There are plenty of activities to enjoy New Orleans that will cost either very
little or nothing at all. Here is our list of the top 10 free and almost free
things to do while visiting the Crescent City. Number 1: hear the music of New
Orleans. The city of New Orleans has a rich history of jazz and blues music.
Surprisingly or not you can actually hear a lot of this music for free. In
addition to hearing live street music, you can also enjoy events such as
Wednesdays at the Square held March through May and Jazz in the Park held
September through November. Check out our post for tips on hearing live music in
New Orleans. Number 2: take a trip to the Garden District. There are a lot of
wonderful neighborhoods in and around New Orleans but few are as beautiful and
historic as the Garden District. It is entirely free to walk around this area
and see all the incredible houses for yourself. Alternatively you can join us
on our pay what you want guided tour of this neighborhood.
Number 3: Discover the swamps. Just 25 minutes from the French Quarter, Bayou
Sauvage is great for exploring New Orleans' rich habitats. Jean Lafitte
National Park is also free to visit and in case you are wondering - you can spot
alligators and other swamp creatures in both places! If you're looking for a more
organized tour, check out our review of the best swamp tours in and around New Orleans.
Number 4: Visit a cemetery. There are several historic cemeteries in
New Orleans and all but one of them is entirely free to visit. The most famous
of them all St. Louis Cemetery # 1 requires visitors to be a part of an
organized tour. Fortunately we offer a name your own price tour of St. Louis Cemetery,
as well as Lafayette emetery in the Garden District.
Number 5: Stop by the historic New Orleans collection throughout the year.
This museum offers certain exhibitions for free, although many exhibits change every few months.
Others have been available for several decades. While some of these galleries include
artwork and artifacts that predate colonial history, others explore the
events of Hurricane Katrina. It is suggested to make this an early stop in
a trip. The historic New Orleans collection is also a stop on our French
Quarter self-guided tour. Visit our blog post to learn more about one of the
city's best museums. Number 6: Stroll through a park. There
are several public parks in New Orleans that you can visit for free. The grandest
of them all is City Park, which you could easily spend a day in and still not see
at all. If you're near the Treme neighborhood, you might want to take a
walk through Louis Armstrong Park. Named after the legendary musician by the same
name, this location includes sculptures, duck ponds and the historic Congo Square,
which is a stop on our voodoo tour.
Checkout our New Orleans City Park guide for more information.
Number 7: Discover the local markets. There are a few very
nice markets in New Orleans that are free to visit and peruse. Whether you're
just looking for fun or you actually want to buy a few things for dinner, the
Crescent City farmers market is a fantastic place to find fresh food. If
you're looking for something more than a meal, consider the French market instead.
You'll find souvenir shops and craft vendors offering a lot of artistic and
eclectic items for sale. For more information check out our guide to the French market.
Number 8: Go window-shopping. Even if you don't want
to spend any money, chances are you'll find a lot of interesting stores to
visit on Magazine Street. Located just a few blocks from the Mississippi River
this world is filled with several different businesses including antique
shops, clothing stores, art galleries, and many more. Alternatively, you can also
check out Royal Street to see the historic architecture on display while
looking at all the different shopping locations.
Number 9: Go people watching.
New Orleans is known for its eclectic and interesting neighborhoods. Whether
you want to see people showing off their talents or hear some excellent music, we
recommend a visit to Royal Street Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street.
Number 10: Get a Power Pass. Although the pass itself isn't free, some of the
activities available with the power pass could be free if you use it effectively.
Whatever you choose to do, there are quite a few fun and family-friendly
attractions included with this city pass. For even more great ideas, check out our
master post on the best free and almost free things to do in New Orleans which
includes sections on things to do at night, family-friendly activities and
seasonal events. You'll also want to browse our many name your own price
walking tours that explores some of the city's most popular
neighborhoods and attractions. Links for these can be found in the description
below. Let us know in the comments which free activity you're most excited to do
while visiting the Crescent City and be sure to click the subscribe button below
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