
New Orleans · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Tiny hall dedicated to traditional New Orleans jazz, sets nightly.
Tip: Buy timed tickets online; no bar inside.
Photo: Francis Lee · CC BY-SA 3.0
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar
New Orleans · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
1920s green streetcar line past Garden District oaks and mansions.
Tip: Buy a Jazzy Pass on the GoMobileNOLA app; exact change otherwise.
Photo: Brooke Moss · Google
The National WWII Museum
New Orleans · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Large museum with immersive exhibits on the Second World War.
Tip: Allow at least 4 hours; buy timed tickets online.
Photo: Donna M Qualk · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Louisiana?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Louisiana has the most things to do on this list?
French Quarter & Riverfront, Garden District & Uptown and New Orleans lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 0 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
3 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Jackson Square, Garden District homes and Woldenberg Park. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Louisiana
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- French Quarter & Riverfront 3 on this list
- Garden District & Uptown 3 on this list
- New Orleans 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.