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Things to do in Louisiana

Things to do in  Louisiana

“Laissez les bon temps rouler!”

The living is easy in Louisiana, where “joie de vivre,” otherwise known as the good life, is the collective state of mind. New Orleans is the state of bon temps’ biggest draw, but travelers shouldn’t sleep on the likes of Baton Rouge, the Acadiana capital of Lafayette, or Lake Charles. Wherever you go, expect food and music to be at the heart of your trip.

Top 15 attractions in Louisiana

French Quarter

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The French Quarter, with its vibrant atmosphere and unique blend of architectural styles, is easily New Orleans’ most famous and popular area to visit. It's also the city's oldest neighborhood, and its elegant streets are lined with an appealing mix of lively bars—especially along the legendary Bourbon Street—historic monuments, delicious restaurants, and inviting jazz clubs.More

Mississippi River

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A central character in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the mighty Mississippi River has long captured the American imagination. Originating in Minnesota and sweeping across 95 river miles (153 kilometers) south to New Orleans where it spits out into the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi is the largest river system in North America and has gained an almost mythical place in American history.More

Garden District

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New Orleans' Garden District is the epitome of Southern charm. Plantation-style mansions, which are among the most impressive in the city, feature wrap-around porches, verandas, and manicured gardens where there’s always something blooming. Streets are separated by stretches of green parks, and the historic cable car line runs along St. Charles Avenue.More

LaLaurie Mansion

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LaLaurie Mansion is not your regular tourist attraction. Also known as LaLaurie House, this French Quarter spot has a gruesome past involving torture, murder, and acts of brutality. The house is a regular stop on ghost tours of New Orleans and attracts visitors who want to learn more about the property’s spine-chilling history.More

Jackson Square

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In the heart of the French Quarter lies Jackson Square, one of New Orleans’ most famous locations. A National Historic Landmark, it is home to St. Louis Cathedral and is often filled with locals and tourists who come to stroll the paths, catch the buskers and street performers in action, or just sit in the shade and watch the world go by.More

Oak Alley Plantation

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Famed for the 300-year-old allée of live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss that flank its main entrance, Oak Alley Plantation has more to offer visitors than a quintessential view of a Southern plantation. Highlights include numerous exhibitions exploring the complexities of Southern and Louisiana history, 1,300 acres (526 hectares) of grounds, and the historic house itself—all within easy driving distance of New Orleans.More

St. Louis Cathedral

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A prominent landmark on Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral (officially the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France) stands tall and proud, beckoning French Quarter visitors to take a little time out from drinking and dancing to admire the oldest continuously used cathedral in the United States. The seat of the city's Roman Catholic Archdiocese, the cathedral was built in 1789 and rebuilt in 1850, and today, its all-white, Spanish Colonial façade with three black spires is one of the most instantly recognizable landmarks in the South. The inside is just as beautiful.More

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

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This vintage apothecary in the French Quarter is a national historic landmark and the site of the first licensed pharmacist in the US. Shelves of potions, perfumes, surgical devices, and other questionable curiosities are on display behind the old-time soda fountain for a fascinating look into medical practices of the past. More

French Market

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Located in the heart of New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter, the French Market is a grand bazaar that serves as much as a cultural meeting place as it does a market space. In addition to hosting stall after stall of vendors hawking handmade goods and artisanal foods, the market doubles as a venue for a daily flea market and a twice-weekly farmers market. The French Market boasts the superlative as the oldest continuously operating open-air market in the United States, making it a part of living Louisiana history.More

Bourbon Street

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The infamous Bourbon Street, also known as Rue Bourbon, conjures up images of endless partying, drinks of all shapes and sizes, bachelorette parties, and of course, Mardi Gras. Outside of Mardi Gras season, visitors flock to this playground of the South for its Creole restaurants, live music venues, souvenir shops, and well-known drinking establishments.More

New Orleans City Park

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With picturesque stone bridges, botanical gardens, art and sculpture, theme parks, hundreds of centuries-old oak trees, and numerous waterways, City Park in New Orleans offers myriad reasons to spend a day outside. Join locals on the trails, visit the New Orleans Museum of Art, enjoy the 100-year-old carved wooden carousel, and much more.More

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

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Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans. Built in 1833 and ripe with ghost stories and the graves of notable New Orleans residents, this Garden District graveyard serves as the final resting place for more than 7,000 people. The cemetery gets its name from the old city of Lafayette, now part of New Orleans.More

Louis Armstrong Park

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Located on the northeastern edge of the French Quarter, Louis Armstrong Park honors the most beloved and influential figure in New Orleans jazz history. With its trees, fountain, sculptures, and winding lagoon, the park offers a lovely respite from the bustle of Bourbon Street.More

Lake Pontchartrain

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At 630 square miles (1,632 square kilometers), Lake Pontchartrain is one of the largest bodies of water in the US. It’s beloved by locals as a place to fish, sail, and swim, and its shores and waters shelter a huge variety of wildlife and marine life—look out for blue crabs, Atlantic stingrays, pelicans, ospreys, and even bull sharks.More

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

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Named for a legendary 19th-century pirate, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve includes six sites scattered throughout Louisiana that offer outdoor activities, history lessons, swamp tours, and more. See them on an airboat tour of Barataria Preserve in Marrero—a 26,000-acre (10,521-hectare) wetland rich in wildlife.More
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Top activities in Louisiana

New Orleans Airboat Ride

New Orleans Airboat Ride

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2905
From
HK$473.63
Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans
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New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter with Small-Group Option
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Oak Alley Plantation and Large Airboat Swamp Tour from New Orleans
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Oak Alley Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans
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Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option
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Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans
Special Offer

Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans

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HK$186.24
HK$216.75  HK$30.51 savings
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Brunch Cruise in New Orleans
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Whitney Plantation Tour
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Whitney Plantation Tour

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What people are saying about Louisiana

Great experience! Guide...
star-5
Hayley_C
, Mar 2023
Great experience! Guide...
Guide was fun and informational :) I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to visit the Louisiana swamp.
Great Trip
star-5
Tawnya_C
, Feb 2023
Great Trip
It’s great to see another side of Louisiana and you never know what critters you’ll see.
Our experience
star-5
Jason_R
, Jan 2023
Our experience
We had fun and got to see the swamp.
Whitney Trip
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Ronald_T
, Jan 2023
Whitney Trip
Whole experience was rewarding - great to see other parts of Louisiana.
Highly recommend this Oak...
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Stephanie_L
, Feb 2023
Highly recommend this Oak...
Definitely recommend checking out to get out of the city and experience the other attractions of Louisiana!
Swamp Tour- Not JUST a Gator Tour
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Brie_T
, Jan 2023
Swamp Tour- Not JUST a Gator Tour
Don’t go on the tour during winter if your only was torn to see gators cause it might not happen!
LA Adventures!
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Jhoana_G
, Nov 2022
LA Adventures!
Pro-tip: if youre gonna do this tour in the Louisiana winter, bundle up because the winds against your body on thw air boat are no joke!
Amazing swamp tour.
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Anna_S
, Jul 2022
Amazing swamp tour.
Watching the summer storm rolling in over the Louisiana marsh was the most amazing experience.
Recommend ZipNOLA
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Albert_W
, Jul 2022
Recommend ZipNOLA
Excellent experience brought my daughter to New Orleans for summer vacation and this was something different to see and do while in Louisiana.
Connecting with Nature
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Steven_J
, Apr 2022
Connecting with Nature
The kayaks allow for silent travel so as not to disturb the gators, snakes, turtles and birds that we were able to see in their natural habitats.
Delightful tour
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Nathaniel_M
, Apr 2022
Delightful tour
It gave the opportunity to see rural Louisiana.
Very enjoyable & informative history cruise!
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Simona_M
, Feb 2022
Very enjoyable & informative history cruise!
It was great to see parts of the city from a different perspective.
Love the bayou
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LoriA_L
, May 2021
Love the bayou
Beautiful area of Louisiana to see and fun to look for alligators!
Capt. Paco ROCKs The Bayou!
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Nancy_T
, May 2021
Capt. Paco ROCKs The Bayou!
It was an incredible experience to get to see the beautiful waterways of Louisiana and hear the tales told in the language of the locals.
Two amazing experiences in one day!
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Renee_S
, May 2021
Two amazing experiences in one day!
It was also very interesting to visit the plantation.
Fun day ride on an Airboat
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Pamela_P
, Apr 2021
Fun day ride on an Airboat
Great way to see the Louisiana Bayou!
Great for the value!
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Haley_S
, Apr 2021
Great for the value!
The swamp tour was very fun and a great way to see another side of Louisiana!
Fun get-out-of-the-city adventure
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Wendy_A
, Mar 2021
Fun get-out-of-the-city adventure
Fun to see some of Louisiana outside of New Orleans- lots of gators as promised.
Great experience!
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Maksim_V
, Nov 2020
Great experience!
We were able to see the swamps and two plantations along with learning a lot of new things about Louisiana and New Orleans.
St. Joseph and Whitney Plantation Tour!
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Sharon_S
, Oct 2020
St. Joseph and Whitney Plantation Tour!
Will definitely do another one when I am back next Spring!

All about Louisiana

Currency
US Dollar ($)
Time Zone
CDT (UTC -6)
Country Code
+1
Language(s)
English

People Also Ask

What is Louisiana famous for?

Travelers to Louisiana should expect great Cajun and Creole food, blues and jazz music, and an easygoing attitude that enjoys letting the good times roll. The southern state has a major influence on American culture and a rich history that encompasses a wide variety of cultures.

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How many days do you need in Louisiana?

Aim to spend at least seven days in Louisiana if you want to see more than just New Orleans. You’ll want to spend at least two or three days in the Big Easy before heading out to explore Cajun Country, the Louisiana Wetlands, Natchitoches, and Lake Charles.

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What is there to do in Louisiana for a week?

From touring swamps to historic architecture, there is much to fill one week in Louisiana. Spend a few days in New Orleans, then three or four days soaking up the state’s natural beauty: Explore interesting flora and fauna in Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge or go hiking in the Kisatchie National Forest.

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What is the number one attraction in Louisiana?

The French Quarter in New Orleans is arguably the state’s number one attraction. The city’s oldest neighborhood is famed for the rowdy bars that line Bourbon Street as well as unmissable spots like Jackson Square, the French Market, St. Louis Cathedral, and the legendary Café du Monde.

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What food should you try in Louisiana?

Foodie travelers are spoiled for choice in Louisiana. Crawfish, gumbo, jambalaya, Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp, po’boys, beignets, and king cake are just a few of Louisiana’s delicious signature dishes. Wash it all down with a sazerac, a rye whiskey-based cocktail that originated in New Orleans.

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Is Louisiana tourist friendly?

Yes, Louisiana is very friendly in general. As one of the biggest tourist towns in the United States, New Orleans is especially well set up for visitors. As with any big city, however, crime can be an issue, so always be aware of your surroundings and belongings, especially after dark.

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Louisiana information

Number of Attractions

64

Number of Tours

659

Number of Reviews

100,864

Currency

USD
Frequently Asked Questions
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