Louisiana
Mardi Gras, Cajun & Creole cuisine, birthplace of jazz, fairs & festivals, scenic trails & byways, swamp tours, gators, breweries, southern charm
Popular POIs
View AllThe most popular places to visit across Louisiana right now
Mardi Gras
New Orleans
Preservation Hall
New Orleans
French Quarter
New Orleans
Cajun Dancehalls
Louisiana
Atchafalaya National Heritage Area
Louisiana
New Orleans Cemeteries
New Orleans
Louisiana Cultural Festivals
Louisiana
New Orleans School of Cooking
New Orleans
Historic River Road Plantations
New Orleans
Café Du Monde
New Orleans
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest LA History Museum
Louisiana
New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome
New Orleans
Top reasons to visit Louisiana
1. Mardi Gras
One of the most famous events in the world, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a vibrant and extravagant celebration that attracts millions of visitors. The festival features grand parades, elaborate costumes, lively music, and an atmosphere of revelry and joy. It's a unique cultural experience that showcases the spirit and traditions of Louisiana.
2. Vibrant Nightlife
Louisiana's nightlife is legendary, particularly in New Orleans. The French Quarter, with its lively bars, clubs, and live music venues, offers an unforgettable experience. Bourbon Street is famous for its vibrant atmosphere, while Frenchmen Street is known for its authentic live music scene. The state's unique blend of music, culture, and cuisine ensures that the nightlife is always exciting and memorable.
3. Historic Plantations
Louisiana is home to many historic plantations that provide a glimpse into the state's antebellum past. Visitors can tour beautifully preserved estates like Oak Alley Plantation, Laura Plantation, and Houmas House, learning about the history, architecture, and the lives of those who lived and worked on these plantations.
4. Live Music and Festivals
Louisiana is synonymous with live music, particularly jazz, blues, and zydeco. New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, offers a vibrant music scene year-round, featuring major festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the French Quarter Festival. Don’t miss Festival International de Louisiane, the largest international music festival in the U.S. Each April, Downtown Lafayette transforms for a five-day cultural celebration, showcasing top-notch music from around the globe, gourmet food, and handcrafted artworks.
5. World-Famous Cuisine
Louisiana is renowned for its delicious and distinctive cuisine. From spicy Cajun and Creole dishes to fresh seafood, the state's culinary offerings are a major draw. Must-try dishes include gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, and beignets. Food festivals, such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, provide excellent opportunities to sample local flavors.
6. Outdoor Activities
The state's diverse natural beauty offers numerous opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can explore the bayous, swamps, and wetlands, which are rich in wildlife and provide unique experiences like airboat tours and fishing. Louisiana's state parks, including Kisatchie National Forest and Fontainebleau State Park, offer hiking, camping, and bird-watching.
Explore Regional Louisiana
Louisiana is a unique state made up of mist-shrouded swamps, prairies of Acadiana and the grey Spanish moss cascading from old trees. The streets of Louisiana are filled with an eclectic mix of people: their home cities telling stories of a multicultural, multilingual history rich in diverse cuisines, music and art. Louisiana is delineated from its neighbours - Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, and Texas to the west—by both natural and man-made boundaries. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the south.
The diversity of Louisiana locals includes the original Indian inhabitants, plus the descendants of a variety of settlers, among whom were the French, Spanish, English, German, Acadians, West Indians, Africans, Irish and Italians and now include almost every nationality on earth. As part of Louisiana’s French legacy, counties are called ‘parishes’. The French Quarter is one of New Orleans’ most historic neighbourhoods. Take a historic walk through Jackson Square, ride on a Steamboat Cruise, check out old-world architecture, and visit Bourbon Street at night. Did you know that more cocktails were created in New Orleans than almost any other state in the USA?
The only place to get true Creole and Cajun food is in Louisiana. A simple way to describe the two cuisines is that Creole cuisine is a “city food” while Cajun cuisine is often referred to as “country food.” While many of the ingredients in Cajun and Creole dishes are similar, the real difference between the two styles is the people behind these famous cuisines. Cajun dish favourites include jambalya, gumbo, turtle sauce piquante, andouille sausage, boudin (a pork and rice sausage), cochon du lait, soft-shell crab, stuff crab, many different shrimp dishes, and more. Make sure you visit the New Orleans School of Cooking for a class, and to pick up a bottle of its notorious Louisiana Hot Sauce. Louisiana (Avery Island) is actually the birthplace of Tobasco – for those that like it hot, it’s worth a visit!
With thousands of hiking and biking trails, beautiful state parks, and 639km of coastline, Louisiana is the ultimate playground for those that love outdoor adventure. The state has vast expanse of coastal wetlands and countless birding trails, making it a natural paradise for bird watchers. Louisiana's lakes and beaches offer spectacular views, beautiful water and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained.
