Best Things to Do in New Orleans Outside the French Quarter

The French Quarter gets all the attention in New Orleans, and to be fair, it’s iconic. I’ve lived in New Orleans for years now, and the French Quarter still makes me smile every time I go.

But it’s also crowded, loud, and not always the version of New Orleans people actually fall in love with.

If you want live music without the chaos, quieter streets, and places locals actually spend time, there’s a lot more to this city than Bourbon Street.

These are my favorite things to do in New Orleans outside the French Quarter, and all are easy to get to from downtown.

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Quick Picks: Best Things to Do Outside the French Quarter

• Best for live music: Frenchmen Street
• Best for shopping: Magazine Street
• Best for beautiful New Orleans mansions: Garden District
• Best for nature: City Park
• Best for sunset views: Crescent Park
• Best local neighborhood vibe: Bywater
• Best cheap, fun activity: Ride the streetcar
• Best local food stop: Parkway Bakery and Tavern

Music and Culture

Dance to Live Music on Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen Street is just a few blocks from the French Quarter, so if you’re staying in the Quarter but looking to hear amazing music, this is your spot. Think of Frenchmen as a local’s Bourbon Street–better music and a lively atmosphere that’s less frat boy-like. There are so many great music clubs, and honestly, I recommend just walking down Frenchmen and picking one that sounds good from the street. Some recs:

The Spotted Cat: my favorite music club in the city
d.b.a: also a solid pick with consistently good music
Favela Chic: laid back and has bar food

Visit Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park

Just outside the French Quarter in the Tremé neighborhood, you’ll find Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square, one of the most historically significant music sites in New Orleans.

During the 1700s and 1800s, enslaved people were allowed to gather on Sundays in Congo Square to dance and play music. Many people consider Congo Square one of the foundations of New Orleans jazz and music culture today.

On Sunday afternoons, Congo Square still fills with drumming and dancing. The first time I went, I thought I’d stand on the sidelines, but somehow ended up pulled into the dance circle. I went with it though.

Neighborhoods and Areas Worth Exploring

Shop Til You Drop on Magazine Street

Magazine Street is packed with boutiques, vintage shops, record stores, galleries, and plenty of places to stop for food along the way.

It’s quite long at 6 miles, so it’s best to go through and pick sections that interest you, and you can rideshare or bus between the sections.

If you need a starting point, I’d begin in the Lower Garden District with a coffee and donut from District Donuts. From there, you’ll find the Trashy Diva boutiques (including a vintage one), Century Girl Vintage, plenty of smaller boutiques, and the always fun Great American Alligator Museum. When you work up an appetite for lunch, just a few blocks away is the popular Turkey and the Wolf restaurant (fried bologna, anyone?).

Farther uptown near Napoleon, you’ll hit Peaches Records and Miss Claudia’s Vintage Clothing & Costumes, which is always fun to browse. La Boulangerie, one of my favorite bakeries, is also close by, in case you need a dessert or an Irish Coffee.

Honestly, it’s best not to overthink Magazine or try to see it all. Pick a section that interests you and have a relaxed stroll. Some blocks are great, some are kind of nothing. That’s just part of it.

Admire the Mansions in the Garden District

The Garden District is one of the most beautiful areas of New Orleans and is easily accessible by streetcar. You can do a self-guided tour to see the most iconic mansions, including Anne Rice’s house. It feels like a whole different world from the French Quarter.

It’s also home to the legendary Commander’s Palace restaurant. Pro tip: if Commander’s is on your bucket list, go at lunch when the martinis are famously cheap (yes, really. 25 cents!)

Wander the Bywater Neighborhood

The Bywater isn’t a place you need to plan, and it’s better if you don’t.

Walk around, take in the colorful houses and murals, and stop for food or drinks whenever something catches your attention.

A few places worth knowing:

• Crescent Park
• Bacchanal Wine (live music + courtyard wine bar)
• Bywater Bakery
• Chance in Hell Snoballs
• N7, which has one of the prettiest courtyards in the city

If you’re into more curated, Instagram-style art experiences, JAMNOLA is nearby, but the neighborhood itself is more interesting to just wander, in my opinion.

Nature and Outdoor Spaces

Escape the Crowds at City Park

If you need a break from downtown, check out City Park. It’s beautiful, there are live oaks everywhere, and you’ll forget you’re in the middle of New Orleans. It’s not unlike Central Park in NYC (but you won’t see skyscrapers in the background.) If you’re staying downtown, you can easily take the streetcar to City Park.

The park is home to:

• the New Orleans Museum of Art
• the free Sculpture Garden
• a much less-crowded Cafe du Monde location

There’s never a line at City Park’s Cafe du Monde, and it has the same delicious beignets as the French Quarter location. Eat some beignets, grab a frozen café au lait, and wander the Sculpture Garden afterward.

If you’re visiting during spring, this is one of the prettiest times to see the city. The weather is actually pleasant before summer starts trying to fry everyone.

Walk Crescent Park for Skyline Views

Located in the Bywater neighborhood, Crescent Park is one of the coolest parks I’ve been to. You climb a giant arched, industrial-looking staircase to get in. From there, you can walk the trails and take in views of the Mississippi River and the city. It’s one of the best sunset spots in the city.

Have a Picnic on the Bayou

This is what locals do on a nice day. If you want to soak up the beautiful weather and keep it low-key, this is a fantastic scenic spot for a walk or a picnic. If you’re inclined to kayak or paddleboard, there are rentals nearby.

Need picnic food? The legendary Parkway Bakery and Tavern is nearby and well worth the stop. Many consider this place to have the best po’boys in town. Highly recommend.

Walk Around a Cemetery

Maybe I’m a weirdo, but one of the first things that stood out to me about New Orleans was the cemeteries.

You don’t need to pay to walk through the St. Louis Cemetery near the French Quarter. The streetcar will take you to the Mid-City cemeteries for a similar experience, which will be much less crowded.

Iconic New Orleans Experiences Outside the French Quarter

Ride the Streetcar

Just don’t call it the trolley. A Jazzy Pass costs only 3 bucks, and you’ll get unlimited rides all day.

An option: You could do a St. Charles streetcar bar crawl. Simply stop at places that look interesting to you.

A few good stops:

• The Columns: beautiful historic hotel with a bar and fantastic ambience. They have all-day happy hour on Sunday
• The Cleo: just up the block from The Columns is another gorgeous, very “New Orleans” hotel with great drinks
• Hot Tin: rooftop bar!
• Superior Seafood: you have to try the Frozen French 75. One is probably plenty.

Take the Ferry to Algiers Point

Just outside the Quarter, you’ll find the ferry. For the same cost as the streetcar, you can take it over to Algiers Point and see the pretty city skyline from the water.

Algiers Point itself is quiet and residential, which makes for a nice contrast after spending time downtown. If you’re in the mood for tacos, be sure to stop at Barracuda while you’re over there.

Mardi Gras World

If you’re visiting outside Mardi Gras season but still want to experience some of the spectacle, Mardi Gras World lets you see where many of the parade floats are built and stored.

It’s touristy, yes, but honestly still pretty fun, especially if you’ve never seen Mardi Gras float craftsmanship up close

Getting Around Outside the French Quarter

Most of these spots are easy to reach without a car. The streetcar system connects many of the major neighborhoods, including the Garden District and parts of Uptown, and rideshares are easy to find throughout the city.

If you’re planning to explore multiple neighborhoods in one day, I’d recommend getting a $3 Jazzy Pass for unlimited streetcar and bus rides.

Frenchmen Street and Tremé are walkable from the French Quarter, while places like City Park or the Bywater are usually easier to reach by streetcar or rideshare.

FAQ: Things to Do Outside the French Quarter