See top-notch live music, sample Sazeracs, and more surprisingly free things to do in Crescent City.
It does n’t take much lettuce to have a blast in New Orleans , a city with scads of finish , proudneighborhoods , lively street medicine , and a colorful history . visitor from bigger cities often happen sticker stupor , in a good way , when they realize the amount of low- and no - cost sport to be had across the Crescent City .
So give your notecase a break and pile your agenda with some freethings to do . It ’ll make up for when you drop your hard - earned store on NOLA ’s world - division food and boozing or just the ticket to see a headlining bit at one of the city ’s larger locus .
Get into the spirit at a festival
Various locationsNo city does festivals like New Orleans . Mardi Gras — the large of them all — offers week of free - to - pay heed events and street parade , validating its billing as the greatest gratis show on ground . lover of awing live music and tasty local pungency are well - serve up at yearly highlights like theTremé Creole Gumbo / Congo Square Rhythms Festivalsin March , Gallic Quarter Festin April , andOak Street Po - Boy Festivalin November , all of which are free to advert .
Reconnect with nature
City ParkAs NOLA ’s heavy fleeceable space , City Park well over with free things to do . Escape the heat under the shade of thousands of Spanish Moss - covered trees , including the famous Singing Oak — a mammoth tree near Big Lake that ’s outfitted with wind chimes . promenade along scenic pathways , cash in one’s chips dozens of statues and lots of wildlife , and take a prison-breaking at the Cascade Garden Pool and City Park Lagoon . No visit to the parkland is complete without a visit to the New Orleans Museum of Art ’s incrediblesculpture gardenwhich , unlike the museum , is free to visit . Packed with about 100 IG - worthy piece of prowess , the sculpture garden might just be the best spot for a cheap date in town .
Take an artsy stroll down Royal Street
Gallic QuarterCut through the heart of the French Quarter , minus the spirits - hook chaos of side by side Bourbon Street , by savor a leisurely base on balls along Royal . Lined with iconic shops and gallery — includingM.S. Rau , a museum - like maze of fine art , jewelry , and antique — the street is home to some of the metropolis ’s finest computer architecture , not to mention an assortment of celebrated restaurants . Street performing artist are a constant comportment , and you ’ll be trusted to distinguish some gift that will bar you in your tracks . As a bonus , the main stretch of Royal is occasionally closed to railroad car traffic during the twenty-four hours , make it one of the metropolis ’s most walker - friendly finish .
Explore stunning St. Charles Avenue
UptownFans of wildly grand house and historic estates need only find their way to the Uptown stretch of St. Charles Avenue , which is home to scores of jaw - neglect structures . take the air a mates of miles to take in the high spot , or hops on the charmingly retro trolley — which costs next - to - nothing at $ 1.25 per ride — to bombilate by some of the South ’s most stately spread and ornate mansions .
Soak up the atmosphere in Jackson Square
French QuarterJackson Square is the go - to descry for visitors calculate to snap an iconic , only - in - NOLA shot . The gorgeousSt Louis Cathedralis one of the most placeable buildings in the city , but it ’s the near - constant presence of street performer , tarot - card readers , and work creative person that gives the pedestrian - only place its lively energy and local flavor . As a bonus , albeit one that ’s not quite free , the city ’s most far-famed collation place is conveniently located right across the street ; an order ofCafe du Monde’shot French fritter will only dress you back a few bucks .
Catch a beat on Frenchmen Street
MarignyOver the retiring decade or so , Frenchmen has become one of the liveliest street in a metropolis with no shortage of them . Most visitant never make it beyond the music - powered central stretch of the street , which lasts for only a few block . So one can easily check out a variety of unrecorded human action , most of which can be go through and heard from the pavement , in just a few minutes . While the biggest venues host the top name and high binding charges , several venue likeCafe Negril,30 ° /-90 ° , andBamboula’sregularly horde free live display . That sound out , there ’s usually a one drink minimum , so so as to really do it on the cheap you ’ll need to be capacity listening from the sidewalk . ( Just remember to tip the musicians ! ) While music is the primary hook , Frenchmen also provide up a free - to - visit nontextual matter food market that ’s pack with colorful local creative person and creatives .
Marvel at the mighty Mississippi
Various locationsNew Orleans supply prime access to one of the world ’s most famous body of water : the Mississippi River . Head toWoldenberg Park , where it ’s hard not to be impressed as you follow the riverfront and watch skyscraper - sized ships voyage the fast - go waters . Another prime advantage point can be found atCrescent Park , which offers top - notch city views from its riverfront locating in the Bywater . intercept and enjoy a snap , and if you stare at the river long enough , you ’re bond to see something interesting air bladder by . At $ 2 per ride , theCanal Street / Algiers Ferryis the most economical way to get out on the river ; take it at dusk for jaw - omit pic ops of the city and river .
Find the funk at a free concert
Various locationsNOLA also impresses with its volume of loose public concerts and performances . TheNew Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundationputs on several free shows throughout the year , and thousands pack the CBD ’s Lafayette Square for weeklyWednesday at the Squareconcerts , which feature some of the metropolis ’s biggest acts . TheNew Orleans Jazz Museum , in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park , hosts performances — free and open to the public — by the Arrowhead Jazz Band every Tuesday at 2 atomic number 61 ; the striation brings together National Park Service Texas Ranger and local musicians to perform traditional New Orleans jazz , blues . and church doctrine .
Relax and be you down by the bayou
Mid - CityBayou St. John is a genuine locals ’ playground , one that ’s pack with neighborhood occupant and area couples whenever the conditions ’s at its best . Once an real bayou , it ’s now a pretty , tranquil body of water locate directly in the middle of the metropolis and skirt by little grassy walkways . Renta paddleboard or kayak and revel some fourth dimension on the water , or take a dull walk in search of the rare gator sighting .
Embrace your gothic side at an atmospheric cemetery
Various locationsMore beautiful than skittish , NOLA ’s cemeteries are world - renowned for their necropolis - flair surroundings with raised mausoleums , which keep the cadaver from wash away during the city ’s notoriously damaging storms . Like something out of a moving-picture show , these burial ground are often packed with creeping vines , gnarled tree base , and weathered headstones . highlight includeSt . Patrick ’s Cemetery No . 2,St . Louis Cemetery No . 3 , andSt . Roch Cemetery , all of which were base in the 1800s .
Window shop on Magazine Street
CBDOne of the full shopping street in all of the South , Magazine Street offers roughly six miles of unequalled shops , galleries , and eating house . A one - agency walk of life will take you past stretches of notional antique and pattern workshop , along with variety of record stores and costume shop that will make you require to linger . If you ’re lucky , you ’ll find yourself on the street during one of its annual gratuitous events : both the Champagne Stroll in May and Art for Art ’s Sake in October feature article lots of in - stock freebies , including vino and bubbles .
Step back in time at the Historic New Orleans Collection
French QuarterLearn about the sincerely alone chronicle of the Crescent City by heading to the Gallic Quarter and spend some time at the Historic New Orleans Collection ( HNOC ) , where entrance money is always free . Keep an eye out for special exhibition that detail the metropolis ’s art , music , and culture through the yr . Lose track of clip while peruse galleries that are full of historic documents and other fascinating artifacts . For newcomers , a visit to the HNOC is the undecomposed unveiling to the city one can get .
Explore the Lafitte Greenway
Various locationsThis 2.6 - Roman mile analog commons — a formerly abandoned railway system corridor that stretches from the Gallic Quarter to Mid - City — finally opened in 2015 after year of residential district - driven support . democratic with joggers and rockers , the multi - use trail is lined with immense sculptures and mural , plus a smattering of independent cafes and eatery . Free fitness classes , include yoga and hip - hop fisticuffs , and cultural scheduling are proffer throughout the year .
Sip the day away at the Sazerac House
CBDOne of the new barren things to do in NOLA , theSazerac Houseopened in 2019 , and therefore is still being discovered by locals . gratuitous point tours take visitor through the state - of - the - art , multi - story building complex , providing a comprehensive object lesson about the history of cocktail civilisation in New Orleans and how the namesake drink is made . Talking with experts and examining vintage bottles is fun and all , but to most , the highlighting is the destitute sample . Though not gratis , special events and classes are available for those looking to take their cocktail knowledge to a gamey level .
Get into the Mardi Gras spirit any time of year
Various locationsNew Orleans is home to some of the state ’s oldest and most historical restaurants , several of which maintainMardi Grascollections that are gratuitous to examine even if you ’re not there to dine . The most renowned exemplar , theGermaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum , can be found up the stairs at Arnaud ’s . Open to visit during eating place minute , the collection includes more than 25 too-generous costumes , 70 vintage photos , and an miscellanea of merry masquerade , jewels , and other company favors . Antoine’sandBrennan’salso maintain celebrated collections ; a sojourn to either is a must for anyone eager to see invaluable artifacts from Mardi Gras history .
Free Concert|Photo by Paul Broussard, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
City Park|Photo by Rebecca Todd, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Frenchmen Street|Photo by Paul Broussard, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Mississippi River and Crescent Park|Photo by Paul Broussard, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Cemetaries|Photo by Rebecca Todd, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Magazine Street|Photo by Chris Granger, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Historic New Orleans Collection|Photo by Justen Williams, 343 Media, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Lafitte Greenway|Photo by Justen Williams, 343 Media, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
Sazerac House|Photo by Stephen Young, courtesy of NewOrleans.com
