The French Quarter is the oldest and most famous and visited neighborhood of New Orleans. It was laid out in French and Spanish colonial times in the 18th century. While it has many hotels, restaurants, and businesses catering to visitors, it is best appreciated when you recall that it is still a functioning mixed-use residential/commercial neighborhood where locals live.

The French Quarter or "Vieux Carre" ("old section" in French) stretches along the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue (14 blocks long) and back from the Mississippi to Rampart Street (7 blocks wide).

"The Quarter" is compact. One can spend an enjoyable vacation here without leaving it for several days. If the French Quarter is your headquarters, consider leaving your car behind and not bothering to rent one if your health permits a few blocks walk. Parking is difficult, expensive, or both. Occasional trips to other parts of town can be made by streetcar or cab. The neighborhood is pedestrian friendly. Take care walking at night, particularly on dark or deserted streets. If you've been drinking, a cab is advisable.

The "Upper Quarter" (between Canal Street and Jackson Square) is the area most patronized by visitors, but the "Lower Quarter" (between Jackson Square and Esplanade Avenue) also has shops and restaurants sprinkled amongst the residences.

Attractions

 • Bourbon Street - some 8 blocks of Bourbon from Canal Street down are given over to catering to the hard drinking tourists. If getting drunk with other tourists is the goal of your vacation, this is the place for you. If not, this notorious strip of tourist traps is worth a quick look for its colorful sleaziness.
 • Royal Street - strolling Royal Street by day is as essential a New Orleans experience as Bourbon Street by night. 1 block away in distance, a world in attitude. There are art galleries, upscale antique stores, and interesting specialty shops, Lots of temptations for those with money, but is also fun window shopping for those not spending a dime.
 • Jackson Square - the old town square, often live music is going on here, as well as street corner painters and tarot readers. Around the square are:
 • Cabildo - colonial city hall, now a museum; Louisiana Purchase agreements transferring the city from France to the USA were signed here
 • Presbytere - old church offices, another museum, including a New Orleans Mardi Gras display
 • St. Louis Cathedral
 • Pontalba Buildings - 4 story brick apartment buildings have specialty shops, restaurants, and a tourist information office on the ground floors
 • Moon Walk is a brick walking path along the Mississippi River across Decatur Street from Jackson Square. The curious name comes from its dedication to former New Orleans mayor Moon Landrieu.
 • Old French Market while souvenirs for visitors have taken over a good bit of the space at this 250+ year old market, there are still vendors selling fresh produce as in days of old. On weekends a much larger number of vendors set up here, with handicrafts and flee-market type goods.
 • New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor's Center & Headquarters at 916 N. Peters; often has live music, lectures, and gives music history related walking tours. Many events are free; those that aren't are a bargain.
 • Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve 419 Decatur Street: Headquarters for National Park that includes several historic sights in and near New Orleans. Has a small museum and visitor's center. Show up by 9am to get a place on the informative free walking tour of the French Quarter.
 • Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal Street: Free museum with changing exhibits of local history. Also has a research center nearby on Charters Street.
 • Old U.S. Mint 400 Esplanade, by the French Market. Coins haven't been minted in New Orleans for decades, so the building is now a museum, with the minting process downstairs and the world's top exhibit on New Orleans jazz upstairs.
 • Old Ursuline Convent 1100 Chartres: Completed in 1752, open for tours
 • Pharmacy Museum 514 Chartres Street: See and learn about medical practices of the mid 19th century.

House Museums

Some elegant old homes which are now museums:
 • 1850s House 523 St. Ann in the lower Pontalba Building
 • Beauregard-Keyes House 1113 Chartres Street
 • Hermann-Grima House 820 St. Louis Street. 1830s mansion
 • Gallier House 1132 Royal Street: Home of famous local 19th century architect
 • Madame John's Legacy 632 Dumaine: 18th century Creole home

Lodging

Places within the French Quarter or just outside of it on Canal Street are the most centrally located, and also cost more than rooms in other parts of town. Those wishing a fuller immersion in the city may wish to go ahead and pay extra for a location from which they can find many days of things to do with no need of a car or transit.

A few of the better hotels with good locations in the Quarter:
 • Hotel Maison de Ville and Audubon Cottages Is one of the most historic hotels in the Quarter, everyone from Tennessee Williams to Audobon has spent time there. For the best deals try Summer and Winter -- especially mid-week. The hotel's website offers some great deals that you can't find on any of the major travel sites. 727 Rue Toulouse New Orleans, LA 70130 (just off of Royal Street, and Jackson Square) T: 504.561.5858
 • Bourbon Orleans 717 Orleans off Bourbon
 • Corn Stalk Fence Hotel 915 Royal
 • Holiday Inn Chateau Le Moyne New Orleans Hotel 301 Rue Dauphine. (504) 581-1303. An historical hotel one block from Bourbon Street.
 • Holiday Inn New Orleans Hotel French Quarter 124 Royal Street, just of Canal Street. (504) 529-7211.
 • Bourbon Orleans - A Wyndham Historic New Orleans Hotel 717 Orleans St. (504) 523-2222. Built in 1817 in the heart of the French Quarter.
 • Monteleone 214 Royal, in an elegant early-20th century sky-scraper (the only one within the confines of the Quarter itself, just constructed just before large new constructions were prohibited here) has long been one of the top upscale Quarter hotels.

Other places include:
 • Biscuit Palace 730 Dumaine (between Bourbon and Royal streets) gay-friendly B&B in the center of the Quarter. 525-9949