New Orleans, LA

Best time to visit New Orleans

• Spring (March to May): Beautiful weather draws the crowds for Jazz Fest, an exuberant celebration of New Orleans music and heritage, making this a great time to visit New Orleans. 
• Summer (June to August): Summer brings heat, humidity and some rainfall, but also fewer crowds.
• Fall (September to November): Milder temperatures make this the perfect time to visit for outdoor activities. Go kayaking on a bayou or head to one of the city’s many green spaces for a picnic.
• Winter (December to February): Pleasant temperatures and Mardi Gras, a monthslong spectacle of parades and parties, make winter one of the best times to visit New Orleans.

How many days to spend in New Orleans

Three to four days will allow plenty of time to see New Orleans’ main attractions, enjoy a riverboat cruise or food tour and sample the famous nightlife along Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street. Extend your New Orleans trip to a week and explore the swamps and bayous beyond the city.

The vibe of New Orleans

Welcoming and exuberant, New Orleans loves a good party. The fun-loving roots of this city go deep, closely linked to its complex history and shaped by the cultures that have called New Orleans home over the years. Many of the city’s most beloved activities and attractions blend celebration with tradition, from the elaborately costumed krewes that lead Mardi Gras celebrations to jazz funerals and second-line parades. New Orleans wears its colorful past proudly, which you can see in the 18th-century mansions and famous above-ground cemeteries. With history so close at hand, it’s no wonder New Orleans has sometimes been called one of the most haunted cities in the U.S.

What is New Orleans famous for?

The dynamic character of New Orleans has been immortalized in movies like A Streetcar Named Desire, The Big Easy and Interview with the Vampire, based on the novel by New Orleans-born author Anne Rice. Colonial French and Spanish influence can still be seen and tasted in New Orleans’s culture and cuisine today. Due in part to the region’s legacy of slavery, New Orleans has also been shaped by African and African-American culture. This fusion of traditions lives on in Louisiana Voodoo and in jazz music, born on the streets of New Orleans. Famous musicians like jazz pioneer Louis Armstrong and rock and roll legend Fats Domino have also called the city home.

Events in New Orleans

Though colorful and spirited Carnival and Mardi Gras (January-March) are probably the best known events in New Orleans, the fun doesn’t stop there. Music lovers can live it up at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April-May), French Quarter Festival (April) and Satchmo Summerfest (August). The city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community bookends the summer with New Orleans Pride (June) and Southern Decadence (August-September). Sports fans can cheer on their team at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (December) or ring in the New Year at the Allstate Sugar Bowl (December/January).

Food in New Orleans

From beignets to Vieux Carre cocktails, New Orleans is known for inventing dozens of pastries, dishes and drinks. Nowhere does Cajun and Creole cuisine better than New Orleans, where it developed from a blend of French and African influences. Whether you’re looking for classic recipes, perfected over generations, or fresh takes on tradition, make room for gumbo, etouffee and other spicy, savory favorites. A robust immigrant community has made New Orleans a hub for Vietnamese food as well. Banh mi, po' boy or muffuletta sandwiches make a perfect lunch, then satisfy a sweet tooth with beignets and chicory coffee from Cafe du Monde, an institution for over 150 years.

Nightlife in New Orleans

New Orleans’ magic has been found after sundown for centuries, but the rise of jazz in the 1920s really put New Orleans’ nightlife on the map. For many visitors, sipping a hurricane cocktail while strolling Bourbon Street is a must. Looking for live jazz? Try Frenchmen Street in the Marigny or check out who’s playing at Preservation Hall, a long-running venue with live music performed more than 360 nights a year. The artsy Marigny is also packed with dive bars, eclectic cabarets and elegant lounges, while the Warehouse District boasts dance clubs, wine bars and venues for stand-up comedy. Outside the city, try your luck at a riverboat casino. 

Shopping in New Orleans

Shop for records, artwork or one-of-a-kind souvenirs of your New Orleans trip at the many boutiques, art markets and galleries found across the city. Magazine Street is a major shopping destination in New Orleans, stretching over 6 miles (9.5 kilometers) from Uptown through the Lower Garden District, packed with locally owned shops selling everything from luxury clothing brands to eco-conscious home goods. In the heart of the French Quarter, browse the galleries and souvenir shops of the French Market, which also operates daily flea and farmers markets. The Palace Market in the Marigny is another great place to pick up handmade art, crafts and jewelry.