First Time in New Orleans: What to Know

I have a confession. Even though I’m a travel blogger and writer and my whole thing is researching destinations — I didn’t have time to do a ton of research before going to New Orleans for the first time.

Although it all worked out okay, and I had an amazing time during my three days, there are definitely some things I wish I knew ahead of time.

So, here’s a complete guide with all the things you should know before your first time in New Orleans. 

How to get to New Orleans

Okay, I obviously knew about this one before arriving. But if you’re flying, the local airport is Louis Armstrong International Airport. 

I have to say, I was super impressed with this airport. 

From actually helpful TSA employees (I did a major rookie move and forgot to empty out my water bottle when leaving New Orleans, and the TSA worker literally went to pour out the water for me and return the water bottle to me — maybe I’m just jaded from flying out of LAX all the time, but I was shocked), to seeming clean, and also having a reputation for actually decent food options — other airports (*cough* LAX, *cough*) could learn a thing or two from them. 

If you need help finding the best flights, I use Skyscanner and Google Flights!

What’s the weather in New Orleans?

The coldest months are December through February, and by cold, I mean that temperatures are typically in the 50s Fahrenheit.

March and November will generally see temperatures in the 60s, April and October will be in the 70s, while May through September have average temperatures in the 80s. 

As for rain, the rainiest months are June through September. The rainiest month is July, while the driest is October, which I would say is the best month to visit New Orleans overall.

I visited the second weekend in October, and there was no rain, and temperatures were hot without being uncomfortably hot. 

If you’re interested in visiting during Mardi Gras, it falls either in February or early March. Just make sure to book things as early as you can, because I’m sure that hotels and whatnot fill up quickly this time of year.

What to pack for New Orleans

Check out this packing guide for all my recommendations, but here are the highlights:

I would pack layers — it was hot when I visited in October, but the air conditioning was intense, so regardless of when you visit, it’s good to bring at least a sweater or light jacket.

Other basics include a travel umbrella and comfortable walking shoes — you should expect to walk a lot while here. It’s also an all-around casual city, so I wouldn’t bring heels or super dressy clothing unless you’re going to a certain event that calls for that.

I would also plan to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated in the heat and with all the walking (especially if you’re planning on drinking a lot).

Is New Orleans safe?

It’s a city, so of course, you’ll want to take precautions like being aware of your surroundings.

Of course, everyone has different experiences and comfort levels.

But in general, I felt very safe here, as someone who lives in a city and has traveled before. I was a little worried about using my camera, but I had no issues, I just didn’t take it out of my bag at night.

As I’ll talk about later, I didn’t feel particularly comfortable walking through Bourbon Street, so I opted to not hang out there. 

That brings me to a top safety rule: Follow your intuition. And if some place feels off, leave!

How to get around New Orleans

I would definitely suggest organizing your NOLA itinerary by area — so one day in the French Quarter, one morning in the Bywater neighborhood, an afternoon in the Garden District, etc.

This way, you can just plan to walk around each neighborhood. You will inevitably end up having to travel farther distances though at some point, like from wherever your hotel is to where you want to begin your day, etc. 

I Ubered while here and would suggest this. 

There’s also a streetcar that you can take within certain areas, like St. Charles, Canal Street, and Riverfront. I didn’t do this, so can’t attest to it, but I’ve heard it’s super affordable and a great way to see the city.

What are the best things to do in New Orleans?

Explore

New Orleans is so beautiful, and is one of the best places for just walking around and exploring — from checking out the gorgeous buildings and interesting shops, to seeing the street musicians, stumbling upon great food and bar options, etc. 

Some great areas for wandering around (and are all a must for any first-timer in New Orleans):

• The French Quarter
• The Bywater neighborhood
• The Garden District
• Magazine Street. This six-mile street stretches through several neighborhoods (from the Central Business District through the Garden District and into Uptown) and is filled with shops and restaurants. 

Museums

New Orleans is also an amazing spot for fans of museums. I only got to check out three during my three-day trip: JAMNOLA, an immersive art museum featuring local artists and NOLA-inspired exhibits, Mardi Gras World (where they store floats and sculptures from the annual event),  and the New Orleans Voodoo Museum, but there are a ton more.

There’s really something for everyone, but I would definitely suggest visiting at least one that touches on some facet of local culture and history. Here are a few more on my list for my next visit:

• New Orleans Museum of Art
• The National WWII Museum
• Backstreet Cultural Museum
• Southern Food & Beverage Museum
• New Orleans Jazz Museum
• New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Try local foods

Of course, New Orleans is all about its food culture too. Sampling some local staples is a must — think po’boys, gumbo, beignets, etc. NOLA has a reputation for being an amazing food city, and you will not be disappointed.

Visit Frenchmen Street

As you’ll quickly learn once you’re there, music is a huge part of local culture, and Frenchmen Street is one of the best places to experience it. 

A couple of its blocks are filled with music venues, jazz clubs, and restaurants, meaning you can just pop in and out of different spots for different musical styles and vibes.

At night, there’s also a really cool art market, Frenchmen Art Bazaar, where you can check out work by local artists — I may have walked out with a thing (or three) from here.

Go to City Park

This beautiful park is a destination on its own.

It’s seriously huge — there are museums (including the New Orleans Museum of Art), a sculpture garden, a botanical garden, an amusement park, a bunch of places to eat … you get the point.

I just spent an hour or so walking around since I was a bit short on time, but I would 100% recommend. 

Where to stay in New Orleans

For a first trip, I’d definitely suggest staying within the French Quarter or very close by — I stayed in the Business District (which is around Canal Street), and it was super walkable, with lots of food options nearby, etc. 

If you’re looking to stay somewhere a little quieter and but still walkable and beautiful, the Warehouse District and Garden District are popular choices.

Here are a couple hotel options at a range of budgets:

$ HI NEW ORLEANS HOSTEL – If you’re up for a hostel, this is a well-priced, highly rated option in a great location on Canal Street. It has air-conditioned rooms (a must in NOLA), a restaurant, free WiFi and a bar, plus a 24-hour front desk. It also includes a continental breakfast. Private rooms start at $139, but if you’re willing to go with a shared dorm, prices go from $23 to $39. Find out more here. 

$$ HISTORIC STREETCAR INN – This is a cute boutique hotel option with historic charm, just a mile outside of the French Quarter, with lots of food and sightseeing options nearby. Book here.

$$$ HOTEL LE MARAIS – Right in the heart of the French Quarter, this hotel has amenities like a heated saltwater pool, a fitness center, a courtyard, and a shared lounge. Although there’s no food onsite, this is a super walkable area with a ton of options close by. Learn more.

Other tips for first-time visitors

Bring cash! I almost never use cash in my daily life, but there were a number of places (including the iconic Café du Monde, one of the city’s most popular places for beignets) that were cash-only. Other times, I’d have to tip someone in cash.

(On that note, don’t wear black when you try a beignet — just trust me on that one). 

How about visiting Bourbon Street? You may have noticed that I didn’t mention the iconic Bourbon Street under “best things to do.”

Bourbon Street is one of the most famous areas of New Orleans for its historic bars and nightlife. 

While I walked through a couple times to check it out, I did not end up spending time here or visiting any of its bars.

There are so many great areas of New Orleans, and I honestly just felt like this area was sketchy and just full of drunk tourists — maybe if I was younger, when I enjoyed a more intense party scene, I’d feel differently. But at this point in life, I was not into it. 

Don’t rent a car. Like I said, walking around will be how you mainly get around, if you’re physically able. Otherwise, I’d suggest Ubering.

If you’re someone who typically likes to rent a car when you travel, I’d seriously caution you to think twice about that. Streets are super narrow, some streets are just situated in a weird way where it’s not clear where the lanes or where to turn are, there are (drunk) tourists walking all over the place — I’m stressed out just thinking about it. 

It also just isn’t efficient — there were a number of times when my friend or I would check our maps app and see that the driving time was literally the same (sometimes even longer) than the walk time, just because it takes so long to get around, particularly in places like the French Quarter.

So basically, we only Ubered when the distance was literally just too far to walk. 

New Orleans is really such an amazing city, and with these tips, you’ll be more than ready to have the best time. Any things I missed, or questions about visiting “the Big Easy?” Let me know in the comments or on Instagram. <3

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