Plan your ultimate Louisiana experience with our guide to everything happening in the city. Find details on upcoming events—from concerts and parties to sports and family-friendly activities—plus top restaurants & eateries, local tours, historic landmarks, museums, and vibrant social hubs. We also feature premium 4 and 5-star accommodations, including hotels, Airbnb, and vacation rentals. All this essential information is provided below to help you plan the perfect adventure when visiting Louisiana.
Louisiana is a state known for its rich culture, vibrant music scene, Creole and Cajun cuisine, and legendary festivals. From the lively streets of New Orleans to the bayous of Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana offers a mix of historic sites, live entertainment, and outdoor adventures. Whether you’re attending Mardi Gras, exploring the bayou, or enjoying world-famous Southern cuisine, this page highlights the best things to do throughout Louisiana.
Louisiana’s food scene is deeply rooted in Creole, Cajun, and Southern traditions. The state is known for gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, crawfish boils, and beignets. New Orleans’ French Quarter and Bourbon Street are home to iconic restaurants, cocktail bars, and live jazz clubs. Baton Rouge offers classic Southern barbecue, soul food, and local breweries. Lafayette, the heart of Cajun Country, is the place to experience authentic crawfish boils and traditional zydeco music. Louisiana is also known for its craft cocktail culture, featuring drinks like the Sazerac and Hurricane.
Louisiana provides a variety of accommodations, from luxury city hotels and boutique stays to historic bed-and-breakfasts and bayou cabins. New Orleans offers high-end hotels in the French Quarter and Garden District with historic charm and modern amenities. Baton Rouge and Shreveport feature riverfront hotels and casino resorts. Visitors looking for a unique stay can book plantation home inns, waterfront lodges, or swamp-side cottages near the bayous.
Louisiana has a legendary arts, music, and nightlife scene across its major cities and small towns. New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street, and the Warehouse District are hotspots for live jazz, blues, and vibrant nightlife. Baton Rouge’s Third Street and Perkins Rowe offer bars, live music venues, and rooftop lounges. Lafayette is a center for Cajun and zydeco music, with dance halls and festivals year-round. Shreveport and Lake Charles host casino entertainment, riverfront festivals, and concerts.
Louisiana has a deep history tied to French, Spanish, and African American heritage. The French Quarter in New Orleans is one of the most historic areas in the country, featuring Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and historic homes. The Whitney and Oak Alley Plantations provide insight into Louisiana’s past. The Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge is the tallest capitol building in the U.S. The Tabasco Factory on Avery Island showcases the state’s famous hot sauce legacy, while the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park preserves Louisiana’s swamps, battlefields, and cultural history.
Louisiana offers a mix of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and major festivals. Visitors can take a swamp tour through the Atchafalaya Basin, enjoy a Mississippi River steamboat cruise, or explore historic cemeteries and voodoo culture in New Orleans. The state is home to professional sports, college football rivalries, and world-class fishing and hunting. Louisiana hosts some of the biggest annual events, including Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, and the Bayou Country Superfest. Whether you’re here for nightlife, live music, or outdoor fun, this page provides everything you need to enjoy Louisiana.
