New Orleans exudes romance through its very essence. Cobblestone streets, candlelit cafes and jazz bands fuel old-world intimacy beneath veils of Spanish moss. The humid harbor city famously seduces lovers with pleasures of food and music interlaced with leisure.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Carriage Rides Through the French Quarter | Experience the charm of New Orleans from a horse-drawn carriage, highlighting architectural and historical sights. |
| Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruises | Enjoy live jazz on a historic steamboat cruising the Mississippi River. |
| Garden District Architectural Tours | Explore the historic Garden District’s antebellum mansions and architecture. |
| Honey Island Swamp Tours | Adventure through wildlife-rich swamp areas with a guided tour. |
| Garden District Food & History Walking Tour | Combine culinary tastes with the rich history of the Garden District. |
| Cooking Classes Together | Engage in a hands-on culinary experience focusing on New Orleans cuisine. |
| Frenchmen Street Live Music Crawl | Discover the vibrant music scene of Frenchmen Street through bar hopping. |
| Mardi Gras World Tour | Go behind the scenes of Mardi Gras preparations and traditions. |
| Sculpture Garden Strolls | Walk through a garden of contemporary sculptures in City Park. |
| St. Louis Cemetery No.1 | Visit historic and atmospheric above-ground tombs. |
| Bar Classes Together | Participate in barre fitness classes designed for couples. |
| Oak Alley Plantation | Explore a historic plantation famed for its alley of ancient oak trees. |
Wander sun-dappled courtyards hand-in-hand before nights ignite on Bourbon balconies toasting sunset hues behind wrought-iron rails. Discover antebellum elegance among Live Oaks dripping in tillandsia, then catch jazz mingling with summer breeze. New Orleans romances through sensations.
Use this list of NOLA’s 12 most romantic activities to inspire memorable couples’ moments where time suspends, notes linger and pleasure heightens shared senses.
Carriage Rides Through the French Quarter
Name and Location: Carriage rides in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter offer a unique way to explore this iconic neighborhood.
History and Significance: These rides have been a tradition for decades, offering a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the area.
What to Expect: Visitors can expect a leisurely tour with knowledgeable guides providing insights into the architecture, history, and legends of the French Quarter.
Visitor Information: Rides are available daily, with evening tours offering a particularly enchanting experience. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons.
See New Orleans’ romantic French Quarter from a leisurely perspective clopping down cobblestone streets in horse-drawn carriages. Snuggle beneath lap blankets pointing out charming architectural details of cast-iron balconies, leafy courtyards and street musicians playing beloved jazz standards. Customize routes to pass must-see St. Louis Cathedral or sweet shops on Royal Street hawking pralines.
Glimpse hotel balconies where Tennessee Williams penned ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ then toast your literary sighting with champagne flutes riding minidom bar carts. capture old-world ambiance framed by flickering gas lamps rolling slowly through lively streets or quite side alleages revealing NOLA’s layered allure.
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruises
Name and Location: Departing from the heart of the French Quarter, the Steamboat Natchez takes visitors on jazz cruises along the Mississippi River.
History and Significance: The Steamboat Natchez honors the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River, celebrating New Orleans’ historic love affair with jazz and riverboats.
What to Expect: Live jazz performances, stunning river views, and optional Creole dining make for an unforgettable experience.
Visitor Information: Cruises run daily, with options for dinner cruises. Booking in advance is advisable.
Step aboard the Steamboat Natchez, a historich paddlewheel cruise floating past New Orleans landmarks along the Mississippi River as live jazz bands serenade sunset views. Sip cocktails on deck as neon harbor lights sparkle reflecting on rippling waters. Three different bands spread across three decks allow couples to sway listening to preferred sounds: contemporary jazz, Dixieland or ragtime.
Or venture to the engine room mid-cruise when the steam whistle blows for a short history presentation on old paddle engines. With entertainment options indoors or views from the open promenade wrapping around Steamboat Natchez, jazz cruises make harmonious evenings on the Mississippi.
Garden District Architectural Tours
Name and Location: These walking tours explore the Garden District of New Orleans, renowned for its well-preserved antebellum mansions.
History and Significance: The Garden District’s architecture reflects the wealth and opulence of New Orleans in the 19th century, showcasing a variety of styles from Greek Revival to Victorian.
What to Expect: Knowledgeable guides lead visitors through tree-lined streets, pointing out historical homes and sharing stories of the area’s past residents.
Visitor Information: Tours are available daily. Reservations are recommended to ensure a spot on these popular walks.
Wander oak lined streets holding hands admiring extravagant antebellum mansions and vibrant Craftsman-style shotguns dispersed throughout Uptown’s historic Garden District. Well-preserved 19th century homes boast elaborate columns, sprawling porches and rich architectural detailing thanks to fortunes built shipping cotton and sugarcane. Flaunting luxury even during the Depression, plantation owners and prominent families flocked building decadent dwellings.
Free self-guided walking tour maps provided by the Garden District Association guide couples past prominent residences, quirky galleries and corners touting literary significance. Or opt for docent-led van tours revealing behind-the-scenes oral histories with insider views beyond gates. Just don’t get too envious while ogling opulent Tara-esque backdrops utterly enchanting lovebirds.
Honey Island Swamp Tours
Name and Location: Located in the Pearl River wildlife management area, Honey Island Swamp offers guided boat tours.
History and Significance: Considered one of the most pristine swamp ecosystems in the United States, Honey Island Swamp tours provide insights into local wildlife and ecology.
What to Expect: Expect to see a variety of wildlife, including alligators, wild boars, and exotic birds, in their natural habitat.
Visitor Information: Tours operate daily, weather permitting. Advance booking is recommended, especially during peak seasons.
Escape city limits gliding through cypress-cloaked wetlands watching for alligators, river otters, wild boar and over 200 species of birds only accessible by water deep in Honey Island Swamp. Naturalists captain flat-bottomed skiffs carrying couples into rarely witnessed habitats teaching about regional ecosystems and indigenous wildlife along the way. Still bayous reflect Spanish moss backdrops during peaceful moments simply soaking up nature’s magnificence scanning for osprey nests or wild orchids.
But guides ensure excitement revs up intercepting beasts crashing through forests lining tea-colored marsh waters. Feel pulses quicken cradling together hearing swamp stories passed down generations. Captivating mystery wilderness fosters connections unlike anywhere else around New Orleans.
Garden District Food & History Walking Tour
Name and Location: This tour combines the rich history of the Garden District with the vibrant culinary scene of New Orleans.
History and Significance: It offers a unique perspective on the district’s development, from its antebellum past to its current status as a hub of New Orleans culture and cuisine.
What to Expect: Sampling local dishes at various eateries while learning about the area’s architecture and historical figures.
Visitor Information: Advance reservations are necessary, with tours available on select days of the week.
On intimate walking tours through New Orleans’ coveted Garden District, couples learn stirring backstories of prominent families who shaped the neighborhood’s prestige between savoring Cajun/Creole small plates culled from decades-old recipes at restaurants established generations ago. Guides like those from Equine Experiences link arm-in-arm strolling tree-lined boulevards pointing out mansions still owned by founding owners’ decedents today.
Stopping every few blocks for a sample bite, conversations cultivate deeper connections unpacking ripe histories from vantage points peeking through iron gates. Sip Abitas on a patio once graced by former first ladies or governors retelling tales of games played and rules broken. With bellies and minds full, new dimensions of New Orleans charm.
Cooking Classes Together
Name and Location: Various locations throughout New Orleans offer cooking classes focused on Creole and Cajun cuisine.
History and Significance: These classes offer hands-on experience with local culinary traditions, emphasizing dishes that have shaped the city’s food scene.
What to Expect: Participants learn to prepare traditional dishes under the guidance of experienced chefs, enjoying the fruits of their labor at the end of the session.
Visitor Information: Classes are available for different skill levels, with schedules and prices varying by location. Booking ahead is recommended.
Instead of dining out, infuse date nights with spicy intimacy creating authentic NOLA cuisine hand-in-hand during couples’ cooking classes. Local seasonings like cayenne, paprika and file powder practically propel pupils into each other’s arms reaching for ingredients across share workstations. Under Bobo’s guidance, duos stir iconic Creole dishes like jambalaya or grill sugar-dusted beignets as decadent finales worth getting hands sticky.
The School of Cooking also offers Cocktail Classes guiding mixology behind regional libations like Sazeracs or Hurricane cocktails to sip between chopping celery, bell peppers and green onions. Bonded by cooperative creation in the kitchen, even cooking mishaps end up memorable bonding moments peppered with laughter.
Frenchmen Street Live Music Crawl
Name and Location: Frenchmen Street, located in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, is famous for its dense concentration of live music venues.
History and Significance: Known as the local’s Bourbon Street, it offers a more authentic New Orleans nightlife experience, with a focus on jazz, blues, and funk music.
What to Expect: A vibrant night scene with live performances every night. Visitors can hop between clubs and bars, experiencing the best of local music.
Visitor Information: Most music venues have no cover charge, but a one-drink minimum purchase may be required. It’s advisable to check performance schedules in advance.
Live music pumps from every open doorway down Frenchmen Street where talented jazz ensembles, brass bands and blues singers keep toes tapping with continuous sets perfect for bar hopping. Couples sway intimately at candlelit tables catching soulful sounds between balconies. Savor whiskey pairings listening to melodies swirl from street performers below. Emerging artists jam into the night as lovers disappear into verses, choruses and shared glances wordlessly saying everything.
When crowds cluster on banquettes, slip down side streets discovering lesser known dive bars and hole-in-the-wall stages promising steamier shows. Sultry singers croon favorites for patrons slow dancing cheek-to-cheek. Frenchmen Street remains an iconic New Orleans feature for endless evenings wandering between sweet sounds.
Mardi Gras World Tour
Name and Location: Mardi Gras World is located along the Mississippi River, offering behind-the-scenes looks at the making of Mardi Gras floats.
History and Significance: This facility plays a key role in the annual Mardi Gras celebration, creating floats and props used in the parades.
What to Expect: Tours include demonstrations of float building, costume design, and a history of the festival. Visitors can see floats up close.
Visitor Information: Open daily for tours, which include a free shuttle service from downtown. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
Delve into glittering floats, flamboyant costumes and candy-hued props handcrafted year-round behind-the-scenes by Mardi Gras krewes at Mardi Gras World ode to the flamboyant holiday unmatched across globe. Couples witness artists sewing feathered headdresses, painting larger-than-life parade scenes atop multi-level floats and sculpting papier-mâché headpieces doubling as art. Trying on costumes supplies scenarios for playful photo-ops channeling inner kings and queens of Carnival.
Multisensory exhibits detail insider views of extravagant balls and processions leading up to Fat Tuesday’s spectacle of parades marching down Canal Street. Equally entertaining and educational, Mardi Gras World adds awe understanding enormous efforts realizing festivities dubbed “the Greatest Free Show on Earth.”
Sculpture Garden Strolls
Name and Location: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is located within City Park, New Orleans.
History and Significance: This garden features over 60 sculptures by artists from around the world, set among beautiful landscaping.
What to Expect: A peaceful walk through lush surroundings, with sculptures ranging from abstract to realistic, contemporary to classical.
Visitor Information: Admission is free, and the garden is open to the public year-round. Guided tours are available for a fee.
Wander through City Park’s whimsical Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden where over 60 contemporary marble, bronze and steel installations elicit insight into artists’ abstract visions. The paved walking path loops through palm clusters and beneath mossy oaks bridging across lagoons for varied vistas. Interactive pieces invite touching smooth surfaces warmed by dappled sunlight. Invent stories or gestures behind avant-garde works with exaggerated limbs akin to moving statues frozen mid-dance.
Let additional artworks spark thoughtful exchanges about negative spaces speaking volumes or veiled societal commentaries. Public benches give respites to pore over informational placards then ponder deeper meanings. Surrounded by intriguing sculptures, creativity unlocks fuller connections.
St. Louis Cemetery No.1
Name and Location: The oldest and most famous cemetery in New Orleans, located just outside the French Quarter.
History and Significance: Established in 1789, it’s known for its above-ground tombs and notable residents, including Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.
What to Expect: Guided tours offer insights into the unique burial customs, history, and legends associated with the cemetery.
Visitor Information: Access is limited to guided tours to protect the site. Tours are available from various companies, with tickets required in advance.
Hand-in-hand, meander narrow cobblestone aisles between elaborate above-ground tombs stacked three rows high under canopies of weeping willow branches in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Crypted Catholics buried here had to lay to rest above the water table, earning New Orleans cemeteries their “Cities of the Dead” nickname. But inherent peace permeates these maze-like walkways adorned in faded photos, dried flowers and handwritten notes scripting modern-day prayers.
Let mysteries spark imagination about the ship captains, politicians, priests and unknown citizens entombed on sacred grounds. Tragic tales feel less doleful strolling scented by fruitful figs. Life’s shared inevitability bonds couples in the stillness. Come sundown, the living again shift focus.
Bar Classes Together
Name and Location: Various venues in New Orleans offer cocktail-making classes, teaching the art of classic New Orleans mixology.
History and Significance: New Orleans is considered the birthplace of several classic cocktails, including the Sazerac and Ramos Gin Fizz, making these classes an authentic cultural experience.
What to Expect: Learn to mix classic cocktails under the guidance of experienced bartenders, understanding the history and techniques behind each drink.
Visitor Information: Classes are typically held in small groups and require advance booking. Check with individual venues for schedules and pricing.
Take tantalizing barre classes together transforming fitness into flirty foreplay at boutique studios like Inspire NOLA. Move as one rolling through abs then arching over thighs flashing suggestive smiles across the barre before deep stretches assist gentle caresses unfolding inner tension. Leave lighter and more limber with sparks between.
The barre workout’s small repetitive movements target smaller muscle groups great for sculpting sleek physiques but more importantly, proximity pulse points prime partners for intimacy. Post-class, linger over green juices or样本 Kombuchas sold onsite then see where awakened energy flows behind closed doors.
Oak Alley Plantation
Name and Location: Located in Vacherie, Louisiana, this historic plantation is famous for its stunning alley of oak trees leading to the main house.
History and Significance: Built in the early 19th century, Oak Alley Plantation offers a glimpse into the South’s antebellum past, including the lives of the people who lived and worked there.
What to Expect: Guided tours of the mansion, slave quarters, and the grounds offer historical insights, while the oak-lined path provides a breathtaking view.
Visitor Information: Open daily, with admission fees for house and grounds tours. Special events and accommodations are also available on site.
Walk holding hands underneath towering tunnel vision created by 300-year-old live oak trees lining the quarter-mile span approaching Oak Alley Plantation’s iconic columned facade. Capture romantic photos on grounds where Hollywood filmed classic love stories like “Interview with a Vampire.” Costumed interpreters retell histories of bygone bayou plantation life focused on the families who called the grand Creole cottage home over centuries starting back in the Antebellum Era.
Modern couples touring elaborate period rooms envision hosting soirees on the expansive veranda then stargazing in the evening breeze. Wander behind the Big House through former slave dwellings for full perspective on experiences both free and bonded by the 28 estate oaks. Their stoic presence offers lessons about what withstands.
Final Thoughts
New Orleans masters seduction through pleasures and leisure woven into everyday livelihoods from French Quarter architecture built for intimacy to steamy sax notes sparking desire. The water-bound harbor city brims with possibilities for couples to connect sensually sampling signature Cajun/Creole cuisines, strolling gardens exploding in fragrance or swaying to soulful jazz riffs along the Mississippi River nightly.
Use this curated list to uncover fresh romantic avenues from a bird’s eye perspective high atop a historic paddlewheel steamboat to eye-level observing alligators along bayou banks. Start crossing off and get lost together in Louisiana’s romance capital.