New Orleans, LA

New Orleans travel guide

Jazz, Creole cooking and the French Quarter

Find flights to New Orleans See fares from $58

Airports: MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Region: US Southeast
Best time to visit: February–May (Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, Jazz Fest) and October–November are the best weather.
Shortest flight: 1h 10m from Houston
Round trips from: $58 (live)
Time zone: America/Chicago

About New Orleans

The French Quarter is the heart — Jackson Square, Royal Street's galleries and antique shops, and (for better or worse) Bourbon Street. The Marigny and Bywater downriver have the best live music and murals; the Garden District's mansions and oak-lined streets are a streetcar ride uptown; Tremé and the Bayou St. John area show the city's Creole roots.

Getting in: Louis Armstrong International is 14 miles west. Taxis charge a flat $36 for one or two passengers to the Quarter or CBD; rideshares run $30–$40. The 202 Airport Express bus ($1.50) reaches downtown in about 35 minutes. No car is needed in the city; streetcars ($1.25) and walking cover it.

Stay in the Quarter for atmosphere (and noise), the CBD or Warehouse District for quieter hotels a short walk away, or the Garden District for a residential feel. Po'boys, gumbo and red beans run $12–$18; a Commander's Palace lunch with 25-cent martinis is the splurge. Tip 20% — hospitality workers depend on it — and drink water in the heat.

Best time to visit

February–May (Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, Jazz Fest) and October–November are the best weather. Summer is hot, humid and cheap; hurricane season peaks in August–September.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: French Quarter, Marigny / Bywater, Garden District, Warehouse District, Tremé.

Flights to New Orleans: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to MSY usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	3h 25m	$148	$97 · Tue, Dec 8	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	2h 35m	$128	$91 · Tue, Nov 17	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	1h 25m	$98	$62 · Wed, Dec 9	Search dates →
Atlanta (ATL)	1h 35m	$98	$58 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Los Angeles (LAX)	4h	$178	$144 · Tue, Dec 8	Search dates →
Houston (IAH)	1h 10m	$88	$67 · Wed, Dec 9	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in New Orleans

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)New Orleans · Large hubMSY

What to do in New Orleans

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
The French Quarter
Start at Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, walk Royal Street and end with beignets at Café du Monde.
2
Frenchmen Street
A dozen live-music clubs (The Spotted Cat, d.b.a., Snug Harbor) in three blocks — the locals' alternative to Bourbon.
3
The National WWII Museum
Consistently rated one of the top museums in the country; allow at least half a day.
4
St. Charles streetcar and the Garden District
Ride the 1923 streetcar past oak-shaded mansions; get off at Washington Avenue for Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
5
Swamp and bayou tours
Airboat or kayak trips 45 minutes from the city to see alligators and cypress swamps.

New Orleans weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

63° / 46°

Mild; Mardi Gras usually falls in February.

Spring

78° / 60°

Festival season — warm and lively.

Summer

91° / 76°

Hot, humid, daily storms; lowest prices.

Fall

78° / 60°

Pleasant from mid-October.

Travel tips for New Orleans

Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest hotels book up months ahead at double the normal rate; the weeks either side are far cheaper.
Take the $1.50 Airport Express bus if you're not in a hurry — it drops you on Loyola Avenue by the CBD.
Drinks are allowed on the street in plastic cups ('go cups'); glass is not.
Summer afternoon storms are brief; museums and the aquarium are good 3pm plans.
A Jazzy Pass ($3 for a day) covers unlimited streetcar and bus rides.

New Orleans flights: frequently asked questions

How do I get from New Orleans airport to the French Quarter?

Taxis charge a flat $36 (for up to two people); rideshares cost $30–$40. The 202 Airport Express bus takes about 35 minutes for $1.50.

When is Mardi Gras?

Fat Tuesday moves each year (it's tied to Easter) and falls between early February and early March. Parades run for two weeks before it; book flights and hotels 3–4 months ahead.

Is New Orleans safe for tourists?

The Quarter, Marigny, CBD and Garden District are busy and well-patrolled; use the usual big-city awareness at night, stick to lit streets and take rideshares rather than walking long distances after dark.