New Orleans travel guide
United States
Brass bands, wrought-iron balconies and a food culture all its own, from gumbo to beignets. New Orleans moves at its own pace and rewards visitors who slow down to match it.
Essentials
- Language
- English
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Type A and B, 120 V
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: around 18-20% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink, and a few dollars in the tip jar for street musicians you stop to hear.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $70-110, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $180-300, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in New Orleans
- French Quarter: the historic core of balconied streets, Jackson Square and the riverfront.
- Faubourg Marigny: Frenchmen Street's live music clubs and colourful cottages.
- Garden District: oak-lined streets and grand old houses, with the shops of Magazine Street close by.
Getting around New Orleans
Streetcars run along St Charles Avenue, Canal Street and the riverfront. After dark, take a ride-hailing car rather than walking through quiet streets.
Best time to visit New Orleans
February to May, warm but before the heat and humidity of summer; hurricane season runs June to November.
Top things to do in New Orleans
- Hear a short traditional jazz set in the small, plain room of Preservation Hall in the French Quarter
- Give the National WWII Museum a full morning; it is large and thorough
- Visit St Louis Cemetery No. 1, with its above-ground tombs, on a licensed guided tour, the only way in
- Walk the free sculpture garden beside the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park
- Tour the workshops at Mardi Gras World, where many of the carnival floats are built
What to eat in New Orleans
- Gumbo: a dark, slow-cooked stew of roux, seafood or chicken and sausage, served over rice
- Beignets: square doughnuts buried in icing sugar, best with a café au lait
- Po'boy: a sandwich on light, crackly French bread, filled with fried shrimp, oysters or roast beef
- Crawfish étouffée: crawfish tails smothered in a buttery, spiced sauce over rice
Day trips from New Orleans
- Whitney Plantation: a museum on the River Road told through the lives of the enslaved people who worked there, about an hour west by car
- Bayou swamp tour: a boat trip among cypress trees, herons and alligators, usually 30 to 60 minutes outside the city
Local etiquette
In the French Quarter you can walk the street with a drink in a plastic cup, but glass is not allowed. At parades, families claim their spots early, so ask before squeezing in front of anyone's ladder.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from the major US carriers are easy to buy, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, bars and hotels.
Staying safe
In the French Quarter, ignore street hustlers who bet they can tell you where you got your shoes, and keep a hand on your phone in Bourbon Street crowds. Stick to busy, well-lit streets at night, and in summer take the heat and afternoon storms seriously.
A local tip
Skip Bourbon Street for an evening and hear live jazz on Frenchmen Street instead.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in New Orleans on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in New Orleans for advice. We are new here, so if you live in New Orleans, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about New Orleans
- What currency is used in New Orleans?
- New Orleans uses the US dollar (USD).
- What is the emergency number in New Orleans?
- In New Orleans, call 911.
- When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
- February to May, warm but before the heat and humidity of summer; hurricane season runs June to November.
- How much does a day in New Orleans cost?
- Roughly $70-110 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $180-300 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in New Orleans?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in New Orleans without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.