Bourbon Street, New Orleans

Bourbon Street, New Orleans (must see)

Set in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter, the street is an attraction in its own right, stretching thirteen blocks from Canal to Esplanade Avenue. Renowned for its bars and strip clubs, as well as the live jazz scene, Bourbon is just as rich in historic sights and iconic venues. Here you will find some of the most luxurious spots in the city, such as the timeless Royal Sonesta Hotel and Galatoires Restaurant, where you can taste the best of French Creole cuisine in a festive yet elegant atmosphere.

Among the iconic bars here are Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop on the corner of St. Phillip St; the Old Absinthe House – the birthplace of the famous Absinthe House Frappe; and the Lafitte-in-Exile, the oldest gay bar in the U.S. Famed American playwright Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote were regulars at Lafitte-in-Exile. If you're in the mood for jazz, head to Fritzel's European Jazz Club, an almost 200-year-old building hosting live jazz gigs every night of the week!

Why You Should Visit:
Nice to walk around and look at the art shops during the day and check out the food options, but at night it gets pretty wild. Be prepared for sensory overload: the lights, the noise, the smells, etc. There will be something here to surprise the un-surprisable.

Tip:
If you visit, try the famous hand grenade drink. Also, don't take pictures of street performers if you don't intend to tip them.
For those looking for hard-core jazz music, it appears to have all moved over to Frenchmen Street.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in New Orleans. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Bourbon Street on Map

Sight Name: Bourbon Street
Sight Location: New Orleans, USA (See walking tours in New Orleans)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in New Orleans, Louisiana

Create Your Own Walk in New Orleans

Create Your Own Walk in New Orleans

Creating your own self-guided walk in New Orleans is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Garden District Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Top Religious Sites Walking Tour

Top Religious Sites Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Voodoo Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
French Quarter Historical Buildings Walking Tour

French Quarter Historical Buildings Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
French Quarter Walking Tour

French Quarter Walking Tour

The French Quarter, also known as the Old Square, is New Orleans' oldest and most popular neighborhood. Founded in 1718, it perfectly combines the tempting, noisy and nutty nightlife of Bourbon Street with important historical landmarks, art galleries, sophisticated cafés, and some of the city's oldest churches – all within walking distance, close to Mississippi River.

On this...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles