Louisiana
Travelers come for New Orleans jazz, Creole and Cajun cooking, and slow drives through bayou and plantation country.
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Louisiana is a state on the Gulf Coast of the southern United States. Its culture grew from French, Spanish, African, Acadian and Native American roots. Trips often start in New Orleans, the state's largest city, known for jazz, Creole and Cajun cooking, and the historic French Quarter. Beyond the city, the state has bayous, wetlands and marshes, plantation houses along the Mississippi River, and Acadiana, the region around Lafayette where some families still speak Cajun French.
Louisiana suits food-focused trips, live music and slow drives on back roads better than packed sightseeing schedules. Summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November, so spring and fall are the most comfortable months to visit. Plan three or four days for New Orleans, and add two or three more for Cajun country or the bayous.
Louisiana in five
- Ride the St. Charles streetcarThe line runs down St. Charles Avenue past the Garden District mansions and the Tulane and Loyola campuses. It is a low-cost way to see the big houses without a car.Getting around
- Walk Frenchmen Street for live jazzBands play in many bars on Frenchmen Street, and cover charges differ from venue to venue. Ask at the door before you sit down.Music
- Plan around Mardi Gras parade daysParades run in the weeks before Fat Tuesday, and their routes close streets for hours. Book a hotel early, because rooms fill and prices rise for the parade season.Festivals
- Check hurricane cover before you bookAtlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. Read whether your policy covers named storms and trip cancellation, and buy before a storm is named.Travel insurance
- Load an eSIM before you landRide-hailing apps, streetcar maps and restaurant bookings all need mobile data. Set up the eSIM at home so you are connected from the airport.Phones and eSIM
Neighborhoods
New Orleans
New Orleans is a Mississippi River city in Louisiana known for live music, Creole cooking and the French Quarter.
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge is Louisiana's state capital, known for Cajun food, the State Capitol and Louisiana State University. Plantations and bayou country are a short drive away.
Lafayette
Lafayette is a base for Cajun cooking, live Cajun and zydeco music and Acadian history in Louisiana's Acadiana region.
Things to do in Louisiana
See all attractions in Louisiana
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for Visa Waiver passports; visa for most others Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected in restaurants, bars and taxis
- Time
- UTC-6, UTC-5 in daylight saving (March to November)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, quiet
- FebruaryMardi Gras season
- MarchMild, lively
- AprilJazz Fest
- MayHeat building
- JuneHot, humid
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHottest, humid
- SeptemberHurricane risk
- OctoberCooler air
- NovemberMild, calm
- DecemberHoliday season
Right now in Louisiana
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 25°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 20%
Louisiana
02:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today27°21°20%Monday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Tue25°20°70%Tuesday: Rain. High 25°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Wed24°15°66%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 66%.
- Thu26°14°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri26°14°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat26°15°7%Saturday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 7%.
Updated 10:59 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lafayetteabout 2 to 2.5 hours by carCajun food and zydeco music in the Acadiana region.
- Baton Rougeabout 1.5 hours by carThe Old State Capitol, a Gothic Revival building on the Mississippi River.
- River Road plantationsabout 40 min to 1 hour by carPlantation houses on River Road, best reached by car or guided tour.
Before you go to Louisiana
Rules for Louisiana, checked
- Check whether you need ESTA or a visa on the official CBP ESTA site before you book flights.Source
- Follow National Hurricane Center advisories from June to November, and ask your hotel about its storm plan.Source
- Declare cash or monetary instruments above the federal reporting limit when you enter or leave the US.
Plan around Louisiana
Neighborhoods, sights and food from the French Quarter to the Garden District.
Read the guideGetting aroundStreetcar lines, buses and when a car is worth renting.
Read the guideMoney and costsCash for tips and fares, and what a day costs.
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA, passport rules and what to have ready at arrival.
Read the guideWhere to stayFrench Quarter, Garden District, Frenchmen Street and downtown bases.
Read the guideFestivals and eventsMardi Gras, Jazz Fest and what each season brings.
Read the guideLouisiana FAQ
How many days do you need in Louisiana?
Three to four days covers New Orleans and a day trip. Add two or three days for Cajun country around Lafayette if you want the bayous.
Do I need a car in New Orleans?
Not for the French Quarter, Garden District or Frenchmen Street, which you can reach on foot or by streetcar. Rent one for Cajun country and the River Road plantations.
Where should I stay in New Orleans?
The French Quarter for walking and nightlife, the Garden District for quiet streets, or Frenchmen Street for live music. Downtown suits business trips and conventions.
Is Mardi Gras worth visiting?
Yes if you want parades and crowds. Book hotels far ahead, expect road closures on parade days, and skip it if you want quiet streets.
What food should I try in New Orleans?
Gumbo, jambalaya, po'boys and beignets. Red beans and rice is a traditional Monday dish.