Jackson Square is a good place to get oriented with the Quarter, as it sits pretty much in the middle of the neighborhood, and its famous landmark, the towering St. Louis Cathedral, serves as a convenient marker. Today, the sizable square is best known for its buskers (namely artists, performers, and fortune tellers who make up their own small community). And just like the larger neighborhood itself, the square contains several vibes (part loud and raucous, part cheesy and touristy, and part charmingly historical), and is full of moments of surprising magic.
Spend a while taking it all in: There are the bucket drummers, tap dancers, clowns, living statues, bizarre dance performances that pop up whenever there’s a crowd, and authentic palm and tarot readers, who can deliver a perfectly woo-woo experience to start your trip off right (they may go ahead and predict how the rest of it will go, too).