French Quarter Sightseeing Featured Stories

While the French Quarter is a fascinating place to simply sit and watch the world go by, it becomes ever more so when you learn a bit about its history, quirks, and secrets. Dozens of guided tours are available to address all manner of subjects specific to the French Quarter and a knowledgeable,...

Decatur Street. Photo by Trevor Mark Decatur Street runs parallel to the Mississippi River, starting on Canal and ending at St. Ferdinand Street in the Marigny. Decatur was previously known as Rue de la Levee (“Levee Street”) but was renamed in 1870 after Stephen Decatur, the American naval...

Royal Street between St. Louis and Conti streets. Photo by Ken Lund For a full 13 blocks stretching in the French Quarter, Royal Street runs parallel to Bourbon Street, yet this thoroughfare — one of the finest stretches of art galleries, antique stores, wrought-iron balconies, restaurants, and...

Photo by Trevor Mark When it comes to Chartres Street, the best approach is to keep it simple. That guideline pertains to both the street’s name (no need to pull out your French pronunciation guide — it’s simply pronounced CHART-ers), and your approach to exploration. Chartres Street is...

Rampart-St. Claude streetcar by Cheryl Gerber For people who like living on the edge — of the French Quarter, that is — North Rampart Street is where it’s at. This street serves as the northernmost boundary of the French Quarter, dividing it from Tremé. You’ll find less foot traffic on...

A dauphine is the wife of the French king’s oldest son — and just as its name suggests, a stroll down Dauphine Street will make you feel like royalty. That’s thanks in part to the standout restaurants that line the elegant (and, yes, regal) corridor. But Dauphine Street is also host to...

The French Quarter is many things: a historic site, a shopping and entertainment district, a premiere food and drink destination, and, to many tourists, an adult Disneyland. But for roughly 369,749 New Orleanians, according to the 2022 Census, the French Quarter is home. Nowhere is it easier to...

Royal Street by Trevor Mark When French cartographer Adrien de Pauger laid out the Vieux Carre’s orderly grid in 1721, he envisioned the St. Louis Cathedral as the city’s center. While its Jackson Square location does remain a hub of activity, a modern 21st-century visitor would be hard-pressed...

Photo by Vince Huang on Flickr Rain, rain, go away? Not necessarily. It can rain buckets in New Orleans, seemingly suddenly, and especially during the long, steamy summer season in Louisiana. If you’re been caught in a daylong downpour or even a brief afternoon shower while visiting, do not...

Creole Queen photo by Brian Norwood on Flickr A city that celebrated its tricentennial back in 2018 will always have much to offer, and, like any multicultural place steeped in history and tradition, the French Quarter, in particular, has a non-wild side worth exploring. It may be tempting to get...