New Orleans in Winter

Not a resident but we spent the better part of a week in NOLA in early January 2023. Weather was nice; pleasantly milder, of course, than summer and shoulder seasons, and I don't recall that we had any rain at all, although that's always a possibility. Our biggest issue was just getting there around flight cancellations due to winter storms elsewhere! But other than that, it's definitely a month I'd choose again for a visit.

Editing to add: no big events going on the city when we were there.

Can be cloudy, and rainy, but temps-wise, pretty decent...winter travel to NOLA for me would hinge upon the big "events" like Mardi Gras dates, and big time football events (Super Bowl, college football playoffs and championships) that you should research before committing to any dates lest you find yourself at peak pricing for hotels, etc...

Carnival season starts January 6. Check schedules to see when the different Krewes will be having their parades.

We enjoyed a mid December visit last year to see New Orleans dressed for Christmas.

I'm planning to go between Christmas and New Year's. I want to do a Tobasco tour and the WW2 museum.

I'm planning to go between Christmas and New Year's. I want to do a Tobasco tour and the WW2 museum.

Popular and busy time for NOLA. Not trying to discourage you, just understand it.

NOLA is not that far south so it could be 75 or 55 degrees in January. Hard to predict. Some of the best food in the country there and enough sightseeing for 4-5 days. Any longer than that, IMO, is a stretch. NOLA is an event city, so I would look at their events calendar to determine what is going on. This will make a difference in hotel prices and availability.

We were in New Orleans in November 2018. Weather was very comfortable. I don't know about January, but I wouldn't hesitate to go then. Activities we did are probably available in January....Whitney Plantation (focus on life for slaves, less on the fancy furnishings in the big house), Cajun Pride bayou tour (NOT the noisy big fan boat; leisurely and informative and time to look around), the WWII museum (loaded with artifacts and info and history and easy to spend many hours there), Creole Queen paddlewheel boat on the river down to the Battle of New Orleans site with a tour (a relaxing excursion), listening to jazz performers in Jackson Square (free music, but leave a donation), music venues on Frenchmen Street (fewer drunkards lurching around than on Bourbon Street), streetcar ride (super cheap for seniors, I believe 40 cents), fantastic food (!). Some museums and churches as well......etc., etc., etc. Probably some good options for Cajun and Zydeco music and food also.
Laissez Les bons temps roulez!

Warm up with a Sazerac or a Cafe Brulot!

According to New Orleans weather on Google January average 60 degrees and 47 at night .We were there just after Thanksgiving and temp about the same, but wore layers not heavy coats and great with no humidity.

It can get cold. I used to have to go there every other months for years when I worked in Alabama. I've seen it in the 30's and windy. I've never seen the attraction, but the food is good.

I have mixed feelings about New Orleans. I love the cajun food and the party atmosphere there.
However, every time I have been there, I see a trashy city with drunks throwing up. Also, some areas are not real safe.

I did go once in January and the weather wasn't terribly cold, just chilly.

We loved the WW II museum. Food was fantastic! Temps were mild for us.

Note: New Orleans (like our home city of Cleveland) is a top city for violent crime. With that said, we never felt unsafe. Friends of friends (who we walked the camino with) have a place in New Orleans and they love it.

Happy travels.

Thanks everyone
I think I got the information I was looking for.

Dennis and Elinore

The WWII museum is huge indeed. In hindsight, we should have purchased the 2nd day ticket option as we pooped out before we could get all the way through it.

Yes, do sample some jazz on Frenchman Street: venues open in the afternoon and evening that don't require tickets/cover fees generally have a one-drink minimum, and please tip the bands! Of the non-ticketed venues, The Spotted Cat had some of the better bands.
Over a couple of trips we've also visited The Presbytère and Cabildo (highly recommend; tickets needed); the Jazz Museum (just OK; smaller than anticipated); the N.O. Museum of Art & Sculpture Garden (tickets); taken a walking tour of the Quarter which included St Louis Cemetery #1 (recommended); taken a self-walking tour of the Garden District (download free online guides such as this one : https://www.nolatourguy.com/free-self-guided-garden-district-walking-tour-new-orleans/); caught a show at Preservation Hall (tickets); explored Metairie, St Louis #2, and Lafayette Cemeteries #1 and 2 on our own, and some other stuff.

Haven't taken any plantation (parents dragged me to enough of those in my youth), swamp or ghost tours (no interest). Bourbon Street is not a fave but do take in the architecture early in the morning.

(Oops: sorry, Dennis! Was still typing while you'd added your last post.)

The partners at my law firm used to go there for a retreat in January or February every few years, and the weather was usually pretty good. Definitely warm enough; sometimes cloudy and rainy but not too much. It's really a good time to go, imo. Make sure you check the Mardi Gras schedule before you go, though, so you can avoid it. We were there one year right before the start of Mardi Gras, and managed to see one parade the night before we left, which was fun.

Here's the 2026 schedule for NOLA, so I would definitely consult that. You might want to think about going in February right after Mardi Gras. I was there one year and it was really nice without all the crowds. And the weather would be a bit warmer.https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/mardi_gras/mardi-gras-2026-in-new-orleans-all-parade-dates-and-routes/article_67171f06-f7a0-11ef-ba36-173e4d5d271a.html

It is an amazing city and one of my very favorites in the US. I miss going there and need to work it back into my US travels, so I appreciate the reminder!

some areas are not real safe.

Every city has their bad spots. The key is to know what they are and avoid them.

The winters are overall mild, though there is the occasional cold front bringing weather in the low 30s (and even colder). Outside the summer months, conventions can affect hotel rates and availability at some restaurants. Our best month is October. And the spring can be incredibly crowded with the French Quarter Festival in mid-April and then the Jazz Fest in late April and early May.

I understand some pointed criticism of the city--the locals lead the way in saying what is wrong and needs to improve. But I do take issue with the comment above about the many drunks throwing up. Does the city have an alcohol culture? Absolutely. But one of the best things about New Orleans is that people know how to properly party and have a good time. Go to Mardi Gras (outside the French Quarter) and the Jazz Fest (with crowds up to 70,000) and you will see exceptionally well-behaved crowds. Having a great party is part of the culture, and the locals do it frequently and well.

Now you can see plenty of drunks walking up and down Bourbon Street at night. Mostly visitors. On and near Bourbon, you have a ton of bars--some prominent like Pat O'Brien's. But if you spend much time late at night on or off Bourbon Street, you're asking for it.

I'm a New Yorker who went not long ago to New Orleans in February.
Spent about five days there--and did not once see drunk people (or at least not obviously drunk).
Make sure to read about the various neighborhoods..the Bywater, Marigny, Garden District, etc
We spent almost no time in the Quarter, as compared to other areas.

If you have time and are willing to rent a car, I'd recommend 2 or 3 days--weekend is best, for driving out to Eunice, Rayne, and that area. You can take in the live radio show at Fred's Lounge in Mamou, the Saturday night live Cajun radio show at the Liberty Theatre in nearby Eunice, dinner at one of the restaurants out in the middle of the crayfish ponds....etc etc.. (We liked DJ's; live music near the weekends; the owner is a pilot for Delta and he had dinner with us when we were there...really a fun place!!)

https://www.discajunrestaurant.com/index.html

Funny thing: Our favorite dinner, out of many great ones in NOLA, was at an Israeli restaurant!!! Highly recommend:

https://www.shayarestaurant.com

There are two Israeli restaurants in Uptown New Orleans that are excellent--Shaya and Saba.

Fred's Lounge in Mamou? Yes, I have been there. There has to be culture shock for anyone from New York.