Free self-guided walk · New Orleans

The French Quarter to Frenchmen Street

A free self-guided walk through the French Quarter from Royal Street to Jackson Square, the French Market and the Old Ursuline Convent, ending on Frenchmen Street.

Distance
1.7 km
Walking time
22 min
Allow
About 2 hours with stops
Stops
6

Open the route in Google MapsNew Orleans city guide

About this walk

The French Quarter, the oldest part of New Orleans, is a grid of ironwork balconies and courtyards. This walk crosses it to Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, where locals go for live music.

Bourbon Street runs parallel to Royal Street; this route avoids it.

  • Terrain: Flat. Pavements are uneven and broken in places. Hot and humid from May to September.
  • Best time: Morning for the quiet streets; evening if you're ending with music on Frenchmen Street.

Route map

123456
Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Royal Street

    Start on the street of antique shops and galleries, at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

  2. Jackson Square

    The old parade ground, with St Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo and the Presbytère.

  3. Café du Monde

    The coffee stand known for beignets, by the river.

  4. French Market

    A long open-air market hall along the river.

  5. Old Ursuline Convent

    Built in the 1750s, one of the oldest buildings in the Mississippi Valley.

  6. Frenchmen Street

    Finish at the street of music clubs in the Marigny.

Tips

  • Most music clubs on Frenchmen Street have a one-drink minimum rather than a cover charge.
  • The Riverfront streetcar runs along the edge of the Quarter.
  • Carry water in summer.

Prefer a guide?

Advertising disclosure: these link to Viator. If you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See all walking tours in New Orleans.

Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.