Where to Stay in New Orleans

By Sarah Harris

Bursting with culture and living history, New Orleans is one of the most popular visitor destinations of the south. From its fantastic cultural amenities to swinging jazz clubs and hidden gems, there are countess reasons to love The Big Easy. Still, figuring out exactly where to stay isn’t always the easiest task. The city is massive, and can be a little overwhelming for someone who’s never visited. Should you stay in the French Quarter? Or how about the Garden District? Spoiler alert: there is no one tried-and-true answer – it totally depends on your itinerary! Lucky for you, we’ve done all the heavy lifting here – so, if you’re making your way over to the Big Easy and still aren’t certain how to plan your stay, have a read through our list of the best neighborhoods in the city. We’ll cover everything from cost and accessibility to neighborhood highlights and atmosphere to make sure that you can plan your trip with ease. Wherever you choose to stay, we’re sure you’ll have a blast!

The French Quarter

Image of Spire, Tower, Clock Tower, Monastery, Person, Cathedral, Church, Bell Tower, Arch, Gothic Arch,

Vibrant and bustling with life, the French Quarter is the most popular choice for first-time visitors to The Big Easy. As the historic heart of the city, the area is home to a great number of cultural attractions, including The Presbytère, The Cabildo and St. Louis Cathedral. Stay here, and you’ll be spoilt for choice with interesting things to see and do! The French Quarter is also home to Bourbon Street, New Orleans’ liveliest nightlife destination. After sunset, the area comes to life with fun bars and live music venues. This is also a great spot to stay in if you decide to travel during Mardi Gras - since the parades take place through the area, you'll get a front row seat to all of the action. Whilst this might be one of the more expensive places to stay in New Orleans, if you choose to go during off-peak season, you’ll be able to find more affordable prices on accommodation. This neighborhood is also pretty walkable, though you’ll find it easy to find various methods of transportation should you want to travel a little further out to see different parts of the city. As the city’s prime tourist destination, the French Quarter has a lot to offer.

The Garden District

Image of Urban, City, Road, Street, Neighborhood, Handbag, Cityscape, Person, Bicycle, Vehicle, Chair,

If you’re looking to enjoy all of the beauty of New Orleans without the hustle and bustle, the Garden District would be an excellent choice. Located in the uptown area of the city, this quiet historic neighborhood is well-recognized for its captivating architecture and lush greenery. One of the most popular activities to do here is taking a guided walking tour of all of the stunning mansions. Still, that’s not all there is to see here. With Magazine Street at the southern border of the district, you’ll have access to some of the best upscale shopping in the city. And if you’re wondering about food (and let’s face it, why wouldn’t you be?) the neighborhood is home to a wide array of options. From casual sit-downs to fine dining, you’re sure to find something to pique your interest. In addition, the Garden District is home to a lot of New Orleans’ most wonderful hidden gems, including Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, The Rink and the New Orleans Fire Department Museum. Since the area is known for its fantastic scenery, this area is best explored on foot – we recommend bringing your best walking shoes and lots of sunscreen to stay comfortable throughout your trip.

The Warehouse/Arts District

Image of Urban, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Handbag, Male, Man, Desk, Furniture, Table, Cup, Monitor, Bar, Refrigerator,

New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz, though there’s so much more to see there for creative types. If you want to make the most of the city’s thriving art scene, we recommend staying in the Warehouse District right in the heart of downtown. Once a gritty industrial neighborhood, this spot is now one of the trendiest areas of New Orleans, packed with cutting-edge galleries and hidden gems. The Warehouse District is also a fantastic place to shop, with interesting boutiques and eclectic stores around every corner. In addition, this spot is home to some of the best restaurants in the city – from trendy sidewalk cafes to sleek sit-downs, you’re sure to find something to take your fancy. The architecture in the Warehouse District is wonderful, though more modern than what is typically expected for New Orleans. The area is very walkable - we recommend exploring the neighborhood by foot to soak up all of its beauty. Luckily enough, this place offers cheaper accommodation than other popular touristy areas like the French Quarter. For art lovers and culture vultures alike, this place really hits the spot!

Treme

Image of Urban, Adult, Male, Man, Person, Shoe, Group Performance, Music, Music Band, Musical Instrument, Musician, Performer, Hat, City, Glove, Road, Street, Box, Pants, Handbag,

A city steeped in living history and culture, New Orleans is a total treat for visitors of a curious mind. For those who are looking to learn more about the city and its rich heritage, we suggest staying in Treme. As the city’s oldest African American neighborhood, the neighborhood is well-known for its wonderful museums – we suggest checking out the Backstreet Cultural Museum, the Petit Jazz Museum and the New Orleans African American Museum. And if you thought it stopped there, you were wrong. With its fascinating background, there’s a lot to see and do here for those who want to incorporate some education into their travel experience – from historic theaters and fun festivals to cemetery tours and unique churches, you’ll never run out of things to do. In addition, the spot is home to some of the best authentic soul food in the city – we recommend checking out Gabrielle Restaurant, Sweet Soulfood and Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe. The neighborhood is pretty affordable to stay in and is well within walking distance from the French Quarter, so you can head over to some of the city’s top visitor attractions with ease. We love this spot because it has a laid-back, live-like-the-locals vibe.

Image of Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone, Photography, Finger, Hand, Person, Adult, Female, Woman,

New Orleans has an area for every palate and preference – it's all up to you to decide! Explore the city to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.

Sarah Harris
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Blog

Outdoor Activities New Orleans

A well-rounded city seated right by the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans is an exciting place to visit for first-timers and seasoned visitors alike. Around 20 million people flock to The Big Easy each year – and it’s easy to see why! Proving its status as one of the south’s top visitor destinations, the best things to do in New Orleans run the gamut. From admiring the beautiful mansions of the Garden District to ambling along the scenic hiking trails of the Barataria Preserve, the city presents ample opportunity for outdoor exploration and adventure. Looking for the best way to fill up your trip to the Big Easy? Look no further! Check out our guide to the best outdoor activities in New Orleans. However you choose to enjoy your time in the south, we’re sure it’ll be just wonderful. See the City Perhaps no other place in the United States is known for its architecture quite like New Orleans. If you’re looking to marvel over some of the most gorgeous historic homes in the country, we recommend taking a walking tour through the Garden District. Well-revered for its stunning mansions and meticulously well-kept gardens, this charming neighborhood is a total treat for both history buffs and architecture geeks alike. We suggest bringing plenty of water and sunscreen since New Orleans weather can be pretty hot and humid. In addition to its diversity in beauty, the Garden District is a fantastic place to window shop, with Magazine Street on the southern border of the neighborhood boasting some of the best upscale boutiques and eclectic stores in the whole city. To take a break after some hardcore exploring, we suggest sitting down at a quaint sidewalk cafe, ordering a sweet tea, and soaking up those distinctly southern vibes. If you're looking for something a little different, don’t worry – we've got you covered! Billed as ‘’the city of the dead’’, New Orleans is well-recognized for its fascinating historic cemeteries. Not only are these places known for their unusual above-ground graves, but they are also where some of the most famous jazz greats were laid to rest. If you’re looking to experience this creepier side of the city, we suggest checking out the St. Louis Cemetery Tour. Combining the city’s rich history with its wholly distinctive culture, this tour provides a great way to incorporate education into your vacation experience. Along the way, you’ll be able to learn more about the traditions which surround burials in the city, such as jazz funerals and Voodoo practices. Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is buried in St. Louis No. 1 and jazz musicians Danny Barker and Ernie K. Doe are buried in St. Louis No. 2. Experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans and delve into the unique history native to this part of the United States alone. A thoroughly fascinating cultural experience, this tour is not to be missed. Get in Touch With Nature If you love nature as much as we do, you might just be interested in our next suggestion. The New Orleans Botanical Garden was opened in 1936 and still stands as a popular oasis in the heart of the city. Covering over ten acres of enchantment, this beautiful green space is well-recognized for its lovely collection of 2,000 plants from around the world. The garden features several different components, including the Original Garden, the Demonstration Garden and Exotic Foliage. The park is also known for its wonderful art installations, most of which are the work of Mexican-born artist Enrique Alferez. Don't forget to check out the butterfly walk, where you can experience a wide array of species all in one spot. Offering a peaceful respite from the city, this wonderful outdoorsy mecca is a great place for gathering your thoughts and experiencing the true magic of mother nature. Seated along the southern coastline, New Orleans is rich and endowed with remarkable plant life to be explored. If you’re looking to get stuck in, there’s no better place to see than the Barataria Preserve. Located just outside Marrero, this space offers a great way to get in touch with nature and learn more about the world around us. The park covers over 23, 000 acres of bayous, swamps, marshes and wetlands to be explored. This unique nature attraction is home to a lot of animals – expect to see everything from minks and deer to alligators and water snakes. The spot is also a popular visitor site for birdwatchers, as it is home to over 300 bird species. Fun activities to do here include hiking, swimming, canoeing and kayaking. In addition, visitors can discover more about the environment at the site’s visitor center, which offers educational films, displays and interactive exhibits. With its meandering hiking trails and wonderful greenery, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend a sunny day out in New Orleans! Have a Blast! Those travelling with family might just appreciate the next item on our list. Set up way back in 1906, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park offers a full day of classic all-American entertainment to remember. Breaking away from your typical theme park experience, this spot works to retain much of its original old southern charm. The park has a great assortment of old-fashioned rides to choose from, making it a total crowd-pleaser. For younger visitors and those who like to play it safe, rides like the Ferris wheel and bumper cars would be just perfect. But if it’s a hit of adrenaline you’re after, you’ll probably prefer the tilt-a-whirl. There’s also a concession stand, serving up traditional theme park snacks like corndogs, sliders and cotton candy. We love this spot because it’s impossible to leave without a huge smile stretched across your face. No doubt New Orleans has plenty to see and do in the outdoors. The city has a charm all of its own which can’t quite be replicated. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the history of The Big Easy or getting some fresh air and soaking up the sun, you’ll be blown away by all that there is to discover. Just remember to pack plenty of sunscreen! Explore the city to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris
Beautiful architecture and deep history of one of New Orleans oldest and most famous neighbourhoods, the Garden District, Louisiana
Blog

Things to do in Garden District New Orleans

New Orleans is a sprawling cultural hub located on the southeastern coastline of the United States. Still, there’s a quieter side of the city just waiting to be explored. For those who are looking to escape all of the hustle and bustle, the Garden District is the perfect place to spend a quiet day in the city.
Sarah Harris
Blog

Things to do in Uptown New Orleans

New Orleans is a fantastic cultural hub drawing in millions of visitors each year. Whilst the city is well-known for its big personality, there’s a quieter side to New Orleans that’s well worth exploring. Located upstream of the Mississippi River, Uptown is a delightful grouping of 19th-century neighborhoods. Whilst each neighborhood varies, the area is mostly popular for its beautiful architecture and laid-back atmosphere. Still, if you’re thinking that you’ll be bored there, you couldn’t be more wrong. With some of the city’s best cultural attractions, hidden gems and authentic dining spots, there’s always something to see and do in Uptown – all that’s left to do it decide what it is! Still daunted by the idea of exploring a new place? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. If you’re planning to discover this charming area of New Orleans, have a read through our comprehensive list of interesting things to do in the area. We promise you won’t regret it! Explore the Area A visit to New Orleans just wouldn’t be complete without taking a look at some of the incredible architecture in the area. Uptown is generally well-recognized for its beautiful structures, though the Wedding Cake House tops the list as one of the area's most exquisite visitor attractions. Built way back in 1825, the house was designed in colonial-revival style, true to the nature of the neighborhood. Today, this stunning Victorian mansion draws in visitors from near and far for its uncanny resemblance to – yup, you guessed it – a fondant wedding cake! With its grandly decorated balconies and columns, this spot paints a true picture of antebellum style. This is a private residence and not available for tours, though its incredible exterior alone makes this spot well worth the visit. We recommend touring the surrounding area, since there are plenty more architectural beauties to be enjoyed. Whether you’re a history and architecture buff or just looking for that perfect Instagram shot, this place is a total must-see. If strolling through aisles of locally sourced produce and fun pantry ingredients takes your fancy, you just might enjoy the next item on our list. Operating weekly year-round uptown, the Crescent City Farmers’ Market is a great place to spend time with friends and family. With over 60 small farmers, fishers and food producers, this spot is one of the top food markets to visit in the city, ranking high up next to the French Market. Still, this attraction’s main draw has got to be its fresh food vendors, serving up a wide array of culinary delights. Try artisanal foie gras with freshly baked bread. Enjoy hand-rolled hot tamales. Or, cool down from the southern weather with some decadent gelato. In addition, you can shop everything from crafts and souvenirs to one-of-a-kind vintage items and collectibles here. We couldn’t think of a better way to soak up the culture and atmosphere of the area. Get Cultured If you’re looking to up the ante from streaming movies on your iPad whilst on vacation, we’ve got a way better alternative. For a great viewing experience that offers something a little different, we suggest heading over to the Prytania Theatre in the heart of the Garden District. A remnant of the Roaring Twenties, the theater dates back to 1927, offering a great taste of the old south. In fact, this place is recognized as the oldest single-screen movie house still operating in Louisiana. It draws in the crowd because of its timeless beauty and can seat up to 750 people. The theater is known for its outstanding programming, with a great mix of modern blockbusters and old classics to be enjoyed. In addition, the spot has traditional movie concessions, with fresh hot popcorn, nachos, candy and also a bar. Since this spot is a single-screen theater, we strongly recommend checking online for what’s showing before heading over. We love this spot because it’s the perfect place to appreciate movies in a unique and atmospheric space. New Orleans isn’t just a great place to catch a jazz show – in fact, the city is packed with fantastic cultural institutions ranging through all types of disciplines. If it’s art that takes your fancy, we know just the place – the Newcomb Art Museum. A constituent of Tulane University, this spot works well to educate and inspire those who’d like to learn more about modern art. The institute is perhaps best known for its significant collection of Newcomb pottery, for which it is named, though there’s a lot more to see here. Walking through the museum, visitors can also enjoy drawings, paintings, sculptures, and prints from some of the world’s most prolific modern artists. In addition, the institute is home to several one-of-a-kind stained-glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The museum is small and free of charge, making it perfect for those who are trying to travel on a budget. Since this place is continuously switching up their exhibits, you can visit again and again and you’ll always be seeing something new. A total favorite for locals and visitors alike, this stop works to provide a fantastic cultural experience for those of all ages. Have a Blast! Those looking for great family day trips won’t have look much further than Uptown. Whilst the area is bursting with fantastic things to do, one of our all-time favorite stops has got to be Audubon Zoo. First opened to the public way back in 1884, this place has been delighting visitors from near and far for a very long time. We especially love this spot because it works to cultivate interest in the natural world whilst promoting the idea of conservation. Today, visitors can enjoy engaging and educational exhibits featuring over 2,000 animals across a wide array of species. Expect to see everything from giraffes and zebras to snakes and cougars. If you’re the type who likes to get up close with the animals, don’t forget to check the website before heading out to ensure that you don’t miss live feedings and meetings. This place has several cafés and shopping destinations to enhance the experience. We recommend taking plenty of sunscreen and water, since a lot of the exhibits are outdoors. A total crowd-pleaser, we love this spot for rekindling our sense of childlike wonder. No doubt uptown New Orleans is full of fun attractions and fascinating hidden gems. And now, you don’t have to miss out! Explore the area to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.