Happy Sunday, all! I hope 2025 has been treating you well so far. If you missed my last post recapping my 2024 highlights (and 2025 goals) click here to check it out. One of my biggest 2024 highlights was my October trip to New Orleans with my two best friends! If you follow me on Instagram, you likely saw at least one of my many, many New Orleans posts, and today on the blog, I’m excited to kick off a series of NOLA travel guides! From what to do to where to stay to the best ways to get around, I’ll be sharing all my best recommendations. New Orleans had been on my bucket list forever, and it did not disappoint! I can honestly say that this was one of my favourite trips of all time. And if you’ve never been to Crescent City, then you need to add it to your travel bucket list too! Why? Well, here are just some of the many reasons to love New Orleans…
NOLA is truly one of a kind. One of the things I love most about U.S. cities is how different they are: every major American city I’ve been to has its own distinct personality that’s unique from all the rest. And that’s especially true when it comes to New Orleans! From its rich history and culture to its iconic architecture, world-famous festivals and beloved traditions, NOLA is without a doubt the most unique city I’ve ever been to. With its Cajun and Creole heritage and strong French influences, it has a distinctly European feel as well!
It’s brimming with history. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love any place with a story… and almost everywhere in New Orleans has a story! It’s home to some of America’s oldest buildings and landmarks, was the site of several significant milestones in U.S. history… and if you’re into the paranormal like me, there’s a ton of haunted history there as well.
The food is next-level. NOLA is world-famous for its culinary scene. From beignets to gumbo to jambalaya, there are countless dishes synonymous with New Orleans, and naturally, nowhere does them better. Many of these famous foods, such as po’ boys, muffuletta sandwiches, Bananas Foster and Oysters Rockefeller, were invented here – which makes sense, since NOLA is home to some of America’s oldest and most iconic restaurants.
It has a fabulous arts and culture scene. New Orleans is one of America’s most culturally rich cities, known for its vibrant art scene, museums, theatre, and of course, music: it is the birthplace of jazz, after all!
It’s a truly beautiful city. From its historic architecture to its breathtaking natural beauty (I could write an entire post dedicated to the trees of New Orleans) this city is a feast for the eyes… and a photographer’s dream!
There’s always something to celebrate. It perhaps comes as no surprise that the home of Mardi Gras – “the greatest free show on earth” – is always celebrating something. Wedding parades, festivals, live street music, balcony parties, costumes all year round… there’s always someone having a grand old time in NOLA! The atmosphere here is one of joy, celebration and simply loving life, and the city’s unique brand of joie de vivre is absolutely infectious. And on that note, New Orleanians are some of the friendliest and most hospitable folks I’ve ever met!
There’s something for everyone. New Orleans has a rep as a party town – and there’s certainly a lot of that going on – but it’s just as great for families, retirees, or anyone looking for a quieter trip. From swamp tours to art museums to the sprawling City Park, there’s a ton of low-key, family-friendly activities to enjoy in NOLA. I’ll be sharing all my favourite attractions over the next few weeks, so be sure to click that “subscribe” button so you don’t miss anything!
When To Visit New Orleans
Obviously, peak tourist season occurs from January-March for Carnival Season/Mardi Gras. Everyone says you have to experience New Orleans at least twice: once when it’s Mardi Gras, and once when it’s not. Mardi Gras is an all-consuming celebration that takes over the entire city, so in order to actually experience all NOLA has to offer, it’s best to visit another time of year. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is high on my bucket list, but I’m glad we visited when we did – plus, now I’ve got an excuse to go back! And Mardi Gras isn’t the only festival in town: with over 130 festivals a year – the French Quarter Festival, Essence Music Festival and Jazz & Heritage Festival are some of the biggies – there’s always something fun going on.
Our trip was in early October, which was a great time to visit! The weather was hot, but not swelteringly so: the average October high is 27°C, and the average low is 18°C. (Note that NOLA is very humid, so it often felt much warmer than the forecast temperature: a 27°C day there felt as hot as a 35°C day in Toronto. Something to keep in mind when packing!) Another thing to know about NOLA is that the temperatures don’t drop too much at night, so unless you go in the winter months, you likely won’t need a jacket or even a sweater (though you should always bring one just in case… learned that the hard way on my Italy trip!) But we wore the same sundresses from day to night, and were never chilly.
Based on my pre-trip research, I’d recommend avoiding NOLA in the summer, unless you don’t mind very hot and humid weather – or are planning on spending lots of time in air-conditioned museums! Hurricane season lasts from June through November, but peaks in August-September. Of course, hurricanes are always a risk when visiting NOLA, so keep that in mind and consider travel insurance. We were fortunate enough to just narrowly dodge one, and aside from one very rainy day, we were blessed with beautiful weather. Another good thing to know: when it rains in NOLA, it pours. I’m talking torrential downpours, flooded streets and ankle-deep puddles… so pack a good umbrella and/or poncho. One thing I highly recommend are these disposable shoe covers – I looked absolutely ridiculous, but they saved my sandals!
We did extensive research before booking this trip, so I’ll summarize it for you: if you’re looking to visit New Orleans outside of Mardi Gras season, the best times to visit for good weather, affordable prices and reduced hurricane risk are from April to May and late September through November. Another great reason to visit in October: you’ll get to see some seriously spooky Halloween decorations! Because if any city knows how to do Halloween, it’s New Orleans.
Where To Stay In New Orleans
If you want to be where the action is, the French Quarter is the place to be! This is where you’ll find some of NOLA’s most iconic and beautiful hotels, from the Hotel Monteleone – home of the famous Carousel Bar – to the grand and luxurious Roosevelt Hotel.
The downsides of staying in the French Quarter: it can be very expensive, crowded and loud. Bourbon Street is always a party, which is one of the things that makes New Orleans so fun, but perhaps not ideal if you’re looking to get a good night’s sleep. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, there are lots of gorgeous boutique hotels in the Garden District: Columns, The Chloe and the Henry Howard Hotel are all top-rated picks. The Garden District is also on the pricier side, but if you don’t mind a splurge, this would be a wonderful place to stay – it was probably my favourite neighbourhood in New Orleans!
We were on a budget (and needed enough space for three people) so we rented a house in the Bywater: a hipster, up-and-coming neighbourhood known for its colourful “shotgun homes” (a distinct New Orleans style of architecture) and its trendy cafés, vintage shops and restaurants (we loved The Country Club!) This is a primarily residential area and is one of the more affordable neighbourhoods in New Orleans, while also being one of the safer ones – as is nearby Marigny.
Be sure to do your research on the neighbourhood before booking any hotel or vacation rental – we almost booked a different place before learning it was in NOLA’s most dangerous neighbourhood, with a violent crime rate almost 700% higher than the national average! Regardless of where you stay, remember to always use common sense, be vigilant and follow basic travel safety tips.
How Long To Spend In New Orleans
I was honestly blown away by just how much there is to see and do in New Orleans. We stayed for 5 nights and 6 days, and even though we absolutely packed our days full of activities, there were still so many things we didn’t get to see. My best recommendation: if in doubt, always add an extra day or two. Based on our experience, I think 7-10 days is the sweet spot.
Getting Around New Orleans
If you plan to spend a lot of time in the French Quarter and downtown area, you’ll find New Orleans is very walkable! Since we were staying in the Bywater (which is about a 10-minute drive from the Quarter) we usually took an Uber there in the morning, and back at night. We did the walk once and it’s only about 40 minutes, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it safety-wise: it’s a pretty industrial and unpopulated route. Once you’re in the French Quarter/downtown area, you can walk pretty much everywhere. We did take the occasional Uber to visit attractions in different parts of town, such as City Park and Longue Vue House. Of course, you’ll need a car to do any daytrips outside New Orleans – e.g. we did a swamp tour an hour outside the city, which I highly recommend including on your itinerary (more on that to come) – but unless you plan to do a ton of stuff outside the city, you can absolutely get away without renting a car.
New Orleans also has a great streetcar system! If you plan to visit the Garden District – and you absolutely should – the St. Charles Streetcar will take you there from the French Quarter for just $1.25 (make sure you have exact change.) Plus, riding the streetcar is an experience in itself! The St. Charles is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, and the vintage cars are so fun to ride. It’s also a great way to see the sights of the gorgeous Garden District without getting blisters – and for a fraction of the cost of a bus tour!
Things To Do In New Orleans
Like I said, there are countless fun things to see and do in NOLA, so you won’t have any trouble creating an amazing itinerary! That said, I’d love to help out a little – which is why over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a series of travel guides highlighting my best recommendations for Crescent City. I’ll be back next week, sharing my favourite things to see and do in the fabulous French Quarter. Until then, I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead. And if you have any questions about our trip, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email – I always love hearing from you!
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