Kristina Volgenau, Unsplash License, Source

New Orleans

Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes

New Orleans stands out with its lively music scene and rich cultural mix. The city’s history shows in colorful architecture along the Mississippi River, where French, Spanish and African influences meet. Street performers share stories through jazz on every corner while local markets sell fresh seafood and spicy dishes like gumbo or jambalaya. Festivals celebrate traditions with parades and dancing. Markets display handmade crafts alongside vintage shops in the French Quarter. The city’s spirit comes from its people who value community, creativity and resilience year after year.

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City in United States

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.4

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken in New Orleans, and most locals and service staff can communicate well with tourists. Language barriers are not an issue here.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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New Orleans Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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World-class for music and food culture. Enjoy live jazz in historic streets, try Creole cuisine, explore lively neighborhoods and join colorful festivals.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Rivers

Local cuisine

Music

Nightlife

Fine dining

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 10

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for New Orleans, United States

🌤️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

☀️

Apr

🔥

May

🔥

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

🔥

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	Feb. - April, Nov.
Shoulder season:	Jan., May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	10 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Mardi Gras: Carnival season starts 6 January, main parades the two weeks before Fat Tuesday (February to early March); hotels book out and prices spike

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival runs from the last weekend of April to the first weekend of May

Hurricane season June to November, peak August to October

Don't miss

🎷 Experience live jazz on vibrant Frenchmen Street
🍩 Savor beignets at iconic Café du Monde
🏘️ Explore historic French Quarter’s colorful streets
🏛️ Visit the National WWII Museum’s immersive exhibits
🚤 Take a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River
🌳 Stroll through the lush Garden District’s mansions

You've been here?

Why travel to New Orleans?

New Orleans is a city of endless charm, with its historic French Quarter, bustling Bourbon Street and the unique sounds of jazz pouring out of every corner. The food is incredible, offering everything from beignets at Café du Monde to spicy gumbo and fresh oysters. The city’s blend of French, Spanish and Creole cultures creates an atmosphere like no other. However, be mindful of occasional flooding and stay aware of your surroundings, especially at night in certain neighborhoods.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Jackson Square
2 Bourbon Street
3 Preservation Hall
4 Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France
5 French Quarter
6 Garden District
7 New Orleans Museum of Art
8 Frenchmen Street

🎡Places for activities

1 Audubon Zoo
2 Mardi Gras World
3 New Orleans Jazz Museum
4 New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
5 New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
6 New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 City Park
2 Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
3 Lafitte Greenway
4 Audubon Park
5 Lake Pontchartrain
6 Crescent Park
7 Louis Armstrong Park
8 Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
9 Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet

🛍️Shopping

1 The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
2 French Market
3 Royal Street
4 Garden District Bookstore
5 One Canal Place
6 The Shops at Jax Brewery
7 Magazine Street

🎈Events

Mardi Gras (February/March)
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April/May)
French Quarter Festival (April)
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience (October)
Satchmo SummerFest (August)
Tales of the Cocktail (July)
Southern Decadence (Labor Day Weekend)
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival (October)
New Orleans Film Festival (October)
Bayou Boogaloo (May)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Stay in or near the French Quarter for walkable sights and nightlife.
Visit outside peak hurricane season and always check weather forecasts, flood advisories and travel insurance coverage before finalizing bookings.
Respect local culture; avoid Bourbon Street only crowds by exploring Frenchmen Street, Marigny and Uptown for music and food.
Ride the historic streetcars, then wander side streets for neighborhood po’boy shops, small music clubs and lesser-known but beautiful Creole architecture.

How to travel to New Orleans

Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), which offers flights from major US and international cities. Amtrak and Greyhound also provide connections to New Orleans from other regions.

Access summary

From Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY): Taxi or Airport Express 202 bus, about 25–40 minutes.
From Houston: Frequent short flights to MSY, usually around 1–1.5 hours.
From Atlanta: Many daily flights to MSY, typically about 1–1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in New Orleans

New Orleans offers everything from luxury hotels in the French Quarter to charming B&Bs in the Garden District. For a unique experience, stay in a historic hotel with a story to tell.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Monteleone

9.5

The Jung Hotel & Residences

8.9

Hotel Mazarin

8.9

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans

8.9

International House Hotel

8.9

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

9.0

Bienville House Hotel

9.1

Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter

8.6

Trident Inn and Suites

8.0

Le Pavillon, New Orleans, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

8.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around New Orleans

The historic streetcars are a charming way to get around, especially on the St. Charles Line. Walking is great in the French Quarter, but for longer distances, use buses, streetcars, taxis or ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+7 %

Daily expenses in New Orleans are around 7% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£71	£173	£483
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£34	£83	£225
🍝 Food per day	£33	£85	£234
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£24

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£39
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£18
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£12.50
☕ Cappuccino	£4.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.95
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£105
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£17

Safety information overview

General safety

New Orleans is generally safe in tourist areas. Stay vigilant, especially at night and avoid less-populated areas. Pickpocketing can occur during crowded events like Mardi Gras.

Health & Medical

New Orleans has good healthcare facilities, including reputable hospitals and clinics. Emergency services are reliable, but medical costs can be high without insurance.

Accessibility

Many attractions are accessible, but the city’s historic architecture can present challenges. Streetcars and public transport have accessibility options, but planning ahead is recommended.

Tap water

Tap water in New Orleans is generally safe to drink. Bottled water is also widely available and most restaurants provide tap water on request.