United States · July 2026
Overview
New Orleans does not feel like the rest of the US. It has French and Spanish balconies with iron lace, brass bands playing in the street, cemeteries with above-ground tombs and food you cannot find anywhere else: gumbo, jambalaya, po'boys and beignets. It is a city to slow down, eat and listen to music.
The French founded New Orleans in 1718, led by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Spain took control in 1763, and after two big fires (1788 and 1794) the French Quarter was rebuilt mostly in Spanish style, which is why it looks the way it does. The US bought the city in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Jazz was born here around 1900, mixing African, Caribbean and European music; Louis Armstrong was born in the city in 1901. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina flooded about 80% of the city, and it is still rebuilding in some areas.
How long to stay: 3 to 4 days.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Location
Southeast Louisiana, on a bend of the Mississippi River (the "Crescent City"), about 160 km from the Gulf of Mexico. Much of the city is below sea level.
Budget
Per person, per day.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $40–70 (hostel dorm) | $170–280 | $400+ |
| Food | $35–50 | $70–110 | $150+ |
| Getting around | $3 (Jazzy Pass) | $20–40 | $70+ |
| Daily total | $80–125 | $260–430 | $620+ |
Sales tax is about 9.45%, and hotels add more. Prices triple during Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
Things to Do
The oldest neighbourhood, with Creole townhouses, iron balconies and courtyards. Jackson Square, the old military parade ground, has artists, musicians and fortune tellers. St. Louis Cathedral, facing the square, is one of the oldest cathedrals in the US (current building mostly from 1850).
Price: free · Tip: walk Royal Street for antiques and street performers; Bourbon Street is mostly bars and gets wild at night.
Open since 1862, serving only beignets (fried dough under a mountain of powdered sugar) and café au lait with chicory.
Price: an order of 3 beignets about $4–5 · Tip: wear dark clothes at your own risk; the sugar goes everywhere.
Just outside the French Quarter, the street where locals go for live jazz, blues and brass bands, often with no cover charge.
Price: free or small cover; buy a drink per set.
A small, historic venue (1961) dedicated to traditional New Orleans jazz. Shows are short and intimate.
Price: about $25–50.
The St. Charles line, running since 1835, is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. Ride it to the Garden District to see the 19th-century mansions of the rich Americans who settled "uptown".
Price: $1.25 a ride · Tip: have the exact change or use the Le Pass app.
Because of the high water table, New Orleans buries its dead in above-ground tombs. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (1789), where Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is said to be buried, can only be visited with a licensed guide.
Price: guided tour about $25.
One of the best museums in the US, telling the story of World War II with personal stories, planes and immersive films.
Price: about $35 · Time needed: at least half a day.
See alligators, herons and cypress trees in the bayous outside the city, by flat boat or airboat.
Price: about $30–80 with or without transport.
Carnival ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday; parades run for about two weeks before. In 2027, Mardi Gras is on 9 February.
Tip: book accommodation many months ahead.
The only plantation museum in Louisiana focused on the lives of enslaved people. Getting there: about 1 hour by car.
Transit Tips
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Airport: Uber or Lyft about $35–50; the Airport Express bus to downtown is a few dollars.
By train: Amtrak from Chicago, New York and Los Angeles arrives at Union Passenger Terminal.
Streetcars and buses: $1.25 a ride, Jazzy Pass $3 for 24 hours (in the Le Pass app).
Walking: the French Quarter and Marigny are best on foot.
Uber and Lyft: best at night.
In New Orleans you can walk in the street with a drink in a plastic "go cup" (no glass). Keep in mind that this is unusual in the US and does not apply in other cities.
Helpful Words
A few basics in English can make everyday conversations much easier.
Where to Stay
Plan & Book
Explore accommodation options and open hotel details directly from the map.
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