Explore Southwest Airlines® destination New Orleans.

Situated between the banks of the Lower Mississippi and the big, brackish Lake Pontchartrain, this international symbol of resilience is also famously home to virtually non-stop revelry. And in the Big Easy, a notoriously friendly destination, everybody’s invited to join the party. Whether you’re here to march on Mardi Gras or just to enjoy any old long weekend, you’re certain to find something to celebrate while you’re in New Orleans.

Kick off the fun in the French Quarter, the bustling and beating heart of downtown New Orleans. Along this neighborhood’s picturesque streets, you’ll find activities to match any mood. Sample the local flavors at one of the many longstanding eateries. From beignets to jambalaya, po’ boys to oysters Rockefeller, this city has so many signature dishes that you’d probably need weeks to sample them all—but who’s to stop you from trying? After the tasty meal of your choice, walk off your food coma with a stroll through nearby Jackson Square. Here, you can enjoy a street performer show or step into the stunning Saint Louis Cathedral. Later, you can experience the effervescent nightlife of Bourbon Street or catch the latest jazz show at storied Preservation Hall.

Of course, this St. Peter Street staple isn’t the only place to savor the sounds of the Crescent City. The birthplace of jazz and also home to a blues scene almost without equal, New Orleans’ streets offer visitors something sonorous to enjoy around most every corner. Walk down Frenchman Street in the Marigny neighborhood, though, and you’ll find an entire city’s worth of sound in the span of just a few blocks. Between bohemian bars, quirky bookstores, and charming cafes, this stretch of road boasts an incredibly impressive lineup of music venues—each of which is well worth a visit.

Music isn’t the only art form that the city offers in abundance. Head north to sprawling City Park, where you’ll not only find one of the largest collections of mature live oak trees on the planet, but also some of the world’s finest artworks, all housed within the New Orleans Museum of Art’s eye-catching alabaster walls. To get a better feel for the region’s unique artistic output, head to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, found in downtown NOLA’s Warehouse Arts District. Meanwhile, just across the street from the Ogden, history buffs can get their fill of education and then some at the massive National World War II Museum whose sweeping campus spans five separate buildings.

No matter how you choose to enjoy your time in New Orleans, get to the Big Easy with ease by booking your flight on Southwest Airlines. Find flight options that touch down at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on your schedule—and fit your budget, too. Book your trip to New Orleans on Southwest® today, and learn what else goes into making your trip a memorable one as part of the complete Southwest® Experience.