Rain or shine, New Orleans is never short on entertainment. While many think of parades and street performers, there’s just as much magic waiting indoors. From world-class New Orleans museums to cozy indoor jazz clubs, the city offers plenty of ways to spend the day (or night) while staying comfortably inside. Here are some of the best indoor activities in New Orleans to enjoy any time of year.

Explore New Orleans Museums

For a dose of history and culture, New Orleans museums are hard to beat. The National WWII Museum is one of the city’s most famous attractions, featuring immersive exhibits, aircraft, and personal stories from the war. Art lovers will enjoy the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, which celebrates Southern creativity through paintings, sculptures, and photography. For something more unique, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum blends history with quirky charm, highlighting the city’s medical past in a preserved 19th-century apothecary.

Relax in Indoor Jazz Clubs

Live music doesn’t stop when you head indoors. In fact, some of the city’s most legendary sounds come from intimate indoor jazz clubs. Preservation Hall offers a historic setting where traditional jazz fills the room every night. Over on Frenchmen Street, Blue Nile combines a larger stage with top-tier musicians across genres, while The Spotted Cat Music Club provides a smaller, more personal experience that feels quintessentially New Orleans.

Wander Through Art Galleries

For a quieter pace, art galleries around the French Quarter and Arts District provide an inspiring indoor escape. Arthur Roger Gallery showcases contemporary pieces from established and emerging artists, while Ferrara Showman Gallery is known for thought-provoking, modern works. Strolling through Julia Street, often called “Gallery Row,” offers an entire afternoon of browsing art, with spaces ranging from fine photography to avant-garde sculpture.

Add a Twist With a Murder Mystery

If the goal is something truly different, consider hosting a murder mystery party in New Orleans with The Murder Mystery Company. Professional actors lead the group through an interactive whodunnit where guests become suspects and detectives in a hilarious storyline. For dinner and a show, their murder mystery dinner theater combines a meal with entertainment that keeps everyone guessing. It’s the perfect way to enjoy an evening indoors with laughter and intrigue.

The Big Easy’s Best Kept Indoor Secrets

From museums that highlight history and art to intimate jazz clubs and galleries filled with creative expression, New Orleans has endless ways to entertain indoors. Add in a private murder mystery, and suddenly the city’s legendary storytelling comes to life in the most interactive way possible.

Ready to plan a one-of-a-kind night inside? Contact The Murder Mystery Company to host a private event or grab tickets to a show. Call 888-643-2583 or fill out the contact form on their website to get started.