New Orleans with Kids: Best Things to Do + Family Travel Tips

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If you’re thinking about heading to New Orleans with kids, this guide is for you. We recently took the kids to New Orleans and found that while the city is known for its nightlife and music scene, it’s also surprisingly family-friendly with plenty of things to do for all ages.

In this guide to visiting New Orleans with kids, I’m sharing the best things to do, where to stay, and helpful tips to make your family trip fun and stress-free.

We went to New Orleans with kids because we were taking a Disney Cruise out of New Orleans over spring break. I’d always wanted to go to New Orleans. However I wasn’t exactly sure what that would look like with the whole family in tow. Luckily, I discovered that there are so many fun things to do in New Orleans, even with kids.

We only spent about 36 hours in New Orleans, and I think that was a good amount of time to get a taste of the city (literally–the food there is amazing). I found a variety of activities that we could do with the kids. Because we only had one full day, we chose the activity we wanted to do most–a swamp tour. This ended up being so much fun, and we are so glad we did it. Below I’ll go into more details about this tour plus other family-friendly things to do in New Orleans.

Is New Orleans Good for Kids?

Yes! While New Orleans is often known for its nightlife, it’s also a fantastic destination for families. As long as you know what to expect. From interactive museums and outdoor parks to unique experiences like swamp tours and riverboat cruises, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained.

With a mix of history, culture, and fun attractions, New Orleans offers something for all ages.

My biggest tip would be to avoid Bourbon Street at night due to an abundance of drunk adults in the streets. But we walked that street during the day and had dinner in one of the restaurants, and we had a good experience.

Best Areas to Stay in New Orleans with Kids

• French Quarter (Best for First-Time Visitors) – Close to major attractions, restaurants, and historic sites.
• Garden District – A quieter, more residential area with beautiful homes and parks.
• Warehouse District- Great for families who want modern hotels and easy access to museums.

Where We Stayed in New Orleans With Kids

There are a ton of great hotels in New Orleans. We love staying in walking distance to all the action when we travel. And the Marriott Courtyard French Quarter/ Iberville allowed us to walk everywhere. It was a great location–very close to both Canal St. and Bourbon St.

Things to Do in New Orleans With Kids

Swamp Tour – One of the Most Fun Things to do in New Orleans With Kids

As I previously mentioned, the swamp tour we did was definitely a highlight of the trip. It’s definitely a fun thing to do in New Orleans with kids. We looked at a handful of different options and companies but ended up choosing Louisiana Swamp Tours because they had an option to add roundtrip transportation to and from our hotel, and the opportunity to hold a baby alligator.

For $20 per person extra, they pick you up and drop you off right at your hotel. The swamps are a ways away from the French Quarter–probably about a 30 minute drive or so, and kind of in the middle of nowhere. I would guess that catching an Uber on the way back to the French Quarter would be challenging, and you’d probably be waiting awhile.

We debated doing an Airboat Swamp Tour, which looked like a lot of fun. But we had a child with us who was too young. When we were on our tour though, we noticed that the airboats are very loud. It was actually nice having a quieter setting where we could hear our captain talking to us.

River Boat Cruise

If we would have had more time, we would have loved to do a river boat cruise. River boats are so iconic to New Orleans, and it’s a great way to enjoy live music and snap pictures of the beautiful shoreline from your cruise down the Mississippi.

There are options to enjoy a dinner cruise or a lunch buffet on the ships as well. And they’re family-friendly, so it’s a great option for something fun to do in New Orleans with kids.

Museums & Tours

There is no shortage of museums that you can visit when in New Orleans with kids. Kids might enjoy the National World War II Museum along with Louisiana Children’s Museum. If museums don’t interest you, perhaps a cemetery tour, a Super Dome tour or a visit to the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium might.

Next time we visit New Orleans, I plan on doing a haunted walking tour of the city. We’ve done this in a few other cities, and now that our kids are a little older, we know they enjoy hearing the spooky tales of spirits and haunted buildings in various cities. New Orleans has quite the history and great tales to hear!

City Park & Storyland

City Park itself is a gem for families—it has walking trails, playgrounds, and even gondola rides on the bayou. Within it, Storyland is a whimsical playground with giant storybook characters like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage and the Three Little Pigs’ houses, perfect for imaginative play.

2–3 Day New Orleans Itinerary with Kids

Day 1

• Explore the French Quarter
• Visit Jackson Square
• Enjoy beignets at Café du Monde

Day 2

• Take a swamp tour
• Visit the Audubon Zoo or Aquarium
• Ride the St. Charles streetcar

(Opt.) Day 3

• Explore City Park and Storyland
• Visit a museum or take a riverboat cruise

Where to Eat in New Orleans with Kids

New Orleans is famous for its food, and many restaurants are surprisingly family-friendly.

• Café du Monde (beignets)
• Casual spots with outdoor seating
• Restaurants that accommodate kids even without a kids’ menu

Many places are happy to adjust dishes for children.

New Orleans Cuisine – Where We Ate

The food in New Orleans is second to none. If you are staying for several days, you’ll have ample time to try a variety of places. But if you’re only there for a day or two, you might want to take one of their culinary walking tours, where you can enjoy samples at various restaurants in the scenic French Quarter.

When we visited, we ate dinner at Mambo’s and really enjoyed everything we tried. It had a casual and fun vibe, making it a good choice for dining in New Orleans with kids. And even though their website doesn’t show a kids menu, they do in fact have one.

They have a great selection of Cajun and creole cuisine, plus a variety of specialty cocktails. We had to try the alligator tail appetizer, which most of us thoroughly enjoyed.

Beignets are something you must try when in New Orleans with kids–or without! Even if you’ve had a beignet before, you haven’t truly had one until you’ve had one in New Orleans. Cafe du Monde and Cafe Beignet are both known for having some of the best beignets in New Orleans.

Tips for Visiting New Orleans with Kids

• Avoid Bourbon Street at night
• Stay in walkable areas
• Plan indoor activities for hot or rainy days
• Bring snacks and water—it can get hot and humid
• Take advantage of tours designed for families

Indoor and Outdoor Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids

Indoor Activities (Ideal on Rainy or Really Hot Days)

• Museums
• Aquarium
• Children’s museum

Outdoor Activities

• Swamp tours
• City Park
• Riverboat cruises

FAQs About Visiting New Orleans with Kids

Is New Orleans safe for families?

Yes, especially in tourist-friendly areas like the French Quarter and Garden District.

What are the best things to do in New Orleans with kids?

Top activities include swamp tours, museums, City Park, and riverboat cruises.

How many days do you need in New Orleans with kids?

2–3 days is enough to see the highlights.

When is the best time to visit New Orleans with kids?

Spring and fall offer the best weather, while summer can be hot and humid.

Why Families Love Visiting New Orleans

New Orleans offers a unique mix of culture, history, food, and fun that you won’t find anywhere else. From live music and street performers to interactive museums and outdoor adventures, it’s a destination that keeps both kids and adults entertained.

Overall, we enjoyed our time in New Orleans, but I do feel like a couple of days was a good amount of time for us to spend there. You’ll find enough to do to entertain the kids, but it’s not the most kid-friendly atmosphere, especially at night. I’m glad we visited though, and I would definitely cruise out of there again just to get another taste of the delicious food.

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