Visiting New Orleans in January is Magical (What to Do+ Travel Tips)

The first time we visited New Orleans in January, it was an accident of timing: we found a good flight deal out of the city to our next stop (this was back during our full-time travel days), had been meaning to visit the Big Easy for years, and figured now was as good of a time as any.

Well, as it turns out, we absolutely adore New Orleans… and the next time we visited in January, the timing wasn’t an accident anymore.

January in NOLA arguably offers the best of all worlds: it’s not hot (a far more relevant weather metric in Louisiana than worrying about being cold), the Christmas festivities are in the rearview mirror, and the Mardi Gras crowds haven’t yet arrived–but locals are quietly getting the Carnival season started, complete with plenty of decor.

Because of this, hotel prices are fairly low for NOLA, it’s fairly easy to get into the most popular restaurants and onto the tours of your choice, and all the usual best things to do in New Orleans are at your fingertips… minus the sweat of visiting in the summer (or spring, or fall).

Convinced? Here’s how to make the most of New Orleans in January!

Cool Things to Do in New Orleans in January

Admire Mardi Gras decor in the French Quarter and the Garden District.

While the raucous crowds that travelers typically associate with Mardi Gras are nowhere in sight in January, for locals, the Carnival season technically starts on January 6.

As a result, January is the perfect time to admire Mardi Gras decor around the city while still enjoying plenty of elbow room!

Businesses and private homes alike get into the spirit, and some of the grandest homes in the Garden District deck their halls just as thoroughly for Mardi Gras as you might expect them to for Christmas.

Green, purple, and gold are everywhere you look in NOLA in January, and the decor adds (literal) color to any visit.

Spend an evening hearing New Orleans’ best ghost stories.

A cozy coat and scarf, a dark night, and some spooky tales of NOLA’s past: any trip to NOLA is enhanced by an evening ghost tour, but the winter chill adds a spooky twist to the tradition (and, this being New Orleans, it’s usually not that cold anyway).

We’ve been on a couple of NOLA ghost tours at this point, not to mention many ghost tours around the world, but this ghost tour is still our favorite that we’ve ever taken anywhere.

Like Savannah, New Orleans is home to enough ghost stories that no two tours are likely to be the same, and almost all the stories are enough to raise the hairs on the back of your head even without believing in the supernatural.

We booked our tour through Get Your Guide with French Quarter Phantoms, and ended up being guided by Evian, who is among the best tour guides we have ever had anywhere–seriously, the guy is a born storyteller (as usual, our tour was not sponsored, we just really liked him!).

We recommend taking the latest tour at night if possible–the crowd will skew older, and the stories likely scarier.

Since this is New Orleans, of course, there’s a bonus: no open container laws mean that you get to drink on the tour, and if there’s ever a walking tour to be a little bit tipsy on, it’s a ghost tour!

Book your NOLA ghost tour today!

This tour does sometimes sell out–we were only one person shy of a full group on a cold January night, so book early if you can!

Settle the Cafe du Monde vs Cafe Beignet debate for yourself.

While beignets are delicious year-round, there’s no doubt that tucking into a plate of freshly fried dough and a cup of hot chicory coffee more satisfying when there’s a bit of a chill in the air.

With its iconic status and 24/7 operating hours, Cafe du Monde is nothing short of a New Orleans institution–and the fact that they have a location situated just off of Jackson Square sure doesn’t hurt.

Cafe du Monde has plenty of competition, though, most notably from Cafe Beignet, which also serves up delicious beignets at multiple locations (including on Royal Street in the French Quarter, where they have one of the cutest storefronts around).

Personally, we still prefer Cafe du Monde, finding Cafe Beignet’s beignets a bit heavier and cakier than we prefer.

That being said, plenty of people would disagree with our opinion–and the fact that Cafe Beignet has some savory items (omelets, etc.) on the menu to break up the sugar rush is a definite plus.

The only reasonable option, of course, is to try both places for yourself… possibly more than once.

Museum-hop through some of New Orleans’ best museums.

While your odds of scoring mild weather and dry days are much higher during January in New Orleans than in many other cities in the northern hemisphere (it only rains an average of 7 days during the month), you’ll still likely want to enjoy some indoor attractions during your visit!

When your luck turns with the weather or you’re just ready to be indoors for a bit, consider taking the opportunity to check out one of NOLA’s several memorable museums.

A few popular options include visiting the famous WWII Museum, heading to Mardi Gras World to see some of the floats, checking out the Pharmacy Museum, and, of course, visiting the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

The Voodoo Museum is tiny, quirky, and gets mixed reviews, but is also undoubtedly a memorable stop in NOLA!

A bit further afield (geographically speaking) but well worth visiting are the Ogden Museum of Southern Art (in the Arts and Warehouse District) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (in City Park).

Eat your heart out on a New Orleans food tour.

Jeremy and I are big fans of food tours around the world, and there’s no doubt that New Orleans is one of the best cities on the planet to enjoy one!

Home to a complex, delicious, and legendary local cuisine that blends influences from its roots in France, the Caribbean, Africa, and more, NOLA’s food scene is one of the best reasons to visit the city–and if this is your first trip to New Orleans, you’ll no doubt find dishes you’ve never tasted (and possibly never heard of) pop up on menus throughout your visit.

Plus, a food tour where you sample a dozen dishes or more in one fell swoop is an excellent way to not only have a chance to try more local foods than you may have a chance to otherwise, but it will also potentially help you discover new favorites that you can order throughout the rest of your trip.

Unfortunately, the exact food tour Jeremy and I stuffed ourselves on during our last trip to New Orleans has been discontinued, but several friends of ours have taken and raved about this one (and we’ll be trying it ourselves the next time we’re in town).

Book your New Orleans food tour today!

Duck inside some of NOLA’s best bookshops.

Some cities just ooze literature from every angle, from inspiring works to attracting authors to serving as an excellent home base for independent bookstores–and nowhere does this quite like New Orleans.

As a lifelong bibliophile, I love reading books about everywhere I go, and browsing for books in each city I visit, but New Orleans does this so exceptionally well that I ended up writing a whole blog post about New Orleans’ books and bookstores.

During your January visit, I highly recommend ducking into at least a few of NOLA’s best bookshops, which include but certainly are not limited to Faulkner House Books, Crescent City Books, and Garden District Book Shop.

Enjoy some jazz.

New Orleans and jazz go hand-in-hand, and whether it’s listening to street performers in Jackson Square, attending a jazz brunch, heading out to Frenchmen Street, or something else entirely, no trip to NOLA is complete without adding just a bit of jazz to it!

Looking for a guaranteed, classic NOLA jazz experience in the French Quarter?

We enjoyed a performance at the famous Preservation Hall on our last trip and found it to be an incredibly memorable way to kick off the night–you can’t get much closer to the performers than that.

Alternatively, combine jazz with a memorable ride down the Mississippi River by enjoying a jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez!

Browse the shops on Magazine Street.

Funky costume shops and tasty restaurants: what could be a better combination?

Magazine Street is a commercial center of the Garden District, and the perfect destination after strolling past some of the neighborhood’s most beautiful and historic homes.

It’s also a great place to grab a meal!

We loved the Red Dog Diner–order the banana pudding for dessert.

After eating, be sure to duck into some shops to check out Mardi Gras costumes, eccentric souvenirs, antiques, and more!

Pay a visit to the bayou.

As the highest point in Louisiana (so-called Driskill “Mountain”) reaches a mere 535 feet above sea level, it’s no surprise that Louisiana, and especially coastal New Orleans, are home to significant amounts of wetlands.

Home to cypress swamps, interesting wildlife, and a fragile ecosystem, it is definitely worth a trip outside of New Orleans to see the nearby bayou–and given the heat and humidity that NOLA experiences for much of the year, January is undoubtedly one of the more pleasant times to visit.

There is a downside to visiting in winter, which is that alligator spottings are rarer, but we loved our visit to the bayou in January.

We spent an afternoon on the bayou traveling by airboat, which was a very fun experience in its own right.

Our guide, a local Cajun man who was born and raised on the bayou, did a great job not only explaining the ecosystem, but spotting wildlife: even though we were traveling in winter, he still managed to find us a small one to check out!

My personal favorite part of the tour came near the end: we got to hold some baby alligators belonging to a local rescue, and while I would never want to meet one of them once they’re all grown up and released (they’re released once they’re old enough to have a reasonable chance to survive on their own), they were very entertaining in the meantime.

Bayou tours like this run from New Orleans every day, and many travelers opt to book a combination bayou/plantation tour.

We took a combination tour like this on our first trip to New Orleans and had a very memorable day out of the city (we cover that day trip in more detail, plus the differences between the various plantations open to visitors today in this blog post).

Book your bayou tour in New Orleans today!

Stroll through Jackson Square and step inside the St. Louis Cathedral.

If you’ve seen photos of New Orleans, you’ve likely seen Jackson Square, a small park that sits in front of the iconic St. Louis Cathedral.

The view of New Orleans’ beautiful white cathedral from Jackson Square (or across the street from it) is one of the most classic shots of New Orleans.

It doesn’t take long to walk around the park itself, but what’s between Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral is worth pausing for.

In this small walking area, you’ll often find energetic street performers, from jazz musicians to jugglers, as well as plenty of people willing to exchange a bit of touristy New Orleans voodoo for a fee.

The area is touristy, absolutely, but lots of fun!

To get a moment of peace and quiet, be sure to also duck inside the St. Louis Cathedral, which has roots in the 18th century and has a French architectural flair inside.

Check out New Orleans’ famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Between New Orleans’ history of voodoo, its many legends of ghosts, and plenty quirky residents dating from the city’s foundings to the modern day (did you know that Nicholas Cage owns a pyramid in New Orleans that he plans to be buried in?), it’s no surprise that NOLA’s cemeteries have become tourist attractions in their own right.

Add in that–thanks to the city’s geography–its former residents tend to rest in mausoleums above the ground rather than concealed under it, and the cemeteries are quite striking!

None is more famous or popular than St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, home to the infamous Marie Laveau, the aforementioned pyramid belonging to Nicholas Cage, and much, much more.

Visiting requires signing up for a guided tour, which luckily runs near-constantly and is easy to sign up for.

Book your visit to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 today!

Seek out some offbeat Mardi Gras parades.

Mardi Gras parades in January? Yes, they do exist!

New Orleans is still gearing up for the more intense revelry to come in January, but there are still a handful of parades throughout the month, generally with a local flair.

You can check the Mardi Gras parade calendar (complete with each parade’s route) here.

Pay a visit to the Carousel Bar for a memorable cocktail.

In a city bursting at the seams with bars, the Carousel Bar in Hotel Monteleone easily ranks among the most memorable.

First opened in 1949, the bar quite literally features a gorgeous–and functional–carousel that slowly rotates the lucky patrons who are able to get a seat there as they enjoy their drinks.

It’s a downright whimsical experience (just don’t drink too much… or it might also be a dizzying one!).

The Carousel Bar has played host to any number of celebrities over the years, from authors like Truman Capote to musicians like Liberace, and many, many more.

The bar is popular and the seats at its iconic carousel are competitive, so you’ll have greater odds of nabbing one in January than in many months of the year.

Even so, The Carousel Bar opens at 11:00 AM, and in this case, we recommend embracing day drinking (it is New Orleans, after all). That’s how we got a chance to sit at the carousel ourselves!

Try some King Cake.

One of the many, many beloved Carnival season traditions in New Orleans is King Cake–and visiting NOLA in January means that you should definitely try some!

This classic New Orleans treat is not only a sugary, cinnamony delight, but it’s also the origin of one of the Big Easy’s most famous traditions: the King Cake baby.

Hidden inside each King Cake is a plastic baby, and whoever finds it in their slice is responsible for keeping the merriment of the season going, typically by either providing the next King Cake or throwing a Carnival party.

Where to Stay in New Orleans, LA

Assuming you’re planning a fairly short trip to New Orleans this January, and possibly your first one, we recommend staying in or within walking distance of the French Quarter.

We loved the Best Western property where we stayed on the edge of the quarter on our first trip, and were also impressed with the One 11 Hotel (also on the edge of the quarter, but by the river) on a later trip.

We’ve also included a couple of other suggestions below based on price point, reviews, and–importantly–location.

Budget

Hotel Villa Convento — If you are looking for a quiet and reasonably priced hotel in NOLA’s French Quarter that doesn’t skimp on the city’s classic eclectic charm, Hotel Villa Convento is the place for you!

Located on Ursulines Avenue (very close to the convent, hence the name!) between Royal and Chartres Streets, Hotel Villa Convento gets excellent reviews for its location, customer service, and charm, all while sticking to budget (for central NOLA) prices.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Villa Convento today!

Mid-range

Best Western Plus French Quarter Landmark Hotel — We LOVED this property!

The hotel itself is beautiful in that classic New Orleans way, and the (included) breakfast is varied and tasty.

Best of all, this hotel is situated right on the edge of the French Quarter, meaning that all of the French Quarter and some areas beyond are within easy walking distance.

For the price, it’s hard to imagine a better deal in New Orleans, and we’d be more than happy to check in again.

Check rates & book your stay at the Best Western Plus French Quarter Landmark Hotel!

Luxury

Omni Royal Orleans Hotel — Located in the heart of the French Quarter, this beautiful hotel is known for its gorgeous building, attentive service, and lovely ambiance–plus its ghosts.

Yeah, that attentive service?

It just may come in the form of the ghost maid who likes to tuck guests in at night!

If your idea of the perfect 3 Day New Orleans trip includes luxurious accommodations with a side of spookiness, the popular and stunning Omni Royal is the place for you. 

Check rates & book your stay at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel!

Tips for Visiting New Orleans This January

Keep a close eye on the weather when packing.

While the average high temperature in NOLA in January is 63°F (or a bit over 17°C), temperatures can swing wildly.

Every photo of us in this blog post was taken in New Orleans in January, and as you can see, my outfits range from short sleeves to a peacoat.

We highly recommend keeping a very close eye on the weather as your dates get close, and be prepared for big swings in the temperature (and pack plenty of layers).

Think twice before booking a New Year’s trip to NOLA.

Everyone knows that New Orleans and Mardi Gras go hand in hand, but there is another holiday of sorts to be aware of: the Sugar Bowl.

This is one of the grand finales of the college football season (for any non-American readers, this is a Big Deal throughout much of the country).

The game is held on or around January 1 each year, and in recent years generally draws crowds of 60,000+ spectators, who of course are also eager to enjoy the city they’re visiting.

Combine that with general New Year’s revelry, and it’s safe to say that high prices and big crowds are the name of the game in NOLA during the first weekend of the year.

… but you don’t need to worry much about Mardi Gras crowds in January.

While Mardi Gras season technically spans for months starting on January 6, January tends to still be very quiet as far as Mardi Gras traditions frequented by visitors go.

In other words, you’ll get the benefits of Mardi Gras decor bringing color to the city and King Cake rolling out in the bakeries, but the enormous crowds that descend leading up to Fat Tuesday (which takes place 47 days before Easter each year) will be nowhere in sight.

That being said, if you want to seek out some more local-focused Mardi Gras festivities in January, you’ll be able to find them!

Make popular restaurant reservations in advance (especially on weekends).

While crowds are certainly not as much of a concern in NOLA in January than, say, in the couple weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, it still pays to plan ahead for meals at the most iconic institutions.

If you’re hoping to enjoy the jazz brunch at Commander’s Palace, for example, you definitely don’t want to wait to make plans until the last minute.

(This tip may or may not be influenced by the fact that we failed to plan far enough in advance to enjoy the brunch on our last trip to New Orleans in January–next time, we’ll plan farther ahead!).

Typical January Weather in New Orleans

New Orleans’ famously humid, subtropical climate means that you certainly won’t need to pack parkas or snowboots to visit the city in January… but don’t plan on breaking out the shorts and tank tops, either.

January is typically the coldest month of the year in NOLA, with high temperatures reaching an average of 63°F (or a bit over 17°C) and lows overnight averaging 45°F (or a bit over 7°C). Temperatures rise through the month, and February is a bit warmer than January on average.

This can all vary dramatically, though!

As I mentioned above, we’ve personally walked around in short sleeves in New Orleans in January… and bundled up in coats.

When planning your trip, keep checking the weather right up until departure, and try to remain as flexible as you can with your packing list!

Read More About Visiting the South (+ Beyond)

Officially headed to the Big Easy (and maybe a few other places in the South) this January and want to keep planning?

You can browse all of our 100+ USA blog posts here, or check out these guides:

• 21 Intoxicating Quotes about New Orleans to Inspire Your Trip
• 17 Spectacular Southern USA Road Trip Itinerary Ideas
• How to Spend One Perfect Day in New Orleans (Itinerary + Tips)
• 25 Wondrous Winter Vacations in the USA (For Sun or Snow)
• Savannah or Charleston: Which Lowcountry City is Right for You?