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Jackson Square

700 Chartres St · New Orleans, LA

Why you should go…

Jackson Square is a formal garden and public plaza at the heart of the French Quarter, centered on an equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson and framed by St. Louis Cathedral. Artists, musicians, and fortune tellers set up along its iron fence daily, and the surrounding Pontalba Buildings are among the oldest apartment buildings in the country. It has been a public gathering space since the city's founding.

  • #landmark
  • #public square
  • #street performers
  • #french quarter
  • #photo spot

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Jackson Square, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    St. Louis Cathedral

    Free

    The oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in the United States anchors Jackson Square.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Eat & Drink
    Iconic

    Cafe du Monde

    Under $25

    Order the beignets and a cafe au lait, then join generations of visitors dusted in powdered sugar.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    French Quarter

    Free

    Wrought-iron balconies, jazz spilling out of doorways, and 300 years of history in one walkable grid.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

    $25–$50

    A Mississippi riverfront aquarium with a walk-through Caribbean reef tunnel and rescued sea otters.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Mardi Gras World

    Under $25

    Walk through the warehouse where Blaine Kern's Studios builds the giant floats seen in Mardi Gras parades.

    1.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    The Mortuary Haunted Mansion

    $25–$50

    Halloween season haunted house inside a historic 1872 New Orleans mortuary building.

    3.1 mi awayMore like this