Your Fun Guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans [Must-Do Activities]

With so much to see and do when visiting New Orleans for Mardi Gras, it can be a painstaking task to plan a trip. There are parades, parties, balls, and memorials—and this is just for the first two weeks. From carriage rides to bus tours, and everything in between, there is no shortage of things to do. Fortunately, TripShock has compiled a fun guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans so you can get the most out of your time and simplify your travel planning.

Table of Contents

• Carriage Rides
• Mardi Gras World
• Dinner/River Cruises
• Voodoo/Ghost/Cemetery Tours
• New Orleans Bus Tours
• Plantation Tours
• Bayou & Swamp Tours
• Try the Local Flavor

 

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Carriage Rides

 

Pictured above is a horse-drawn carriage in Jackson Square.

 

Carriage rides are one of the many enchanting experiences offered during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. A great way to see the city while traveling in style, carriage rides provide commentary from an expert guide while exploring the idyllic streets of the French Quarter.

{Read Reviews & Book Carriage Rides Online}

 

Mardi Gras World

 

Pictured above is a float inside Mardi Gras World. Image by Mardigrasworld.com.

 

Wondering what to do during Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Mardi Gras World, of course. Touring the impressive and captivating Mardi Gras World will provide you with an authentic Mardi Gras experience. You will also get an up-close look at what it takes to turn this dynamic festival to life. When you enter this gigantic facility, you will get to see how the astonishing Mardi Grad floats are created from conception to completion.

{Read Reviews & Book Mardi Gras World Admission Tickets Online}

 

Dinner/River Cruises

 

Pictured above is a docked steamboat in New Orleans.

 

Going on a dinner cruise is one of the best things to do in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. On a river cruise, you’ll enjoy expansive views of the Mississippi River and the French Quarter. A journey across the bold Mississippi River while onboard a monumental vessel allows visitors to experience the Big Easy from a whole new perspective. Cruises like the Creole Queen River Jazz Cruise feature multiple decks so you can soak in a perfect view of the city’s skyline.

{Read Reviews & Book River Cruises Online}

 

Voodoo/Ghost/Cemetery Tours

 

Pictured above is the New Orleans, Louisiana Cemetery.

 

The Big Easy has been dubbed the most haunted city in America, and it’s easy to understand why. If you want the thrill of a scare or want to be immersed in some of the most notable hauntings, New Orleans has it down to a science when it comes to ghost tours. Along with a knowledgeable and local guide, you’ll tour sites where famous hauntings have occurred and hear frightening stories along the way. Once you dive into a ghost tour in New Orleans, you’ll quickly find out why it’s considered to be the best area in the world to find ghosts.

To really gain insights into the haunted history of this city, explore tours like the New Orleans French Quarter, Voodoo, and Cemetery Tour led by an engaging storyteller, who will enlighten you about the interesting history of the French Quarter. You’ll also gain insight into the culture and history of Voodoo, including the infamous Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau.

{Read Reviews & Book Ghost Tours Online}

 

New Orleans Bus Tours

 

Pictured above is a couple sightseeing around the city on a bus tour.

 

There’s so much to see and so while you’re in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. From end to end, New Orleans is brimming with an enchanting history and intriguing sights. A bus tour is an excellent way to ensure you get an undoubtedly authentic experience with a local expert guide leading the way. A narrated bus tour will give you a comprehensive look at New Orlean’s past as well as the present.

 

Recommended Tour: Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Bus Tour

The Double Decker Bus Tour offers a flexible, affordable, and fun way to sightsee in New Orleans. Not only will you have tons of fun, but you can hop on and hop off the buses wherever, and whenever you please. You can also spend as much time as you want at your favorite spots. With a 2-day ticket, you’ll enjoy Guided Walking Tours of the French Quarter and the Garden District for free. On this tour, you’ll stop at all of the top attractions in the Big Easy, along with shops and restaurants.

{Read Reviews & Book New Orleans Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Tickets Online}

 

Plantation Tours

 

Pictured above is the Oak Alley Plantation.

 

Taking a plantation tour is a must when you visit New Orleans. From breathtaking architecture to a rich history, there are many reasons to want to visit a plantation. With so many plantations to consider, the options can seem overwhelming. Some plantation tours feature the massive and posh lifestyle of plantation owners while others are focused more on the historical side. Still stuck on which plantation to choose? TripShock has put together the best and most popular plantations to tour in New Orleans:

 

• Laura Plantation
• Oak Alley Plantation
• San Francisco Plantation
• Houmas House
• Destrehan Plantation
• Whitney Plantation

{Read Reviews & Book Plantation Tours Online}

 

Bayou & Swamp Tours

 

Pictured above is a swamp tour on airboat in New Orleans.

 

Swamp tours give visitors the opportunity to see amazing wildlife and stunning scenic views on their exciting ride. Explore the abundance of wildlife that call this city home including turtles, alligators, wild pigs, otters, herons, and more. There are many ways to see and visit the swamps in and around New Orleans. Swamp tour operators will take visitors out on a fascinating vessel such as a swamp cruiser, airboat, or pontoon.

{Read Reviews & Book Bayou & Swamp Tours Online}

 

Try the Local Flavor

 

Pictured above is spicy homemade Cajun Jambalaya with sausage and shrimp.

 

New Orleans is inarguably a foodie’s paradise, serving up the tastiest Creole and Cajun cuisines. This city has an incredible mix of culture and flavors that can only be found in one place: the Big Easy. Whether it’s traditional Creole dishes or down-home Cajun fare, you can find some of the best food here in New Orleans. Some of the most popular local dishes include:

 

• Jambalaya
• Gumbo
• Red Beans and Rice
• Pralines
• Bananas Foster
• Beignets
• Crawfish Étouffée

There are so many delicious dishes for you to try while you’re visiting New Orleans for Mardi Gras. From seafood at Antoine’s Restaurant to authentic New Orleans Gumbo, to Cajun favorites, plenty of delicious dining options are around just about every corner you turn. Consider checking out these popular New Orleans restaurants:

 

Antoine’s Restaurant
713 St. Louis Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

Commander’s Palace
1403 Washington Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70130

Broussard’s
819 Conti Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

Napoleon House
500 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

 

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