History · New Orleans · United States
8 historic sites to see in New Orleans
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral and Preservation Hall. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–15 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 13–15 hours
- Areas
- French Quarter, Warehouse District and St. Charles Avenue
Historic sites in New Orleans
Landmark · French Quarter
1.Jackson Square
Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo and the Presbytère and by the red-brick Pontalba Buildings of the 1850s. Artists hang their work on the iron railings, and brass bands, tarot readers and street performers set up on the flagstones.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · French Quarter
2.St. Louis Cathedral
The present building dates from 1789–94 and was largely rebuilt in 1849–50, on a site used for churches since the early 18th century. Entry is free outside services.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Experience · French Quarter
3.Preservation Hall
Peter Street where house musicians play short, intimate sets several times an evening. There is no bar and seating is on a few benches or standing room, which is part of the appeal.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Iconic
- History
- Couples
Museum · Warehouse District
4.The National WWII Museum
The 4D film Beyond All Boundaries, narrated by Tom Hanks, is an optional extra.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Experience · St. Charles Avenue
5.St. Charles streetcar
Charles line is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world. Its olive-green wooden cars rattle about 21 km from Canal Street through the Garden District and Uptown, past mansions, Loyola and Tulane universities and Audubon Park, to Carrollton Avenue.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes each way
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Views
Museum · French Quarter
6.The Cabildo
Now part of the Louisiana State Museum, it covers the region's history from Native American settlement through colonial rule, slavery and Reconstruction, and holds one of Napoleon's death masks.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Garden District
7.Garden District walk
Charles Avenue and Magazine Street. Look for the cast-iron cornstalk fence of Colonel Short's Villa and the grand houses along Prytania and First streets.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Tremé
8.St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Since 2015 visitors may enter only with an authorised guided tour, which helps protect the fragile tombs from vandalism.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| French Quarter | Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Preservation Hall and The Cabildo | 45 minutes + 30 minutes + 45 minutes + 1.5 hours |
| Warehouse District | The National WWII Museum | Full day |
| St. Charles Avenue | St. Charles streetcar | About 45 minutes each way |
| Garden District | Garden District walk | 2 hours |
| Tremé | St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced. Book ahead for Preservation Hall and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. The longest visit is The National WWII Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Preservation Hall: Capacity is small; buy tickets for a specific set online, especially at weekends and during festivals.
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: Only licensed tour operators can take visitors inside; book a tour in advance.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (French Quarter): Jackson Square → St. Louis Cathedral → Preservation Hall → The Cabildo, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Warehouse District): The National WWII Museum, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 3 (St. Charles Avenue, Garden District and Tremé): St. Charles streetcar → Garden District walk → St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild and often damp, with the occasional cold snap; Carnival season begins and king cakes appear in every bakery.
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still hot and the peak of hurricane season; low prices, but keep plans flexible and watch forecasts.
- June: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot and sticky with afternoon storms; hurricane season begins, and hotel rates drop.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- French Quarter — Cast-iron balconies, Jackson Square, Royal Street galleries and Bourbon Street's bars
- Garden District — Antebellum mansions, live oaks and Commander's Palace
- Tremé — Congo Square, brass bands and second-line parades
More of New Orleans
All things to do in New Orleans · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in New Orleans?
Jackson Square. The former Place d'Armes, renamed after Andrew Jackson's 1815 victory at the Battle of New Orleans, is the French Quarter's central square, framed by St.
+Which of these are free in New Orleans?
Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral and Garden District walk.