Things to Do Alone in New Orleans (Jazz, Streetcars)

New Orleans is one of the easier American cities to enjoy alone, because the city is organised around listening. Live jazz is on offer nightly, a day transit pass is cheap, and the biggest outdoor space has a free sculpture garden. Plan the day around one show and let the rest fit around it.

This page is built around sound. For the general how-to, see things to do alone in a new city, and for the practical side of a live show, going to a concert alone. Other destinations are in the cities hub.

A seat at a short set

Preservation Hall (French Quarter, 726 St. Peter Street). The hall's FAQ says it is open nightly for live performances, is an all-ages venue, and gives each ticketed group one 45-minute performance before the room turns over. Doors open about 20 minutes before showtime, staff direct you to your section, and the hall asks you not to photograph or film during the set. Its cafe, Le Spectacle, is at 730 St. Peter Street; the hall asks you to arrive 45 minutes ahead if you want to be served there, or at least 15 minutes ahead if you are going straight in (Preservation Hall FAQ).

A 45-minute set is a gentle length for a first solo show. You are seated, the lights are on the band, and nobody expects conversation. The calendar on the Preservation Hall site lists showtimes and band leaders, which change.

Get the day pass first

RTA, the city's transit authority, lists a single-ride fare of $1.25 for adults, a one-day Jazzy Pass at $3 and a three-day pass at $8. A single-ride ferry fare is $2. The Le Pass app works on buses, streetcars and ferries, and ticket vending machines accept cash only (RTA fares and how to pay). A one-day pass turns each streetcar ride into a free decision rather than a $1.25 one, which is useful if you are moving between a park, a museum and a show.

Out to City Park

The Canal-City Park streetcar line ends at Wisner Avenue and Esplanade Street, a short walk from the New Orleans Museum of Art and its sculpture garden, according to NOMA's transport page (NOMA visit).

Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Free, open seven days a week, with winter hours (October to March) of 10am to 5pm (NOMA sculpture garden). Walking between sculptures needs no ticket and no plan.
New Orleans Museum of Art. Open Sunday and Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Wednesday noon to 7pm, and closed Monday. Adults pay $18 as Louisiana residents or $23 as out-of-state visitors. General admission is free on Wednesdays for Louisiana residents only (NOMA hours and admission).
City Park. The park describes itself as 1,300 acres with free things to do year-round, including walking trails (City Park and free activities).

Jazz by day

New Orleans Jazz Museum (Old U.S. Mint). The museum sits between the French Quarter and the Frenchmen Street music corridor. It is open Tuesday 9am to 6pm and Wednesday to Sunday 9am to 4pm. Adults pay $15 and Louisiana residents $13, with $2 off for seniors, military and students (New Orleans Jazz Museum).
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. The National Park Service runs programs and performances here, and its event calendar is the place to look for what is on during your stay. Its office is at 419 Decatur Street (NPS calendar).
Backstreet Cultural Museum (Treme). It holds an archive documenting Carnival celebrations and second-line parades, and offers a Second Line Tour. Check hours and booking on its site first (Backstreet Cultural Museum).

Small museums at an easy pace

The Historic New Orleans Collection (French Quarter, 520 Royal Street). Admission is free, but tickets are required; you can pick one up at the front desk or reserve online. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm and Sunday 10:30am to 4:30pm, and the site lists a cafe and shop on the premises (HNOC visit).
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum (French Quarter, 514 Chartres Street). Self-guided visits run Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm, at $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and military; no reservation is needed for self-guided tours. The site lists holiday closures from November 26 to 30 and says hours can change in peak season (Pharmacy Museum).
Ogden Museum of Southern Art (Warehouse District, 925 Camp Street). Open daily 10am to 5pm, with adult tickets at $15. Thursdays are free for Louisiana residents (Ogden Museum visit).

Market and big museum days

French Market (French Quarter). The market says it is open daily from 10am to 6pm, including holidays. Flea-market vendors stay until 5pm, and the farmers market, with eateries and cafe-style seating, runs until 6pm (French Market). A seat among other diners is an easy way to eat on your own.

The National WWII Museum (Warehouse District). Open daily 9am to 5pm, closed on Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Adult tickets are $37 (National WWII Museum). It is large, so book it for a day with nothing else planned.

How to string a day together

Start with the free parts: the sculpture garden in the morning and the French Market at lunch, since both are open every day. Put the ticketed museum in the middle, when your energy is highest, and keep the evening for one set of music. Because the Jazz Museum closes at 4pm on most days and the French Market closes at 6pm, plan those before the evening show rather than after it. Leave a gap between stops; a streetcar ride with a one-day pass is a good time to sit and watch the city.

First solo outings

Easy: the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park, for as long as you like.
Medium: a morning at the Jazz Museum or the free Historic New Orleans Collection, then lunch at the French Market.
Bolder: a Preservation Hall evening: the 45-minute set, with the cafe beforehand.

Solo Era for iPhone

Spend an evening at a jazz bar

Solo Era has a culture mission at level 3: "Spend an evening at a jazz bar." Preservation Hall is one place to try it. Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.

For another American city with a strong live-music scene, see Chicago or New York.

Details change; check the venue before you go.

FAQ

How long is a show at Preservation Hall?

One performance is 45 minutes, according to the hall's FAQ, and the room is turned over between shows.

Can I take photos at Preservation Hall?

The hall asks guests to refrain from photographing, filming or recording during the performance.

How much is a day pass for the streetcar?

RTA lists the one-day Jazzy Pass at $3 and a single ride at $1.25. You can buy tickets in the Le Pass app.

Is the Besthoff Sculpture Garden free?

Yes. NOMA says it is free and open seven days a week, with winter hours of 10am to 5pm from October to March.

Is the Jazz Museum open on Mondays?

The museum's hours list Tuesday to Sunday only, so Monday is not an opening day.

Sources (checked 2026-11-01)