Jazz, Creole food and the most festive streets in America
New Orleans is a river port with a culture all its own, mixing French, Spanish, African and Caribbean roots. Live music, Creole and Cajun cooking and colorful festivals fill the calendar. It suits food lovers, music fans and anyone up for a party.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
The old city of balconies, courtyards and music, the heart of any visit. Its streets mix Spanish era courtyards, iron balconies, galleries and bars.
Free.
A large, highly rated museum on the American experience of World War II. Its films and aircraft halls make the history very personal.
2026 adult general admission is 37 USD, with discounts for seniors, students and military.
A grand square with artists and a white cathedral facing the river. Street performers and fortune tellers gather around the square all day.
Free.
A strip of small clubs with live jazz most nights. Bands rotate through the night, so you can hop between venues.
Many bars are free with a drink minimum; a few clubs charge cover.
Oak lined streets with mansions, reached by the historic streetcar. The green streetcar ride is a sight in itself.
Streetcar fare is low.
The famous party street with bars and neon. It is loud, crowded and fun after dark.
Free.
Boat trips into bayous to see alligators and cypress trees. Guides explain the wetlands and their wildlife.
Most include hotel pickup.
A museum focused on the lives of enslaved people. It tells the story through memorials, cabins and first person accounts.
Adult ticket.
An intimate hall for traditional jazz sets. Shows are short, seated and without bar service.
2026 advance tickets online run about 40 to 60 USD by show.
A big park with oaks, a sculpture garden and an art museum. Its old oaks hung with moss make it a calm escape.
Free; museum extra.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one the Quarter, day two the WWII Museum and Garden District by streetcar, day three a swamp or plantation trip.
Cajun music, dance halls and food.
137 mi · Car about 2 hours 15 minutes
The state capitol and river views.
81 mi · Car about 1.5 hours
A museum focused on the lives of enslaved people, offering a serious counterpoint to the grand house tours.
50 mi · Car or tour, about 1h to 1h15 each way
A relaxed lakeside town with parks and a farmers market.
31 mi · Car over the Causeway, about 45 minutes
Historic antebellum sugar plantation famous for its 800-foot canopy avenue of twenty-eight ancient live oak trees.
53 mi · Drive via I-10 West or take an organized coach tour in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
One of the least-altered river swamps in the country, featuring cypress trees, hanging Spanish moss, and wild alligators.
34 mi · Drive via I-10 East in about 45 minutes, or join a tour with hotel pickup.
Best: February to May and October to November. Mild weather and the big festivals.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
No season note for this month.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
February or early March, date moves with Easter
Weeks of parades end on Fat Tuesday.
April 22 to 25 and April 29 to May 2, 2027
Two long weekends of music and food at the Fair Grounds.
April
Free music stages across the Quarter, with food from local restaurants.
Around 4 July
A large Black culture and music festival in the city.
Labor Day weekend (early September)
A big LGBTQ+ street festival in the French Quarter and Marigny.
Late April to early May
Seven-day music and cultural festival celebrating indigenous jazz, blues, gospel, and regional Louisiana cuisine.
It is a domestic US destination with no State Department advisory, but crime is higher than in many US cities; stick to busy areas at night and use ride apps.
The French Quarter, Marigny and Garden District are flat and walkable.
Streetcars and buses run by RTA, paid with the Le Pass app or cash, cover key areas.
Sources disagree on: population, scores.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, nightlife
In the middle of the action.
Best for: music lovers
Frenchmen Street clubs nearby.
Best for: couples, families
Quieter, with grand houses and the streetcar.
Best for: business, museum goers
Near the WWII Museum.
Best for: families, museum fans, business travellers
Near the WWII Museum and the streetcar, with a quieter feel and a short walk to the Quarter.
Best for: luxury travelers, foodies, business
Home to the National WWII Museum, contemporary art galleries, and acclaimed chef restaurants.
| Main airport | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), 15 mi from the center |
| To the center | A taxi or ride app takes 25 to 35 minutes; an airport express bus is cheaper. |
| Around town | Walk the Quarter, ride the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District, and use ride apps late at night. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Fried dough under a heap of powdered sugar.
A dark, rich stew with rice.
A sandwich on French bread with shrimp or roast beef.
Spicy boiled crawfish, best in spring.
A spiced rice dish with sausage, chicken and shrimp.
A big round sandwich with cured meats, cheese and olive salad.
A flambéed dessert of bananas, rum and ice cream, born here.
Crisp French bread loaf dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo, stuffed with fried oysters or roast beef with gravy.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent in sit down restaurants, about 1 to 2 dollars per drink in bars and 15 percent for taxis. |
| Payments | Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small vendors. |
| Etiquette | Open drinks in plastic cups are allowed in the Quarter, but glass is not. Tip street musicians if you stop to listen. |
France founded the city in 1718, and Spain ruled it for a time before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Its port made it one of the richest US cities, and it was a center of the slave trade. Jazz grew here in the early 1900s. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 flooded most of the city.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.