Season guide · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: John Durkin, Public domain
Quick answer
Mild with occasional cold snaps; Réveillon dinners in December, king cake from January and Mardi Gras, which falls in February or early March. Expect highs up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 26 rainy days across December–February. February is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C (63°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 9 | 10.4 h | 2/5 |
| February | 19°C (66°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 8 | 11.1 h | 5/5 |
| December | 18°C (64°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 9 | 10.2 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 115 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Carnival season opens on Twelfth Night (6 January)
- January: Sugar Bowl college football game (usually around New Year)
- February: Mardi Gras parades and Fat Tuesday (dates vary, between early February and early March)
- December: Réveillon dinner menus at restaurants (throughout December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks over the Mississippi
Good choices for winter
Museum · French Quarter
New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint
Check the museum's calendar for concerts and talks, then walk across Esplanade Avenue to Frenchmen Street.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · French Quarter
The Cabildo
The Spanish colonial seat of government beside the cathedral, built in the 1790s, is where the Louisiana Purchase transfer took place in 1803.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Warehouse District
The National WWII Museum
Allow at least five hours, and see the film early in the day before museum fatigue sets in.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Aquarium · Riverfront
Audubon Aquarium
At the foot of Canal Street by the river, the aquarium has a walk-through tunnel under a Caribbean reef, a large tank of Gulf sea life, a rainforest gallery and a penguin colony.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Experience · Warehouse District
Mardi Gras World
Visit if you can't be in town for Carnival; it is the closest you will get to the floats up close.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
Day trips in winter
- Honey Island Swamp tours (About 45 minutes by car) — Boat tours near Slidell take you through one of the least-altered river swamps in the US, among cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, with alligators, herons and turtles; many operators offer pick-up from central hotels.
- Lafayette and Cajun Country (About 2 hours 15 minutes by car) — The heart of Cajun culture is around Lafayette, with French-speaking heritage, Cajun and zydeco dance halls, boudin sausage shops and the Vermilionville living-history village.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit New Orleans?
Yes: February is among the best months. Mild with occasional cold snaps; Réveillon dinners in December, king cake from January and Mardi Gras, which falls in February or early March.
+What is the weather like in New Orleans in winter?
Highs of up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.