Bywater Stroll: Explore the Evolving Neighbourhood on a self-guided audio tour

40 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

Take a walk through the evolving Bywater with this self-guided GPS audio tour. Historically a working-class neighbourhood, it has become a destination for artists and those seeking alternatives to the spectacle of the French Quarter. With its artist-run collectives, new bars and restaurants, and music venues popping up all over the neighbourhood, nightlife has begun to migrate here.

This walk will wind you through some of its non-commercial, daytime offerings, with an eye toward some of the natural, historical, and overlooked details that give it character. Along the way, your walk will be punctuated with poetry, and you will have some personal time with the Mississippi River that makes the city "crescent."

What's Included

Lifetime access to this tour in English
VoiceMap app for Android and iOS
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Your walk begins next to the Homer Plessy memorial plaque at the corner of Royal and Press Streets, an easy 15-minute walk from the French Quarter. Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 40 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (approximately)
  • (Pass by)

    It features the work of artists connected to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    It's a tuition-free arts conservatory for high school students. Entrance is by audition only, and such luminaries as the Marsalis brothers and Trombone Shorty have emerged from here.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour passes through Crescent Park. It stretches for 1.4 miles along the Mississippi River. It's a fairly recent addition to the city and has provided Marigny and Bywater residents new access to the Mississippi River which borders the neighborhood.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The tour briefly walks along the river

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    By locals, it's called The Rusty Rainbow, but it's actually the Piety Street Arch. While the other two entrances to the park allow for vehicle and handicap access, this one is very stair-heavy. The view from the top is a great way to watch the passing clouds or check out the fireworks on the many occasions New Orleans celebrates with them.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    Mickey Markey Park is a destination for families and dog owners in the Bywater. It was renovated a few years ago. From a fenced-off mostly-dirt field, it was turned into a sprawling green space for leashed dogs, soccer games, and lounging with a take-out pizza. A lot of birthday parties are hosted here with bouncy houses, summertime sprinklers and baby pools. And it's a spot for other, more unorthodox gatherings as well. This is the starting point for the annual naked bike ride, for instance. It's great for people-watching too. On weekends and nice-weather evenings, parents often gather with adult beverages while kids monkey around on the playground equipment.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by VoiceMap Audio Tours

Tags

Private Sightseeing Tours
Audio Guides
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Art Tours
Walking Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Show more

from per person
Was {{currencySymbol}}{{ summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount }}