Overview
Lafayette is a city in Louisiana. It's the unofficial capital of Acadiana or Cajun Country. This flourishing moderate sized city is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Music and dancing is an integral part of community life. Several restaurants and dance halls thrive in the area and the city hosts several musical festivals throughout the year.
6 sights · 8 things to do · 17 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lafayette
Lafayette Science Museum
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
A large four-year university with a great campus and a small swamp containing live alligators next to the Student Union. There is a University Art Museum on campus, and an International Film Series is screened every seme…
Vermilionville
A heritage and folk-life park depicting the way of life on the Bayou. The park has costumed French interpreters, traditional craft demos, and hosts traditional Cajun music and dance parties each Sunday.
Hilliard Art Museum
Museum collection of over 4,000 objects including 18th-, 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century American, European and Asian art works.
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Festival International de Louisiane
Four-day festival that brings musical acts and other performers from all over the world, with an emphasis on Francophone countries. The festival usually takes place the last weekend of April, and is usually a nice divers…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Jan. (climate data from nearby Baton Rouge)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LFT Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette — 2 mi away. Directions
- BTR Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Baton Rouge — 56 mi away. Directions
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 106 mi away (major hub). Directions
& Lafayette is at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 49. I-10 runs through the northern part of Lafayette, linking the city with New Orleans (2½ hours east) and Houston (4 hours west). I-49 links Lafayette with Alexandria and Shreveport to the north.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $18–$100 a night (typical $75), from 5 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$60, mid-range ~$150, comfortable ~$270.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Lafayette Science Museum, The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Lunch Borden's Ice Cream Shop
- Afternoon Hilliard Art Museum, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
- Dinner Agave Cantina
- Evening The Greenroom
Day 2
- Morning Acadian Cultural Center, Vermilionville
- Lunch Another Broken Egg
- Afternoon Lafayette Pétanque Club, Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
- Dinner Artmosphere
Day 3
- Morning Louisiana Drillers
- Lunch Cafe Sydnie Mae
- Afternoon Parish Nights
- Dinner Charley G's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Lafayette is a center for great Cajun cuisine (see the Acadiana article for an overview), but don't think Cajun food is all there is to eat here. Many different styles of food can be found here, and many have developed a Cajun flair. Lafayette is truly a food-oriented city, with more restaurants than cities with a much larger population. We talk about what to eat a lunch over breakfast, and what to eat for dinner over lunch; and we're rarely disappointed with the outcome.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
& Lafayette is at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 49. I-10 runs through the northern part of Lafayette, linking the city with New Orleans (2½ hours east) and Houston (4 hours west). I-49 links Lafayette with Alexandria and Shreveport to the north.
- to Going south of I-10, US Hwy 167 connects travelers to US Hwy 90 where it takes a southern turn and passes through New Iberia, Franklin, Morgan City, and the Houma – Bayou Cane – Thibodaux metropolitan area before reaching New Orleans. Going west of its junction with US Hwy 167, US Hwy 90 closely parallels I-10 through Scott, Rayne, Crawley, Jennings and Lake Charles to the Texas state line. Going north, US Hwy 167 becomes I-49.
By plane
Go Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT)
Has nonstop flights on American Eagle from Dallas/Fort Worth (Envoy & Mesa Airlines) and Charlotte (PSA Airlines); Delta Connection from Atlanta (Endeavour Air); and United Express from Houston (Mesa Air & CommutAir).
By bus
Go Greyhound Lines
Greyhound travels primarily on I-10 (Houston, Beaumont Vidor, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans); US 90 (Lafayette, New Iberia, Morgan City, Thibodaux, Houma, Raceland and New Orleans); and on I-49/US 167 (Lafayette, Opelousas, Alexandria, Jonesboro, Ruston, Grambling State University and Shrevesport). Some variations of the Houston to New Orleans route make additional stops in Port Arthur, Orange, Baytown and/or Lake Charles while other routes continue towards Montgomery via Mobile without stopping in New Orleans. Passengers transfer in Houston, New Orleans, Montgomery and Shreveport to transfer to additional cities.
By train
Go Amtrak
The Sunset Limited runs thrice weekly between New Orleans and Los Angeles via Schriever, New Iberia, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Beaumont, Houston, San Antonio, etc.
Get around
While Lafayette does have a bus system that is accessible from most areas in town, driving by car is still the most popular way to get around the city. Most businesses have parking lots, and even in the Downtown area there is often plenty of parking on a normal day. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is usually the only area where visitors encounter parking troubles, but while school is in session a shuttle bus links the center of campus with the massive parking lot at Cajun Field (near the Cajundome and Convention Center), providing a quick commute with frequent service. Bike lanes are becoming a growing trend on some major roads as well. There are taxis available.
See
Do
Do Lafayette Pétanque Club
Pétanque is a deceptively simple two-player French game played with tennis-ball-sized metal orbs that is similar to bocce or horseshoes. Players score points by tossing their balls as close to a target ball as possible while trying to knock their opponent's away. It's a ubiquitous sight in parks all over France, where it is a national game of sorts, but quite rare in the U.S. Members socialize in both English and French. Visitors are encouraged.
Do Listen to 101.1 FM KBON
With a combination of Louisiana country music sung sometimes in French accompanied by accordion, and sometimes in English, listening to this radio station as you travel the area very distinctly tells that you are in Acadiana, and not some other part of the United States.
Events
Do Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
This annual weekend veneration of the "mud bug" brings together the best features of Cajun culture. The main centerpiece of the festival is a massive iron kettle which sees a constant flow of the festival's namesake critters throughout the day (also available in abundance in any form you could wish for.) The other centerpiece of the festival is a stage, which sees the most popular Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, and Creole musicians around. D.L. Menard was a regular performer there until a few years before his death in 2017. Other events include Cajun dancing contests and lessons, Cajun cooking demonstrations, crawfish races, a crawfish eating contest, a crawfish étouffée contest, and typical (if you can call anything crawfish-themed typical) carnival rides, activities, and vendors.
Do Festival International de Louisiane
Four-day festival that brings musical acts and other performers from all over the world, with an emphasis on Francophone countries. The festival usually takes place the last weekend of April, and is usually a nice diversion from the expensive and often over-crowded New Orleans JazzFest the same time of year. The amazing food selection from local restaurants is moderately priced, and there are several shopping bazaars with everything from international vendors to local artists. Most importantly the festival is free, with a great deal of funding coming from donations made by Lafayette residents. Jefferson Street and most of Downtown Lafayette virtually shut-down to traffic from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening with around six stages of live music.
Sports
Do Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Sports teams of the above university, competing in 16 NCAA Division I sports (eight for each sex) in the Sun Belt Conference. As with most major schools, the hot-button sports are typically football and men's basketball, but the most nationally competitive are baseball and softball (the latter a women-only sport in the NCAA). Most of the key sports venues are on university-owned land away from the main campus, most notably Cajun Field (football), the Cajundome (men's basketball), and Tigue Moore Field (baseball). The Cajundome also houses the central ticket office for all Ragin' Cajuns sports.
Buy
Eat
Lafayette is a center for great Cajun cuisine (see the Acadiana article for an overview), but don't think Cajun food is all there is to eat here. Many different styles of food can be found here, and many have developed a Cajun flair. Lafayette is truly a food-oriented city, with more restaurants than cities with a much larger population. We talk about what to eat a lunch over breakfast, and what to eat for dinner over lunch; and we're rarely disappointed with the outcome.
Eat Agave Cantina
Tex-Mex with some Tex-Mex / Creole fusion dishes. Inside and outside eating.
Eat Another Broken Egg
Terrific breakfasts and brunches.
Eat Artmosphere
Eclectically decorated restaurant, bar and hookah bar with live music and a wide variety of great food.
Eat Borden's Ice Cream Shop
Ice cream, ice cream dishes and soda fountain.
Eat Cafe Sydnie Mae
Steaks, seafood and spirits.
Eat Charley G's
Specialty in seafood. Excellent bar. Live piano music.
Eat The French Press
Great local and French food, lunches and breakfasts. One of Lafayette's most celebrated for good reason.
- Hub City Diner 1412 South College, +1 337 235-5683. Louisiana cooking in a diner atmosphere.
Eat LaFonda Restaurant
Tex-Mex menu with great margaritas.
Eat Johnson's Boucaniere
Casual place known for great boudin, bbq, and smoked meats.
Eat Judice Inn
Popular little joint for cheeseburgers and beer.
Eat Julien's Po-Boys
Two other locations in Lafayette. Serves great po-boy sandwiches and spicy platters.
Eat Maesone Noodle House
Great noodles, mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Laotian cuisine.
- Olde Tyme Grocery 218 W St Mary +1 337 235-8165. Great po-boy sandwiches. The atmosphere is basically a few tables in an old grocery building. Lots of character!
Eat Prejean's
Touristy but enjoyable Cajun food. $8-20.
Eat Taco Sisters
Tacos & burritos, convenient drive-thru.
Eat Thai Cuisine
Thai food; try the Pad Thai.
Eat Tsunami
Sushi and Japanese cuisine.
Eat Scratch Farm Kitchen
Farm to table restaurant serving breakfast and brunch. Food is always super fresh and drinks are delicious!
Drink
Downtown Lafayette Hosts live entertainment nightly with its variety of clubs and kind of resembles New Orleans' French Quarter on a smaller scale. The Strip on McKinley Street with its row of bars right next to The University of Louisiana is another popular venue. Where it used to the run of college students from The Keg to the McKinley Street Pub, the scene is now represented by new members like La Honda Discotheque and Freetown Boom Boom Room.
Most visitors to Lafayette are often surprised by another feature of the local drinking scene: drive-thru daiquiri stores. Open-container laws are seemingly disregarded as customers can purchase potent frozen drinks without leaving their car, and then simply drive-off. Exercise caution, though, as cops still consider these drinks to be open alcohol containers, as evident by the styrofoam-cupped drinks are often handed to customers with a piece of tape over the lid opening.
For you bar and club patrons, last call in Lafayette is at 2AM Monday through Saturday, and at midnight on Sunday nights.
Drink The Greenroom
Great local bar in Downtown Lafayette with an easygoing vibe. Several local and imported beers on tap, with the widest bottled beer selection in town. Nightly drink specials, pool tables, shuffleboard, foosball, and plenty of good people..
Sleep
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