New Orleans travel guide
New Orleans Tourism | New Orleans Guide
You're Going to Love New Orleans
With a population of 343 829, New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. New Orleans deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in New Orleans
Tours
Activities
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Where to Eat in New Orleans
French Quarter is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in New Orleans. These include popular favorites such as Irene's (529 Bienville St), GW Fins (808 Bienville St.) and Restaurant R'evolution (777 Bienville St). If you’re looking for affordable options, Emeril's Restaurant (800 Tchoupitoulas) and Emeril's Delmonico (1300 St. Charles Avenue) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Josephine Estelle (600 Carondelet St) and Mister Oso New Orleans (601 Tchoupitoulas St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in New Orleans.
When to visit New Orleans
Looking for warm weather? Then head to New Orleans in July, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 51.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 6.4″. In contrast, October is usually the driest month of the year in New Orleans, with an average rainfall of 3.3″.
How to Get to New Orleans
Plane
When flying to New Orleans, you’ll arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport (MSY), which is located 18 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to New Orleans include Air France, Aeromexico and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to New Orleans departs from Houston and takes around 1h 09m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to New Orleans. The train journey from New Orleans to Birmingham takes 7h 59m and costs around $21 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Memphis, expect to pay about $123 for a 9h 07m trip. The train station in New Orleans is called New Orleans Union, and is located 1.1 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to New Orleans is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 279 km from New Orleans. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Turo, among others, in Pensacola.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to New Orleans, including Greyhound, FlixBus and Bus. From Houston, the bus ride to New Orleans takes 636 km and will cost you around $76. From Atlanta, the ticket costs about $114 for a journey of 901 km. The most popular bus station is New Orleans Canal and Charles, located 0.1 km from downtown New Orleans. New Orleans S Peters St Parking is also a commonly used station, and is 1.7 km from the city center.
Airports near New Orleans
Airlines serving New Orleans
Where to stay in New Orleans
Average rates range from around $115 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $336 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Olivier House Hotel and Sonder St. Helene. There are also lots of vacation rental options in New Orleans, with prices from $48 to $300 per night. Central Business District is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in New Orleans are about 24% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
French Quarter - In New Orleans’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Quarter House Resort, Grenoble House and Ihsp French Quarter House.
Garden District - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as The Prytania Park Hotel, Creole Gardens Guesthouse & Inn and Henry Howard Hotel. The average nightly price for a double room in Garden District is $84.
Central Business District - Nopsi Hotel New Orleans, TownePlace Suites by Marriott New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street and Merchant Lofts have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Central Business District will cost you about $72 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of New Orleans
Most booked hotels in New Orleans
Renting a car in New Orleans
Renting a car in New Orleans costs $65 per day, on average, or $130 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in New Orleans is the Dollar branch at 600 Rental Blvd, which is 19 km from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at New Orleans Louis Armstrong.
Expect to pay $3.75 per gallon in New Orleans (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $44.97 and $59.96. The most frequently booked car type in New Orleans is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Kia Optima or similar) are, on average, 61% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in New Orleans
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$30/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$37/day