Things to Do in New Orleans (2025)

Nightly acoustic sets in an intimate 1961 hall keep traditional jazz alive with local masters. A perennial pick by The New York Times and Condé Nast Traveler, it’s where you feel the city’s heartbeat up close—no mics, just music.

An Uptown institution since 1977, now owned by hometown band Galactic, Tipitina’s hosts funk, brass, Cajun fais do-dos, and late-night festival sets. Frequently praised by local critics, it’s where legends share bills with rising New Orleans talent.

A Tremé landmark documenting Mardi Gras Indians, second lines, and jazz funerals through suits, photos, and film. Lauded by travel editors and local historians, it’s run with deep neighborhood ties and offers insightful guided storytelling.

Brandan “Bmike” Odums’s 36,000‑square‑foot Bywater warehouse pairs towering murals of freedom fighters with community programming. Profiled by national outlets and praised by local arts writers, it’s an immersive look at the city’s present and future.

An outdoor village of playable musical houses by New Orleans Airlift—part art park, part performance venue. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler, its seasonal open hours and concerts invite visitors to literally make music with the city.

A nonprofit museum celebrating Southern foodways with exhibits on gumbo, cocktails, and regional traditions. Frequently cited by national food media and local press; check out in-house classes like the Deelightful Roux School for hands-on Creole cooking.

A guided house-museum devoted to the history of free people of color, led by a local family collection. Admired by culture writers and historians, tours (by appointment) connect New Orleans’s layered past to its neighborhoods today.

Founder Al Jackson’s intimate museum explains how Tremé nurtured jazz, with artifacts and a conversational tour. Celebrated by WWOZ’s A Closer Walk and travel editors, it’s a candid, neighborhood-rooted lesson in the music’s origins.

Bywater’s beloved backyard stage pairs natural-leaning wines, Mediterranean plates, and nightly live music. Frequently recommended by Eater New Orleans and national travel writers, it remains a locals’ hang that welcomes curious visitors.

Locally owned kayak tours glide along Bayou St. John, mixing architecture, ecology, and history at a relaxed pace. A Travelers’ Choice favorite and lauded by outdoor editors, it’s a serene way to see the city from the water.

A nightly open-air market showcasing local painters, jewelers, and makers beside Frenchmen Street’s clubs. Highlighted by travel guides and loved by locals, it’s perfect for browsing between sets and taking home work directly from artists.

A one-boat, owner-operated Venetian gondola glides through City Park’s lagoons—quiet, scenic, and surprisingly New Orleans. Endorsed by local publications and City Park, it’s a romantic pause amid live oaks and waterbirds.