What to Do in New Orleans in the Winter: Top 10 Activities
On my recent New Orleans girl’s trip, we took the city by storm, doing all the best activities. If you are wondering what to do in New Orleans in the winter, this guide is for you.
I say this about so many places, but New Orleans definitely tops my list of the best cities in the United States. The city is rich is history, culture, and things to do.
Activities in New Orleans have three different buckets: culture, history, and party. Below, I recommend the best things to do in each category.
As the title says, these activities are all great in the winter when the temperatures are mild.
However, these activities are great during the rest of the year as well. Simply plan around the peak heat of the day to avoid being outside.
Keep reading for the top 10 things to do in New Orleans in winter.
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1. Ghost Voodoo & Vampire Tour
🕒 Duration: 2 hours | ⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 | ✔️Book Here
New Orleans Louisiana is fondly recognized as the most haunted city in the United States. Their spooky history of ghosts, voodoo, and vampires is explained in this nighttime city tour.
The ghost stories of New Orleans date back to the early settlements of the area, with horrendous treatment of slaves. Tour the city to learn more about these atrocities and the ghosts that remain to remind us of this dark past.
The vampire history of the city also dates back a long time to folktales of coffins being sent from Europe.
On the vampire portion of the tour, learn about these stories and the current day sanguinarian population.
Finally, learn about Voodoo which you may be surprised to learn is not as nefarious as you thought.
In addition to being a great intro to the spookier side to the city, this ghost tour is a great way to see the city at night and interact with a local guide.
This tour also includes a stop at a haunted bar where you can purchase a drink to take long with you on the tour.
My friends all agreed this was a highlight of our trip we would definitely do again!
2. City Bike Tour
🕒 Duration: 3 hours | ⭐ Rating: 4.8/5 | ✔️Book Here
If you do one thing in New Orleans, it must be this city bike tour. It is the number one way to see most of the city in a short amount of time.
This tour embarks from a small shop in the French Quarter where you are fitted to a bike and given a quick safety briefing.
From here, you will make several stops throughout the French quarter and many other surrounding neighborhoods.
My favorite part of this city bike tour was learning about the “true” side of New Orleans where people live their daily lives.
It’s a great way to see beyond the tourist façade of the French Quarter. In addition, the bike tour guides are exceptional. They are charming, knowledgeable, and will quickly feel like a close friend.
This bike tour was my favorite activity in New Orleans!
3. Food Tour
When I travel, I could pretty much eat all day long. Judge me, but I think food is one of the best ways to experience a culture.
Taking a food tour is the easiest way to taste many local dishes without over-stuffing yourself. There are many great food tours in New Orleans, but these three are my favorite.
- The first is a classic food tour of the French Quarter that will allow you to taste the most popular local dishes and learn about how they origination.
- The next is a brunch tour of the French Quarter which is a unique way to start off your day and taste some different dishes than a classic afternoon tour.
- The final food tour of New Orleans I recommend is this Garden District food and history tour. If you have no other plans to visit the Garden District (#6 below), this tour is for you to check two items off at once.
4. Whitney Plantation Tour
🕒 Duration: 8 hours | ✔️Book Here
As touched on above, New Orleans has a history of slavery, like many southern US cities. The Whitney Planation tour, a little outside of the city is a great way to learn about this history.
While tourism surrounding slavery can be a bit controversial, I think if you’re are visiting to learn and not glorify the past, it can be a very insightful activity,
While I have not personally taken this Whitney Plantation tour, I took a similar tour in Charleston, and it was incredible. You will learn about the history of the grounds and the slaves that built it.
5. Airboat Swamp Tour
🕒 Duration: 4 hours | ⭐ Rating: 4.9/5 | ✔️Book Here
One of the top things to do in New Orleans is take an airboat swamp tour. Did you know that the city of New Orleans is all swamp land?
They must constantly pump water out of the city to maintain the dry land. For this reason, the city is slowly sinking and resides below sea level.
Just outside of the city, you can take a swamp tour where the water levels are not artificially lowered. On the tour, you will board an airboat then jet around the swamp, looking for alligators and other wildlife.
This tour is great for the winter because the humidity and heat are more manageable to be outside for a long time. However, there are slightly less alligators visible during this season.
6. Walk the Garden District
Of all the activities to do in New Orleans in the winter, a self-guided tour of the Garden District is one of the easiest (and its free).
The Garden District is a neighborhood of New Orleans known for its large, luxurious, historical mansions. From the French Quarter, simply take the streetcar and get off at any of the Garden District locations.
From there, wander the streets and look at all the beautiful homes. Some of the more historic homes have information plaques on their gates, so feel free to read those for some additional information.
Remember, that this is a residential neighborhood and people live in the homes, so be always respectful.
7. Jazz Cruise on the Mississippi River
New Orleans is the home to jazz music. Jazz can be heard throughout the city in jazz clubs, bars, and even on the street.
One of the best ways to listen to jazz in New Orleans is on a jazz river cruise on the Mississippi. This 2-hour cruise has indoor and outdoor view decks, live jazz music, and a buffet dinner.
There food is lackluster, but the atmosphere is great. This tour is a great way to kick back after a busy day of sightseeing.
8. Explore the French Quarter
The French Quarter is the most popular tourist destination in New Orleans. When you picture New Orleans, its very likely you picture the French Quarter.
This neighborhood of New Orleans is carefully maintained to preserve the old-world charm of the city. There are restrictions for building color, architecture style, and modern technology that keep the city looking like it did hundreds of years ago.
During your trip, if you’re at a loss for what to do in New Orleans in the winter, simply wandering the streets of the French Quarter is a great place to start.
Simply soak in the unique architecture, wander into local shops, and try local restaurant as well.
9. Visit the City Park
The New Orleans city park is one of the nicest parks I’ve seen. It covers many acres and includes parks, ponds, venues, a museum, and more.
To escape the hustle and bustle of downtown, visit the city park for a picnic or afternoon stroll. My favorite Café Du Monde location is in the park, so be sure to grab a beignet (or two) as well.
10. Walk the Mississippi River Walk
The final place I recommend visiting during your trip to New Orleans is the Mississippi river. The Mississippi is what put New Orleans on the map, making it a vibrant trading and import city.
Along the river, there’s a nice walking path that provides great views of the water and has some shops and a mall. While the Mississippi isn’t bright blue like some rivers, its sheer size makes it worth seeing.
Summary of the Top Things to Do in New Orleans in Winter
If you choose one activity to do in New Orleans, I highly recommend the city bike tour. It’s the perfect way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time. Also, the guides are incredible, and the fresh air is refreshing.
For more New Orleans travel tips, be sure to check out my complete guide to a New Orleans girl’s trip.
Related Posts:
- Epic New Orleans Girl’s Trip Guide & Itinerary For First Time Visitors
- Best Places To Eat In New Orleans French Quarter
- First-Timer’s Guide To Mardi Gras | Planning For New Orleans During Mardi Gras
- What To Wear To Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras Outfit Ideas For Men – What To Wear To A Mardi Gras Party Or Parade
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