Travel tips · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: George Bannister, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
New Orleans grew from French and Spanish colonial roots, West African and Caribbean traditions and later Irish, German, Italian and Vietnamese communities, and its music, food and festivals reflect all of them. Life is lived in public: parades, brass-band second lines and neighbourhood festivals fill the calendar, and locals take great pride in their traditions.
Key facts
- Language
- English
- Currency
- USD
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and safe to drink; occasional boil-water advisories are…
- Emergency
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Things to know
- If a second-line parade passes, you can join in behind the band and the club members, but keep out of their way and don't block the route.
- Tip street musicians and the bands in bars; many clubs have no cover charge and rely on the tip bucket.
- During Carnival parades, don't cross between floats or touch the ladders families set up for children.
- Cemeteries are active burial grounds; keep voices low and never mark or climb the tombs.
- Take drinks outside only in plastic cups, and don't carry glass on the street.
- Book Preservation Hall ahead: Capacity is small; buy tickets for a specific set online, especially at weekends and during festivals.
- Book St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 ahead: Only licensed tour operators can take visitors inside; book a tour in advance.
- Live music on Frenchmen Street and street performers on Royal Street cost only what you tip.
Tipping
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars to musicians you stop to listen to.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Where y'at? | How are you? |
| Lagniappe | A little something extra, given for free |
| Making groceries | Doing the grocery shopping |
| Neutral ground | The grassy median strip of a street |
| Dressed | A po'boy with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise |
| Laissez les bons temps rouler | Let the good times roll |
What to wear
Light, breathable clothing for heat and humidity much of the year, an umbrella for sudden downpours and sturdy shoes for uneven pavements. Old-line restaurants call for smarter dress, and costumes are welcome at Mardi Gras and Halloween.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated and safe to drink; occasional boil-water advisories are announced locally.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and at the airport; US prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
Stick to busy, well-lit streets at night and use a taxi or ride-hailing between neighbourhoods after dark rather than walking through quiet blocks. Pickpocketing and street hustles happen in crowded parts of the French Quarter. Summer heat and humidity are serious, and hurricane season runs from June to November, so watch forecasts and follow local advice.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check United States's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in New Orleans?
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars to musicians you stop to listen to.
+Can you drink the tap water in New Orleans?
Tap water is treated and safe to drink; occasional boil-water advisories are announced locally.
+What plugs are used in New Orleans?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in New Orleans?
English.