Where to stay in New Orleans

See

Detailed listings of attractions are mentioned in the Districts sections listed above.

• St. Louis Cathedral
• Alombrados Encampment
• Island of Salvation Botanica
• Esoterica

Do

• Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
• Steamboat Natchez Riverboat Harbor Jazz Sightseeing Cruise
• Creole Queen Sightseeing Cruise
• New Orleans Pedal Barge
• Cajun Encounters
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
• French Quarter Festival
• Essence Festival
• San Fermin in Nueva Orleans
• Satchmo Summer Festival
• Southern Decadence

Eat

OK, so you're hungry. You've come to the right place. New Orleans is a culinary delight, but don't look too hard for healthy food; some would say don't look at all (although those demanding vegetarian, vegan, or kosher food can, with effort, find some). You're on vacation, so take advantage of what they prepare best here. New Orleans has good food for people on any type of budget. While most places take major credit cards, "cash only" restaurants are perhaps a bit more common here than other places, so plan in advance. The main culinary tradition in New Orleans is Creole - which means the culture and its cuisine already flourishing when Louisiana was purchased by the U.S. in 1803.

Drink

The legal drinking age is 21 in Louisiana, as it is across the US. At bars in New Orleans this is strictly enforced, but not as much in restaurants. However, notably unlike the vast majority of US cities, drinking in public is legal everywhere in the city, provided it is within a plastic container (note that outside the French Quarter, there are no container restrictions). New Orleans also has no "blue laws" or mandatory closing times for liquor establishments, which means that any hour of day or night, every day of the year, there is always somewhere to get alcohol.

Stay safe

Katrina alerted the world to the danger of hurricanes in this part of the world. However if one visits a place vulnerable to natural disaster, at least hurricanes give warning. During the height of the hurricane season, from July through October, be sure to check with the weather service before going to New Orleans, and if a large storm is threatening the Gulf Coast, consider a change of plans. If one threatens the city while you're there, play it safe and leave early; don't wait for an evacuation order to head away from the coast. If you cannot get out of the area you should at least be sure to get to a hotel on high ground.