Free & Affordable New Orleans

1. The French Quarter

The French Quarter is New Orleans' most iconic and historic neighborhood, preserved as a National Historic Landmark. The quarter dates back to the city's Spanish rule, with many buildings constructed throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As one of the city's top tourist attractions, the district is known for its colorful preserved historic structures, cast-iron balconies, and exciting nightlife. Local landmark restaurants include Antoine's and Tujague's, which date back to the 19th century, along with restaurants operated by celebrity chefs such as Emeril Lagasse. Jazz clubs, bars, and boutiques also line the district, along with the historic French Market, which sells gourmet food and is home to artisan vendors.

501 Basin Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

2. Lafayette Square Concert Series

Lafayette Square Concert Series is an annual spring concert series held in New Orleans' Lafayette Square during the months of March, April, and May. The 12-week event is held each Wednesday between March 1st and the middle of May, showcasing local and regional artists playing in a wide variety of genres, including jazz, funk, and Latin music. Each concert begins at 5:00pm, with food and alcoholic beverage vendors hosted on site until 8:00pm. Space is provided for visitors to dance along with music, with well-behaved pets permitted at the square on leashes. Free street parking is available for free on streets near the square after 6:00pm.

2023 Lafayette Avenue, St Louis, MO 63104, Phone: 314-772-5724

3. Jackson Square

Jackson Square is an historic park within New Orleans' French Quarter, best known as the site of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The park was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and has served as a major filming location for feature films and television series throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. As one of New Orleans' top visitor attractions, the square faces the Mississippi River and is surrounded by historic landmarks such as the city's St. Louis Cathedral and Cabildo and Presbytere Louisiana State Museums. Retail shops, restaurants, and art galleries are offered at the Pontalba Apartments, while an open-air artist colony within the square features local portrait drawers, caricature artists, and other artisans.

700 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

4. Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, also referred to as Fat Tuesday, is New Orleans' biggest annual celebration, held each spring between Three Kings' Day and Ash Wednesday. Originally established in France as a Christian holiday, the celebration has become synonymous with New Orleans' French Quarter district, celebrated in the city since at least the early 18th century and officially declared a Louisiana state holiday in 1875. Today, the celebration encompasses multiple festive parades, masquerade balls, and other extravagant festivities over the course of several weeks, with most Carnival festivities centered on the city's Bourbon Street. Many restaurants and bars offer food and drink specials throughout the celebration, which more than doubles the city's population with tourism travel.

5. St. Louis Cathedral

St. Louis Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, is the United States' oldest existing cathedral, serving as the seat of New Orleans' Roman Catholic Archdiocese. The site has been home to a cathedral since 1718 and has been reconstructed three times, with the most recent expansion in 1850 mostly reconstructing the prior 1789 structure. Visitors can explore the cathedral for free daily between 8:30am and 4:00pm, with self-guided brochures available in the cathedral's lobby for a nominal fee. Beautiful architectural features include a towering central spire and an iconic symmetrical facade, which serves as one of the city's most well-known visual images. Behind the church, the St. Anthony Garden may also be explored as part of self-guided tours.

615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116

6. Magazine Street

Magazine Street is a six-mile street in New Orleans' downtown district that extends from the city's Uptown area to its Garden District, originally named for its magazin export warehouse which was operated in the 18th century. Today, it is known for its beautiful historic architecture, which spans styles from colorful Victorian structures to majestic 19th-century Greek Revival buildings. As one of the city's top culinary and cultural destinations, the street is home to gourmet and specialty international restaurants, unique food trucks, quaint coffee shops and espresso bars, and a number of art galleries and antique stores. Nightlife options include traditional jazz clubs, lively indie rock venues, and chic nightclubs. A number of annual events are held within the district, including the street's Art for Arts' Sake celebration each autumn.

7. The Garden District

The Garden District is a charming New Orleans neighborhood that is known for its ornate, gorgeous 19th-century architecture, originally designed in 1806 as a Greek Revival-influenced open district connecting a series of interlocking parks and canals. The district's streets still bear names related to Greek mythology, with many original Greek Revival and Italianate houses and businesses still standing. Boutiques and antique stores line Magazine Street, while beautiful live oaks populate Coliseum Square and the historic 19th-century Lafayette Cemetery. Fine dining establishments, quaint cafes, and popular local nightlife spots are also showcased throughout the district, keeping it lively and active throughout the late-night hours.

8. Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University

Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University is an art museum on the campus of New Orleans' Tulane University, open to the public for free Tuesdays through Saturdays during the morning and afternoon hours. The museum showcases the world's largest collection of Newcomb Pottery and other artisan works produced at the university's H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, which was founded in 1886 and was the nation's first coordinate women's college. Many works are associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, including important pieces crafted by artists such as Marie de Hoa LeBlanc, Harriet Coulter Joor, and Sadie Irvine. Other temporary exhibits showcase artworks and topics related to social justice topics and civic dialogue.

Woldenberg Art Center, Newcomb Circle, New Orleans, LA 70118, Phone 504-865-5328

9. Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery and Visual Art Center

Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery and Visual Art Center is a free-admission art museum located on the campus of New Orleans' Loyola University, showcasing the school's Cornet collection of artifacts from the Belgian Congo. The gallery is located on the fourth floor of the university's Louise and J. Edgar Monroe Library and is open to the public seven days a week during the morning and afternoon hours. Other exhibits at the museum include student art shows and displays of artworks by regional and national artists working in a variety of mediums. Abstract art, graphic art, prints, and pottery are all showcased periodically, including pieces by internationally-renowned artists.

6363 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118, Phone: 504-864-7248