20 Best Things to Do in New Orleans on Your First US Trip from the UK

Introduction

New Orleans is one of the best places to visit in the USA for first-time visitors from the UK, with a food scene, live music culture, and layered history unlike any other American city. This covers 20 of the best things to do in New Orleans, chosen specifically for the UK travellers making their first visit in 2026. 

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From the French Quarter to City Park, the activities to do in New Orleans span every interest and budget. The sheer variety of things in New Orleans makes it easy to fill several days without repeating the same experience. 

These picks cover the most valuable things to do in New Orleans, whether the trip is a long weekend or a full week, and include the most rewarding activities to do in New Orleans for first-timers from the UK who want to go beyond the obvious.

1. Walk Bourbon Street, French Quarter

Bourbon Street runs 13 blocks through the oldest neighbourhood in New Orleans and is the most immediately recognisable starting point. It shifts from tourist bars near Canal Street to quieter local jazz spots further along.

• Best For: First night energy and understanding the city's pace
• Don't Miss: The quieter upper end of the street where local music takes over
• Tip: Evening visits are far more atmospheric than daytime

2. Visit Jackson Square

Jackson Square is the historic heart of the French Quarter, flanked by St. Louis Cathedral and filled with artists, musicians, and tarot readers throughout the day.

• Best For: Architecture, people-watching, and street performance
• Don't Miss: St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the USA
• Tip: Morning visits are calmer and better for photography

3. Eat Beignets at Café Du Monde

Café Du Monde has served beignets and chicory café au lait since 1862 from its French Market location on Decatur Street. It operates 24 hours and is one of the most straightforward things that every visitor does on day one.

• Best For: A quintessential New Orleans food moment
• Don't Miss: The chicory-blend café au lait alongside the beignets
• Tip: Queues move quickly even when they look long

4. Catch Live Jazz on Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny consistently delivers a more authentic jazz experience than Bourbon Street, with multiple free-entry venues within a short walk of each other.

• Best For: Genuine local jazz culture, any night of the week
• Don't Miss: The Spotted Cat Music Club, free entry with no minimum spend
• Tip: Sets improve after 10 pm

5. Take a Swamp Tour

A swamp tour into the Louisiana bayous is one of the most memorable things to do in New Orleans for first-time visitors, with alligators, cypress forests, and native wildlife accessible roughly 45 minutes outside the city.

• Best For: Wildlife and a completely different side of Louisiana
• Don't Miss: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve or Honey Island Swamp
• Tip: Book in advance and confirm the meeting point when booking

6. Visit the National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum in the Warehouse District is consistently rated among the best museums in the USA and covers the American experience of World War II across multiple exhibition pavilions.

• Best For: History, immersive exhibitions, and a full day of storytelling
• Don't Miss: The Beyond All Boundaries 4D cinema experience
• Tip: Book tickets in advance and allow a full day

7. Ride the St. Charles Streetcar

The St. Charles streetcar line is one of the oldest continuously operating street railway systems in the world, at $1.25 per ride, passing through the Garden District and Uptown.

• Best For: Affordable sightseeing and local transport history
• Don't Miss: Garden District mansions visible along the route
• Tip: An RTA Jazzy Pass gives unlimited rides for multi-day visitors

8. Explore the Garden District

The Garden District contains some of the finest antebellum mansions in the American South, set along oak-lined streets with a noticeably quieter atmosphere than the French Quarter.

• Best For: Architecture, quiet walks, and photography
• Don't Miss: Commander's Palace restaurant for a classic New Orleans lunch
• Tip: Self-guided walking is free; guided tours add historical depth

9. Tour St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest surviving cemetery in New Orleans, dating to 1789, famous for its above-ground tombs. Entry requires a licensed guide, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans mandates booking through an approved tour operator.

• Best For: History, funerary architecture, and New Orleans cultural heritage
• Don't Miss: The tomb associated with Marie Laveau, the 19th-century Voodoo Queen of New Orleans
• Tip: Save Our Cemeteries is one of the most established and approved operators for tours inside

10. Visit Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall is one of the most important New Orleans things to see on a first visit, operating as a jazz preservation venue in the French Quarter since 1961 with multiple intimate sets nightly.

• Best For: Traditional New Orleans jazz in a historic, stripped-back venue
• Don't Miss: General admission sets from $20
• Tip: Book reserved seating in advance during busy periods

11. Take a Mississippi River Cruise

The Steamboat Natchez operates daily sightseeing and dinner jazz cruises from the Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter. It is one of the last authentic steam-powered sternwheelers operating on the Mississippi River.

• Best For: River views, jazz, and Creole food in one experience
• Don't Miss: The harbour jazz cruise for a shorter, accessible option
• Tip: Book directly through the Steamboat Natchez website for the best rates

12. Explore the French Market

The French Market stretches along the Mississippi Riverfront and has operated continuously since 1791, mixing food vendors, craft stalls, and local produce in one of the oldest public markets in the USA.

• Best For: Souvenirs, local produce, and casual browsing
• Don't Miss: The farmers market section for Louisiana-specific produce
• Tip: Weekend visits give the fullest version of the market

13. Try a Classic New Orleans Cocktail

New Orleans has a legitimate claim to several iconic American cocktails. The Sazerac is widely regarded as the oldest American cocktail, created in the city in the early 19th century. The Hurricane was invented at Pat O'Brien's on St. Peter Street.

• Best For: Drinking history alongside the drink itself
• Don't Miss: The Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel for the most historically significant setting
• Tip: Arnaud's French 75 Bar is one of the most atmospheric spots in the Quarter

14. Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art

The New Orleans Museum of Art sits inside City Park and holds over 40,000 works spanning 5,000 years. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, adjacent to the museum, is free to enter without a museum ticket.

• Best For: Art, outdoor sculpture, and a calmer break from the centre
• Don't Miss: The Sculpture Garden, open daily and free of charge
• Tip: Combined tickets cover the main museum and special exhibitions

15. Eat a Po'Boy and a Muffuletta

The po'boy and the muffuletta are the two sandwiches that define New Orleans food culture alongside the beignet, and trying both is among the essential New Orleans things to see and do on any food-focused first visit.

• Best For: A genuine taste of the city's food heritage
• Don't Miss: Central Grocery on Decatur Street, originator of the muffuletta sandwich in 1906
• Tip: Domilise's in Uptown is widely rated among the best po'boy shops in the city

16. Walk Magazine Street

Magazine Street stretches six miles through Uptown and the Garden District, lined with independent boutiques, antique shops, cafés, and galleries. It is one of the most enjoyable things in New Orleans for a slower afternoon away from the French Quarter.

• Best For: Independent shopping, browsing, and neighbourhood life
• Don't Miss: The stretch between Louisiana Avenue and Napoleon Avenue
• Tip: Take the streetcar there and walk back at your own pace

17. Take a Ghost Tour

New Orleans has one of the most established ghost tour scenes in the USA, built on the city's documented history of fire, plague, and conflict. Tours run nightly through the French Quarter and cover verified historical events.

• Best For: History told through a different angle, particularly engaging after dark
• Don't Miss: Tours covering the LaLaurie Mansion and the Sultan's Palace
• Tip: Tour quality varies significantly; check reviews before booking

18. Visit the Ogden Museum of Southern Art

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in the Warehouse Arts District focuses entirely on art from the American South. Thursday evening, Ogden after hours events combine live music with extended gallery access from 6 pm to 8 pm.

• Best For: Southern American art and a quieter cultural experience
• Don't Miss: Thursday Ogden After Hours events
• Tip: Combined tickets with the National WWII Museum offer savings

19. Explore City Park

City Park covers 1,300 acres and includes the New Orleans Museum of Art, a botanical garden, an amusement park, and vast live oak trees draped in Spanish moss. It offers some of the best activities to do in New Orleans for a slower, nature-focused day outside the centre.

• Best For: Green space, families, and a break from the city centre
• Don't Miss: The Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and the free Sculpture Garden
• Tip: Pedal boats are available to rent on the park lagoons

20. Explore the Warehouse Arts District

The Warehouse Arts District sits in 19th-century commercial buildings now housing galleries, museums, and restaurants. It is some of the most rewarding New Orleans stuff to do for visitors who want contemporary culture alongside serious food.

• Best For: Contemporary art, galleries, and upscale dining
• Don't Miss: The Contemporary Arts Center on Camp Street
• Tip: Combine with the National WWII Museum and Ogden Museum for a full cultural day

These 20 cover the complete range of things to do in New Orleans, making it one of the best places to visit in the US, from the iconic to the genuinely local. 

For the UK travellers making their first visit, the city rewards a slower pace across several days rather than a checklist approach. 

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FAQs

Do UK visitors need a visa to visit New Orleans?

Most UK passport holders need an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for tourism trips to the USA of up to 90 days. Apply at the official US Customs and Border Protection website before departure. Always verify current requirements before booking.

What is the best time of the year to visit New Orleans?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) offer the most comfortable temperatures. February brings Mardi Gras, which is a major event, but makes accommodations significantly pricier. August is the hottest and most humid month.

How many days do you need in New Orleans?

Three to four full days cover the major experiences comfortably. Five to six days allows for a swamp tour day trip, slower neighbourhood afternoons, and multiple evenings across different music venues without feeling rushed.

Is New Orleans safe for first-time visitors from the UK?

The French Quarter, Garden District, and Warehouse District are the most visitor-friendly areas. Check the current FCDO travel advice for the USA at gov.uk before departure and use standard urban awareness at night.

How do UK travellers get around New Orleans?

The St. Charles and Canal Street streetcar lines cover key areas for $1.25 per ride. Uber and Lyft operate widely. Walking is practical within the French Quarter and Garden District. An RTA Jazzy Pass day option covers unlimited streetcar and bus rides.

Disclaimer

This information is based on publicly available sources at the time of writing. Costs, hours, and travel conditions may vary. Jetpac is not responsible for any differences in network performance or the accuracy of third-party data. No destinations or services are specifically endorsed. Travellers should check current travel advisories, local conditions, and entry requirements before booking. Device compatibility, carrier support, and network availability may affect eSIM performance.