New Orleans' Top Attractions

Consistently ranked as one of the top 10 zoos in the country, the Audubon Zoo is known and loved for its engaging educational programs and hands-on animal encounters. Don't miss the Louisiana Swamp and Jaguar Jungle exhibits or their mysterious white alligators! And you can beat the heat during summer at their Cool Zoo, which features a 750-foot lazy river with sand beaches, lounge chairs, water cannons, water curtains, and jumping jets. 

Purchase tickets to Audubon Zoo here.

Like its sister facility, the Audubon Zoo, the Audubon Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the best in the country, and we're not surprised. Its immersive, awe-inspiring exhibits transport visitors to the underwater worlds of the Caribbean and the tropical environs of the Amazon Rainforest. Home to more than 250 species and 3600 animals, including endangered ones like African penguins, the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans delivers a one-of-a-kind experience that you won't find anywhere else. 

Now on the same campus as the Audubon Aquarium, it's easy to visit both that and the Audubon Insectarium in one day. At Bug Appétit discover and taste edible insect cuisine, explore a beautiful garden overlooking the Mississippi River with hundreds of free flying butterflies, muse over 50 displays with live arthropods, and much more.

Purchase tickets to Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium here.

The National WWII Museum takes visitors on a powerful, inspiring journey through the eyes of the men and women who fought for freedom and democracy in the war that changed the world. Immersive galleries and exhibits, interactive experiences, oral histories, and more bring the American experience during World War II to life in ways that will stay with you long after your visit is over. This is not a place to rush through - you'll want at least a half-day to explore this world-class museum.

Purchase tickets to the National WWII Museum here.

As New Orleans' oldest fine arts institution and one of the top art museums in the South, the New Orleans Museum of Art, or NOMA, hosts an impressive permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects. Known for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, African, and Japanese works plus rotating exhibits, NOMA offers a little something for everyone and anyone seeking inspiration and enjoyment through art and culture.

Purchase tickets to the New Orleans Museum of Art here.

Taking a stroll through the Besthoff Sculpture Garden's 11 acres of breathtaking, awe-inspiring installations can make you feel like you're in a different world. You'll find nearly 100 different works of art, each one unique and thoughtfully placed within a mature existing landscape of pines, magnolias, and live oaks draped in spanish moss surrounding two lagoons, adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art. 

No tickets are required for the Besthoff Sculpture Garden; admission is free!

At 1,300 acres, New Orleans City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. It's also home to the largest grove of mature live oaks in the world, some of which are nearly 800 years old. Many of the city's most beloved attractions and outdoor spaces can be found here, including the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, City Putt, and bike and peddle boat rentals at Big Lake.

Attractions vary by price within City Park. See their website here for more.

You may wonder what the two buildings on either side of St. Louis Cathedral are. The Cabildo and The Presbytère were built in the late 1700s and functioned as spaces for Louisiana Supreme Court decisions, among other uses. Today, these museums showcase New Orleans history, including Mardi Gras artifacts, war paintings and other historical treasures. 

Purchase tickets to the Cabildo and Presbytère here.

Now at a new location in the French Quarter, JAMNOLA is back and better than ever! Weave your way through 29 interactive exhibits showcasing the iconic art, music, food, and theatrics of New Orleans. Over 100 artists have collaborated into bringing these exhibits to life. Step into the mouth of an alligator, the suit of a Mardi Gras Indian, and the tongue of a New Orleanian via the Big Easy Speakeasy, plus more! Take the whole family to wind your way through this cultural fun house. 

Purchase tickets to JAMNOLA here.

The Ogden Museum is dedicated to telling the story of art in the American South through visual art from the colonial period to the present. Check out “Louisiana Contemporary,” a juried exhibition that promotes contemporary art practices in the state of Louisiana, the Annual HBCU Art showcase which spotlights innovative works of art created by students, and several other current and upcoming exhibits perfect to check out during Museum Month.  

Purchase tickets to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art here.

Standing proudly in a historic building at the corner of Canal and Magazine, steps away from the original 1850s Sazerac Coffeehouse, Sazerac House is an immersive exploration of the spirited culture of New Orleans. Enjoy free admission and tours daily. Stop in for special tastings and events. The Sazerac House is open to all, but you must be 21 years or older to enjoy samples and tastings. Guests under the age of 21 must be accompanied by an adult who is 21 years or older.

Admission to Sazerac House is free; reserve your timed entry ticket here.