Fun and Free Things to Do in New Orleans

And did you know that many local attractions are free? Check out this list of great activities that’ll let you stretch your vacation dollar while enjoying authentic Big Easy experiences.

All That Jazz

You might not expect to see a national park ranger blowing a slide trombone or playing the jazz piano, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Catch a performance at the park’s ranger station at the Old U.S. Mint or at the French Market's Jazz Park Visitor Center. You might even get to play along with a brass band. The park encourages kids and adults to bring their instruments during some events for a first-hand, learn-as-you-perform experience.

Take a Walk in the Park

City Park brims with free things to do in New Orleans. Linger in the shade of more than 20,000 trees or harmonize with the Singing Oak—a mammoth tree near Big Lake outfitted with wind chimes. If you want to enjoy the area’s natural beauty along with beautiful sculptures, browse the Sculpture Garden outside the New Orleans Museum of Art. There, you’ll find dozens of oversized statues and scenic pathways to the Cascade Garden Pool and City Park Lagoon.

Go Wild

Looking for more exciting New Orleans attractions that don’t cost a dime? Explore 23,000 acres of marshes, bayous and swamps at the Barataria Preserve. Stop by the visitor center to bone up on the history of the wetlands, then set out on a trail for a self-guided or cell phone tour. You can visit an American Indian shell mound and a 600-year-old bald cypress tree along the Bayou Coquille Trail. Be sure to bring your fishing pole and pick up a Louisiana fishing license (just $5 for one day) and drop a hook in the water at Twin Canals, or watch for birds, turtles and alligators at the Marsh Overlook.

March Back in Time

Have you ever wanted to learn how to tie a cravat or make your own rope? Learn these and other early 19thcentury life hacks from living history volunteers in the Chalmette Battlefield’s visitor center. Step outside to walk in the footsteps of soldiers fighting the last battle of the War of 1812 and climb 122 steps to the top of the Chalmette Monument for a sweeping view of the battleground and the Mississippi River.

Explore the Ninth

The city’s Ninth Ward brims with history dating from its origins as a colony for runaway slaves. Stop by the Lower Ninth Ward Living History Museum to experience its six colorful rooms, each portraying an era in the community’s unique history. Mardi Gras on your mind? Check out the House of Dance and Feathers and immerse yourself in the world of the Mardi Gras Indians, Skull & Bone Gangs, Baby Dolls and other cultural icons.

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