Quick Orientation
Jackson Square is a 2.5-acre public park at the heart of the French Quarter, fronted by the St Louis Cathedral on one side and the Mississippi River on the other. It has been a public plaza since 1721, first as the Place d'Armes (French colonial), then Plaza de Armas (Spanish), and renamed in 1851 after Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans.
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning your New Orleans trip? Get a personalised budget with our free calculator — Jackson Square is free, but a French Quarter hotel runs $200-350/night.
It is the single most photographed spot in New Orleans. It is also genuinely free: everything inside the iron fence, the cathedral itself, and the views cost nothing.
Andrew Jackson Statue
The bronze equestrian statue at the centre of the square was sculpted by Clark Mills and unveiled in 1856. Jackson rears on his horse with his hat raised — a pose repeated on two other identical Mills statues in Washington DC and Nashville.
- Engraved plaque (added by Union General Benjamin Butler in 1862): "The Union must and shall be preserved." A pointed message during the Civil War occupation of New Orleans.
- The statue has been controversial: debates over Jackson's legacy (slaveholder, Indian Removal Act) have led to repeated calls for removal. As of 2026 it remains in place.
- Best photo angle: from the cathedral steps looking down, with the statue framing the iron fence.
- Access: the inner park with the statue is open sunrise to sunset; the perimeter path is 24/7.
St Louis Cathedral
The triple-spired white cathedral is the oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in the United States. The current building dates to 1850, rebuilt on the foundations of two earlier churches (1727 and 1789). It is the defining backdrop of every Jackson Square photo.
- Entry: free, open daily roughly 8:30am-4pm outside mass times.
- What to see inside: the Bartolome Murillo painting of St Louis (1783), the muralled vaulted ceiling, the original 1849 pipe organ.
- Mass times: daily 7:30am and 12:05pm, Sunday 9am, 11am, 6pm. Respectful visitors can sit in the back and observe.
- Dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Shorts and tank tops are not turned away but are frowned on.
- Time needed: 15-20 minutes.
The cathedral is not a tourist attraction with tickets — it is an active parish. Photography is allowed outside mass; flash is not.
Artists & Fortune Tellers
Hundreds of artists, portrait painters, tarot readers and psychics set up along the outer iron fence of Jackson Square. They are licensed by the City of New Orleans (the licence plates are visible on the fence hooks) and most operate 9am to 6pm, weather permitting.
| Service | Typical price | Time | Notes |
|---|
| Portrait sketch | $30-60 | 20-30 min | Charcoal or pastel; negotiate upfront |
| Caricature | $25-40 | 15 min | Colour version +$10 |
| Tarot reading | $20-40 | 15 min | Clarify questions in advance |
| Palm reading | $20-30 | 10-15 min | Usually bundled with tarot |
| Original paintings | $40-200 | n/a | Mostly French Quarter scenes |
- How to pick: walk the full fence once before committing. Look at each artist's portfolio of previous work.
- Negotiating: prices are fluid, especially for portraits. "I'll do it for $30" is a common counter-offer.
- Tipping: not expected but appreciated. $5-10 on a $40 portrait is generous.
- Rainy days: most pack up if rain is forecast. Sunday afternoons are the busiest.
If you want a good tarot reader, ask locals at a nearby bar for a name. The best readers have repeat clients and may not be on the fence.
Café du Monde Beignets
Directly across Decatur Street from Jackson Square sits Café du Monde, the 1862 green-and-white café that invented the New Orleans-style beignet. It is open 24 hours and serves exactly three things: beignets, café au lait, and chicory coffee (hot or iced).
- Order: "three beignets and a café au lait" — $10 total.
- The menu: that is it. No food. No decaf. No WiFi.
- Queuing: skip the takeout line and walk into the seating area directly. Any empty table is yours — order from the waitstaff there. This is the locals' hack.
- Tipping: 18-20% on dine-in. Minimal on counter takeout.
- Powdered sugar: it will get everywhere. Do not wear black, do not exhale on the beignet, do not brush it off your lap — stand up and walk away.
- Ghost option: there is a second Café du Monde at Riverwalk and another in the Garden District if the French Quarter line looks awful.
Café du Monde has imitators nearby charging more for worse beignets. The real one is the 1862 original at 800 Decatur Street on the corner of St Ann. Look for the iconic green-and-white striped awnings.
Best Photo Times
| Time | Light | Crowds | Why |
|---|
| 6:30-8am | Soft golden | Nearly empty | Cathedral in morning light, no tour groups |
| 10am-12pm | Harsh | Medium | Skip if possible |
| 1-4pm | Flat | Heavy | Worst time |
| 6-7pm (summer) | Golden hour | Heavy | Cathedral lit and glowing |
| After 9pm | Spot lit | Low | Empty square, warm cathedral lights |
- Iconic angle: from the Washington Artillery Park / Moonwalk steps on the river side, looking back at the cathedral with the statue in the middle-ground.
- Rooftop bars: Muriel's (free to walk in upstairs if you buy a drink), Tableau (Decatur side) for elevated views.
- Street musicians: most set up 10am-3pm on Chartres Street or Decatur. A brass band in front of the cathedral is a classic NOLA photo.
- Mule-drawn carriages: line up on Decatur. $25/person for a 30-minute tour; the carriage itself is photogenic.
Nearby Walks & Stops
Jackson Square is the centre of a walkable circle. Extend the visit with any of these, all within 5 minutes:
- Washington Artillery Park / Moonwalk: cross Decatur and climb the levee steps. Free panoramic view of the river and the square.
- French Market: 3 blocks downriver, open-air market, crafts and food stalls 10am-6pm.
- Pirate's Alley: the narrow passage next to the cathedral, Faulkner's house museum halfway down.
- Royal Street: antique shops and art galleries, the elegant parallel of Bourbon Street.
- Cabildo / Presbytere museums: flanking the cathedral, Louisiana State Museum properties, $8 each.
- Bourbon Street: 2 blocks lakeside. Do not visit before 5pm — it is a hungover mess in the morning.
Start your morning at Café du Monde at 7am, walk Jackson Square at 8am before tours arrive, hit the cathedral at 8:30am, then walk the French Market as it opens at 10. You will beat every bus tour in the city.
Quick Orientation
Jackson Square is a 2.5-acre public park at the heart of the French Quarter, fronted by the St Louis Cathedral on one side and the Mississippi River on the other. It has been a public plaza since 1721, first as the Place d'Armes (French colonial), then Plaza de Armas (Spanish), and renamed in 1851 after Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans.
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning your New Orleans trip? Get a personalised budget with our free calculator — Jackson Square is free, but a French Quarter hotel runs $200-350/night.
It is the single most photographed spot in New Orleans. It is also genuinely free: everything inside the iron fence, the cathedral itself, and the views cost nothing.
Andrew Jackson Statue
The bronze equestrian statue at the centre of the square was sculpted by Clark Mills and unveiled in 1856. Jackson rears on his horse with his hat raised — a pose repeated on two other identical Mills statues in Washington DC and Nashville.
- Engraved plaque (added by Union General Benjamin Butler in 1862): "The Union must and shall be preserved." A pointed message during the Civil War occupation of New Orleans.
- The statue has been controversial: debates over Jackson's legacy (slaveholder, Indian Removal Act) have led to repeated calls for removal. As of 2026 it remains in place.
- Best photo angle: from the cathedral steps looking down, with the statue framing the iron fence.
- Access: the inner park with the statue is open sunrise to sunset; the perimeter path is 24/7.
St Louis Cathedral
The triple-spired white cathedral is the oldest continuously active Catholic cathedral in the United States. The current building dates to 1850, rebuilt on the foundations of two earlier churches (1727 and 1789). It is the defining backdrop of every Jackson Square photo.
- Entry: free, open daily roughly 8:30am-4pm outside mass times.
- What to see inside: the Bartolome Murillo painting of St Louis (1783), the muralled vaulted ceiling, the original 1849 pipe organ.
- Mass times: daily 7:30am and 12:05pm, Sunday 9am, 11am, 6pm. Respectful visitors can sit in the back and observe.
- Dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Shorts and tank tops are not turned away but are frowned on.
- Time needed: 15-20 minutes.
The cathedral is not a tourist attraction with tickets — it is an active parish. Photography is allowed outside mass; flash is not.
Artists & Fortune Tellers
Hundreds of artists, portrait painters, tarot readers and psychics set up along the outer iron fence of Jackson Square. They are licensed by the City of New Orleans (the licence plates are visible on the fence hooks) and most operate 9am to 6pm, weather permitting.
| Service | Typical price | Time | Notes |
|---|
| Portrait sketch | $30-60 | 20-30 min | Charcoal or pastel; negotiate upfront |
| Caricature | $25-40 | 15 min | Colour version +$10 |
| Tarot reading | $20-40 | 15 min | Clarify questions in advance |
| Palm reading | $20-30 | 10-15 min | Usually bundled with tarot |
| Original paintings | $40-200 | n/a | Mostly French Quarter scenes |
- How to pick: walk the full fence once before committing. Look at each artist's portfolio of previous work.
- Negotiating: prices are fluid, especially for portraits. "I'll do it for $30" is a common counter-offer.
- Tipping: not expected but appreciated. $5-10 on a $40 portrait is generous.
- Rainy days: most pack up if rain is forecast. Sunday afternoons are the busiest.
If you want a good tarot reader, ask locals at a nearby bar for a name. The best readers have repeat clients and may not be on the fence.
Café du Monde Beignets
Directly across Decatur Street from Jackson Square sits Café du Monde, the 1862 green-and-white café that invented the New Orleans-style beignet. It is open 24 hours and serves exactly three things: beignets, café au lait, and chicory coffee (hot or iced).
- Order: "three beignets and a café au lait" — $10 total.
- The menu: that is it. No food. No decaf. No WiFi.
- Queuing: skip the takeout line and walk into the seating area directly. Any empty table is yours — order from the waitstaff there. This is the locals' hack.
- Tipping: 18-20% on dine-in. Minimal on counter takeout.
- Powdered sugar: it will get everywhere. Do not wear black, do not exhale on the beignet, do not brush it off your lap — stand up and walk away.
- Ghost option: there is a second Café du Monde at Riverwalk and another in the Garden District if the French Quarter line looks awful.
Café du Monde has imitators nearby charging more for worse beignets. The real one is the 1862 original at 800 Decatur Street on the corner of St Ann. Look for the iconic green-and-white striped awnings.
Best Photo Times
| Time | Light | Crowds | Why |
|---|
| 6:30-8am | Soft golden | Nearly empty | Cathedral in morning light, no tour groups |
| 10am-12pm | Harsh | Medium | Skip if possible |
| 1-4pm | Flat | Heavy | Worst time |
| 6-7pm (summer) | Golden hour | Heavy | Cathedral lit and glowing |
| After 9pm | Spot lit | Low | Empty square, warm cathedral lights |
- Iconic angle: from the Washington Artillery Park / Moonwalk steps on the river side, looking back at the cathedral with the statue in the middle-ground.
- Rooftop bars: Muriel's (free to walk in upstairs if you buy a drink), Tableau (Decatur side) for elevated views.
- Street musicians: most set up 10am-3pm on Chartres Street or Decatur. A brass band in front of the cathedral is a classic NOLA photo.
- Mule-drawn carriages: line up on Decatur. $25/person for a 30-minute tour; the carriage itself is photogenic.
Nearby Walks & Stops
Jackson Square is the centre of a walkable circle. Extend the visit with any of these, all within 5 minutes:
- Washington Artillery Park / Moonwalk: cross Decatur and climb the levee steps. Free panoramic view of the river and the square.
- French Market: 3 blocks downriver, open-air market, crafts and food stalls 10am-6pm.
- Pirate's Alley: the narrow passage next to the cathedral, Faulkner's house museum halfway down.
- Royal Street: antique shops and art galleries, the elegant parallel of Bourbon Street.
- Cabildo / Presbytere museums: flanking the cathedral, Louisiana State Museum properties, $8 each.
- Bourbon Street: 2 blocks lakeside. Do not visit before 5pm — it is a hungover mess in the morning.
Start your morning at Café du Monde at 7am, walk Jackson Square at 8am before tours arrive, hit the cathedral at 8:30am, then walk the French Market as it opens at 10. You will beat every bus tour in the city.