New Orleans Travel Guide
Best neighborhoods, things to do, and when to visit
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans sits in a bend of the Mississippi, where Creole cottages, cast-iron balconies, and live brass spill into the street. Summers hover near 91°F (33°C), while January days settle around 62°F (17°C), when parade season fills the neighborhoods.
Live music · Creole cuisine · Historic architecture
Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, just outside the city
Language
English, with French and Creole place names
Currency
US dollar ($); cards widely taken, small cash handy
Ideal trip length
Three to four days, or five with day trips
Best time to visit New Orleans
March – May
Average temperature
55–85°F (13–30°C), Mild mornings, warm afternoons, and short afternoon showers in late spring.
Crowd Level
High
Reason To Visit
Spring brings afternoons near 78°F (26°C), long festival weekends, and courtyards in bloom. Mornings stay cool enough for easy walking through the French Quarter and the Garden District.
Fall eventCrescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
Lafayette Square Park
Things to do
Mornings suit a streetcar ride along St. Charles Avenue, afternoons fit the Bywater galleries, and evenings bring live brass to a Frenchmen Street club as the air cools.
Popular events
Spring
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Summer
Essence Festival, Tales of the Cocktail, Satchmo SummerFest
Fall
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, Beignet Fest
Winter
Celebration in the Oaks, New Orleans Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Where to stay in New Orleans
Six New Orleans neighborhoods, from balcony-lined blocks to oak-shaded avenues
French Quarter
The city's oldest quarter, with iron balconies, courtyards, and music drifting from doorways.
Known for
Creole architecture and late-night music
Things to do nearby
Saint Louis Cathedral, French Market
Nearby neighborhoods
Central Business District, Marigny, Treme - Lafitte
Central Business District
Downtown blocks with streetcar links, museums, and restaurants at street level.
Known for
Streetcar access and downtown museums
Things to do nearby
Caesars Superdome, The National WWII Museum, Lafayette Square
Nearby neighborhoods
French Quarter, Warehouse District, Central City
Garden District
Antebellum mansions and live oaks line quiet streets just off the St. Charles line.
Known for
Mansion-lined streets and Magazine Street shops
Things to do nearby
Lafayette Cemetery No 1, Audubon Park
Nearby neighborhoods
Uptown and Carrollton, Irish Channel, Central City
Marigny
Creole cottages and small clubs sit a short walk downriver from the French Quarter.
Known for
Frenchmen Street live music
Things to do nearby
Crescent Park, Washington Square
Nearby neighborhoods
French Quarter, Bywater, St. Roch
Bywater
Painted shotgun houses, riverfront paths, and neighborhood cafes near the levee.
Known for
Colorful cottages and riverside walks
Things to do nearby
Crescent Park, Studio Be, First Street Wharf
Nearby neighborhoods
Marigny, St. Claude, Holy Cross
Uptown and Carrollton
Oak-shaded avenues stretch upriver, with campuses, parks, and corner restaurants.
Known for
St. Charles streetcar and Audubon Park
Things to do nearby
Audubon Park, Tulane University, Audubon Zoo
Nearby neighborhoods
Garden District, Broadmoor, Mid-city
Must see places in New Orleans
Jazz halls, live oaks and river views across a city that rewards slow wandering.
Jackson Square
Local artists, street musicians and St. Louis Cathedral frame this French Quarter square.
Neighborhood
French Quarter
Things to do nearby
Saint Louis Cathedral, French Market
Time needed
1 hour
Preservation Hall
Acoustic jazz concerts in a small French Quarter hall with no amplification.
Neighborhood
French Quarter
Time needed
1 hour
The National WWII Museum
Artifacts and personal accounts trace World War II across several pavilions.
Neighborhood
Warehouse District
Things to do nearby
Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Lafayette Square
Time needed
3-4 hours
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Southern art fills the galleries, with rotating shows and regular live music nights.
Neighborhood
Warehouse District
Things to do nearby
The National WWII Museum, Tivoli Circle
Time needed
2 hours
New Orleans City Park
Botanical gardens, oak-lined paths and a sculpture garden fill this sprawling park.
Neighborhood
Mid-city
Things to do nearby
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
Time needed
2-3 hours
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
Wide-ranging collections inside City Park, with a sculpture garden just outside.
Neighborhood
Mid-city
Things to do nearby
New Orleans City Park
Time needed
2 hours
Audubon Park
Ancient oaks shade the jogging loop, with a zoo and golf course nearby.
Neighborhood
Uptown and Carrollton
Things to do nearby
Audubon Zoo, Tulane University
Time needed
2 hours
Crescent Park
A walking trail along the Mississippi with wide-open skyline views.
Neighborhood
Bywater
Things to do nearby
First Street Wharf
Time needed
1 hour
Local recommendations by Airbnb hosts in New Orleans
The spots New Orleans hosts send guests to - and the tips they pass along
Caesars Superdome
- Catch a New Orleans Saints NFL game and experience this multi-purpose stadium in action.
- Attend major events here, from NFL games and concerts to conventions and monster truck shows.
- Plan to enjoy a covered, air-conditioned stadium with convenient drinks, food, and service during events.
- Walk or bike to the Superdome, with plenty of spots for drinks or a bite en route.
Smoothie King Center
- Check the schedule for New Orleans Pelicans games, plus frequent concerts and other large events.
- Consider checking resale tickets close to game time, which may offer cheaper Pelicans seats.
- Plan on getting here easily by car or bus when heading to sports or music events.
Audubon Aquarium
- Explore diverse habitats, from Caribbean and Great Maya Reef tunnels to Amazon Rainforest and Mississippi River exhibits.
- Don’t miss unique residents like African penguins and rare white alligators when you wander the exhibits.
- Try interactive experiences like touching sting rays, feeding parakeets, and optional wildlife encounter programs.
- Consider ticket packages that bundle the Aquarium with the nearby Zoo and Insectarium for family outings.
Jackson Square
- Stroll the historic park’s walkways and benches, enjoying Parisian-style landscaping and the Andrew Jackson statue.
- Browse the many artist booths around the square to find original local artwork and souvenirs.
- Enjoy street musicians, brass bands, entertainers, and fortune tellers, then people-watch around the lively square for hours.
- Head to nearby Cafe du Monde for powdery beignets and coffee, and remember to bring cash.
Audubon Park
- Walk, jog, or bike the paved loop under ancient live oaks and around lagoons.
- Visit Audubon Zoo for diverse animal habitats, daily presentations, and lush gardens.
- Explore park amenities like the golf course, tennis courts, playgrounds, pool, and riding stables.
- Head behind the zoo to The Fly for riverfront picnics, crawfish boils, and boat watching.
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
- Walk through the wine-and-cheese shop to the lush backyard patio for live music and outdoor dining.
- Pick your own cheeses and cured meats in the market, then let staff build a custom charcuterie board.
- Select a bottle at the wine shop, grab glasses or a wine bucket with ice, and enjoy it in the courtyard.
- Head upstairs to the full bar for cocktails or extra bites if you want more than wine and cheese.
- Expect live music in the courtyard most days and a lively backyard-party vibe, especially on weekends.
Places to eat and drink in New Orleans
Creole classics, Gulf seafood and neighborhood bakeries across New Orleans
Commander's Palace
Turquoise Garden District landmark where Creole cooking meets white-tablecloth service.
Highlights
Turtle soup, Creole bread pudding souffle
Why do locals love it
The garden room and courtyard oaks make lunch feel unhurried.
Domilise's Po-Boy and Bar
Uptown corner shop dressing po-boys on Leidenheimer French bread to order.
Highlights
Fried shrimp po-boy
Why do locals love it
You order at the counter and watch your sandwich built in front of you.
Casamento's
Tiled oyster house on Magazine Street, shucking Gulf oysters since 1919.
Highlights
Raw oysters on the half shell, Oyster loaf
Why do locals love it
The gleaming tilework and marble oyster bar have barely changed in a century.
Dooky Chase's Restaurant
Treme dining room where Leah Chase shaped Creole cooking and showed local art.
Highlights
gumbo z'herbes, fried chicken
Why do locals love it
African American art lines the walls beside the buffet line.
Antoine's Restaurant
A French Quarter dining room where old-line Creole cooking is served in formal style.
Highlights
Oysters Rockefeller, Baked Alaska
Why do locals love it
Tableside service and dining rooms that hold generations of city history
GW Fins
A seafood kitchen in the French Quarter with a menu that shifts by the day's catch.
Highlights
Lobster dumplings, Scalibut
Why do locals love it
The catch list changes daily, so no two visits taste the same
La Petite Grocery
A Magazine Street dining room near the Garden District serving refined Louisiana plates.
Highlights
Blue crab beignets, Turtle bolognese
Why do locals love it
Corner bistro setting on a walkable stretch of Magazine Street
Bywater Bakery
A neighborhood bakery and restaurant in Bywater with pastries and morning plates.
Highlights
King cake
Why do locals love it
Pastry case out front and a patio that fills up with neighbors
Explore New Orleans: The best travel itineraries
Three routes through New Orleans, from a single day in the French Quarter to a week that reaches the swamp and the river road.
Experienced Airbnb hosts in New Orleans
4,110+
Places to stay in New Orleans
8,710+
Things to do in New Orleans
120+
Verified guest reviews in New Orleans
551,180+
1 Day trip
A compact day built around the French Quarter, with coffee at dawn, Creole lunch at midday and acoustic jazz after dark.
Morning
Beignets and the square
Cash moves fastest at the beignet counter, and mornings are the calmest stretch.
Afternoon
Creole lunch and cocktail history
Galatoire's fills up early; a jacket suits the upstairs rooms.
Evening
Jazz and a candlelit bar
Preservation Hall sets are short and seating is limited, so arrive ahead.
3 Day trip
Quarter landmarks, the Warehouse District museums and a night on Frenchmen Street, plus Uptown oysters and po-boys.
Morning
Quarter first light
Order at the stand, then walk one block to the square.
Afternoon
Congo Square and Treme
Backstreet keeps short hours, so check before you head over.
Evening
Creole dinner in Treme
Dooky Chase's keeps limited dinner nights, so confirm the schedule.
Morning
Warehouse District museums
The WWII Museum needs half a day if you want the film and galleries.
Afternoon
Float sheds and the river walk
Crescent Park stairs and ramps sit at a few marked entrances only.
Evening
Frenchmen Street
Snug Harbor runs set times; the art market next door is browsable in between.
Morning
Garden District walk
Cemetery access can be limited, so confirm the gate hours that morning.
Afternoon
Magazine Street stops
Pace yourself between shops with a small doughnut rather than a full plate.
Evening
Oysters, then a po-boy
Casamento's closes seasonally, so check the calendar before going.
5-7 Day trip
A week that covers the Quarter, City Park, Uptown and Bywater, with day trips upriver to Whitney Plantation and out to the Barataria cypress swamp.
Morning
Beignets by the river
The stand runs long hours, so an early or late visit means less waiting.
Afternoon
Square and cathedral
Street performers gather thickest in the late afternoon.
Evening
First jazz set
Buy Preservation Hall tickets ahead; the room seats very few.
Morning
World War II galleries
Timed entry helps on weekends and school holidays.
Afternoon
Southern art and floats
Both stops sit a short walk apart in the Warehouse District.
Evening
Old-guard Creole dinner
Downstairs at Galatoire's is walk-in only and fills fast on Fridays.
Morning
Oaks and sculpture
The sculpture garden is free and shaded, good for a warm morning.
Afternoon
Museum, then a roast beef po-boy
Parkway's roast beef comes messy; extra napkins are worth asking for.
Evening
Mid-City music
Chickie Wah Wah books local acts on most nights of the week.
Morning
Audubon Park loop
The shaded jogging path circles under live oaks.
Afternoon
Magazine Street break
Sliders and doughnuts make a light stop between shops.
Evening
Oyster house dinner
Casamento's takes cash and closes some seasons; call ahead.
Morning
Murals in a warehouse
Studio Be opens limited days, so confirm hours before crossing town.
Afternoon
Along the river
Shade is scarce on the park path; bring water.
Evening
Backyard wine and brass
Pick a bottle inside at Bacchanal, then find a seat in the yard.
Morning
Whitney Plantation
Tours run on a set schedule; book a morning slot in advance.
Afternoon
Oak Alley
The oak allee photographs best from the house steps.
Evening
Back in the city for gumbo
Liuzza's keeps early hours, which suits a drive back into town.
Morning
Barataria boardwalks
Bring insect repellent and start early for cooler air.
Afternoon
Tombs and quiet streets
Check gate access at Lafayette No. 1 before you arrive.
Evening
A final Creole table
Commander's Palace asks for smart dress and reservations.
Family travel
Meet white alligators at the Audubon Aquarium, roam City Park's Storyland, and ride the Carousel Gardens rides.
Couple travel
Stroll the Garden District's oak-lined streets, ride the St. Charles streetcar, and share pralines in the French Quarter.
Solo travel
Wander the Marigny for live brass on Frenchmen Street, then linger over beignets at Cafe du Monde with a book.
How to get around New Orleans
Metro and train
New Orleans has no metro; streetcars cover the French Quarter, the Garden District, and City Park. Amtrak trains use Union Passenger Terminal.
Bus
City buses reach neighborhoods beyond the streetcar lines. Check the transit agency app for live arrivals and current fare payment options.
Rental car
A car helps for swamp tours or plantation drives. Parking is tight in the Quarter, so read curb signs and note street-sweeping days.
Walking
Flat ground makes walking and cycling easy. Sidewalks buckle over tree roots, so watch your step and carry water in summer heat above 90°F (32°C).
Generated with AI and may contain mistakes. Sources include third-party travel data and Airbnb data from listings, hosts, and host guidebooks. Updated September 2026.
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