Top 15 Attractions in Lafayette, Louisiana

Often regarded as one of the premier culinary towns in the nation, Lafayette is situated in the heart of Southwest Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole Country.

The city was established over two centuries ago along Bayou Vermilion, a slow-moving tidal river located just west of the Atchafalaya Basin, which encompasses the largest swamp and wetland region in the United States.

You may explore this unique environment at Lake Martin, which embodies the quintessential southern Louisiana wilderness, featuring alligators, abundant birdlife, and towering bald cypress trees adorned with Spanish moss.

A community with a vibrant LGBT presence, Lafayette is a lively destination, hosting over 80 events and festivals downtown annually.

1. Vermilionville Historic Village

Initially named Vermilionville from 1821 to 1884, Lafayette derives its name from the bayou on which it was founded. To gain insight into its early history, visitors can explore this outdoor attraction, set on 23 acres adjacent to Bayou Vermilion.

Here, one can learn about the Native American, Acadian, Creole, and African-descended cultures that flourished in this region between 1765 and 1890.

The village features an array of charming buildings constructed in Acadian or Creole styles, with many being authentic and others precise reproductions.

This living history site is vibrant, staffed by costumed interpreters and artisans demonstrating traditional crafts and customs.

Numerous special events occur each year at Vermilionville Historic Village, including weekly dances on Sundays. For those interested, advance reservations allow for a trip along the bayou aboard Cocodrie or Le Violoneux, both crafted using traditional methods.

2. Cuisine

Located at the heart of Cajun and Creole territory, dining is integral to the Lafayette experience. This city frequently ranks as one of the top gastronomic destinations in the United States, and for those unsure where to start, a culinary tour is highly recommended.

One notable option is the Cajun Food Tour, which collaborates with over 30 local restaurants, offering a menu that changes with the seasons.

If you prefer to explore independently, signature dishes include gumbo, boudin (spiced sausage), étiouffée, fried seafood (particularly oyster po’boys), crawfish boils (best from January to June), and cracklin’ (fried pork fat), while King Cake is a traditional seasonal treat during Mardi Gras.

In 2016, Lafayette designated the Sweet Crude Rouler as its official cocktail, comprised of local Sweet Crude Rum, sweet and sour syrup, bitters, and club soda.

3. Lake Martin

Adjacent to Lafayette is the Cypress Island Preserve, a protected area of 9,500 acres featuring cypress-and-tupelo swamps and bottomland hardwood forests. Many trees in the preserve are centuries old.

The primary attraction for visitors is Lake Martin, located just ten minutes from downtown Lafayette. Among the wildlife, the American alligator, which can grow up to 14 feet, thrives here.

This location also serves as a crucial nesting area for waterbirds, including roseate spoonbills, white ibises, great egrets, great blue herons, and snowy egrets.

Starting in late January, these birds build their nests in the rookery, with breathtaking views from March through June. A 2.5-mile levee trail is accessible from fall to spring.

For those wishing to observe the alligators up close, driving along Rookery Road, which encircles the lake, is recommended.

To engage more intimately with the environment, Champagne Swamp Tours offers various experiences, including kayak rentals, airboat rides, and guided boat tours.

4. LARC’s Acadian Village

This cultural park located in southwestern Lafayette serves as a representation of Acadian life in the mid-19th century. Each of the homes you encounter at LARC’s Acadian Village is an original structure, restored on-site and furnished with period-appropriate items.

These houses are complemented by replicas of a blacksmith shop, chapel, and general store, illustrating the essence of community life from approximately 170 years ago.

LARC is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and employment opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including the Mardi Gras Bead Store housed within the village.

The most significant annual event is the Noel Acadien au Village, held in December, featuring a Christmas light display, carnival rides, food, visits from Santa, and nightly entertainment.

5. Festival International de Louisiane

The largest free francophone festival in the United States takes place in downtown Lafayette during April/May.

Inaugurated in 1987, the Festival International de Louisiane is typically a five-day event featuring musicians, artists, and craftsmen from around the world, celebrating the cultural ties between Acadiana and the French-speaking communities globally.

This remarkable festival has been recognized as one of the best music festivals worldwide, showcasing artists from over a dozen countries across seven stages in downtown Lafayette.

Among the renowned past performers are Dr. John, The Wailers Band, Tinariwen, and Skatalites.

The festival also boasts a diverse array of craft vendors, a children’s zone, and a culinary selection ranging from jambalaya to gyros.

6. Mardi Gras

Lafayette hosts the second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana, drawing as many as 250,000 attendees to the city.

Mardi Gras festivities have been held in Lafayette since 1869, but colorful parades (courirs) became a regular tradition in 1934 with the establishment of the Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association.

These courirs are derived from a longstanding tradition of masked participants traversing the countryside, accompanied by a band, performing for local residents in exchange for ingredients to prepare a communal gumbo.

Following these activities, the participants return to town to create the gumbo, enjoyed by all. Costumes often carry a humorous critique of authority, featuring capuchons (pointed hats) that historically mocked French royalty, as well as mortar boards poking fun at the academic elite.

Typically commencing ten days before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), numerous parades proceed through the city, accompanied by marching bands, doubloons, beads, and additional festivities like masked balls.

7. Downtown Lafayette

Diverse dining options are not the sole attraction in downtown Lafayette. Extending primarily along Jefferson St, this vibrant commercial district features museums, art galleries, live music venues, and numerous locally-owned shops selling records, candles, clothing, books, shoes, groceries, and bicycles.

Lafayette’s lively social calendar surpasses that of most cities, with significant events such as Downtown Alive!, featuring concerts each Friday evening during spring and fall.

This event presents another opportunity to appreciate Cajun and Zydeco music. Additionally, the 2nd Saturday ArtWalk warrants attention, offering a culturally rich experience that blends art, crafts, theatrical performances, and live music.

8. Acadian Cultural Center

Situated near Vermilionville along Bayou Vermilion, the Acadian Cultural Center is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, which encompasses several sites across South Louisiana.

This center delves into the history and contemporary culture of the Acadians (Cajuns).

Engaging multimedia displays examine the origins of this community, as well as their migration, settlement, and substantial contributions to life in Lafayette and South Louisiana today.

Guests can also discover the secrets of the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest wetland and swamp in the United States, and partake in ranger-led boat trips on Bayou Vermilion. The center offers a plethora of programs, including presentations on traditional music, dance, storytelling, and food.

9. The Lafayette Museum

Located at 1122 Lafayette Street, the Alexandre Mouton House (circa 1800) was constructed by Jean Mouton, an early settler in Attakapas country.

Jean Mouton was the father of Alexandre Mouton (1804-1885), who served as the 11th Governor of Louisiana and as a United States Senator. Alexandre resided in this house until 1836 when he married Zelia Rousseau and significantly expanded the dwelling.

Subsequent renovations were made after the property was purchased by Dr. W. G. Mills in 1849, resulting in the house’s current architectural appearance.

The interior, fully restored to reflect the mid-19th century splendor, is open to the public as a house museum. Visitors can also explore exhibits on local history, Mardi Gras artifacts, art collections, and tour the exquisite grounds.

10. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Few university campuses can boast having a swamp populated with alligators adjacent to their student union. This unique feature is found at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, conveniently located within walking distance of downtown.

This institution is renowned for its Ragin’ Cajuns, offering 16 varsity teams in NCAA Division I. The men’s and women’s basketball teams compete in the Cajundome, which accommodates 13,000 spectators and regularly hosts WWE events.

The football team plays at Cajun Field, colloquially known as “The Swamp,” as the field lies two feet below sea level, employing pumps and a drainage system to maintain its condition.

For a cultural experience, visiting the Hilliard Art Museum is advised, where impressive collections showcase Japanese woodblock prints, ancient Egyptian artifacts, European paintings, fine Louisiana art, folk art, and an extensive collection of over 150 works by American Modernist Henry Botkin (1896-1983).

11. Lafayette Science Museum

Located in the heart of downtown Lafayette, this modern and interactive venue emphasizes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education.

The Lafayette Science Museum features numerous engaging, hands-on exhibits that introduce young visitors to topics including nanotechnology, meteorites, biology, aviation, energy, paleontology, and much more.

The facility also houses an all-digital planetarium on the second floor, offering exciting live and recorded presentations.

Notably, the museum building has a historical background; established in 1925, it was constructed by prominent local entrepreneur Maurice Heymann (1885-1967) as Lafayette’s first department store.

The city’s first supermarket, another venture by Heymann, opened across the street in 1937 and now hosts the Children’s Museum of Acadiana.

12. Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

One of Lafayette’s most notable landmarks is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. Dedicated in 1916, this historic structure is the third to occupy the site, which has been in continuous use since the 1820s.

Designed in the Dutch Romanesque Revival style, the cathedral is constructed of red brick. Visitors can appreciate many captivating details during a tour, including stained glass windows produced in Munich, an organ crafted by Quebec’s Casavant Frères company, and oil paintings depicting Jesus and the Apostles.

The land for the church was donated by Jean Mouton, whose grave can be found in the cemetery alongside those of his son Alexandre and grandson Alfred, a Civil War general.

13. Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

Situated just 15 minutes from Lafayette, Breaux Bridge is known as the official Crawfish Capital of the World. This charming town is worth exploring year-round.

However, it transforms into a major hub during the first weekend in May for the renowned Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, drawing over 30,000 visitors annually.

Launched in 1960, the festival began the year following Breaux Bridge’s official designation.

Attendees can sample crawfish prepared in various styles, including boiled, in jambalaya, étiouffée, bisque, fried, in boudin, pies, or as crawdogs, in addition to a wide array of other Cajun and Creole delicacies.

Additionally, the festival showcases over 30 musical acts annually, featuring a mix of Cajun, Zydeco, swamp pop, and more.

If visiting earlier in the year, it is essential to note that crawfish season typically peaks in March and April, with the festival being one of many seafood events held in Breaux Bridge during the spring and early summer.

14. TABASCO Brand Factory and Museum

A worthwhile day trip from Lafayette is to Avery Island, located approximately 30 minutes to the south. The island is a massive dome of rock salt, three miles long, situated amid salt marshes, swamps, and bayous.

The unique soil on Avery Island has proven conducive to the growth of tabasco peppers, and it is here that businessman Edmund McIlhenny (1815-1890) pioneered the mass production of TABASCO sauce in 1868.

A combined admission ticket grants access to the TABASCO Museum, barrel warehouse, pepper greenhouse, salt mine diorama, TABASCO Country Store, and the TABASCO Restaurant 1868.

15. Jungle Gardens

Included in the Avery Island experience is Jungle Gardens, an exceptional 170-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary established by Edmund’s second son, Edward Avery McIlhenny (1872-1949).

The gardens are alive with wildlife, home to Louisiana black bears and American alligators, as well as a vast population of snowy egrets, nurtured by McIlhenny and returning each spring to Bird City to nest before migrating in the fall.

Visitors can also enjoy McIlhenny’s remarkable collections of azaleas, camellias, and other exotic plants, alongside a 12th-century Chinese Buddha gifted to him in 1936.