25+ Free Things to Do in New Orleans (Plus a Few That Are Almost Free)
One of the best things about New Orleans is that the iconic things that make the city unique–think jazz, architecture, and culture–don’t cost money. Wherever you go, you’re likely to see parades, street performers, second lines, interesting buildings, or fascinating people watching. As a digital nomad, I’ve stayed in New Orleans the longest out of any place I’ve been (and technically I’m a resident now, but shhh, don’t tell the nomads). So, as a nomad-turned-local, here’s my list of the top free and almost free things to do in New Orleans.
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Historical and Architectural
Sazerac House
101 Magazine St. New Orleans
This cool museum is absolutely free, and you get free drink samples too! And don’t worry–it’s not just Sazerac you’ll get (though you’ll get some of that too). Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the Sazerac, New Orleans’ official drink (wayy too strong for me), but you’ll also get to sample other delicious concoctions, and those samples come with recipe cards so you can make your favorites at home.
Check out the mansions in the Garden District
Wander around and marvel at the gorgeous mansions, including the late Anne Rice’s home.. You can do a free self-guided tour of the Garden District if you’d like.
Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square
Congo Square was once the only place in New Orleans where enslaved and free people of African descent could hold celebrations. The African dance tradition is still alive today, and on Sundays, there’s dancing in the Square. Everyone is welcome to dance or watch, but you might be encouraged to dance– I once got pulled into the circle.
Nature and Outdoors
Woldenberg Park River Walk
1 Canal St.
Watch the big boats come in and enjoy views of the river. A great activity when it’s not too hot outside.
Sculpture Garden
1 Collins Diboll Cir, in City Park
Enjoy over 70 unique sculptures from artists all over the world, including the famous Blue Dog by George Rodrigue. Easy to combine with a stroll through City Park (it’s IN City Park) and a stop at Cafe du Monde for some beignets.
City Park
Love me some City Park. Enjoy the beautiful live oaks, take some pictures of the lagoon and pavilion, and get your exercise in (and enjoy those beignets like I mentioned earlier–there’s a Cafe du Monde right in City Park and it’s always less crowded than the one in the French Quarter). If you catch it at just the right time in the spring, you’ll see the famous City Park tulips!
Audubon Park
You can’t go wrong with Audubon Park. Enjoy the live oaks and have a picnic at The Fly, as it’s called, meaning the riverfront area.
Walk or Bike the LaFitte Greenway
When I lived in Mid-City, this was my go-to spot for dog walking. It stretches for 2.6 miles all the way from Mid-City to the French Quarter.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
There are a few different sites to this, the most notable being Barataria Preserve in Marrero, which is about 40 minutes outside the city. If you want to see marshes and swampland as well as gators and other wildlife, this is the spot to do it.
Enjoy a Walk or a Picnic at Bayou St. John
If you have a kayak or a paddleboard, even better! If you’d like to rent one, there are a few places nearby where you can do so. I’ll admit, I didn’t know what a bayou was until I visited New Orleans (and I still really don’t know specifics on what makes a bayou a bayou…but it’s a calm body of water and a tranquil escape from the city!)
Festivals and Culture
Catch a second line
A second line is a New Orleans traditional parade where a band leads, followed by the “first line.” That is, whoever is being celebrated, such as a bride and groom and their wedding party. Then the second line follows and is made up of people dancing and celebrating, sometimes waving handkerchiefs or umbrellas. You can jump in the second line at the end and dance along if you’d like, or simply watch.
Sometimes catching a second line means being in the right place at the right time, such as the French Quarter or Treme on a Sunday afternoon, and other times, second lines are planned as a part of a festival.
New Orleans Museum of Art (Free for locals on Wednesdays)
Louisiana residents get in free on Wednesdays. Digital nomads: you mayyy be able to show your lease in lieu of an ID. No word on if that works or not.
Attend a free festival
I hate it when I have to pay admission just to walk into a damn festival, so I compiled a list of my favorite free ones for you. Depending on when you’re in town, here are a few you may be lucky enough to catch:
Super Sunday (St. Joseph’s Day): Held on the third Sunday in March, this is the Mardi Gras Indians’ biggest celebration day besides Mardi Gras. Come on out, have some fun, and see all the gorgeous, handmade(!) costumes.
Treme Creole Gumbo Festival: Held in November at Louis Armstrong Park, this is one of my favorite festivals. Free music, amazing food vendors, and cheap Jazz Fest t-shirts. Seriously, 6 bucks for t-shirts that didn’t sell from previous Jazz Fests! Judging by my collection, you’d think I’m a huge Jazz Fest nut, but really I just buy the shirts here (and give them to all my out-of-town friends too).
French Quarter Fest: Held in April, this may be the best festival in New Orleans besides Mardi Gras, and it’s one of the largest free festivals in the country. TONS of free music, many different stages, and the best food vendors. Love it!
French Market Creole Tomato Fest: Held in June, you can come enjoy all sorts of tomato goodness, including Bloody Marys.
Mardi Gras: The season kicks off on January 6th and goes through Fat Tuesday, which in 2026 will be February 17th.
Go to a Parade
If you’re in town when there’s a parade, you won’t want to miss out because nobody does parades like New Orleans. Get the Parade Tracker App to stay in the loop.
Wednesdays at the Square (seasonal)
Every Wednesday in early spring, there are free concerts downtown at Lafayette Square. Come out and listen, and there are plenty of food vendors around if you get hungry!
Free Things to Do in the French Quarter
Jackson Square
There’s always something going on here. Admire the St. Louis Cathedral, get your Tarot cards read, or enjoy the street performers,
Jackson Square from a distance with the cathedral in the background
Follow your ears to Live Music
There’s always someone performing. If you don’t hear anything out in the wild, sure spots are Cafe Du Monde, Jackson Square, or at Royal and St. Peter Street.
walk around and Window Shop
I used to live in the French Quarter, and it still makes me smile every time I go. I rarely have a set agenda, and instead just wander around and see what I can see. The balconies are gorgeous, especially around holidays!
Peruse the galleries on Royal Street
Royal Street has dozens of cool art galleries. Pick a few that strike your fancy and have a look around.
Me with an amazing performer on Bourbon
People Watch on Bourbon Street
No matter the time of day, you’re likely to see someone in costume, street performers, and other interesting characters. Meet and befriend them, or just watch from afar.
Spooky and Off-beat
Walk Around a Cemetery
This actually isn’t morbid at all. New Orleans is home to beautiful cemeteries, and almost all of them are free to tour.
Do a self-guided HAUNTED tour
See famous haunted sites like the Lalaurie Mansion, Ursulines Convent, and more.
Fitness and Low-Key
Move Ya Brass
Craving fitness? Move Ya Brass has free and donation-based classes so you can burn off some of those beignets.
Crescent City Yoga
I love this yoga class. Crescent City Yoga meets twice a week for donation-based yoga classes in City Park at this gorgeous pavillion!
Silent book club
In the mood for something low-key? New Orleans has a Silent Book Club, where you read whatever book you’d like for an hour. This is a great way to dedicate time to reading and to be your best introverted self.
Cheap Things to Do in New Orleans
These are almost cheap as free!
Taymaz Valley, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ride the Streetcar
For $1.25, you can ride the streetcar all you want for 2 hours. Or for an all-day Jazzy Pass for $3, you ride as much as you want all day! For even more fun, you could plan a streetcar bar crawl, where you stop wherever looks interesting!
Take the Ferry to Algiers Point
For the same cost as the streetcar, you can take the ferry across the Mississippi River and enjoy gorgeous views of the city, especially at sunset. Once you’re across the river, stop at Barracuda for some tacos and a delicious mango drink.
Frenchmen Street…when it’s not as hopping as it usually is.
Hit up Frenchmen Street on a Weeknight
Many of the clubs have no cover charges, especially on weeknights or during the off-season. There may still be a drink minimum, though.
Find a Happy Hour
Have a drink on the cheap during happy hour. Here are a couple of of my favorites:
High Grace: 733 St Peter. Happy hour is every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. And they’re open 24 hours!
Erin Rose: 811 Conti St. One of my favorite French Quarter bars, and home of the Frozen Irish Coffee. Happy hour is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Looking for cheap eats in New Orleans?
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have fun in New Orleans, and what makes the city so special and unique often doesn’t cost money at all!
