As promissed, I sat down and decided to give you a whole list of places I personally recommend visiting/doing in amazing New Orleans and its closest neighbourhood. If you want to hear more about my experince in NOLA check my previous blogpost!
1. Areas of New Orleans' to see:
French Quarter
Garden District
Bywater
Downtown
Lakeview
If you have a limited time: French Quarter and Garden District
2. Parks of New Orleans' to see:
City Park
Louis Armstrong Park
Jackson Square Park
Woldenberg Park
Washington Square Park
If you have a limited time: City Park
3. Cemeteries of New Orleans' to see: (opened from 9am - 4pm)
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
If you have a limited time: Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
4. What do see/do in French Quarter:
Walk along Bourbon Street/Royal Street/Dauphine Street/Decatur Street/Toulouse Street/St Peter Street/St Anne Street/Dumaine Street
Stay longer on Jackson Square/Visit Jackson Square Park/St. Louis Cathedral/ The Presbytere
Go to French Market and get a chicory coffee and beignets in Cafe Du Monde
Go to The Ursulines Convent and on the way (take Decatur Street) take pictures of passed buildings
Walk through Pirates Alley (next to Jackon Square) and visit on of the tiny bookstores just around the corner
Go to Louis Armstrong Park and leave a small gift under a huge tree in the center of the park - it's siad it makes dreams come true
Take a St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 guided tour
Visit Marie Laveau (Voodoo Queen) house
Visit Voodoo and Vampire Shops
Stop in antique shops on Royal Street and buy some souvernirs there
Visit bars and pubs on Bourbon Street
Have a walk to Frenchman Street and enjoy live jazz music
5. What to do/see in Garden District:
Anne Rice House
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Walk along Chestnut Street, Camp Street, Prytania Street, First St, Second St and Third St
If you have limited time: Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and Chestnut Street
6. What tours you should take: (I booked mine through viator.com)
Ultimate Swamp Tour Experience (you can get tickets online or by the Steamboat Natchez close to Woldenberg Park)
Oak Alley Plantation Tour (you can buy it online or through local agencies - I got mine from Tours by Isabelle)
New Orleans' City of the Dead No.1 Cemetery Tour (by Witches Brew)
New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour (pick the evening tour - by Witches Brew)
If you have limited time or money: New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour by Witches Brew
7. What museums in New Orleans are worth visiting:
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum (for those who love spooky stories - ask about guided tours)
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
The Presbyterie (mostly about Mardi Gras or Hurricane Katrina)
If you have limited time or money: New Orleans Pharmacy Museum with a guide
8. Lets eat/drink/have fun:
Traditional Louisiana couisine is a mixture of Spanish/French and African traditions. Must remember: most of the served and offered dishes are super spicy!
Food:
Try Jambalaya (rice, sausage and veggies) - make sure to ask about the spicyness of the dish.
Try Oysters - super fresh in most places!
Try Gumbo - a typical NOLA dish which is a type of stew with seafood and rice
Try all the dishes with crawfish and shrimp! it's a cheaper and delicious version of a lobster
Try bread/banana pudding and peach pie
Try Beignets (French donuts) go to ---> Cafe Du Monde
Try Muffalata - traditional sandwich with ham, salami and veggies
Drinks:
Caffe au lait and chicory coffee
Try Hurricane cocktail - you'll find it in every bar
Ask about local beers - they are dark and fruity
Try Sazerac - the most typical NOLA drink
Try Frozen Daiq - you'll find them absolutely everywhere! Super refreshing and sweet
Have bourbon on Bourbon Street :)
Go to Old Absinthe House and have jelly shots. Don'f forget to ask barmans about ghost stories!
Have a Huge Ass Beer and walk along Bourbon Street
9. Few random advices from me:
Make sure to bring a rain jacket or an umbrella with you to NOLA - it almost always rains
To move around New Orleans I recommend public transporation. Get a daily ticket or 3 day ticket - you can buy them in street car by cash
(it's $1,25 one way/$3 for whole day/$5 for 3 days)
Do not walk alone after sundown. Stay close to tourists. NOLA is dangerous
Have cash with you! Most of the places are cash only!
10. Something extra for vampire lovers:
Anne Rice House in Garden District (1239 Chestnut st and 1st)
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (The Originals, Vampire Diaries and Interview with a Vampire)
Garden District Book Shop (famous for selling signed copies of books by Anne Rice)
Royal Hotel (The Originals) in French Quarter
Hotel Monteleone (The Originals) in French Quarter
Maison Bourbon Jazz Club (The Originals)
All the love! M.