There’s no place quite like New Orleans — a city where jazz floats through the air, history lines every cobblestone street, and the food is as rich as the stories told over it. Whether it’s your first time in the Crescent City or your tenth, 2025 is shaping up to be a standout year with new cultural events, revitalized neighborhoods, and timeless experiences that never go out of style. From late-night French Quarter haunts to fresh twists on Creole cuisine and riverfront adventures, here are the ten must-do activities that capture the magic, soul, and wild heart of New Orleans this year.
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1. City Sightseeing New Orleans Bus Tour
The City Sightseeing New Orleans Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour provides an excellent, whirlwind way to see much of the French Quarter, Central Business District, Marigny, and Garden District while learning their unique stories. The bus tours are live hosted by local New Orleans guides, providing you with a humorous and authentic cultural context. The full bus tour is approximately 2 hours (13 miles round trip) and has numerous stops along the way at major points of interest, such as Jackson Square, Cafe Du Monde, the National World War II Museum, Frenchmen Street, Magazine Street, Mardi Gras World, the Garden District and others. Also, if you purchase a 3 Day Pass, guided walking tours at the French Quarter and Garden District are include:
French Quarter Walking Tour (Guided ~ 45 min)
Garden District Walking Tour (Guided ~ 45 min)
Note: If you're not interested in walking tours and only want the bus, go with the 1 Day Ticket instead. Its less expensive and doesn't include the walking tours.
2. Crawl New Orleans VIP Bar & Club Crawl
New Orleans' notorious Bourbon Street - the capital of sin, the epicenter of celebration, the MECCA OF MAYHEM! Whether your goal is to dance until you can't stand, ride mechanical alligators, sing your heart out, enjoy some classier establishments, drink signature New Orleans cocktails, or throw beads from hanging balconies, this bar crawl itinerary will satisfy your desires and navigate you through the crowds and around the murky puddles (that exist regardless of recent rainfall...eek) to the very best bars and clubs on and around Bourbon Street.
3. The Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
For a unique jazz encounter, board the Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise, where the mighty Mississippi River becomes the stage for a musical journey. Picture the sun setting on the horizon as live jazz notes fill the air, creating a magical experience that combines the beauty of the river with the enchantment of live jazz performances. It's a one-of-a-kind voyage into the heart of New Orleans' musical legacy. In addition to their brilliant evening cruises, Steamboat Natchez also offers regular day time cruises that offer stunning views of the historic French Quarter and around New Orleans.
4. Oak Alley Plantation Tour
You know that iconic plantation image of a mansion entry way lined by giant and spectacular live oak trees, creating a tunnel-like illusion? If you don't know, maybe this picture of Oak Alley Plantation will jog your memory.
Oak Alley is the classic antebellum plantation you probably imagined before coming to Southern Louisiana. The estate is complete with a large mansion, reconstructed slave quarters, 25 acres of grounds, the plantation's blacksmith shop, Civil War encampment, and, of course, the breath-taking alley of 300 year old live oak trees. The Reconstructed Slave Quarters and Civil War Encampment were particularly interesting, as neither Houmas House nor Nottoway had these types of interactive exhibits.
To sum it up, I'd say if you're looking for the overall antebellum experience, you really can't go wrong with Oak Alley.
5. Airboat Swamp Tour
For the next adventure take an airboat swamp tour. Airboat tours are immensely exhilarating as you whip around the swamps and bayou's at top speeds. Imagine Tokyo Drift, but while searching for alligators...yeah, its that cool. And if you didn't grow up near a swamp-like habitat, you might find it fascinating to know that there is no shortage of alligators! You can pretty much guarantee spotting a few of these prehistoric beasts between the months of March through October. But...they do the alligator equivalent to hibernation (called brumation) during the cold months and remain underwater for most of the time. However, if you happen to do your bachelor party between November-February, riding an airboat, exploring swamp/bayou/marsh terrains, and observing the other wildlife species in the area is still an awesome experience.
When choosing a tour, we'd suggest going with the 15 to 25 passenger airboat option over the 6 to 8 passenger airboat to save a couple bucks. Because the airboats are set up with bleacher seating, it really doesn't make a difference in terms of what you hear or see. Total round trip (leave your hotel / arrive back at your hotel) is 4 hours so you may want to eat a hearty breakfast. Tickets for swamp tours generally run around $39 - $95 (depending on size of airboat you choose and whether you drive yourself or get picked up from your hotel). Using the travel pass can discount this to $29 -$71 per person. For a group of four you saved $40 - $96 on swamp tours alone with just one travel pass!
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6. French Quarter Ghosts & Legends Tour
A quick Google search will show that New Orleans consistently ranks among the most haunted cities in the United States. Between the disturbingly gory human experiments conducted by Madam Lalaurie in the early 1800s (part of the basis for Season 3 of American Horror Story), the practice of Hoodoo (yes Hoodoo, not Voodoo), the Great New Orleans Fire that burnt down most of the city in 1788, and the eerie above ground tombs residing in cemeteries scattered city-wide, New Orleans has plenty of reason to be at the top of this list.
7. French Quarter Walking Tour
On the French Quarter Walking tour, included with the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass, your guide takes you through the rich history of the Quarter (and New Orleans in general), discusses the various architectural styles found throughout the city, and helps paint a picture of NOLA's culture. Starting at the famous French Market, you will work your way through the Quarter's famous picturesque streets with balconies covered in vines and hanging gardens. The tour ends at Jackson Square, where New Orleans classics, such as Café Du Monde and St. Louis Cathedral are located. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes, which is about the ideal amount of time spent on a walking tour. More information and route updates can be found here.
8. Food & Cocktail History Tour with Doctor Gumbo.
Pretty much anywhere you go in the French Quarter is going to serve your traditional New Orleans cuisines (gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys, oysters, alligator sausage, red beans & rice, etc...). But, we recommend the following two restaurants. With Travel Pass you are going to be able to experience one of the top food history tours in the country. In addition to New Orleans exquisite cuisine, NOLA is home to a ton of cocktail recipes that will leave you thirsty for more. Our partner, Doctor Gumbo has got you covered in this arena too! From Shark Attacks to Spiked Snowballs and much more, get ready to learn about the tastes and aromas of New Orleans food and drink.
9. New Orleans' Celebrity Culture With 2nd line tours
Known as a pulsating epicenter for culture and trendsetting, New Orleans stands as a prime destination for those eager to talk the essence of American artistic history. At the heart of this cultural nexus is the influential jazz scene, a force that has sculpted beloved sounds and served as a profound influence on countless musical classics. Join a celebrity tour in the city to traverse the footsteps of jazz legends, unraveling the captivating stories that have woven the musical tapestry of New Orleans.
10. Garden District & Cemetary Tours with Grayline & Haunted History Tours
Ever hear about the beautiful mansions nestled in New Orleans? If so, then you've likely also heard about the Garden District, which hosts some of the best preserved, still lived in, elegant homes in the Southern United States. Starting at Washington street (with cross street of either Saint Charles or Magazine), walk toward Lafayette Cemetery #1. Take one of the side neighborhood streets and begin exploring. You'll find, pretty quickly, that it's amazingly easy fall in love with this neighborhood after experiencing the charming calm and peacefulness that saturates the Garden District. Insider Tip: Garden District Walking Tours tend to focus primarily on the area bordered by Washington Avenue, Saint Charles Avenue, Jackson Avenue, and Magazine Street. Some mansions of interest include Sandra Bullock's New Orleans residence (2627 Coliseum Street) and The Buckner Mansion, which was featured in American Horror Story (1410 Jackson Avenue).
We'd also suggest wandering through Lafayette Cemetery #1. Historically significant graves and picturesque rows of above-ground tombs make this cemetery a very worthwhile part of your Garden District adventure.
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