Free & Cheap Things to Do in New Orleans

Iconic Landmarks

The 2.5-acre heart of the French Quarter and a National Historic Landmark, framed by St. Louis Cathedral and the Pontalba Apartments. Street musicians, tarot readers, and portrait artists fill the square overlooking the Mississippi — the single most iconic free spot in New Orleans.

Address: 700 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Tip: Open 8am–6/7pm; the surrounding pedestrian streets buzz day and night. Come early for quiet photos of the cathedral, or evenings for the liveliest street performers. The Moonwalk riverfront promenade is steps away.

History & Culture

The oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in the United States, its triple steeples presiding over Jackson Square since 1718. Self-guided visits of the soaring, fresco-lined nave are free — one of the great free interiors in the South.

Address: 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116

Tip: Open to visitors most days outside Mass times; a small donation is suggested for self-guided tours. Step out back to Pere Antoine Alley and St. Anthony's Garden for a quiet break from the Quarter crowds.

Museums & Galleries

A free museum and research center spread across beautifully restored French Quarter townhouses, telling the story of New Orleans and the Gulf South through artifacts, maps, and rotating exhibitions. Polished, air-conditioned, and genuinely world-class — at no charge.

Address: 520 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Tip: Closed Mondays. The Royal Street campus is free to explore; some guided building and history tours carry a small fee. A perfect free escape from the midday heat.

Arts & Culture

Eleven free acres of modern sculpture set among 200-year-old live oaks, lagoons, and Spanish moss in City Park, beside the New Orleans Museum of Art. More than 90 works by Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, and others make this one of the country's great free art experiences.

Address: 1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124

Tip: Open daily; admission to the sculpture garden is free (the NOMA building itself is ticketed). Wear bug spray near the lagoons in summer. Combine with a free wander through surrounding City Park.

Markets & Food

America's oldest public market, running along the river since 1791 — six blocks of flea-market stalls, a farmers market, craft vendors, and casual eateries. Free to browse, and the people-watching and beignet-sniffing cost nothing.

Address: 1008 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Tip: Flea market open daily till 5pm; farmers market and cafes till 6. The upriver end near Cafe du Monde is busiest. Cheap eats and Creole-spice vendors make it a budget lunch stop.

Parks & Waterfront

A 1.4-mile riverfront park stretching downriver from the French Quarter through the Marigny and Bywater, with skyline and Mississippi views, the sculptural 'Rusty Rainbow' bridge, bike lanes, and a dog run. A free, breezy escape from the Quarter's bustle.

Address: Piety St & Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Tip: Closes 7:30pm. Enter at the Piety Street arch or the Elysian Fields ramp. Sunset over the river and downtown skyline is the payoff — bring a picnic from the nearby Bywater cafes.

History & Culture

Thirty-one free acres in Tremé honoring the city's native son and the birthplace of jazz. At its heart is historic Congo Square, where enslaved people gathered on Sundays to drum and dance — a foundational site of American music, free to visit and still drummed on weekends.

Address: 701 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Tip: Open 8am–6/7pm. Sunday afternoons often bring free drum circles in Congo Square. The park sits across Rampart from the Quarter — pair with a walk through historic Tremé.

Music & Entertainment

A free National Park Service site celebrating the birthplace of jazz, with live ranger-led performances, talks, and exhibits at the visitor center and the historic Old U.S. Mint. Catch a free concert from a working musician most days — the cheapest live jazz in the city.

Address: 916 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Tip: Free performances run several days a week — check the NPS calendar before you go. The Old U.S. Mint location adds free jazz-history exhibits. No tickets needed.

Parks & Nature

One of the largest urban parks in the country — 1,300 acres of ancient live oaks, lagoons, and walking paths, free to roam. The free Couturie Forest, the oak groves, and miles of trails anchor it; paid extras like the Botanical Garden, Carousel Gardens, and City Putt are optional.

Address: 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124

Tip: The grounds, trails, and the world's largest stand of mature live oaks are free. The Besthoff Sculpture Garden inside is also free. Rent a bike or pedal boat for a few dollars, or just walk under the oaks.

Parks & Nature

A free 350-acre uptown park designed by the Olmsted firm, draped in 2,000 live oaks with a lagoon-ringed walking and biking loop, Bird Island, and oak-shaded lawns running from St. Charles Avenue to the river. Ride the historic streetcar to its edge for the full uptown experience.

Address: 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Tip: The 1.8-mile loop is the city's favorite free walk/run. The St. Charles streetcar (a few dollars) drops you at the park gate. The Audubon Zoo inside is separately ticketed.

Family & Kids

A 56,000-square-foot hands-on museum on an 8.5-acre City Park campus, built around play-based learning — a make-believe market, a Mississippi River water table, art and STEM studios, and outdoor edible gardens. One of the best rainy-day stops in town for under-tens.

Address: 15 Henry Thomas Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124

Tip: SNAP/EBT cardholders pay $4.95 for up to four. Free admission on the second Sunday every other month via Art for All. Closed Mondays. It sits inside free City Park — combine the two.

Wildlife & Education

A top-ranked 58-acre zoo inside uptown's Audubon Park — a Louisiana Swamp exhibit with white alligators, an Asian Domain with tigers, and an African Savanna, all under moss-draped oaks. The marquee family splurge, with real budget routes if you time it right.

Address: 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Tip: Budget routes: Audubon Community Connect drops admission to $5 for SNAP/Medicaid/WIC cardholders, and combo tickets with the Aquarium and Insectarium save up to 42%. Allow half a day.