Although New Orleans has plenty of tourist attractions (all of the major ones have reopened since Hurricane Katrina) some of the best sightseeing is done informally. A leisurely stroll through the French Quarter reveals quaint shops, hidden courtyards and beautiful old Creole-style houses with their decorative, cast-iron balconies. A walk in the leafy Garden District leads past stately pre-war mansions, while an amble along the riverfront unveils a scene of great barges and paddle wheelers.

Most visitors head first for the historic Downtown area (the French Quarter) also called the Vieux Carré (Old Square). Laid out on a grid, it covers an area of about six by 12 city blocks, with Jackson Square at its centre.

The Upper French Quarter, stretching from Jackson Square to Canal Street and down to the riverfront, contains the most popular sights. Woldenberg Riverfront Park, with its wooden promenade known as Moon Walk, offers beautiful views of the Mississippi.

The Lower French Quarter includes the recently renovated French Market. Downtown also encompasses the Central Business District (CBD) and the Warehouse District, a renovated area of art galleries and studios, bars and restaurants.

To the southwest of the French Quarter is Uptown, where the Garden District is located. Bordering the French Quarter to the east is the Faubourg Marigny, a historic district with a bohemian feel, slowly reviving itself with bars, restaurants and nightlife spots. Across the river from downtown is Algiers, on the Westbank, which is another good area for strolling.

New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau
2020 St Charles Avenue
Tel: (504) 566 5011 or 1 800 748 8695.
Website: www.neworleanscvb.com
Opening hours: Daily 0800-1700.

There is also a Welcome Centre in the French Quarter on Jackson Square, 529 St Ann Street (tel: (504) 568 5661) open daily 0830-1700. Dining and accommodation reservations can be made from the website; you can also find information and make reservations through the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation's site, www.neworleansonline.com.

There are no formal visitor discount passes, however, visitors will receive a 20% discount on tickets to two or more of the following Louisiana State Museums (tel: (504) 568 6968 or 1 800 568 6968; website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us), if purchased at the same time: the Cabildo, Presbytère, Old Mint and 1850 House.