New Iberia

At a Glance

• Known For: Cajun & Acadian heritage, Bayou Teche, sugar plantations, TABASCO® on Avery Island
• Top Things to Do: Tour Shadows-on-the-Teche, visit Bayou Teche Museum, walk historic downtown, explore Avery Island
• Major Events: Cajun Mardi Gras celebrations, Books Along the Teche, Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival, World Championship Gumbo Cookoff

Top Things to Do in New Iberia

Settled on the banks of the oak-framed, gently meandering Bayou Teche, New Iberia served as home to French settlers known as Acadians, who had been driven from Nova Scotia by British troops. The Acadians, who in their new home were known as Cajuns, brought their colorful traditions and cuisine to the region.

Explore Cajun culture at museums and historic sites, including Bayou Teche Museum, which displays local artifacts, from the earliest bottles of TABASCO® sauce to modern Mardi Gras costumes. The Jeanerette Museum, housed in a charming pink cottage, offers a deep dive into the history of the sugar cane industry. Shadows-on-the-Teche is a must-see. This 1800s plantation home tells the story of a wealthy sugar-planting family, as well as the stories of the hundreds of enslaved men, women and children who lived and labored on the farm.

Love reading? You may know New Iberia as the home of detective Dave Robicheaux, a character created by author James Lee Burke. Embark on a self-guided tour of Burke’s Iberia, which takes visitors through the historic downtown, past Robicheaux’s high school, to one of his favorite po’boy places and even the Burke family home.

Head just outside of New Iberia to wander Avery Island, an ancient salt dome and the home of TABASCO®. Take a tour of the TABASCO® Factory and Museum to see how the sauce is made, then visit Jungle Gardens, a 170-acre botanical park and bird sanctuary. 

Places to Stay

If you’re looking for the comfort and amenities of a brand-name hotel, book a room at the Hampton Inn & Suites New Iberia-Avery Island, Holiday Inn Express & Suites New Iberia-Avery Island or Candlewood Suites New Iberia. Want to stay where Dave Robicheaux frequented? Choose the Teche Motel, an unassuming spot marked by its eye-catching neon sign.

Food & Drink

Enjoy the full Cajun experience at Bon Creole, which serves award-winning po’boys overstuffed with shrimp, crawfish, oysters, fish or a combination of all four. The salads, soups, gumbo and barbecue are also delicious. Jane’s Seafood & Chinese Restaurant blends Southern hospitality with Asian cooking. Try the egg drop soup, grilled catfish filet or crawfish fried rice. Grab dessert at the Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, whose house pies include pecan, bourbon pecan, apple and coconut cream. Get your pie in shake form, or indulge in a vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and praline pecans. 

Events & Festivals in New Iberia

New Iberia throws a marvelous Mardi Gras celebration, with parades, balls and all the revelry of a Cajun courir. Spring welcomes bibliophiles to the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival, where a different Great Southern Writer is featured annually. September brings the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival, and in October, spoons at the ready for the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff!

Travel Tips & Resources

It's easy to navigate New Iberia. Catch a flight to Lafayette Regional Airport, then rent a car or take a rideshare. New Iberia is also a short drive from Beaumont, Texas (3 hours), Mobile, Alabama (4 hours), and Meridian, Mississippi (5 hours).