Free Things to Do in New Orleans

New Orleans gives away more free culture per square mile than any city in America. The music alone — jazz pouring out of every club on Frenchmen Street, brass bands on street corners, second line parades on random Sunday afternoons — is worth the trip. And it’s all free.

Free Music

Frenchmen Street — The real live music street in New Orleans (Bourbon Street is for tourists; Frenchmen is where locals go for music). Many clubs have no cover charge — you can walk down the street, listen from the doorway, step inside for a song, and move to the next. d.b.a., The Spotted Cat, and The Maison all have nightly live music, often free.

Jackson Square street performers — Musicians, magicians, and artists set up around Jackson Square daily. The brass bands that play on the sidewalk are some of the best musicians you’ll ever hear for free.

Second Line parades — Impromptu (and planned) brass band parades through New Orleans neighborhoods. They happen almost every Sunday. Follow the music.

Walking the French Quarter (Free)

Jackson Square — The heart of the Quarter. St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the US) as a backdrop, artists displaying work on the iron fence, tarot card readers, and the Café Du Monde just around the corner.

Royal Street — Art galleries, antique shops, and street musicians. Higher-end than Bourbon Street and more interesting. Free to walk and browse.

Bourbon Street — Might as well walk it once. It’s loud, it’s messy, and the frozen daiquiris are strong. Free to walk (the drinks are not).

Garden District Walking Tour (Free)

The Garden District is a stunning collection of antebellum mansions, live oak trees, and wrought-iron fences. Walk Magazine Street and the surrounding blocks — it’s one of the most architecturally beautiful neighborhoods in America. The Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (the above-ground tombs are a New Orleans landmark) is adjacent.

Free Museums & Sites

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (guided tours required, ~$25, but viewing from the gate is free) — The most famous cemetery in New Orleans. Above-ground tombs, including the alleged tomb of voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

The Cabildo and Presbytère (exterior) — Flanking St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square. The buildings themselves are historic landmarks.

Algiers Point Ferry — Free ferry across the Mississippi River to Algiers Point, the second-oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. Views of the French Quarter skyline from the river.

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