Best Time to Visit New Orleans, Louisiana

Spring: festivals and soft evenings

March is rated Excellent, and it's a lovely time to walk the French Quarter and the Garden District. Days are mild at around 21°C, and the nights are cool enough for a jacket. April and May warm up fast. By May you'll feel the sticky air by mid-afternoon, so plan a long lunch of gumbo or a po'boy (a sandwich on crusty French bread) in the shade.

This is also festival season. Mardi Gras falls in February or early March, depending on the year, and the city fills up. Hotels get pricey and the parades are loud and packed. If you want the party, go. If you don't, skip those weeks. The French Quarter Festival in April and Jazz Fest, which runs from late April into early May, bring big crowds and live music all day.

Summer: hot, wet and quiet

June to August are rated Poor, and that's fair. Highs sit around 31°C, nights barely cool off, and July has rain on 23 days. Most of it comes as short, heavy afternoon storms. August is the wettest month, at 194 mm.

It's also low season, so hotel rooms are cheaper and the lines are shorter. If you come, do what locals do: see the sights in the morning, then hide in the National WWII Museum or a cool bar. Evenings on Frenchmen Street are still good. Early September is the peak of hurricane season, which runs June to November, so keep an eye on forecasts and check your travel insurance.

Autumn: the sweet spot

October and November are both rated Excellent, and November is our top pick. It has the least rain of any month, at 73 mm, with only 8 wet days. October is a little warmer, with highs near 26°C, and it's also on the drier side.

Days are pleasant for streetcar rides down St. Charles Avenue or a stroll through City Park. Evenings feel cosy. Halloween is a big deal here, and Voodoo Fest-style events and ghost tours add to the mood in October. Thanksgiving week is busy, but crowds stay well below Mardi Gras levels.

Winter: cool, grey and easy

December and January are mild by most standards, with highs of 16 to 17°C. Skies are often grey, and December has just 4.7 hours of sun a day. Travelling on a budget? January is a good bet outside the Mardi Gras run-up. Look for Christmas lights in City Park and bonfires on the levees in December.