This city loves its zydeco — and Creole cuisine.
Lafayette, Louisiana, just west of New Orleans, was long thought of as NOLA’s country cousin — and this Cajun-spiced city may be a little less sophisticated, but it’s a lot more rooted in its own history. The soundtrack around town is zydeco, and its restaurants — both fancy and down-home — serve up some of the best crawfish boils, étouffées and po’boys in America. And the area around Lafayette invites visitors to take a swamp tour and see where Tabasco hot sauce was born.
Explore Lafayette
- Freetown-Port Rico Historic District
- Downtown
Freetown-Port Rico Historic District
Overview
On the National Registry of Historic Places, Freetown/Port Rico developed as a haven for freed slaves and other people of color. Today, the neighborhood tells an important story, with a series of artisan-made plaques commemorating its landmarks.
Known For
Historic Homes, Restaurants, Music Venues
Downtown
Overview
The city’s core has been revitalized — and has the public art and museums to prove it. Restaurants and cafés serve authentic Cajun cuisine, cocktail bars shake up tasty libations and the historic buildings and homes paint a picture of what Lafayette was like long ago.
Known For
Dining, Shopping, Nightlife, Museums
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Spend 72 Hours in Lafayette, Louisiana, the Heart of Cajun Country
Dive Into Downtown
Explore downtown Lafayette, starting in the verdant Parc Sans Souci. Dig in to a traditional Cajun lunch at one of the city’s oldest restaurants, then enjoy some public art, including the plaques commemorating landmarks in historic Freetown/Port Rico, once a haven for freed slaves.
Meet the Acadians
Dive deep into Acadian history today. Opt to visit one of two villages that re-create what life was like for the French-speaking Canadians who settled in Louisiana. Then visit the Hilliard Art Museum before dinner and dancing.
Get Spicy
Head south to Avery Island, home to the company that makes Tabasco sauce — where an on-site restaurant puts the sauce to good use. Then either hop aboard a boat for a swamp tour of Lake Martin or check out the Lafayette Science Museum. Dinner is an epic crawfish boil.