• French Quarter: the oldest, most famous, and most visited section of the city. Most tourists will want to center their visit here. Those who explore other parts of town as well will find the city offers additional treats. Many old-line restaurants are in the Quarter, along with music clubs, antiques shops, and hundreds of drinking establishments.

 • Central Business District: What many cities call "Downtown" (though in New Orleans this term is often used to refer to different part of town downriver). Adjacent to the French Quarter; has many attractions. The "CBD" has many high-rise hotels and some excellent restaurants, along with many museums (the National D-Day Museum, the Louisiana Children's Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center) and a gallery district on and around Julia Street.

 • Faubourg Marigny: This hip, bohemian neighborhood is on the other side ("down") from the French Quarter. Locals come here for authentic (read: non-touristy) nightlife, though tourists are certainly welcomed. Along with the French Quarter, this is the residential hub for the gay/lesbian community.

 • Bywater: Downriver from Marigny.

 • Treme: Historic Franco-African (Creole) neighborhood inland from the French Quarter.

 • Mid-City: The central part of town is home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, and the New Orleans Fair Grounds (a racetrack that hosts the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival every spring).

 • Uptown: 19th century residential section upriver, take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar. Uptown includes the "Garden District", which is more noted for its Victorian architecture than gardens. Also contains some of the City's best local restaurants, and the Audubon Zoo. Magazine Street hosts some 80 blocks of antique stores, art galleries, and interior designer studios *Carrollton: At the other end of the St. Charles Streetcar line from the Central Business District; pleasant neighborhood with a concentration of good restaurants, along with students from nearby Tulane and Loyola universities.

 • Algiers: The part of New Orleans across the Mississippi River.

 • Lakeview and Lakefront: Along and near Lake Pontchartrain. Many seafood restaurants and marinas.

 • Other parts of town

Nearby communities and suburbs:

 • Kenner: New Orleans International Airport is here
 • Metairie: Largest suburb
 • Chalmette:
 • Gretna
 • Slidell