Museum of Illusions
Family of 4
Tickets ~$20-25/person.
Duration
1-1.5 hours
Best Ages
Best for ages 6-16
About
The Museum of Illusions in New Orleans sits on Decatur Street in the heart of the French Quarter, offering a self-guided interactive experience built around optical illusions, perspective tricks, and mind-bending installations. It's part of an international chain, but the New Orleans location has developed a strong local following with a near-perfect 4.9-star rating.
The concept is simple and endlessly entertaining for the right age group: rooms are designed to fool your eyes and brain, creating photo opportunities where the laws of physics seem to break down. In the forced-perspective room, you can appear to be holding a tiny family member in your palm. The infinite tunnel creates a genuinely dizzying visual effect that kids keep walking back into.
The tilt room — where the floor slopes significantly but the room looks normal — makes everyone walk funny, which delights children to no end.
The honest assessment: this is a photo experience as much as an educational one. Kids ages 6-14 tend to get the most out of it, catching the humor and wanting to engineer the best photos. Younger children (under 5) may enjoy some of the visual effects but won't understand the perceptual concepts behind them.
Teens, particularly those who haven't been to other Museum of Illusions locations, genuinely enjoy the weirdness.
The visit runs about an hour for most families, which makes it a good complement to other French Quarter activities rather than a standalone full-day destination. The French Quarter setting works in your favor — Café Du Monde is steps away for post-visit beignets, and the riverfront walk is a natural next stop.
Practical note: parking in the French Quarter is always a challenge. Plan to rideshare, walk from nearby hotels, or use the Canal Street streetcar if staying further afield.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Limited
Nursing / Changing
Not Available
Kid Meals
Not Available
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday late morning to avoid weekend crowds
Wait Times
10-20 min on weekends; minimal on weekdays
Nearby Food
Located on Decatur St in the French Quarter with dozens of restaurants within steps. Café Du Monde for beignets is less than a 5-minute walk toward Jackson Square.
Why Kids Love It
The forced-perspective rooms create photos where kids appear to be giants or tiny compared to family members, generating endless laughter and excitement about taking pictures. The infinity mirror tunnel is a genuine wow moment for school-age kids who try to figure out how it works. The tilt room where you walk on slanted floors makes even adults giggle while kids compete to see who can navigate it without stumbling.
From Reddit Parents
“I’ve gone to one in another city. Worth it if you don’t have kids? No. Something fun to do with kids? Yes. Not sure it lives up to the ticket price but kids...”
Pro Tips from Parents
- Bring your phone charged — this is all about taking photos in the installations
- Kids 6+ get the most out of the optical illusion concepts; under 5 may just be confused
- The French Quarter location means parking is difficult — take a rideshare or walk from nearby hotels
- Visit is self-guided so you move at your own pace — great for families with different attention spans
- Combine with a walk along the French Quarter waterfront for a full afternoon
What to Bring
- Fully charged phone/camera
- Comfortable shoes
- Creative poses — half the fun is thinking of shots
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
Tickets ~$20-25/person.
Family of 4: ~$80-100 admission.
No food on site.
Total with nearby lunch: ~$120-140.
Tips to Save
- Book online for slight discounts vs.
- walk-in pricing.
- Check for combo deals with other French Quarter attractions.
- Younger kids (under 6) may not get full value — consider skipping or having one parent wait with toddlers.
