The Old City of New Orleans is famous as the cultural capital of the large swath of southern land. Jazz music plays as the backdrop of unique cultural potpourri that sprawled on the streets of New Orleans. A little bit of Europe made space to the banks of Mississippi river with the traders, parts of which are still visible through the old architecture of the city. Then came the people from Africa through the period of Transatlantic slave trade, followed by Haitians, the French and the Spanish, the Cajuns who share a close tie with the Acadians.
You can easily spend three days in New Orleans, exploring the historical parts of the city and tasting your way through the many alleys of old town. New Orleans has something or other on offer for everyone. For those traveling on a tight budget, the city offers plenty of experiences, most of them being cultural.
I have listed a bunch of free or very affordable activities in NOLA. As a first time visitor, you should indulge in these activities, and not just get wasted with the free flowing daiquiris on the streets of Bourbon Street.
The French Quarter of NOLA: The Vieux Carre
The French quarter of NOLA is an exciting place to explore on foot. I found this place similar to Galle of Sri Lanka or the Old Town of Phuket, both UNESCO world Heritage Towns.
Wandering around the famous French Quarter of NOLA is nothing less than a delight. The streets run parallel to each other.
Old world architecture. French windows, horse drawn carriages, souvenir stalls with quirky offerings, massive lobbies of old world hotels (open to public), lit up streets that sing classical jazz at the advent of dusk- NOLA French Quarter will keep you occupied for the larger part of your day. You can easily spend a day or two exploring the landmarks in the area. The plaques, the houses or shops turned into numerous museums, Christmas decor if you’re visiting during the season, there is no end to do things in the FQ of NOLA.
Look for the Mardi Gras museum, Pharmacy Museum, Voodoo Museum, Cabildo building, live jazz music, many souvenir shops which bring a riot of colours on a damp day in this swampland, plaques dating back to the European settlers’ governance period, ornate cafes- the French Quarter is a delight to explore!
Jackson square punctuated FQ and lets the river walk run by Mississippi. It’s a vibrant melting pot for artists, musicians, tourists, flea markets. But more than anything, JS is home to the old Saint Louis Cathedral. Make it inside the cathedral to witness old world glass ceiling
Walk at the Bourbon Street at Night
Bourbon Street is very much a part of French Quarter but it is rather morose in the morning. Come evening, the streets lit up in neon lights and sinful fantasies flash in front of the shop gates. This is where the iconic NOLA Nightlife unfolds.
As they claim. NOLA is the heartland of jazz music of the South. A stroll along the roads of Bourbon Street and you know they did not exaggerate.
This is where I first visited a Strip Club in the Western Hemisphere. I am just a small town girl from India, raised with a vague conditioning of puritan thoughts of women’s body. I was blown away with the performance of the women who walked the stage, and sometimes they walked on the air, with their heels inching close to 20 cm. They owned the stage, as well as the night, and I found myself shelling out dollar notes every other minute!
Learn about the Voodoo Practice in NOLA
Streets of NOLA are filled with shops selling Voodoo Dolls or lookalike. Somehow, the Hindu God Ganesh also makes an appearance at a Voodoo shop.
Voodoo-ism, which is a derived religion of African diaspora and is practiced even at Catholic households, is an integral part of cultural weaves of New Orleans. Pop culture has put it in a mis-constituted box of mystic romantic ghostly mansion but in reality, Voodooism is not very different than that of any mainstream religion. Do pay a visit to the tomb of the erstwhile Voodoo queen of NOLA Marie Laveau when you visit he cemeteries.
Visiting NOLA can get you a chance to lean more about the cultural aspects of Vodou. A visit to the museum can be a great start to learn about tis ancient, and often mis-constituent practice. Some of the shops sells books related to NOLA Vodou practice, that still talk about spells using graveyard dust, brick dust, gunpowder, pins and needles, candles and incense.
Take a river walk by River Mississippi
Walking the streets of French Quarter and the French Market had been an emotional overload for me until I started to walk the paved promenade by the river. The streetcar line goes right next to it. The steamboat jazz cruise sail from the harbor. NOLA skyline stands still at a distance. The riverwalk is a serene place that lets you escape from the crowd and bustle of the tourist town and sit in silence for a moment.
While I stretched my legs at the riverwalk, I could not help but notice the plaques that stated history of the transatlantic slave trades. What is today a tranquil piece of land had witnessed some of the cruelest part of human history just a couple of centuries ago.
Local Art Galleries of NOLA
While NOLA is home to NOMA (New Orleans Museum of Art), it is 20 bucks for an adult entry. Unless you visit NOMA on a Wednesday, which is a free entry day for all visitors. Be sure to secure your ticket beforehand.
Keep an eye out for the gallery and warehouses of Magazine Street, the Art District as well as the French Quarter itself.
Dr Bob’s Folk Art is particularly famous for quirky arts. By water area is famous for street art and murals.
Ride the Street Car of NOLA- One of the oldest Streetcar system of the country
The NOLA streetcar is one of the oldest running streetcar agency of the country, same as that one of San Francisco.
It’s not exactly free, but for a meagre USD 3, you can access the Street Car anywhere with an all day pass.
The journey from French Quarter to garden District is a beautiful experience on the NOLA street car. Parts of the route run through the riverfront which is a delight especially during sundown.
The Crescent Park
This is a mile and a half long narrow stretch of grass land perfect for an evening jog while the NOLA skyline basks in the glory of tourists and sunshine. An ode to the city’s industrial past, parts of Mississippi that flows by city’s old neighborhoods -Bywaters and Marigny- have been transformed into a park, which is a nice hangout spot!
The Cemetery of New Orleans
Festivals and Parades of New Orleans
While New Orleans is particularly famous for Mardi Gras, which is a unique parade not only to NOLA but to the whole of the US, NOLA
Shopping at the Royal Street of New Orleans
The French market/Jackson Square
By the river Mississippi, stands a promenade which houses the French Market. It is an old flea market which has now transgressed into a typical tourist souvenir shop which is not much different that that of the French Quarter stalls.
However, it is Jackson Square that will draw your attention. It punctuates between the French Quarter and the Riverwalk.
One of the most imposing structures of the region is Saint Louis Cathedral, also considered to be a National Historical Landmark. Do not leave NOLA until you have witnessed the stained Glass Windows of the cathedral indoors. The Catholic church is open for a large Sunday Mass.
The City Park of New Orleans
The City Park of New Orleans is what central Park is to New York, with a 1300 acre land dotted with lagoons, tremendous Oak Trees, many animals and a marvelous Sculpture Garden with some of the best exhibits of offered by NOMA, for absolutely no expenses.
However, please note, City Park can be painfully hot in the summer months. We Visited NOLA during Thanksgiving weekend, which is when things were nice and warm. Summer months can be humid!
Congo Street
On a balmy Sunday afternoon while walking aimlessly at the Armstrong park, I came across a serendipitous exhibit of drum circle. I stood there as a mesmerised audience.
Upon delving deep into the celebration, I found out this is the famous Congo Square, once a swath of green grass used for trading by the dwellers of the First Nation, Congo Square came to be a congregation space for the enslaved African Americans from early eighteenth hundred century.
They were given a day off for working the entire week. On that day, almost 500 people would meet at the Congo square, trade wares, dance and sing, form drum circle, much of this tradition would later pave way for iconic jazz music of NOPA & even parts of Mardi Gras celebrations.
Congo square, now a paved space, holds immense importance in the cultural and historical sphere of New Orleans.
The Garden District
Art Tour of New Orleans
Magazine Street at New Orleans
While these travel experiences will not cost you much, in fact nothing at all, you can spend a little and indulge in a few more activities while in NOLA just to experience the city a bit more. None of these activities will burn a hole in the pocket, be rest assured.
- Taste Chicory coffee at Cafe Du Monde
- Live Jazz Music on the Streets of NOLA
- The Bar that rotates
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