United States / Texas & the South / New OrleansNew Orleans
Jazz, the French Quarter and Mardi Gras
A city like no other in the US: the French Quarter's iron balconies, live jazz every night on Frenchmen Street, beignets at Café du Monde, the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District's mansions, swamp tours with alligators, and Mardi Gras parades in the weeks before Lent. Hot and very humid from June to September, and on the Gulf coast's hurricane path (June to November). Creole food leans on seafood and meat, but red beans and rice and vegetable gumbo can be had vegetarian.
Highlights
- Jazz on Frenchmen Street
- Beignets at Café du Monde
- Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
- St. Charles streetcar and the Garden District
- National WWII Museum
- Swamp tour
Things to do
- French Quarter walk and Jackson SquareMorning · 3h
- Live jazz on Frenchmen StreetEvening · 3h
- Streetcar to the Garden DistrictAfternoon · 3h
- Bayou swamp tourMorning · 4h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: February – May, October – November
Worth knowing
Peak Hurricane Season
⚠️ Mid-August to mid-October is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. A storm can close airports, cancel flights and, in the Keys and on the Gulf coast, bring evacuation orders. Buy refundable bookings and travel insurance that covers hurricanes, follow the National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov) in the days before, and leave when officials say so.
Heads up
Hurricane Season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November; storms are less likely at its ends than in August to October, but afternoon thunderstorms are near daily in summer. Watch the National Hurricane Center's outlook before you travel.
- Mardi Gras, New Orleans — Parades roll most nights for about two weeks before Mardi Gras day, with beads thrown from the floats. Hotels need booking months ahead and charge minimum stays; the French Quarter is packed.
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — Two long weekends from late April into early May at the Fair Grounds, with jazz, blues, gospel and Cajun music on a dozen stages; hotel prices jump.