New Orleans travel guide
New Orleans Tourism | New Orleans Guide
You're Going to Love New Orleans
With a population of 343,829, New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. New Orleans deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in New Orleans
French Quarter is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in New Orleans. These include popular favourites such as Effervescence (1036 N Rampart St), French 75 Bar (813 Bienville St) and Bywater Brew Pub (3000 Royal Street). If you’re looking for affordable options, Compère Lapin (535 Tchoupitoulas Street) and Willa Jean (611 O'Keefe Ave) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Boulevard American Bistro - French Quarter (534 St Louis St) and Alma Café (800 Louisa St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in New Orleans.
When to visit New Orleans
Looking for warm weather? Then head to New Orleans in July, when the average temperature is 28 °C, and the highest can go up to 33 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 6 °C, with an average temperature of 11 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 163 mm. In contrast, October is usually the driest month of the year in New Orleans, with an average rainfall of 83 mm.
How to Get to New Orleans
Plane
When flying to New Orleans, you’ll arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport (MSY), which is located 18 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to New Orleans from the United Arab Emirates departs from Sharjah and takes around 29h 55m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to New Orleans. The train journey from New Orleans to Birmingham takes 7h 59m and costs around AED 77 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Memphis, expect to pay about AED 452 for a 9h 07m trip. The train station in New Orleans is called New Orleans Union, and is located 1.1 km from the city centre.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to New Orleans, including Greyhound, FlixBus and Bus. From Houston, the bus ride to New Orleans takes 636 km and will cost you around AED 279. From Atlanta, the ticket costs about AED 419 for a journey of 901 km. The most popular bus station is New Orleans Canal and Charles, located 0.1 km from the city centre of New Orleans. New Orleans S Peters St Parking is also a commonly used station, and is 1.7 km from the city centre.
Airports near New Orleans
Airlines serving New Orleans
Where to stay in New Orleans
From 5-star hotels such as the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans to great affordable options like the St Charles Inn, Superior Hotel, New Orleans offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around AED 420 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 1,233 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Olivier House Hotel and Auberge Nouvelle Orleans Hostel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in New Orleans, with prices from AED 177 to AED 1,103 per night. Central Business District is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in New Orleans are about 24% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Central Business District - In New Orleans’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Merchant Lofts, Plaza Suites Downtown New Orleans and The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Mid-City - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Site 61 Hostel New Orleans, Canal Street Inn and India House Hostel. The average nightly price for a double room in Mid-City is AED 303.
Where to stay in popular areas of New Orleans
Most booked hotels in New Orleans
Hiring a car in New Orleans
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in New Orleans is the Dollar branch at 600 Rental Blvd, which is 19 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay AED 3.64 per litre in New Orleans (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between AED 43.64 and AED 58.18. The most frequently booked car type in New Orleans is Full-size (Chevrolet Suburban or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Hyundai Tucson or similar) is, on average, 47% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.