Things to Do in The French Quarter
The city's oldest neighborhood, from Jackson Square to the French Market.
See top-rated activities »About the French Quarter
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carre, is about thirteen blocks long and six or seven deep, and you could cross it in twenty minutes. Nobody does. The pleasure is in wandering: looking up at cast-iron balconies hung with ferns, peering through carriageways into courtyards, stopping for coffee, music or a drink. Despite the name, most of the old buildings date from the Spanish period and the decades after it, when fires in 1788 and 1794 led to rebuilding in brick and stucco.
Jackson Square is the center. St. Louis Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in continuous use in the country, faces the square, flanked by the Cabildo, where the Louisiana Purchase transfer took place in 1803, and the Presbytere, both now part of the Louisiana State Museum. Artists hang their work on the square's iron fence, and street musicians and tarot readers set up along the pedestrian walkways. Across Decatur Street, Cafe Du Monde has served beignets and cafe au lait since 1862, and the French Market stretches downriver with food stalls and crafts.
Royal Street, one block from Bourbon, is the Quarter's most handsome street, with antique dealers, galleries and, on its pedestrian blocks, some of the best street performers in the city. The Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal has free exhibits on the city's history, and the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum shows how medicine was practiced in the nineteenth century. In the evening, Preservation Hall on St. Peter Street presents short sets of traditional New Orleans jazz in a small, plain room, much as it has since 1961.
Bourbon Street is best experienced briefly and late. If you prefer quieter bars, head to the lower Quarter near Esplanade. Walking tours here cover architecture, cocktails, food, pirates, voodoo and ghost stories, and the cooking schools nearby teach Creole and Cajun basics.
Don’t Miss
The historic main square, with the cathedral at its head and artists along the fence. The cathedral is an active parish church, so visit quietly outside of services.
Two Spanish colonial buildings beside the cathedral, now Louisiana State Museum sites with exhibits on state history and on Mardi Gras.
Short, intimate sets of traditional New Orleans jazz nightly in a small hall that has protected the music since 1961. Buy tickets in advance.
A museum and research center with free exhibitions on New Orleans and Gulf South history.
A long run of open-air market sheds with food vendors, crafts and souvenirs, near Cafe Du Monde.
A restored 1820s apothecary with old medicines, instruments and a courtyard garden.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in the French Quarter
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 31, 2026. See & Do New Orleans may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »the French Quarter — FAQ
What is the best way to see the French Quarter?
On foot. A two-hour guided walking tour on the first day gives you the history and the layout, and then you can explore on your own. Mornings are quiet and cooler; evenings bring the music.
Is Bourbon Street worth visiting?
Walk it once, ideally in the evening, to see the spectacle. For live jazz in a calmer setting, Preservation Hall in the Quarter and the clubs on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny are better choices.
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