New Orleans
The most culturally distinct city in America — where Creole and Cajun cooking, jazz, second-line parades, and a French-Spanish colonial heart create something you genuinely can't find anywhere else. The French Quarter's wrought-iron balconies, Frenchmen Street's nightly brass bands, and beignets at 3am at Café du Monde.
Tours & Experiences
Browse bookable tours, activities, and day trips in New Orleans
📍 Points of Interest
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📋The Rundown
Founded by the French in 1718, New Orleans has flown under five flags — French, Spanish, French again, American, and Confederate
Jazz was born here in the early 1900s in the streets, brothels, and funeral parades of the city
Most of the city sits below sea level — up to 15 feet in places — and is protected by an enormous levee system
Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in Louisiana, and the season officially starts every year on January 6th (Twelfth Night)
The French Quarter survived the Great Fires of 1788 and 1794, but most "French" architecture you see is actually Spanish colonial
New Orleans cemeteries are above-ground "Cities of the Dead" because the high water table would float buried caskets
🎺Must-See Spots
French Quarter (Vieux Carré)
🏘️The 13-block historic heart of the city, founded in 1718. Wrought-iron balconies, cobblestone streets, hidden courtyards, and 300 years of layered history. The most atmospheric neighborhood in America.
Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral
🗼A historic square anchored by the oldest continuously-active cathedral in the United States. Street artists, fortune tellers, and jazz buskers surround the iron-fenced park.
Bourbon Street
📌The city's most famous (and infamous) street — a raucous stretch of bars, clubs, daiquiri shops, and balconies. Loud, crowded, and unique. Go once, then escape to Frenchmen.
Frenchmen Street
📌Where locals go for live music. Three blocks of jazz clubs, blues bars, and brass band venues — The Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, d.b.a., and Blue Nile. Multiple bands every night.
Garden District
🏘️A serene antebellum neighborhood with mansions, ancient oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and the famous Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. Take the St. Charles streetcar to get there.
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar
📌The oldest continuously-operating streetcar line in the world, running since 1835. The 13-mile ride past antebellum mansions and Audubon Park is an attraction in itself.
National WWII Museum
🏛️One of the top-rated museums in the country — a sprawling, immersive tribute to the American experience in WWII. Plan at least half a day. The multimedia "Beyond All Boundaries" is essential.
Preservation Hall
📌A tiny, un-air-conditioned, hallowed room in the French Quarter where traditional New Orleans jazz has been performed nightly since 1961. Three 45-minute sets each evening — arrive early.
City Park & NOMA
🌳One of America's largest urban parks — bigger than Central Park — home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and ancient live oaks hundreds of years old.
🗺️Where to Next
📍Hidden Gems
Café du Monde at 3am
The legendary 24-hour open-air café serving only beignets and chicory café au lait since 1862. Visit at 3am and you'll skip the hour-long daytime line entirely.
Daytime Café du Monde is a tourist circus. At 3am it becomes a quiet, magical ritual shared with night-shift workers and returning musicians. The powdered-sugar air is just the same.
Willie Mae's Scotch House
A small neighborhood restaurant in Treme serving what the James Beard Foundation called "America's best fried chicken." Run by the Willie Mae Seaton family since 1957.
The chicken is legitimately life-changing — crispy, juicy, with a secret wet-batter technique. The white beans and cornbread are just as good. Go for lunch on a weekday to skip the line.
The Bywater
A hip, artsy neighborhood downriver from the Marigny, filled with brightly painted shotgun houses, art studios, quirky cafes (Satsuma, Bacchanal), and the sculpture-filled Crescent Park along the river.
This is where local artists, musicians, and creatives actually live. It delivers the authentic New Orleans aesthetic without the Bourbon Street crowds. Bike or walk in from the Quarter.
Catch a Second Line
Every Sunday from September through June, a different social aid and pleasure club hosts a Second Line parade — a rolling brass band procession through a specific neighborhood with dancing crowds.
The purest expression of New Orleans culture you can witness. Unlike Mardi Gras, these are community events, not tourist spectacles. Check "WWOZ Takin' It to the Streets" for weekly schedules.
🌡️Weather
New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate — hot and sticky for most of the year, with short, mild winters. Summer humidity is famously oppressive, and afternoon thunderstorms are near-daily from June through September. Hurricane season runs June through November.
Spring
March - May59-82°F
15-28°C
The best weather of the year. Warm sunny days, cool evenings, azaleas blooming, and the city at its most alive with Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest.
Summer
June - August75-91°F
24-33°C
Brutally hot and humid with heat indexes regularly above 40°C. Daily afternoon thunderstorms. Hurricane season begins. Locals move slowly and hug the shade.
Autumn
September - November57-86°F
14-30°C
September remains hot and is peak hurricane season. October and November are gorgeous — warm days, cool nights, and humidity finally breaks. Halloween is a massive event.
Winter
December - February45-65°F
7-18°C
Mild and damp, with cold snaps that can dip below freezing. Rain is frequent but snow is almost unheard of. Bring layers — warm days can follow cold nights. Mardi Gras season kicks off.
🛡️Safety
Exercise Caution
out of 100
New Orleans has higher violent crime rates than most US tourist cities, but crime is heavily concentrated in specific neighborhoods. Tourist areas (French Quarter during day, Garden District, Warehouse District, Frenchmen Street) are generally safe. Pickpocketing and phone theft on Bourbon Street are common. After-hours crime spikes outside these zones.
Things to Know
- •Stay in well-lit, crowded areas in the French Quarter, Garden District, and Warehouse District
- •Use rideshare for any trip outside the Quarter after dark — especially returning from Frenchmen Street
- •Watch drinks carefully on Bourbon Street — drink spiking does occur
- •Avoid walking alone through Armstrong Park, the cemeteries, or under I-10 after dark
- •Keep phones and wallets secure in crowds, especially during Mardi Gras and festival season
- •Don't engage with aggressive panhandlers or "street hustlers" on Bourbon Street — just walk on
- •During hurricane threats, follow city evacuation orders immediately — do not wait
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance)
911
Non-Emergency Police
311
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222
University Medical Center New Orleans
504-702-3000
🚋Transit & Transport
New Orleans is compact and walkable in its tourist core. The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) runs historic streetcars, buses, and ferries. A Jazzy Pass offers unlimited rides. Driving downtown is difficult — streets are narrow, parking is scarce and expensive, and the one-way grid is confusing.
St. Charles & Canal Streetcars
$1.25 per ride, $3 for a 1-day Jazzy PassFour historic streetcar lines connecting downtown to the Garden District, Uptown, Mid-City, and City Park. The St. Charles line (green cars) has been running since 1835. The Canal and Riverfront lines use newer red cars.
Best for: Traveling from the French Quarter to the Garden District, Uptown, and City Park
RTA Bus
$1.25 per ride, $3 day pass, $9 three-day passAn extensive bus network covering the rest of the city. Transfers between buses and streetcars are free. Use the Le Pass or RTA GoMobile app.
Best for: Reaching neighborhoods beyond streetcar lines, like the Bywater or Lakeview
Uber / Lyft
$8-20 for most trips within the city, $35-50 from the airportWidely available and often the most practical option at night. Dedicated pickup zones at Louis Armstrong Airport. Surge pricing during major festivals and Mardi Gras can be extreme.
Best for: Night travel, airport transfers, trips with groups or luggage
Blue Bikes NOLA
$0.20/minute pay-as-you-go, day pass $10The city's bike-share system with stations throughout the core neighborhoods. Electric-assist bikes available. Bike lanes are limited but the city is flat and compact.
Best for: Quick trips within the Quarter, Marigny, and Bywater in cooler weather
Walking the French Quarter
FreeThe Quarter is only 13 blocks by 6 blocks — every major Quarter attraction is within a 15-minute walk. The Marigny, Warehouse District, and CBD are also easily walkable from the Quarter.
Best for: Exploring the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and downtown
🚶 Walkability
The French Quarter, Marigny, CBD, and Warehouse District are highly walkable. The Garden District, Bywater, and Mid-City are walkable once you've arrived, but you'll want a streetcar or rideshare to get between districts. Sidewalks in the Quarter can be uneven — watch for broken flagstones, especially at night.
✈️Getting In & Out
✈️ Airports
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport(MSY)
19 km west of downtownAirport shuttle to downtown hotels ($24 one way). Uber/Lyft $35-50 to the Quarter, 25-40 minutes. Jefferson Transit E-2 bus to downtown ($2, about 1 hour). Taxi flat rate $36 to CBD.
✈️ Search flights to MSY🚆 Rail Stations
Union Passenger Terminal
1.5 km from the French QuarterAmtrak's New Orleans hub, served by three long-distance routes: the Crescent (to New York via Atlanta/DC), the City of New Orleans (to Chicago via Memphis), and the Sunset Limited (to Los Angeles via Houston). Also the Greyhound bus terminal.
🚌 Bus Terminals
Union Passenger Terminal Bus Station
Greyhound, FlixBus, and Megabus all depart from Union Passenger Terminal. Routes to Houston (7h, $35-60), Memphis (9h, $40-70), Atlanta (11h, $50-90), and Mobile (3h, $20-35).
🛍️Shopping
New Orleans shopping leans heavily toward the distinctive — voodoo and hoodoo shops, antique galleries on Royal Street, hot sauce emporiums, and vintage finds in Magazine Street and the Bywater. Louisiana charges sales tax of around 9.45%, so prices ring up higher than tagged.
Royal Street
antiques & galleriesSix blocks of the French Quarter lined with antique shops, fine art galleries, and jewelry stores. The antique dealers here are world-class — silver, jewelry, and estate furniture from plantation houses.
Known for: French and Spanish antiques, estate jewelry, fine art, rare books
Magazine Street
boutiques & vintageSix miles of independent shops through the Garden District and Uptown — vintage clothing, local designers, home goods, and specialty food shops. One of the best shopping streets in the South.
Known for: Independent boutiques, vintage fashion, local art, home and gifts
French Market
historic marketA six-block open-air market at the downriver end of the Quarter, running since 1791. Flea market, farmers market, and crafts vendors. Touristy but historic.
Known for: Alligator jerky, pralines, Mardi Gras beads, hot sauce, souvenirs
Frenchmen Art Market
night art marketAn outdoor evening art market on Frenchmen Street (Thursday through Sunday nights) with local artists selling original work, jewelry, and photography while jazz spills out of the clubs next door.
Known for: Original local art, handmade jewelry, photography prints, leather goods
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •Crystal Hot Sauce or other Louisiana hot sauces (Crystal, Tabasco, Slap Ya Mama)
- •Pralines — try Southern Candymakers or Aunt Sally's in the Quarter
- •Café du Monde coffee and beignet mix (the boxed version is surprisingly good)
- •Voodoo doll or gris-gris bag from Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo
- •Mardi Gras masks — handmade feathered versions from artisans, not plastic throws
- •A copy of "Confederacy of Dunces" or anything by local authors from Faulkner House Books
💵Money & Tipping
US Dollar
Code: USD
The US Dollar is accepted everywhere. ATMs are plentiful throughout the Quarter and CBD — but avoid the standalone ATMs on Bourbon Street which charge $5-7 fees. Banks generally offer the best exchange rates for international visitors.
Payment Methods
Credit and debit cards are accepted virtually everywhere. Contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay) is widely supported. Some smaller bars, po'boy shops, and second-line parades are cash-only — carry $40-60 in small bills.
Tipping Guide
18-20% standard for table service. 20-25% at fine dining. Check if gratuity is already included for parties of 6+.
$1-2 per drink, or 20% on a tab. More at craft cocktail bars where drinks are made to order.
Tip! The city's music scene depends on it. $1-5 in the bucket is appreciated for a great set.
15-20% for taxis. Uber/Lyft tipping through the app.
$2-5 per bag for bellhops. $3-5 per night for housekeeping (leave daily).
$10-20 per person for a walking or cemetery tour. More for smaller private tours.
$1-2 per drink at counter service. Tip prompts on card readers are common.
💰Budget
budget
$80-130
Hostel dorm or shared room, streetcar day pass, po'boys and beignets, free walking in the Quarter, one paid attraction
mid-range
$200-330
Mid-range Quarter or Marigny hotel, mix of restaurants including a nicer dinner, rideshare at night, 2 paid attractions
luxury
$500+
Luxury hotel on Royal Street or a boutique in the CBD, fine dining at Commander's Palace, private cemetery tours, spa
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| AccommodationHostel dorm bed | $35-55 | $35-55 |
| AccommodationMid-range hotel (double) | $140-240 | $140-240 |
| AccommodationLuxury hotel in the Quarter | $300-650+ | $300-650+ |
| FoodBeignets at Café du Monde | $4 | $4 |
| FoodPo'boy sandwich | $10-15 | $10-15 |
| FoodBowl of gumbo at a casual restaurant | $10-16 | $10-16 |
| FoodDinner for two with drinks | $90-180 | $90-180 |
| FoodHurricane or Sazerac cocktail | $10-14 | $10-14 |
| TransportStreetcar single ride | $1.25 | $1.25 |
| TransportJazzy Pass 1-day | $3 | $3 |
| TransportUber from airport to Quarter | $35-50 | $35-50 |
| AttractionsNational WWII Museum | $33-42 | $33-42 |
| AttractionsCemetery walking tour | $25-35 | $25-35 |
| AttractionsPreservation Hall set | $25-50 | $25-50 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •Jackson Square, the French Quarter, and walking around are all free — much of the city's magic costs nothing
- •Catch a free second-line parade on a Sunday (check WWOZ Takin' It to the Streets)
- •Ride the St. Charles streetcar end-to-end — a $1.25 sightseeing tour through 13 miles of mansions
- •Eat at corner po'boy shops rather than tourist-trap Bourbon Street restaurants
- •Free live music spills out of dozens of Frenchmen Street bars with no cover before 10pm
- •Happy hour (typically 3-6pm) across the Quarter and CBD offers half-price cocktails and $1 oysters
- •NOMA is free on Wednesdays for Louisiana residents and discounted for many groups
- •Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest feature huge names for free or far less than concert tickets
🗓️When to Visit
Best Time to Visit
February through May is the sweet spot — Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, and Jazz Fest all fall in this window, with mild, dry weather. October and November offer great weather and fewer crowds. Avoid July-August unless you love extreme heat and humidity.
Spring (March - May)
Crowds: High during festivals, moderate otherwiseThe ideal season — warm sunny days, cool evenings, and a packed festival calendar. Jazz Fest takes over the city in late April and early May. Hotel prices spike during festivals.
Pros
- + Perfect weather
- + Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, Crescent City Classic
- + Azaleas and magnolias blooming
- + Long daylight hours
Cons
- − Festival weekends are very expensive and crowded
- − Jazz Fest weekends book out months ahead
- − Some humidity returns by May
Summer (June - August)
Crowds: LowLocals and savvy travelers call this the "off season" for good reason — extreme heat, daily thunderstorms, and hurricane season. Hotel prices drop significantly. Restaurants participate in COOLinary (prix-fixe deals).
Pros
- + Cheapest hotel rates of the year
- + COOLinary restaurant deals
- + Fewer crowds everywhere
- + Satchmo SummerFest in August
Cons
- − Heat index regularly above 40°C
- − Daily afternoon thunderstorms
- − Hurricane risk
- − Many locals are on vacation themselves
Autumn (September - November)
Crowds: Moderate, rising around HalloweenSeptember remains hot and is peak hurricane season. October and November deliver crisp, pleasant weather, gorgeous light, and Halloween festivities. Voodoo Music Festival in Halloween weekend.
Pros
- + Best weather of the year by late October
- + Halloween is huge in the Quarter
- + Voodoo Fest and NOLA on Tap
- + Humidity breaks
Cons
- − September is hot and stormy
- − Hotel rates climb for Halloween
- − Hurricane threats can disrupt travel
Winter (December - February)
Crowds: Moderate, very high at Mardi GrasMild and lively — holiday lights in City Park, Réveillon dinners, and the long build-up to Mardi Gras through January and February. Crisp days and cool evenings require light layers.
Pros
- + Réveillon dinners (unique multi-course holiday menus)
- + Celebration in the Oaks lights at City Park
- + Mardi Gras parades begin
- + Cool dry weather
Cons
- − Mardi Gras is chaos if not planned for
- − Cold snaps possible (under 0°C rare but happens)
- − Some rain and gray days
🎉 Festivals & Events
Mardi Gras
February-March (variable)The greatest free show on earth. Two weeks of parades, balls, and costumed parties leading to Fat Tuesday. Book lodging 6+ months ahead.
French Quarter Festival
AprilA free four-day music festival with 20+ stages throughout the Quarter showcasing Louisiana music exclusively. Locals' favorite festival.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Late April - Early MayTwo weekends of world-class jazz, blues, funk, and gospel at the Fair Grounds, with unmatched local food. Major headliners alongside local legends.
Halloween in the French Quarter
OctoberHalloween is massive — costume parades, Voodoo Fest, ghost tours, and Anne Rice-inspired parties. Frenchmen and Bourbon are packed with elaborate costumes.
🛂Visa & Entry
New Orleans is in the United States. Entry requirements follow US federal immigration law. Most visitors need either a visa or an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Citizens | Visa-free | 6 months | No visa or ESTA required. Valid passport needed. Can enter by land, air, or sea. |
| UK Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required ($21, valid 2 years). Apply online before travel. |
| EU/Schengen Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required. Apply at least 72 hours before departure. |
| Australian Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required. Standard Visa Waiver Program rules apply. |
| Chinese Citizens | Yes | Up to 10 years (multiple entry B1/B2) | Must apply for a B1/B2 visa at the US Embassy. Interview required. |
| Indian Citizens | Yes | Varies | B1/B2 tourist visa required with embassy interview. |
Visa-Free Entry
Tips
- •Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight
- •ESTA costs $21 and is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires
- •MSY is a medium-sized international airport — direct international flights arrive from Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, and the Caribbean
- •Global Entry ($100, 5 years) speeds up arrival significantly
- •US Customs allows $800 in duty-free goods per person
💬Speak the Language
English is the primary language, though New Orleanians speak it with a distinctive "Yat" accent (closer to a Brooklyn or Boston accent than Southern drawl). Cajun French is still spoken in surrounding rural parishes. Spanish is common.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where y'at? | Hello / How are you? | where-YAT — the classic New Orleans greeting. Source of the "Yat" accent name. |
| Making groceries | Grocery shopping | A direct translation from the French "faire le marché" |
| Neutral ground | The median of a boulevard | Never "median" — neutral ground is where you stand to catch parade throws |
| Lagniappe | A little something extra | LAN-yap — a small gift thrown in for free, Creole word |
| Dressed | A sandwich with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo | "I'll take a shrimp po'boy dressed" |
| Throw me something, mister! | Classic Mardi Gras parade call | Shouted at floats for beads, cups, and doubloons |
| Who dat? | Who dat say they gonna beat dem Saints? | The Saints football rallying cry — heard year-round |
| Beignet | Square French-style donut with powdered sugar | ben-YAY (not ben-YET) — Café du Monde's specialty |
| Gumbo | Thick Creole stew with roux, seafood or meat, over rice | GUM-bo — every family has its own recipe and fierce opinions about it |
| Yat accent | The local working-class New Orleans accent | Sounds more like Brooklyn than the South — surprises everyone |