Attractions in New Orleans

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas showcases marine life from the Americas, including a 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit, a Caribbean reef tunnel, and a penguin colony.

Café Du Monde is an iconic open-air coffee stand operating 24 hours a day since 1862. Famous for its beignets (French-style doughnuts) dusted with powdered sugar and its chicory-laced café au lait.

The Hermann-Grima House is the best example of American-style architecture in the French Quarter. Built in 1831, it features an intact 1830s kitchen, slave quarters, and a formal courtyard.

Jackson Square is the historic heart of the French Quarter, a landscaped park surrounded by iconic architecture including St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytère. Street artists, musicians, and fortune tellers line its iron fence daily.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is a historic cemetery in the Garden District, dating to 1833. Its moss-draped tombs and tree-lined paths have appeared in novels by Anne Rice and several films.

Preservation Hall is a legendary jazz venue in the French Quarter dedicated to preserving traditional New Orleans jazz. The intimate, no-frills room holds about 100 people for nightly performances.

St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in North America. Its triple-steepled facade dominates Jackson Square and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest existing cemetery in New Orleans, famous for its above-ground tombs, voodoo history, and the tomb attributed to Marie Laveau. Visits require a licensed tour guide.

The Steamboat Natchez is the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River, offering daily jazz cruises with live music and Creole cuisine. The calliope (steam organ) plays from the upper deck before departure.

Audubon Zoo is a 58-acre zoo in Uptown New Orleans, home to over 2,000 animals and set among century-old live oak trees. The Louisiana Swamp exhibit is a standout.

The Beauregard-Keyes House is an 1826 raised cottage in the French Quarter that served as home to both Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard and novelist Frances Parkinson Keyes.