Things to Do in New Orleans for First-Time Visitors

Are you looking to visit the spooky city during this holiday season? The city with voodoo culture and such misconceptions that they inspired Scooby-Doo movies and multiple mystery and horror novels, where the Netflix show “The Originals” was filmed, while also holding the world’s best National WWII Museum.

If so… Welcome! You have come to the right place. Come with us to explore this vibrant city, sitting at the bay of the Mississippi River, with never-ending music and delicious cuisine, coexisting and merging in multiple cultures. With its habit of finding symphonies in discord, this city has become the favorite haunt of authors, poets, artists, and many others.

You know what? Let us introduce a number of the best things to do in New Orleans. 

Let’s get started!  

Best Things to Do in New Orleans for First-Time Visitors

Explore the laughter-filled streets with constant performances providing ambient background music; from novices and otherwise, join the open invitation to dance and sing along. Try out the mouth-watering dishes and drinks as you explore museums, parks, and monuments. 

Visit the historically significant places with an audio guide playing in your ear, overlooking all the major attractions, and travelling in comfort. End the day on a high note, as you have a lovely cruise dinner, sailing along the Mississippi River.   

Explore the French Quarter

Discover this city’s cross-cultural and multilingual heritage as you start your day by surrounding yourself with history. Explore all forms of old buildings, street art, and museums as you walk among the lively streets. Visit the only authentic Voodoo Spiritual Temple and clear your misconceptions at the Historic Voodoo Museum. Also, satisfy your stomach while traversing Royal Street, the oldest street in New Orleans, known for its antiques. 

As you catch a glimpse of the iconic landmark of hero Andrew Jackson, see the masterpieces from passionate artists displayed at the square’s iron fence (maybe add your own). Join a guided tour as you walk among the graves of famous historical figures at St. Louis Cemetery and admire impressive artworks at St. Louis Cathedral, dating back to 1720.

At sunset, take part in the nocturnal lifestyle of Bourbon Street. Known for its spooky atmosphere, many directors use various locations in the city in popular TV shows, including The Originals.   

Visit the National WWII Museum

Take your time as you move within the crown jewel of New Orleans, learning the story of the war that changed the world and experiencing the grief of those left behind. From thousands of personal accounts, this museum has ascertained a timeline, and through exhibits and multimedia, they have shown the reality of the past. 

As it is improbable to learn six years and one day's worth of history in a few hours, make those hours count and determine the cause of World War 2 and the justifications of the time for its necessity. Refrain from repeating past mistakes and make your future bright.

Experience New Orleans Food & Beignets

Food is the ultimate part of experiencing culture. With its closeness to the Mississippi River, seafood and fruits are commonly found in the local cuisine. New Orleans holds many delicious shops and cafes with multi-cultural cuisines. Here, this blend of cultures consists of  “Creole cuisine”, “Cajun cuisine,” and soul food.

Try the original coffee taste at Café du Monde, with Beignets after spending your afternoon traversing Magazine Street, Freret Street, Decatur Street, or French Market to grab a bite of the pure taste of New Orleans food from the most unexpected places. 

Listen to Live Jazz & New Orleans Music

Stroll Frenchmen Street, also known as “locals’ Bourbon Street,” to enjoy live street performances and music clubs. As a first-time visitor, visiting Preservation Hall is a must. Join the Candlelight Orchestra in tribute to inspiring people and stories of Queen, Taylor Swift, The Lord of the Rings, and so many others.  

Be lost in the music synchronising in the form of Jazz, in the streets as many locals danced to the songs, capturing the city’s spirit at the end of your journey. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, you will find many performers and artists spread throughout the city to display their talent and leave their name in history.

Explore the Garden District

Take a walking tour to hear the haunting yet fascinating stories of the Garden District as you appreciate the medieval architecture that still stands tall and strong, and meet up with their creators and architects. 

Browse the contents of shops as you wander the familiar-looking streets, be inspired by writers before you, and feel the eerie charm of the city as you step back in the 19th century with grand Gothic homes and bountiful flower gardens that resemble fairy tales rather than real life.

Here, you’ll understand its reputation as “spooky” as you look behind you at every fallen leaf.
 

See New Orleans from the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the lifeblood of New Orleans, taking in the sights of blue sky meeting the calm waters, with white fluffy clouds swaying in the wind, and a school of fish swimming underneath. 

Dine on the exquisite delicacies provided during the cruise and ready your camera for scenic images of landmarks, historic buildings, and cable-stayed bridges, as the slight breeze leaves you feeling refreshed.   

Visit New Orleans City Park

Don’t forget to walk around this fairy-like park, with its stone bridges, silent river, tall trees, and serene atmosphere. A secret oasis in this macabre supernatural city. Follow the walking trails as you wander and wonder at things to do in New Orleans City Park. 

There are enough activities to spend the day away. Enter the sculpture garden to admire the hard work and detail-oriented statues that adorn the garden. Go fishing at the lake or help grow or harvest the crops at the farm. Hungry? No worries, there are several cafes inside where you can take a break and eat delicious dishes. And many more.  

Discover More of New Orleans by Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

We have made you aware of the most important attractions you must visit during your first visit. But now comes the million-dollar question. How will you travel?  Can you just walk to the locations? Should you rent a car? 

So, let me instead ask you: do you know what joins all these routes? Roads. 

Walking to nearby locations may be possible yet time-consuming, whereas public transport would be possible but much too complicated to be effective for first-time users, and taxis will be too expensive for one trip, alongside guide fees. We’ll tell you an option that will give you something more: flexibility at an affordable rate, a multilingual guide, and onboard Wi-Fi, with no hard work required on your end. 

New Orleans Hop-On Hop-Off bus tourswould be the perfect way to travel as they connect the main stops and locations with unlimited travel guides within ticket validity and provide audio and walking guides during your journey. Add in Go City Pass, and you are ready to tackle any situation in an unknown city.  

Tips for First-Time Visitors to New Orleans

• Early morning gives you pedestrian-free streets. Perfect for photos! Catch the earliest bus around.

• Make sure to wear a sturdy pair of hiking boots or sneakers to avoid getting blisters from all the walking you will be doing.

• Always plan your trip for convenience. Combine bus travel with walking to take full advantage of nearby attractions and museums.

• Keep a small bag on you that must have a protein bar, water bottle, physical map, cash, power bank, and anything else you need. Keep it light for long travels.

• New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate, meaning hot summers, so make sure to cover your skin or use sunscreen.

• Prioritize 4-5 attractions to explore rather than rushing. Ride the hop-on hop-off bus full round, listening to the live and audio commentary before deciding your chosen stops.

• Always check the schedule before departing, as it can change due to bad weather or heavy traffic.

FAQs About Visiting New Orleans for the First Time