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Wie man New Orleans als ersten Timer angeht

Von kreolischen Villen bis hin zu bröckelnden Friedhöfen, Karnevalparaden bis hin zu Jazzclubs, Sümpfen bis Dampfbooten versprüht New Orleans einen ganz eigenen südländischen Charme. So machen Sie das Beste aus einem ersten Besuch im Big Easy.

A bustling downtown street in New Orleans at night.
Hi, I'm Paul!

Paul Oswell is an award-winning travel writer based in New Orleans. He has reported from all seven continents for dozens of international publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, The Guardian (UK), The Daily Telegraph (UK), and The Sunday Times (UK).

Welcome to New Orleans, also known as The Crescent City or The Big Easy. Diverse cultures mix in this Louisiana hub, resulting in a destination that celebrates life through music, food, and festivals. Take in 300 years of history by walking around the evocative French Quarter and eating some of the best food in the country, all to the soundtrack of the city’s famed jazz and brass bands. There’s a lot to experience in New Orleans, so here are some recommendations for making the most of your first time.

1. Explore the French Quarter

Street musicians in New Orlean's French Quarter.
The French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans.Bildquelle: GTS Productions / Shutterstock

Just walking around feels like you’re on a movie set.

The beautiful historic French Quarter is the beating heart of New Orleans, and the best way to see it is by walking around. Many of the beautiful buildings—featuring famous wrought-iron balconies—date back two or three centuries.

Brass bands play in Jackson Square in the shadow of St. Louis Cathedral, where you’ll also find endless charming cafés, art galleries, and boutiques. Join the party on the neon-lit Bourbon Street, try the antique stores of Royal Street, or wander down to the banks of the Mississippi River.

2. Tune into the city’s music

Jazz band performing inside a jazz club in New Orleans.
When in New Orleans, visit a jazz club to hear live music.Bildquelle: Ancha Chiangmai / Shutterstock

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz.

See world-class musicians every night at the jazz clubs along Frenchmen Street, where it’s easy to bounce between spots. Head to Fritzel’s European Jazz Bar and Preservation Hall, both famous music venues in the French Quarter, for live music. The city’s incredible brass bands often take to the streets but look out for them in the clubs, too.

Related: Where To Go to Experience Jazz History in New Orleans

3. Eat your way around town

Cafe du Monde in New Orleans.
Cafe du Monde is famous for its beignets.Bildquelle: Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock

Locals live for great food, and you should too.

No city loves its food like New Orleans, famous for dishes that run from simple red beans and rice to high-end tasting menus. Creole and Cajun dishes are the most popular, and you’ll also find gumbo and jambalaya everywhere.

Stop at Cafe du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait, grab a muffuletta sandwich from Central Grocery, or find a crawfish boil at a neighborhood bar. Oysters, po’boys, and turtle soup are local classics—consider a cooking class to learn how to make them.

4. Find your new favorite festival

Masked dancer in Mardi Gras parade.
Mardi Gras celebrations are extravagant and elaborate.Bildquelle: hijodeponggol / Shutterstock

There’s more to the city than just Mardi Gras.

New Orleans is best known for its iconic Mardi Gras celebrations. From the first week in January until the start of Lent, parades take over the city. The celebrations culminate on Fat Tuesday, when the city is just one exuberant, costumed extravaganza full of debauchery.

However, there are festivals year-round in New Orleans. In spring, Jazz Fest attracts world-famous musicians, or join the locals for food and live music at French Quarter Fest. The city also goes all in for Halloween—New Orleans is known to be haunted.

Related: Know Before You Go: Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans

5. Explore diverse neighborhoods

Sightseeing bus tour in New Orleans.
Hop on (and off) a bus tour and go beyond the French Quarter.Bildquelle: Khairil Azhar Junos / Shutterstock

Find authentic experiences beyond the French Quarter.

Downtown New Orleans is easy to explore on foot or on a sightseeing bus tour. Alternatively, the Marigny has cute coffee shops, impressive art at Studio Be, and the tranquil riverside greenery of Crescent Park.

Treme is one of the country’s most historic African American neighborhoods. Jazz evolved right there in Congo Square, and you can find authentic Creole restaurants after a relaxing stroll in Louis Armstrong Park. Otherwise, take the St. Charles streetcar uptown to see historic mansions and the vibrant boutiques of Magazine Street.

Related: How to Get Off the Beaten Path in New Orleans

6. Bask in the entertainment capital of the South

Jazz musicians performing on a New Orleans street.
There are plenty of ways to party in New Orleans.Bildquelle: James Kirkikis / Shutterstock

There’s a party going on no matter the time of day.

Bourbon Street is a world-famous party center where you can find cheap drinks, karaoke, live music, and adult entertainment.

Join the locals by exploring beyond the neon signs along Saint Claude Avenue, home to lively spots with some outstanding local talent. The AllWays Lounge and HiHo Lounge put on exciting burlesque, drag, variety, and comedy shows, and Siberia showcases all kinds of bands. You can also catch touring Broadway shows at the historic Saenger Theater.

7. Don’t forget about the cultural scene

Colorful building in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Enjoy the many colors of New Orleans.Bildquelle: Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock

New Orleans isn’t just a party city.

The colorful street murals you’ll see in the Marigny hint at the incredible artistic talent that resides in NOLA. New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) holds its own against any big city gallery, with a collection that includes works by Degas, Picasso, and Renoir. The museum has an outstanding outdoor sculpture garden, too.

Alternatively, discover regional artistic highlights at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the Contemporary Arts Center. Hit local galleries downtown on Royal Street and Julia Street and uptown on Magazine Street.

8. Dive into some history

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
Experience the exhibits of the National World War II Museum.Bildquelle: Dr. Victor Wong / Shutterstock

Military buffs will have a field day here.

Von kreolischen Villen bis hin zu bröckelnden Friedhöfen, Karnevalparaden bis hin zu Jazzclubs, Sümpfen bis Dampfbooten versprüht New Orleans einen ganz eigenen südländischen Charme. So machen Sie das Beste aus einem ersten Besuch im Big Easy.

Kreuzfahrt auf dem mächtigen Mississippi

New Orleans hat tiefe Wurzeln als Hafenstadt. Begleiten Sie den Flussverkehr mit einer Fahrt mit dem Oldtimer Steamboat Natchez, einem der letzten seiner Art. Verbessern Sie Ihre Erfahrung, indem Sie eine Brunch- oder Dinner-Jazz-Kreuzfahrt buchen, um die kreolische Küche auf dem Wasser zu probieren.

Spazieren Sie durch das Garden District

Das grüne Garden District liegt nur eine kurze Straßenbahnfahrt vom Trubel des French Quarter entfernt und ist ein ruhiger Zufluchtsort von Antebellum-Villen und von Bäumen gesäumten Alleen. Entdecken Sie die Geschichte und Architektur dieses gehobenen Viertels bei einem Rundgang, einschließlich eines Stopps auf dem legendären Lafayette Cemetery Nr. 1 - einem der ältesten Friedhöfe in New Orleans.

Erkunde die Sümpfe

Tauschen Sie die Geräusche klirrender Straßenbahnen und Jazzclubs gegen Frösche und Grillen mit einem Tagesausflug in die Sümpfe von Louisiana. Es dauert nicht lange, bis Sie das Herz des Cajun-Landes erreichen, wo Sie mit einem Luftboot durch die Bucht gleiten können, während Sie Alligatoren, Schlangen, Schildkröten und andere Sumpfbewohner beobachten.

Gönnen Sie sich kreolisches Kochen

Essen ist ein beliebter Zeitvertreib in New Orleans. Probieren Sie das lokale Flair bei einer Food-Tour durch das French Quarter. Genießen Sie authentische kreolische Spezialitäten wie Gumbo mit Meeresfrüchten, Muffulettas, Beignets und Pralinen oder lernen Sie Rezepte, die Sie zu Hause in einem praktischen Kochkurs probieren können.

Geh auf Geisterjagd

Eine Vergangenheit, die von Kriegen, Seuchen, schockierenden Verbrechen und Naturkatastrophen gezeichnet ist, hat New Orleans den Ruf einer der am meisten frequentierten Städte der USA eingebracht. Besuchen Sie Orte, die für paranormale Aktivitäten bekannt sind, und hören Sie Legenden von Voodoo, Vampiren und Hexen auf einer Spuk-Geschichtstour. Buchen Sie eine, die nach Einbruch der Dunkelheit beginnt, um den unheimlichsten Effekt zu erzielen.

Zeitreise auf einer Plantage

Eine Handvoll historischer Plantagen befindet sich in der Nähe von New Orleans. Die besten sind entlang der Flussstraße erhalten, die parallel zum Mississippi verläuft. Erfahren Sie mehr über das Leben im Antebellum Louisiana und die Auswirkungen des Sklavenhandels während einer Tour durch Zuckerrohrplantagen wie Oak Alley, Laura, Destrehan und Whitney.

9. Meet gators and more in the swamp

People on a swamp tour in New Orleans.
Take a swamp tour outside the city.Bildquelle: Frankie WO / Shutterstock

Local wildlife is right on your doorstep.

New Orleans is built on bayous and swampland, and the natural wetlands just outside the city are easy to explore. The best way to do this is with an expert guide on a swamp tour by airboat or kayak.

Whichever you choose, you’re likely to see a variety of wading birds, turtles, nutria, and of course, the resident alligators. Don’t worry, bayou gators are relatively docile, and your guides can get you up close for the best photo opportunities.

10. Relax in the great outdoors

Couple walking in City Park in New Orleans.
Take a stroll in City Park and see the oak trees.Bildquelle: Page Light Studios / Shutterstock

Choose from beautiful parkland and winding rivers.

City Park is a sprawling green space, 50 percent bigger than Central Park in New York. Its most famous attractions are the centuries-old mature live oak trees, including the Dueling Oaks, where men would settle disputes back in the 19th century.

But if you'd rather sit back and relax, you can also enjoy rolling along the Mississippi River on an old-fashioned steamboat cruise for beautiful views and live jazz.

Find more things to do in New Orleans

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