Your Guide for Taking the Ferry in New Orleans
The Mississippi River winds through the streets of New Orleans giving the city a character all its own. One of the best ways to reach historic neighborhoods like the French Quarter and Algiers Point is by a New Orleans ferry boat. The transportation service not only gives you access to the other side of the river, it also allows you to take in incredible views of the New Orleans skyline while experiencing a part of its history and culture. Check out the Canal Street/Algiers Point Ferry and the Chalmette/Lower Algiers Ferry, the only two ferries currently running in New Orleans, during your stay in the Big Easy.
Hop on the Canal Street Ferry
With over two million trips made on the Canal Street Ferry annually, this historic ferry has been crossing the Mississippi since 1827. The river was once considered one of the most challenging to cross in the United States. Once journeyed across by Indigenous peoples using canoes and wagons and settlers using skiffs, larger ferry boats and the construction of bridges allowed more people to experience the scenic crossing with more ease.
Nowadays, NORTA offers $2.00 rides from Canal Street to Algiers Point departing every half hour. After exploring the French Quarter with a walking tour, you can board the ferry near the Aquarium of the Americas and Woldenberg Park. From there, you can explore the historic neighborhood of Algiers Point and take in the views of the city by water on your New Orleans ferry ride. Make sure to check for NORTA updates on New Orleans ferry service before planning your next trip!
Explore Algiers by Ferry
The Canal Street Ferry will take you to Algiers Point, the west entrance to the Algiers neighborhood which stretches to the Chalmette ferry dock. Now home to popular bars and restaurants, Algiers Point was once the place where enslaved Africans were kept before being sold in the French Quarter. New Orlean’s second oldest neighborhood eventually also became home to settlements of formerly enslaved people as well as a diverse group of immigrants accompanying the economic and railroad boom.
The Algiers neighborhood has survived war, fires, slave trade and now visitors can enjoy walking along the Algiers levee, taking a historic walking tour, exploring Confetti Park, admiring the old houses and plantations, as well as local pubs, museums, and artisan shops. While the Chalmette Ferry is more of a local commute, visitors can also experience more of the Algiers neighborhood as well as the historic Chalmette Battlefield on this ride.
An old New Orleans ferry boat tradition included packing a picnic and wine for an affordable (yet short) dinner cruise across the river. After enjoying the afternoon on a swamp boat tour, taking in views of the city by ferry is a lovely way to end your evening. Make sure to include a NOLA ferry ride on your travel itinerary for your trip to the Crescent City.