French Quarter

It's trashy, it's loud, it's chaotic, and it's weird but that's what people come for. There's trash everywhere and smells like sewage but it's the southern version of Venice Beach so you'll definitely see some interesting things on a Friday or Saturday night. Make sure you walk with a partner or friends for safety as there's quite a bit of sus activity going on and it's very chaotic. Plenty of food spots and street shops that dot the area. Outside of Bourbon Street, it gets dramatically less busy and quieter.

There is a lot to see and do in the French Quarter. We enjoyed touring the many historic buildings and landmarks. Taking in all the sights and sounds is an experience in itself. Around every corner you'll find quaint little shops, interesting architecture, bright colors, churches, voodoo shops, ghost tours, local art, music, bars, restaurants, food, and history. It's a unique pocket of the world that you won't see anywhere else.

The different streets in the quarter all have something distinctive that it's known for. The iconic Bourbon Street is where everyone goes to drink and party. It's named after a royal French family, not booze, but has become a place for revelry of all sorts. Canal Street is the city's major thoroughfare where the streetcars run and is a hotspot for parades, shopping, and shows. Frenchmen Street, once a hidden gem among local, is now recognized as one of New Orleans' best spots for live music.

Everywhere in the quarter there is lots of energy, though it does get congested with so many people crowding the narrow streets. Not to mention traffic. It's touristy, but you'll also see many locals there. Everybody goes to the French Quarter to drink, party, eat, and live their best lives. Some of the streets are pretty run down and in desperate need of maintenance. Despite that, it is a must in New Orleans for the vibrant atmosphere, history, food and culture.

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect from this. Was it going to be a full neighbourhood like Clifton Hill from Niagara? Would it be some neighbourhood from NYC but French like vibes? Something else? After a hefty lunch from Dooky Chase's we had to walk some of our food off. We ended up coming down Orleans Ave that becomes Basin St. Dropped into Basin St. Station to peak inside and then Toulouse St into the area. It's a really interesting mix of things in here from private residences, to hotels, shops, restaurants and of course Bourbon St and all the things in and around that area.

The streets were pretty lively mid day but man there are way to many souvenir shops here. We did stumble across a few museums as well. The architecture is super interesting in this area. There are a lot of street performers and buskers in different pockets of the area. One side has a great park, the other side you come out is the water and more shops depending where you are.

This is our 3 and final trip to Nola. Used to love Nola and exploring the french quarter ... the bold jewel colors, art and galleries, street performers, wide selection of bars and restaurants. Fun of strolling bourbon street and watching the craziness while listening to some good music. Stop at french market, cafe du monde for beignets and visit to Jackson square is always musts. lots of people have dogs even the homeless ... there are lots of homeless especially in the parks. I'd avoid parks at night and not alone.
But i guess pot is legal now and the smoke and smell just ruined our trip ... everywhere all hours right in your face. I never smoke and my asthma was not happy. issue 2 the noise ... the music was so annoying and blaring loud. live music is fun but 30 bands playing a max all at once while street performers as pounding drums at same time.

French Quarter New Orleans Louisiana United States of America
How's that for being specific about a one of a kind very cool vacation location? Memories are made of visits to a place like the French Quarter. Music and restaurants I haven't experienced anywhere else. I'm posting some of my photos. Soon the Mardi Gras celebration will take place. In my younger days I always wanted to go during Mardi Gras. Now I appreciate the scene without crowds! Whenever you visit you should have a great time or something is definitely wrong with you!!

American ghetto Amsterdam, if you enjoy weed smoke and watching the criminal element thrive.

Super lively and fun!
Great place to people watch and soak in a lot of the culture of all ages for all ages !!

Although it's represented as a 21+ spot, those underage will enjoy as well.

Awesome street performers, souvenir shops, and food options galore !!

This place is a def must visit when visiting The Big Easy !!

There's so much excitement in the French Quarter, whether you're visiting during the day or at night. Everywhere you turn there are talented musicians singing and/or playing instruments such as guitars, drums, or saxophones.

There are so many restaurants that it's hard to decide where to dine. I relied heavily on Yelp reviews to make my choices.

As fun as it was, this neighbor had 3 things I did not enjoy: trash, urine & marijuana. It smelled really bad! I felt like the odor transferred to my clothing and skin. I felt dirty!

Beautiful architecture and rich history, this is how I would describe the French Quarter. Also, if you like crowds and loud music playing at every blocks and corners, this place is for you. We highly recommend taking a tour of the French Quarter on one of the horse carriages by the Park, it's a quick way to learn the city without having to navigate through the crowds.

Great vibe, even if some streets in this area are pretty trashy. Lots of restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and other shops. Must walk around this area when in New Orleans.