21 things to do in the French Quarter that aren't drinking

Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
Sep 4
3 min read

There are beaucoup faith-fracas mashups in New Orleans, something I treasure about my beloved city. The French Quarter is the beating heart of that reality. You can certainly stumble down the neon and fluorescent cocktails and flashing lights of Bourbon Street if you choose, but you can also encounter incredible beauty, history, and sacred ground in the French Quarter.

We have happily brought our own kids to the French Quarter ten million times since their infancy. The French Quarter holds beautiful churches, architecture, and parks; a mighty river to behold; tactile history for discussing and teaching and learning; and delightfully diverse local performers with stunning talent. The French Quarter is a perfect setting for strolling and watching and talking and eating on a beautiful day. And so we have done more times than I can count.

Here’s are 21 things to do in the French Quarter that aren’t drinking hurricanes and daiquiris:

Pray and worship at the Cathedral-Basilica of St Louis King of France. It’s a Jubilee year site, too, so you can make a pilgrimage and receive a plenary indulgence.
Take a private tour of the cathedral to see the historic crypt and other non-public spaces. Don’t forget to stop in the well-stocked cathedral gift shop for special items.
Take a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to see New Orleans’ unique above-ground burial grounds, historic family tombs, and say a prayer for the souls of the departed.
Enjoy hot, sugar-dusted beignets. Obviously, Café du Monde is the iconic legend, but my favorite beignet spot is the leafy courtyard of Café Beignet on Royal Street.
Drink delicious local coffee at French Truck. My favorite New Orleans roaster has cheerful yellow cafés on Chartres Street and Canal Street.
People watch in Jackson Square. There is no city on earth that offers more highly entertaining people watching. Sit on a cast-iron bench and revel in the omnipresent costumes, characters, and sheer amazingness of humanity.
Visit the St Jeanne d’Arc statue donated by our sister city, the French municipality of Orléans.
Stroll some of the oldest architecture in the United States that reflects a gumbo of cultures from French to Spanish to African, layered with Caribbean, Sicilian, and Creole influences.
Dance, sing, and join the performance with buskers around Jackson Square (but stay away from the tarot and fortune tellers, please).
Get your portrait painted or shop for original local art along the fences surrounding Jackson Square, in Pirate’s Alley, or behind the cathedral.
Marvel at the remarkable talent of street performers at the Rouse’s on Royal and St Peter.
Climb up the levee to get sweeping views of the French Quarter iconic skyline and overlook the mighty Mississippi with its steamboats and cargo ships.
Eat a meal at a historic place: Napoleon House (home of the famous Pimm’s Cup), Central Grocery (originator of the muffuletta), or one of the grand dame restaurants like Arnaud’s or Galatoire’s. Pro tip: lunch is always cheaper and you’ll get to experience the delightfully unhurried New Orleans lunch culture.
Ride ferry to Algiers and back—a super affordable alternative to the touristy steamboat cruises.
Stroll some beautiful and history-laden streets like Ursulines and Chartres. Pop into the art galleries, quirky wig and costume shops, and ultra-niche museums like the Pharmacy Museum or Historic New Orleans Collection.
Feast on homemade local ice cream—with flavors like An Ice Cream Named Desire, Chicory, and Bayou Mud—at Sweet Saint.
Stroll through the bustling French Market (but don’t eat here or buy anything except t-shirts).
Browse galleries and antiques on Royal Street, like this super cool antique weapons shop.
Listen to rich and belly-stirring live jazz Fritzel’s or Preservation Hall.
Pick up unique local items at some of my favorite French Quarter shops: Hové for handcrafted perfumes; vintage bookshops (my favorites are Dauphine Street Books and Crescent City Books); Gem de France for authentic French homewares; Dirty Coast for hilariously witty tees; and Southern Paws for exquisite, super expensive handbaked dog treats… and questioning your life choices.
Finally: take a French Quarter-incorporated pilgrimage here or here.