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New Orleans
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Bourbon Street
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Bourbon Street

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Bourbon Street
3.5
#124 of 465 things to do in New Orleans
Points of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking Areas
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About
This historic street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter extends over 13 blocks. Dating back to the 1700s, this bustling nightlife spot is well-known for its bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as its annual Mardi Gras celebrations. Bourbon Street is also home to the New Orleans Musical Legends Park, a free outdoor venue for live jazz performances, and Café Lafitte, one of the oldest gay bars in America. Fancy strolling around with a drink? It’s legal to consume alcohol on the streets of New Orleans, and many vendors sell drinks in plastic “go-cups” along the strip. – Tripadvisor
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The area
Neighborhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
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See what travelers are saying
  • Sandy M
    Pennsylvania247 contributions
    Need to go once
    This is the kind of place you need to experience once. We visited during the day for safety reasons as we had our daughter along. The street is dirty and has all the smells one might expect to find in such a place. Lots of pizza and frozen daiquiri joints. Street entertainment was mostly good but sometimes drowned out by the music coming from clubs. Souvenir shops all carry the same stuff but it’s priced higher than the shops on Canal Street so go there if you want to save some bucks.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 27, 2022
  • Dexter B
    Auckland Central, New Zealand73 contributions
    Bourbon Street Experience during Mardi Gras Season
    Valentines Day Dinner we decided to have at one of the Bourbon Street Restaurants. We settled in at LA Bayou Restaurant and Bar. Got a table by the window. We liked the vibrant atmosphere. Being Mardi Gras season all the more exciting. People walking on the middle of the road. The people throwing bead chains from the balconies. The lights and live music. We walked down the street to Canal Street and back to St Ann. We liked the whole experience. The prices as you near Canal Street are double of the same near say St Ann Street. A Hurricane cocktail costs usd13 at LA Bayou and usd6 near st Ann.
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 15, 2023
  • Reynie R
    27 contributions
    Too much partying...and else
    Is a busy nightlife street so noise is expected, indeed. Some bars can be interesting to varied sort of tastes and some restaurants looks good. However, this is not just a noisy and crowded place. Is a hard party avenue. Marihuana? Sure (yes, a lot on the city i know but here is a lot more obvious). Exhibitionism? Yes. Hard drinking? Of course. Want to take a photo with a python? Yes. You will find it here. More things of the shady type are also found here. I don't imagine going with a family here. It's catalogued as a must see, and i know is a vital part of Mardi Gras but then again... how wild can it get during it? Not my coup of tea. Saw it. Noted. Photo taken. Goodbye.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 9, 2023
  • Michelle S
    Decatur, Alabama38 contributions
    A super busy, always booming, never know what you're going to see place to go.
    This place, in the heart of New Orleans is where everything takes place at once. You never know what you're going to see. Every type of drink and band and street entertainment you can think of. The smell is terrible, there are homeless people laid on the street that you have to step over. I would not go there personally at night. I also would not carry my children down this street day or night. If you want to party this is the place to be.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 26, 2023
  • Parker Sturbridge
    979 contributions
    Parker says "Be prepared for a wild ride!!!"
    There is no other place like this on the planet. It's gritty, it's dirty, it's full of character and characters like you've never seen. It pulsates and it groans. It's loud, hectic, vibrant, bursting with energy. And when the sun goes down, it's almost magical in a crazy way. It's a "must see" and a "one and done". Wear comfortable shoes, don't bring the kids, watch where you walk, hold on tight to your wallets and purses, and take off on a wild ride!!! Watch where you eat and where you drink...some places are downright scary. And when you're done with Bourbon Street, head out to the rest of the French Quarter.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 21, 2023
  • barrygChatham
    Chatham, United Kingdom102 contributions
    Awful place
    I have wanted to go to bourbon street for years, now I wish I hadn’t bothered! Rampant drug use, youngsters off their face on drink and drugs, overpriced watered down drinks and ridiculously priced mediocre restaurants and hotels! My advice would be stay away from the French quarter and Bourbon street in particular . Don’t stay anywhere near bourbon street if you want to get a good nights sleep the noise of boom boxes and people shouting and screaming at each other goes on until 3am! Frenchman’s street seems much more the place to be!
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 16, 2023
  • Beckibecka
    Aurora, Colorado436 contributions
    Not Our Scene
    If you like to party without limits, this is the place for you I guess. We walked down the street during the day and it was not crowded, but really dirty and smelled so bad (which is true for most of the French Quarter). In ye evening we walked a few blocks before looking at each other and saying "nope". It's gross when it's not crowded, but when the crowd grows and the party starts it's something else entirely...
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 22, 2023
  • Clairesc06
    Crawley, United Kingdom90 contributions
    Not for me, didn't enjoy it at all
    I was excited to visit the famous Bourbon Street, glad I did but not in a hurry to go again! It was very very noisy, stunk of urine & weed & someone tried to take my purse out of my bag. Snakes being used for tourist photos which I hated. We did go back during the day to see what it was like, better but still pretty awful - much much nicer places to go to in the French Quarter - not for me
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 1, 2023
  • Debbie doo
    Dumfries, United Kingdom528 contributions
    Defo has changed since our last visit
    We visited here in 2005 and found it full of character and a wonderful experience. We visited Two weeks ago . At night too busy felt unsafe and not enjoyable. Smelt of weed and people soo intoxicated they were unaware of their actions . On the contrast we visited during the day a nice atmosphere heard some good music . Stopped for lunch then afterwards a hurricane cocktail which was strong needless to say had the one . Enjoyable afternoon.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 5, 2023
  • Cora-Morgan K
    24 contributions
    Madness and dirty
    I was very disappointed with Bourbon Street in general, great if you want to go and get wasted but very crazy and lots of homeless. We saw so many homeless people who were either completely off of their heads or intimidating. I would never take children here and would recommend being very careful. Always avoid and walk away as I heard lots of stories of unprovoked attacks.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 13, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
7,494 reviews
Excellent
2,190
Very good
1,780
Average
1,623
Poor
1,012
Terrible
889
R W
1 contribution
Not what you would expect
Nov 2023 • Family
Its not what’s advertised, theres no Jazz on the street, its like a seedy nightclub area, police on every corner , its loud, dirty and intimidating, didnt find it fun
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
COTraveller33
Silver Spring, MD3,402 contributions
Party in the Big Easy
Nov 2023 • Friends
When in Rome --- or Nawlin's / NOLA.
-- THIS is THE place to go.

Everyone knows this.

For GOOD food on Bourbon Street - Red Fish Grill.

Bar - Laffite's or The Front Door.
Pat O's too.

Would recommend: Of course
Would re-patronize: Definitely
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2berries
Lake George, NY292 contributions
A must see (in a short dose)
Nov 2023 • Couples
As first time visitors to New Orleans we had to check it out. Glad we did! However, once we saw it, took some photos and did some people watching we were ready to move on. We also departed before 9pm as it was becoming noisier and more gritty as it got a little later.
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mick B
61 contributions
Bubbling nightlife!
Nov 2023 • Couples
A street with at least 10 live bands playing at the same moment. Every corner there is a nice bar, prices are higher than average but worth it since the music is great n
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PerfectionPreferred
64 contributions
Not Safe!
Nov 2023 • Couples
Went to Bourbon Street during the day and found it full of homeless, drug addicts, scammers Definitely NOT a safe place.Worse yet not ONE POLICE OFFICER anywhere to be found! Loud with good music coming from empty bars with employees desperately begging you to come in. Very dirty and smelly, would not recommend at all! Heard it's much worse at night.
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don T
Naples, FL560 contributions
A walk down Bourbon Street
Oct 2023 • Couples
Our hotel was on the edge of the French Quarter, and only about a 15 minute stroll from Bourbon Street so of course we had to go see it. It is quite interesting, with all of the old Victorian-style ironwork on the second and third story balconies of some of the buildings, and quite a mix of shops. Some of the buildings seem a bit in need of refurbishing, but all are interesting.

Well worth the visit, and hey -- you can't leave New Orleans without seeing Bourbon Street.
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindasresor
Luleå, Sweden8 contributions
Heartbreaking
Nov 2023 • Friends
Like a horror movie. So many homeless people on fentanyl and meth. Have never seen a more heartbreaking place. It is really scary and so many freaky people. If you like a horrific freakshow it is the place for you.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vikki T
Sacramento, CA7 contributions
Bourbon Street- loud, fun and entertaining
Oct 2023 • Couples
If you’re looking for energy and the sites and sounds that go with Bourbon Street, then this is for you! I will say, I had an idea of what to expect but it was more than I anticipated! It’s a very young crowd, so I did feel a little out of place but still fun. There is a LOT of noise, competing music from all the bars, youngsters beating on buckets as drums, and a lot of drinking. Well, it IS Bourbon street! LOL! We had to go to say we went there, but it wasn’t necessarily our vibe- still fun to see and experience. We found a bar I wanted to go to, Spirits that was on Bar Rescue some years ago. It was piano bar night, great entertainer, lots of energy and personable! He asked us where we were from and the rest of the night he would call us by name playfully to sign along with crowd. Food was ok, and drinks were what you find on Bourbon Street- fun, quirky names and easy to drink. Enjoyed our time here for the first night in town!
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angelique
Amsterdam, The Netherlands76 contributions
Not as expected
Oct 2023 • Couples
Expected lots of jazz bars and street musicians….. but instead noisy bars, lots of homeless people, not a fun place to be.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victor A
Waretown, NJ166 contributions
Stay away from here
Sep 2023 • Friends
A group of 30 friends spent time in NO. Bourbon Street has noticeably deteriorated over the past several years. It is not a safe place to visit, especially in the evening. The smell of vomit and urine are everywhere and it seemed like everyone was smoking pot. The streets and sidewalks are in disrepair, so you need to be watching everywhere you walk, while keeping a constant eye on all of the unsavory people around you. There was little traditional New Orleans Jazz playing anywhere, and street people were everywhere banging on buckets or playing the loudest music out of their cars. There was also almost no police presence. Stay away and instead visit Frenchman Street (which felt relatively safer) if you want some traditional music.
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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BOURBON STREET: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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