Insider Tips for Enjoying New Orleans Like a Local

Day after day, night after night, Bourbon Street in the French Quarter serves up a rollicking good time. From admiring the French and Spanish colonial architecture to enjoying the many bars, restaurants, and live music venues, visitors can spend their entire trip on this historic stretch.

However, not venturing beyond this area would mean missing out on cool neighborhoods, such as Faubourg Marigny and the Garden District, as well as unique attractions like the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, the St. Roch Cemetery, and the National WWII Museum.

Last call is an Uber driver’s favorite time of day in New Orleans, when surge prices spike due to demand. Taxis can also be a pain to flag down in New Orleans, especially around Bourbon Street, when there’s a lot of competition.

But did you know that New Orleans has a great streetcar network? The St. Charles Avenue line runs 24/7, making it a charming and affordable way to get around the city. Download Le Pass, the official app of the New Orleans RTA to see routes and purchase passes, which makes riding easy. If you’re paying in cash, you’ll need exact change ($1.25) to board.

A pickpocket likes nothing more than a tipsy tourist letting their guard down. New Orleans has its fair share of pickpockets, especially in the busy French Quarter, so don’t make yourself a target. Leave the big tote bag at home and use a small crossbody purse that you can keep close. Don’t put your wallet in your back pocket or leave your backpack or tote bag unzipped or unattended on the back of your chair when dining.

Yes, this advice applies to every destination, but it is especially valid in a large city like New Orleans.

As anyone who has shelled out for a hurricane cocktail knows, prices for drinks in New Orleans can be high. The good news is that, in this city, open containers are allowed. This means that when it’s time to leave the bar (whether it’s closing time or you’re heading to the next spot), you can take your unfinished drink with you—provided it’s in a plastic cup. So, there you have it—never leave a good drink behind.

There’s plenty going on in the streets of downtown New Orleans, but the surrounding sights and sounds of the swamps, forests, and nature reserves are also worth experiencing. Start with a hike in Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, where you’ll find beautiful swamplands and a range of animals, including alligators. Then, consider checking out the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge or staying local and exploring the Couturie Forest in the heart of City Park.

Visitors can also take a ride on a vintage steamboat to experience the mighty Mississippi River.

A New Orleans institution, Cafe du Monde is a must-visit. The famed beignets here come coated in powdered sugar, which is likely to wind up on your clothes. Unless you want everyone to know where you’ve been for a quick snack stop, avoid wearing black and opt for a lighter-colored outfit that won’t showcase your sugar stains.

If someone approaches you on the street and bets they can guess where you got your shoes, it’s a scam. (The answer? On your feet.) Don’t engage unless you want to be hassled for money for the next block or two by a persistent street hustler.

Walk down Bourbon Street, and you’ll see groups of tourists clutching neon green plastic containers filled to the brim with alcohol. This is the Hand Grenade, one of the many signature drinks of New Orleans. It’s made from a potent mix of vodka, rum, gin, and melon liqueur, and it packs quite a punch.

Not only does the beverage have a strong alcohol content, but it also mixes four different kinds of liquor along with a lot of sugar, which is a recipe for a powerful hangover. So, unless you want to waste an entire day of your vacation in bed recovering, stick to just one of these cocktails.