New Orleans is unlike any other city in the United States. It is a riotous combination of French, African and American cultures. Here you can listen to jazz, visit the Mardi Gras festival and taste Louisiana cuisine. To truly enjoy the city, give it at least three days.
How to get there
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New Orleans is the largest city in the southern state of Louisiana, although it is not its capital. It is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, close to large lakes, nature reserves and swamps.
There are no direct flights from Russia; you must make at least two transfers. The flight will take 18 hours and will cost you at least 42,000 rubles (round trip ticket price).
When is the best time to come
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The city is beautiful in any season! The average temperature throughout the year does not fall below +10 °C. When choosing a time to visit New Orleans, it is best to focus on the activities and events planned there.
In the spring, rare rains, warm days, and blooming parks will await you. At the beginning of March, the city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. The Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival is held at the end of the month. In April the main event is Chris Owens Easter Parade.
Summer is sultry and hot, the temperature remains stable at +30 °C. But this does not stop tourists. In the middle of the season, several festivals are held here – Essence Festival of Culture by Coca-Cola, dedicated to African-American culture, and Satchmo SummerFest, inspired by Louis Armstrong, jazz and blues. Due to restrictions, some events have been moved online. You can follow the updates on the official website .
Autumn is a busy season. The heat is slowly subsiding, but the days are still warm and pleasant. Festival life is in full swing. At the very end of September, French Quarter Festival takes place here. This grand celebration is about the food, music, art and culture of the neighborhood. October is rich in music festivals: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Voodoo Music. And, of course, don’t forget about Halloween.
In winter, despite the above-zero temperature, it is worth taking warmer clothes with you. This time of year traditionally celebrates Christmas. But the most important event at the end of winter is the festival Mardi Gras. Traditionally it is celebrated on Tuesday 40 days before Easter, in 2022 the holiday will be held on March 1. It is considered a cultural phenomenon on a par with carnival in Venice.
Where to stay
New Orleans combines different cultures, and some areas of the city are not at all suitable for tourists. We recommend consider accommodation in the city center.
Here are some great options:
- India House Hostel – from 3,800 rubles per night for two*;
- Maison St. Charles – from 5,100 rubles per night for two*;
- The Olivier House Hotel – from 7,700 rubles per night for two*.
Things to do
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Vibrant and controversial, New Orleans will definitely remain in your memory. Here jazz intertwines with modern rock, colorful festivals with the cult of death, and European streets are combined with real one-story America. It’s definitely worth spending a few days here and enjoying the free spirit of the city. And we’ll tell you how to entertain yourself during this time.
Walk through the French Quarter
Ivy-covered multi-colored houses with balconies with lace trellises – the city’s calling card and the main attraction of Louisiana. In the morning check out French Market– a market operating since 1791. Here you can buy souvenirs, try crocodile meat and local street food. Don’t miss out on the traditional donuts served at Cafe Du Monde. To avoid lines, arrive before opening at 8am.
Be sure to explore Bourbon Street on foot, and you need to see the main street of the area both during the day and in the evening. During the day, friendly musicians and locals gather here. In the evening it turns into one big noisy bar. If you want to hear the best jazz in town, head to The Spotted Cat, and the oldest Preservation Hall the genre itself was born (due to COVID-19, the club is temporarily closed).
Don’t miss sights like Jackson Square, Saint Louis Cathedral and Lalaurie Mansion.
Visit unusual museums
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The museums of New Orleans are as unusual as the city itself. Most exhibitions are concentrated in the Warehouse District. Be sure to check out The National WWII Museum and Ogden Museum of Southern Art.
In the very center of New Orleans there are Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture, where bright costumes from the festival of the same name are collected. The excursion will tell you in detail the history and meaning of the procession. Museum of Death is an analogue of Hollywood. It contains the world’s largest collection of serial killer art, antique funeral memorabilia, mortician’s and coroner’s tools, Manson Family memorabilia, stuffed pets, crime scene photographs and much more.
At New Orleans Jazz Museum there are interactive exhibitions where you can not only look, but also listen to the exhibits, getting to know the features of this music even better.
Explore cemeteries
Despite all the bright and cheerful events of the city, there is a rather strange and unusual entertainment for tourists – trips to mystical places.
The cult of voodoo and death reigns in New Orleans; they love everything mysterious. Local hotels have long had their own “ghosts” to attract tourists. The love for riddles is explained by the fact that different peoples intertwined here, and each nationality brought its own traditions that have remained to this day.
Right downtown is New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. And not far from it is the religious goods store Marie Laveau’s House Of Voodoo, where you can buy amulets, magnets, chicken feet or a voodoo doll. In the city center, along with musicians, there are also street psychics and fortune tellers who will be ready to tell your fate. Every tourist has the opportunity to ask personal questions to such “wizards”, and if you’re lucky, you can stumble upon a real seer, who, of course, predicts only after payment.
But the mysticism does not end there. Cemeteries are very popular here. The most famous are St. Louis Cemetery, Lafayette Cemetery and St. Patrick Cemetery. Cemeteries are unique in that people are not buried underground because the soil is marshy. Instead, stone crypts are erected. Tourists visit them independently or as part of excursions. The most popular city tour costs $23* (there is a discount when reserving a place on the website).
Active leisure
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If you want to spend some quality time, head to City Park. Here you can rent a bicycle or a boat, take part in various festivals and competitions, go fishing or play golf.
Take a ferry to explore the other side of the Mississippi. Steamboat trip Steamboat Natchez costs from $36* depending on the chosen time and place. During your walk you will be accompanied by jazz music.
New Orleans is an adventure lover’s paradise, so take a trip to the alligator swamps! Just a few minutes’ drive from the center, tour companies offer boat trips where you can not only see alligators and other animals, but also feed them. The cost of such an excursion starts from $45*, you can also arrange a transfer service (from the hotel and back).
Taste Louisiana cuisine
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New Orleans food also combines Europe, Africa and America. The Cajun and Creole cultures stand out here; they are clearly reflected in culinary traditions. Don’t be surprised if you find a Spanish dish here with an Indian twist – this is what New Orleans is all about.
Be sure to try the Creole shrimp, which is especially popular. At Antoine’s Restaurant you can taste gourmet cuisine, and the establishment itself is the oldest among family restaurants in the United States.
In the city center, go to a cozy place NOLA Restaurant, and if you want oysters and seafood, go to Bayona. You can try street food in the chain of fast food cafes Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, they are also in other states.
New Orleans is visited by tens of millions of tourists every year. This city is no worse than other large cities. So if you have the opportunity to visit Louisiana, don’t miss the chance.
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*Prices valid at time of publication
