I will be traveling alone to New Orleans in late January for a conference, staying in the Riverside area. I probably will not have a rental car. Most of my first day will be free, and for three days after that, I will be free from about 3:30 pm on. Given those parameters, what should I try and see? Where should I try and eat? How is the public transportation? And how worried should I be traveling alone in that area? Thanks in advance for your input!
What hotel are you staying at? So many good suggestions will follow! In a lot of areas you’ll be fine, but uber is your friend–easy and quick to take you everywhere.
@gouf78 Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Since you’re with a conference chances are you can hook up with people to enjoy the sights. But even if you don’t you’ll have a great time. Riverside is in walking distance to French quarter and main areas of town which is great. Wear good walking shoes!
Go to Emeril’s in the warehouse district–best meal I’ve ever had with superb service.
Muffuletta at Central Grocery. Yum…
Hate to say I’d skip Commander’s Palace because it used to be my fave but last time I went it was such a disappointment that I won’t be back.
Many French quarter hotels have some excellent happy hour deals with great food and great atmosphere.
While a lot of NO is compact (the French Quarter) and easy to navigate on foot, Uber is your friend. It’s easy and quick in NO. Just plan on using it especially after dark and getting to whatever restaurant you want to go to. Or back to your hotel. Don’t walk around alone at night outside the main tourist areas.
If you have a chance, there is a shop in Royal Street that is so much fun to go to-- M. S. Rau. 45 years ago it was just another antique shop in the Quarter. Now it is like a museum that you can make purchases. It is just great to walk through. Check out their website https://www.rauantiques.com/. The employees are super nice, even though they know that you are not going to purchase anything. It is just fun to see.
The Hilton is a pretty good location. Generally speaking, you’ll be safe walking around from there to the quarter up until at least a couple of hours after dark because there are usually a decent number of people out and about. If you are out too late, it’s a pretty cheap Uber/Lyft ride from the Quarter and Marigny areas where you will find lots of great food and music.
The National WWII Museum is outstanding for a bad weather day. In good weather, the Audubon Zoo is great. I enjoyed the well-located Insectarium, too.
Eat everything everywhere. 
I could go to the WWII museum like once a month, I think. I’ve been 4-5 times.
Any chance you’ll be there for the 27th? If so, you won’t want to miss the Krewe de Vieux parade.
Thanks for all these suggestions! I’m looking forward to trying out as many of them as possible. @greenwitch My flight leaves to return home early on the 27th unfortunately.
We spent 2 full days at the WWII museum - obviously I agree with the above recommendations. Also agree with visiting MS Rau. Don’t be intimidated - the staff is excellent and happy to talk and show things, even for just “lookers”. Many other great shops on Royal Street for antiques, estate jewelry, etc. Cafe du Monde for beignets and chicory. We walked the French Quarter and to the WWII museum during daylight. After dark, we took taxis. Ask your concierge what they recommend. Our visit last year was also January - had a great time.
Take the St. Charles Streetcar the entire length from the CBD (Central Business District) where you’ll be, to Uptown and back. It’s a beautiful ride past all of the St. Charles Avenue mansions. Definitely do that during daylight so you can see everything.
I second (or third) the WWII Museum. Great place, especially for a rainy day. But if you only have 1 full day and you want to see the city (and the weather is good) you may want to do outside sight seeing.
Of course the French Quarter and Café Du Monde. You can walk along the river to get to the original Café. There is also a location in the Riverwalk mall that the Hilton is attached to. You have to have café au lait and beignets!
I love New Orleans and visit every year. Kind of bummed My S18 ruled Tulane out. Too hot in fall and spring.
And go to Cafe du Monde at a time other than breakfast to avoid lines. Personally, I like it as a late night snack/dessert.
One tip: don’t make Bourbon Street the first place you go. It may create a bad impression. That being said, Galatoire’s (on Bourbon Street) is one of my favorite places to eat. The WWII Museum is really good.
Good advice re. Bourbon Street, especially with the current construction.
The WWII Museum is amazing.There also have a fun “haunted” night tour of the French Quarter with lots of great stories - I forget the name of the company but you will see it advertised all over.
Second the recommendation for Galatoire. The National Park Service does a walking tour of the French Quarter. H and I really enjoyed it. If you like browsing in art galleries go to the Warehouse District–there are some really interesting contemporary art galleries. There are galleries in the French Quarter too.
The NPS also has some free jazz performances that are worthwhile.
Somebody said that Commander’s Palace has gone down–we were there maybe six months ago for Sunday brunch and thought it was really good. Maybe it varies.
Personally, I try to spend as little time as possible in the French Quarter – it’s really oppressively touristy. That wouldn’t stop me from going to Central Grocery for muffaletta, though. No way.
For me, New Orleans means music, and above all brass bands. New Orleans brass bands are a unique, dynamic form of popular music incorporating elements of Dixieland, jazz, fife-and-drum, soul, and hip-hop into great party music. See who’s playing where when you are there. Good clubs include Howlin Wolf, the Maple Leaf, and t.d.a. Also Cajun music, and its African-American cousin zydeco, both of which get played all over the city, and every variety of jazz as well.
“Take the St. Charles Streetcar the entire length from the CBD (Central Business District) where you’ll be, to Uptown and back. It’s a beautiful ride past all of the St. Charles Avenue mansions. Definitely do that during daylight so you can see everything.”
The streetcar is my favorite thing to do in Nola and the perfect introduction to the city. On the morning of your first/free day, take it from downtown or Lee Circle out to Carrollton/Tulane/Uptown. Have breakfast or lunch at the classic Camellia Grill which is near the end of the streetcar line.
On your way back, you can hop on/off multiple times to see Audobon Park and Zoo, Tulane, Garden District, WW2 museum, etc. $3 for a one day unlimited pass. I think Commanders (a block from the streetcar in the Garden District) is good for lunch on the way back. But be aware that the streetcar is slooow and service can be spotty. You could also walk back from Uptown along Magazine Street down to the GD. Then cab it to downtown.
Lucky for you, Dragos is located right in your hotel. Even if you don’t like oysters, their grilled oysters will be the best thing you’ve ever eaten in your life. And I prefer Café Beignet on Royal to Café du Monde. Go to Frenchman Street one night for the music.
Wish my kid was still at Tulane so I could visit more often…