Photo: Jackson Square, New Orleans · CC0
🎭Louisiana: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / United States / Louisiana
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Gumbo, thick, slow-cooked stew with roux, okra, and andouille sausage
- Crawfish boils, spiced crawfish with corn and potatoes
- Po'boy sandwiches, fried seafood or roast beef on french bread
- Beignets and chicory coffee, New Orleans morning tradition
- Mardi Gras, world-famous carnival with parades and balls
- Jazz music and New Orleans' French Quarter nightlife
- Steamboat riverboat culture on the Mississippi River
- Swamp tours and bayou wildlife, alligators, egrets, and moss-draped cypress
Louisiana accent and Creole/Cajun French influences; vibrant, colorful communication style.
- Respect for Creole and Cajun cultures and traditions
- Tipping 20% is standard in New Orleans and tourist areas
- Jazz clubs and music venues require respect for performers
- Mardi Gras etiquette: enjoy the celebrations respectfully
Best Time to Visit
Louisiana is humid subtropical; spring and fall are pleasant, summers are hot and very humid with a hurricane risk, and winters are mild.
- Peak: March to May, October to November
- Shoulder: February, December
- Off season: June to September, the hot humid months and hurricane season
Source: ncei.noaa.gov
Getting Around
- A
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What moves the cost: New Orleans has streetcars and buses.
Common Questions
When is the best time to visit Louisiana?+
The bayou country is best reached by car.
Source: ncei.noaa.gov
The spring festival season in New Orleans costs the most, while the humid summer is cheaper.+
Spring and fall are the most comfortable and hold the big festivals; summers are hot and humid with hurricane risk.