America's most atmospheric city, and an easy one to explore
Few American cities have as much personality as New Orleans. The French Quarter, more than 300 years old, is a flat, walkable grid of pastel buildings, wrought-iron balconies, hidden courtyards, and street musicians, anchored by Jackson Square and the white spires of St. Louis Cathedral. You can see a great deal of it simply by strolling, with a coffee and a beignet in hand.
Beyond the Quarter, the historic St. Charles streetcar rattles past the oak-lined mansions of the Garden District, the National WWII Museum ranks among the finest in the country, and the food, Creole and Cajun, gumbo and po'boys, is reason enough to visit. Jazz, born here, spills out of clubs on Frenchmen Street and from brass bands on the corners. It is a feast for the senses at an unhurried, Southern pace.
Two things to plan around. The heat and humidity are serious from late spring through early fall, and hurricane season runs June to November. And while the Quarter is wonderful by day, Bourbon Street gets loud and rowdy at night, easily sidestepped by sticking to the quieter streets and the daytime city.
Older travelers love New Orleans for its food, its music, its history, and how walkable the flat French Quarter is, with charming streetcars filling in the rest. Come in spring or fall to dodge the worst heat, wear comfortable shoes for the uneven sidewalks, and enjoy the city by day.
Flat, walkable, and easy to navigate, if you plan for the heat
New Orleans is one of the more accessible historic cities in America to get around. The French Quarter is dead flat, the blocks are short, and the streetcars carry you to the Garden District, City Park, and beyond for a couple of dollars. You rarely need a car. The single biggest thing to plan for is the climate: the heat and humidity can be draining, so the season you choose matters.
From late spring through early fall, the humidity is intense and afternoons are sweltering. Sightsee in the cooler mornings, build in shade, water, and air-conditioned breaks like the WWII Museum or a cafe, and slow down. Visiting in the mild spring or fall is far more comfortable. Hurricane season runs June through November, so travel insurance is a sensible precaution in those months.
Where to Stay in New Orleans: The Best Areas
The Best Things to Do in New Orleans
The Best Day Trips from New Orleans
- Oak Alley and the River Road plantations, about 1 hour. The grand plantation houses along the Mississippi are famous for their architecture and gardens, none more so than Oak Alley with its breathtaking quarter-mile avenue of 300-year-old oaks. Guided tours with hotel pickup make for an easy half-day, with the historic homes and grounds an accessible, memorable visit.
- Whitney Plantation, about 1 hour. The first plantation museum in the country to focus on the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked there, told thoughtfully and movingly through memorials and restored buildings. A powerful, important counterpoint to the grand-house tours, and a deeply worthwhile day for those who want the fuller history.
- A swamp and bayou tour, 30 to 60 minutes out. Glide into the Louisiana wetlands to spot alligators, herons, and cypress draped in moss. Covered pontoon boats offer a calm, shaded ride, while faster airboats are more of a thrill. Most are sold as guided half-day trips with hotel pickup, an easy and quintessentially Louisiana outing.
- Baton Rouge, about 1.5 hours. Louisiana's capital has the tallest state capitol in the country, with an observation deck, plus the riverfront USS Kidd and good museums. A relaxed day for those wanting to see more of the state, easily combined with a River Road plantation on the way.
- A historic cemetery tour, in the city. New Orleans' above-ground cemeteries, the famous Cities of the Dead, are fascinating and atmospheric. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 must be visited with a licensed guide, who brings the history to life. The paths are flat but uneven, so wear sturdy shoes and go in the cooler morning.
The Best Time to Visit New Orleans (Month by Month)
New Orleans is a year-round city, but the weather and the festival calendar make spring and fall the most comfortable times to visit. Here is how the year breaks down.
February to May, the prime season
Mild, pleasant weather and the city's biggest celebrations, with Mardi Gras in February or March and Jazz Fest in late April and early May. It is the loveliest time to be here, though the major festivals draw big crowds and high prices, so book well ahead if you want to be in town for them.
October to November, warm and easy
Fall brings relief from the summer heat, with warm, comfortable days, thinner crowds, and a lively calendar of food and music events. Hurricane season is winding down by late fall. For many travelers this is the sweet spot, with good weather and a more relaxed pace than spring.
Summer (June to September), hot and humid
Summers are hot, intensely humid, and prone to afternoon thunderstorms, and this is peak hurricane season. Hotel rates drop and the city is quieter, but you will want to sightsee in the mornings, take air-conditioned breaks, and stay hydrated. Travel insurance is especially worth it in these months.
December to January, mild and festive
Winters are mild, with cool, comfortable days, holiday lights, and fewer crowds. An occasional cold snap aside, it is a pleasant, lower-key time to enjoy the food and music, and a good-value alternative to the busy festival season.
Getting to New Orleans and Around the City
- Fly into Louis Armstrong (MSY). New Orleans' modern airport is about 25 minutes from downtown and the French Quarter by taxi, rideshare, or airport shuttle. It is well connected to cities across the country, making the city an easy domestic trip.
- Ride the historic streetcars. The St. Charles, Canal, and Riverfront streetcar lines are a charming, inexpensive way to reach the Garden District, City Park, and the riverfront. A Jazzy Pass gives unlimited rides for a day. They are a sightseeing experience in themselves.
- Walk the Quarter. The French Quarter is flat and compact, best explored on foot. Sidewalks can be uneven and brick-paved, so wear supportive, comfortable shoes and take your time, especially in the heat.
- Skip the car in the center. You rarely need a car in New Orleans, and driving and parking in the Quarter are more trouble than they are worth. Rideshares and cabs are plentiful and cheap for the gaps. A rental only makes sense if you plan several day trips.
Insider advice for senior travelers in New Orleans
- Plan around the heat. From late spring through early fall, the humidity is intense. Sightsee in the mornings, carry water, seek shade, and build in air-conditioned stops like the WWII Museum or a long cafe lunch. Spring and fall are far more comfortable.
- Wear shoes for uneven sidewalks. The Quarter's charm comes with old, uneven brick and flagstone sidewalks and the occasional curb. Supportive, comfortable walking shoes make a real difference, and a slower pace keeps it enjoyable.
- Enjoy Bourbon Street by day, not night. Bourbon Street is famous, but it gets loud, crowded, and rowdy after dark. See it in daylight for the architecture, then enjoy your evenings on quieter Royal Street, on Frenchmen Street for jazz, or over a leisurely dinner.
- Book the famous restaurants ahead. New Orleans is a food destination, and the celebrated rooms, the old-line Creole institutions and the buzzy newcomers alike, fill up. Reserve ahead, and consider lunch, which is often easier to book and gentler on the budget than dinner.
- Reserve museum and tour tickets. Buy WWII Museum tickets and book popular tours, riverboat cruises, plantation and swamp trips, and cemetery walks in advance, especially in spring and fall, to secure your preferred times and skip the lines.
- Consider insurance in storm season. Hurricane season runs June through November. If you travel then, trip cancellation and interruption coverage is a sensible safeguard against weather disruptions to flights and hotels.
Aggregated reviews from across the web
Our Review Finder checked TripAdvisor, US News Travel, AARP Travel, Road Scholar reviews, and senior travel forums to summarize what travelers over 50 say about New Orleans.
New Orleans Itinerary: 4 Days at the Perfect Pace
Make the most of the cooler mornings for walking and sightseeing, then slow down in the heat of the afternoon with a long lunch, a museum, or a riverboat. Evenings are for music and dinner. There is no need to hurry in the Big Easy.
Day 1, the French Quarter
Ease in with a morning stroll around Jackson Square and the cathedral, coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde, and Royal Street's galleries. A relaxed lunch, an afternoon rest in the heat, then an early dinner and gentle evening.
Day 2, the WWII Museum and the Arts District
Spend the morning and early afternoon at the National WWII Museum, with lunch on site or nearby in the Warehouse District. A restful afternoon, then jazz on Frenchmen Street in the early evening.
Day 3, the streetcar and the Garden District
Ride the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District, stroll the mansion-lined streets, and continue to City Park and the art museum's sculpture garden by way of the Canal line. A scenic, low-effort day.
Day 4, the river or a day trip
Take a relaxing Steamboat Natchez cruise on the Mississippi, or head out on a guided day trip to a River Road plantation or a swamp tour. A final dinner at one of the city's celebrated restaurants.
Flying to New Orleans: The Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is a modern, easy gateway about 25 minutes from downtown and the French Quarter by taxi, rideshare, or shuttle. It has direct flights from cities across the country, so reaching New Orleans is straightforward for most domestic travelers.
Once you arrive, you may not need a car at all. The French Quarter is walkable, the historic streetcars connect the main neighborhoods cheaply, and rideshares cover the rest. A rental car only makes sense if you plan several day trips to plantations or the bayou.
New Orleans also pairs well with a wider Gulf South trip, whether down to Cajun country around Lafayette or along the coast, with the city as your lively, flavorful home base.
Gear seniors actually use on this trip
Senior-tested travel essentials from our packing list above. View deals on items that are most commonly packed for this destination.