New Orleans in January –
The Best 19 Things To Do
By Carrie Green Zinn
Wondering if you should go to New Orleans in January?
I have been to New Orleans many times and I think January may be one of my favorite times of the year there. New Orleans is ALWAYS a good idea, but January is especially cool because it’s the close of the festive Christmas and New Year’s season and the beginning of the Mardi Gras season.
The city is in an especially excited state because of the upcoming Carnival. Everyone who passes by says “Happy Mardi Gras!”
I always say that being in New Orleans is like being in another country. It’s its own culture in so many ways – architecture, food, music, and the awesome people!
As they say, Let the good times roll! Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Here are 19 things to do in New Orleans in January.
Quick & Easy Links
Flights & Hotels: I recommend Expedia
Vacation rentals: I recommend VRBO
Car Rental: I recommend Hertz
Tours: I recommend Viator
Gear: Check out my Travel Stuff
Create Your Travel Memory Books with MILK
Short on Time? Here are my Top 7 Picks!
#2 Ring In Carnival Season on January 6
#4 Hang out at Cafe Du Monde
#7 Ride a Streetcar Named Desire
#9 Take a Garden District Tour
#11 Listen to Jazz at Preservation Hall
#13 Take a Cemetery Tour
#16 Take a Swamp & Plantation Tour
#1 The New Year’s Eve Fleur De Lis Drop
New Year’s Eve in New Orleans is pretty legendary. The largest party in the city is, of course, in the French Quarter at Jackson Square Park.
The tradition is that people gather and celebrate while waiting for the famous Fleur De Lis Drop.
A giant Fleur De Lis, the precious symbol of New Orleans, drops down a 25 foot pole atop the Jax Brewery.
Fireworks explode over the Mississippi and everyone rings in the New Year together. If the wild crowd is not your thing, then look for rooftop hotels and restaurants such as the Vue Orleans to watch everything from above.
#2 Ring in the Carnival Season on January 6
According to the Christian faith, the Christmas season ends and Carnival Season begins on January 6, or Twelfth Night. This is the Feast of Epiphany when the Three Wise Men visited the Christ child.
Lucky for us, we’ve been in the Crescent City twice on Twelfth Night!
Carnival continues until Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday in February, is a holy day of fasting and repentance for the six weeks of Lent until Easter.
Carnival is the time to eat, drink, and be merry before the season of Lent begins. The traditions include parades, balls, and every kind of celebration you can think of.
New Orleans also celebrates January 6 by honoring Joan of Arc’s birthday.
As the unofficial patron saint of New Orleans, Joan is celebrated with the remarkable Krewe of Joan of Arc Parade that marches through the French Quarter.
This parade has incredible medieval costumes, music, and some stuff you have to see to believe – A giant dragon all lit up, dancing angels, flower ladies, children, and even gargoyles chanting “Free Joan!”
#3 January is chock full of Parades
January in New Orleans is the time to catch some of the best parades you’ll ever see. In the weeks approaching Mardi Gras, the parade Krewes are gearing up for the big day.
On the Streetcar lines on January 6, you’ll find more parade Krewes. The Phunny Phorty Fellows ride on the St. Charles Streetcar along with the Funky Uptown Krewe and the Societe des Champs Elysee Krewe.
You’ll hear brass bands, see dancers, costumes that are out of this world, and you’ll jump in and start parading yourself!
Look for parade schedules, dates, times, and routes online or anywhere you can access Carnival and Mardi Gras info.
#4 Hang out at Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde and its beignets are not just a January thing, but they’re a great thing for the chilly weather.
You can have beignets and hot cocoa, beignets and coffee, beignets as breakfast , or beignets as a treat any time of the day.
The most famous beignet is at Cafe Du Monde on Decatur St., open 24 hours.
They ONLY ACCEPT CASH, so come prepared. Sure, there are other places to get beignets in town, but you must go to Cafe Du Monde, at least once.
#5 Let them eat King Cake!
January is also the season for King Cake which is the traditional cake of Carnival.
King Cake comes from the story of the three kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. A ring of cinnamon coffee cake filled with fruit or cream cheese and colored with purple, yellow, and green is served everywhere during the Carnival season.
And if eating cake with Mardi Gras colors isn’t enough, the cakes have a hidden tiny plastic baby inside them!
Whoever gets the slice with the baby has to host a party and serve the next king cake. So, you can see how it’s the cake that keeps on giving.
#6 Visit St. Louis Cathedral
The famous St. Louis Cathedral on the edge of Jackson Square Park is the oldest cathedral, still in use, in the US.
As part of the Catholic Cultural Heritage Center, you can enjoy a tour of the cathedral, or you can just wander in for a visit or attend a mass.
The cathedral has a rich and fascinating history since 1720 and absolutely worth paying a visit to.
#7 Ride a Streetcar Named Desire
The Streetcars in New Orleans are not just famous because of a Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, but because they are the oldest streetcar system still operating in the country today.
Perfect for a chilly or rainy January day, take a streetcar along the river or down St. Charles street to the Garden District.
Since 1835, the New Orleans streetcars have been transporting people around the city and its the cheapest and most fun way to get anywhere.
There are five lines that operate in the city. To find the route you want, I suggest downloading the LePass on your phone. Use that to find stops and buy tickets. Otherwise you must have cash or exact change to ride. Its a great deal!
You can ride for hours for $1.25 or unlimited rides for a day for only $3.
The key to the online system is that after you put your credit card info in, or use your Apple Pay, and select your tickets to buy, you simply show the driver a bar code that shows up on your screen.
Et voila! Enjoy the ride!
#8 Take a Stroll on the Riverwalk
The Great Mississippi River is at its deepest and busiest in New Orleans. This port was the site of steamboats, slave trades, and a whole lot of American history.
Today, the riverfront in The Queen of the South is a lovely place for a stroll, for views of the river and bridge, the Woldenberg Park, an outlet shopping mall, and even the New Orleans Aquarium.
On a sunny January day take a walk from the Riverfront and Canal Street along the water to the French Market. You’ll see statues and plaques along the way to teach you more about the area and its history.
The area known as Uptown in New Orleans is home to the Garden District. The Garden District are the streets with some of the most beautiful and historic mansions of the south.
The old world grandeur and stunning gardens of this neighborhood give it an appeal and a culture that is in strong contrast to the French Quarter.
Here you’ll not only find the homes of movie stars and the elite of New Orleans, but you’ll see the famous Lafayette Cemetery, the iconic Commander’s Palace restaurant, and be close to all the great shopping and dining on Magazine Street.
Look for Sandra Bullock’s house, Beyonce’s home, and lots of movie sets, like the Benjamin Button house.
Commander’s Palace offers a martini lunch – .25 cents a martini!
Take a Walking Tour of the Garden District to get the most out of this adventure. Perfect for a brisk January day and then have a lunch or dinner in the area.
The French Quarter is for sure a highlight of any visit to NOLA, but during the month of January, it’s particularly festive because all the Christmas decorations are still hanging and the purple, yellow, and green Mardi Gras decorations and beads are cropping up everywhere! Talk about colorful!
My rec for learning about the incredible history, architecture, and culture of the quarter is to take French Quarter Walking Tour.
It can be a wild time, but you can also find quiet moments on the streets that are mostly residential and don’t have bars and shops and restaurants on them. January is super fun in the Quarter, so grab some beads and go!
#11 Listen to New Orleans Jazz at Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is New Orleans oldest tribute to its music history. Originally a tiny art gallery that hosted some musicians, Preservation Hall has become the historic venue dedicated to keeping New Orleans Jazz alive.
Visiting the funky old building of Preservation Hall and hearing music in that intimate setting is a must. Take a Preservation Hall Tour for a demonstration or just get tickets for a show while you’re in town.
With all the history that oozes from the French Quarter, also comes a lot of haunted stories and legends.
I highly recommend taking a haunted tour in the French Quarter and learn about the ghosts and their stories while you wander around, bundled up, on a January night with flickering candle lights in front of homes covered in mystery and haunted tales.
A rainy or sunny day in January is great for visiting one of the cemeteries in New Orleans. There are 45 cemeteries in NOLA and most are considered historic.
Cemeteries are a very big part of the New Orleans culture and landscape. They are preserved as historic landmarks and contain significant history, art, and a lot of respect for the dead.
With people buried above ground in tombs due to the high water table and flooding, you’ll see incredible statues and elaborate memorials.
The tombs hold the tradition of moving a body down to a lower level to make room for a new recently deceased body.
Popular Cemeteries to Visit
Some of the cemeteries won’t allow you to wander on your own and you must buy a ticket for a tour. Probably the most famous are the Lafayette Cemetery and the St.Louis Cemetery No. 1.
With over 300 years of the dead, you’ll see famous tombs like Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau’s tomb with 84 bodies buried in it and even Nicholas Cage’s future resting place – a giant pyramid.
My top choice for a cemetery that doesn’t require a ticket is the Metarie Cemetery. There you’ll find the gorgeous statue of the weeping Angel and many celebrities and dignitaries.
#14 Wander through Louis Armstrong Park
& Congo Square
Right on the busy Rampart Street on the edge of the French Quarter is the very beautiful, 32 acre park named for New Orleans Jazz legend Louis Armstrong.
Within the park is the very historic Congo Square. In 1817, New Orleans slaves were only allowed to gather in one place – at Congo Square.This area was called the Place De Negros when slaves flocked here each Sunday to play their drums, dance, sell wares, and generally celebrate their day off together.
To this day, you’ll find groups of local drummers and dancers being together and creating music on Sundays. It might be chilly on a January Sunday, but you’ll still find live music in the park!
The Mahalia Jackson Theater, named for another New Orleans legend, is also within the park and is a large venue for music and culture.
The great Mississippi river is a beautiful part of the New Orleans experience and what a better way to enjoy it than to be on one of the famous and historic paddlewheel boats cruising the river.
There are several to choose from and the Creole Queen and the Steamboat Nachez. You can enjoy dinner cruises, historic cruises, and Sunday Jazz Brunch cruises.
My rec in January is to pick the festive Mardi Gras dinner cruise. Bundle up for this activity because it can get pretty chilly and windy out there on the boat!
I absolutely loved the all day swamp and plantation tour! We cruised through the Bayou swamplands on a pontoon boat and saw a bunch of alligators, birds, and other wildlife that thrive in the backwater environment. We even got to hold a baby alligator!
Then we were taken to the Antebellum Plantation Oak Valley for lunch and a tour showing the home, grounds and slaves’ quarters. We learned a lot about that dark time in American history.
You can choose to take just a swamp tour or just a plantation tour, but if you have a full day available, I recommend doing the combination tour. We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel so it was super convenient.
Even though it rained a bit, it didn’t deter from the experience.
#17 Go Listen to Music!
There’s certainly no shortage of music venues in the city of New Orleans!
Choose any rainy or chilly afternoon or evening to pop into one of the jazz or blues venues and you will find excellent musicians. Some of our favorite spots are Snug Harbor, House of Blues, and Fritzel’s Jazz Bar.
#18 Shop at the Historic French Market
Be sure to keep strolling past the busy Jackson Square Park area and stay parallel to the Missisiippi and you’ll find the historic French Market.
Since 1791 this open air market has evolved from a Native American Trading Post to include a Farmer’s Market, food stalls, crafts, flea markets, and the Dutch Alley pavilion for performances.
It’s a great spot to shop, buy souvenirs, and grab some food. Much of it is covered, so if it is raining, you’ll be dry!
#19 Do the New Orleans Museum Hop
There are literally over 51 museums in NOLA. That includes historic homes, art museums, and other monuments commemorating important aspects of the city and region.
The Warehouse District is home to some of the top museums in the city. Talk about a great rainy day or cold weather activity!
Here are my picks for 10 museums that have something for visitors of all ages:
Historic New Orleans Collection
520 Royal St.
9:30 – 4:30 Tues. – Sat.
We really loved this small and super informative museum. Located right in the Quarter, this museum is both a research center and publisher devoted to preserving the history of New Orleans. I recommend you start here because it gives a great first timer’s exposure to the history of New Orleans in a short amount of time. And its free!
The Presbytère
751 Chartres
9AM – 4PM dialy
This is part of the Louisiana State Museum with two powerful permanent exhibits – one dedicated to Hurricane Katrina and the other to Mardi Gras. This building is another of New Orleans architectural marvels right at Jackson Square alongside the Cathedral and the Cabildo.
The Cabildo
701 Chartres
9AM – 3:30PM daily
This museum displays many unusual and historic artifacts including photography and paintings. The Cabildo also hosts events, exhibits, and walking tours. The building itself has a very interesting history:
- Built in 1795 after the great fire of 1788 destroyed what had previously been there.
- The Louisiana Purchase was signed there in 1803.
- Seat of the state’s government.
- The offices of the state Supreme Court.
- Became a museum in 1908.
- In 1988 the building again was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt and refurbished to what it is today.
Audubon Aquarium
1 Canal St. Woldenberg Park
10AM – 5PM daily
Right on the Mississippi is this top rated aquarium with exhibits of everything from the New Orleans waters to the Caribbean and the Amazon.
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp St.
10AM – 5PM daily
This lovely museum is dedicated to artists from the southern United States.
New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Diboll Circle in City Park
10AM – 5PM Tues – Sun & Wed 12PM – 7PM.
This fine arts museum is the oldest of its kind in the city with over 50,000 pieces in its permanent collection. The museum is known for its extraordinary art of American, African, french, and Asian artists. There is also a spectacular 12 acre sculpture garden with 90 sculptures, footpaths, lagoons, bridges, and beautiful flowers and 200 year old live oak trees.
New Orleans Contemporary Art Center
900 Camp St.
11AM – 5PM daily, except Tues.
This very small museum hosts excellent exhibits of art from southern gulf region artists. The works range from photography to painting and performances. The CAC also hosts other programs including a lecture series.
National World War II Museum
945 Magazine Street at Camp St.
9AM – 5PM daily
This is an enormous, 5 pavilion building dedicated to the military history of World War II with over 250,000 artifacts in exhibits. The reviews of this museum are excellent from WWII enthusiasts and others.
Mardi Gras World
1380 Port of New Orleans Place
9AM – 5:30PM daily
This museum gives its visitors a behind the scenes look at Mardi gras parades and floats. It is literally in a giant warehouse filled with floats being made or being worked on. You can even call them for a free pick up from your hotel at 504-361-7821.
Where is the best place to stay in
New Orleans?
New Orleans is the spot for tourists and conventions in January, that the choices of hotels in and around the French Quarter are boundless.
The big hotels are within walking distance of the French Quarter, are very safe, have great deals in January, and have concierge services to help make plans.
→ The Windsor Court Hotel – An elegant hotel that offers afternoon tea and live jazz at cocktail time.
→ The Four Seasons Hotel – On the waterfront with luxury ammenities.
→ The Pontchartain Hotel – An old world hotel in the Garden District.
What is the Weather like in
New Orleans in January?
How cold is it in New Olreans in January? Is January a good time to visit New Orleans?
These are the most asked questions about the Big Easy in winter.
Firstly, know that January is NOT considered “Hurricane Season” in New Orleans. While the weather is unpredictable you should be safe from dramatic events like hurricanes and tornadoes in January.
You can expect some lower temps with an average high of 62℉ and a low of 43℉. And when it does rain, it’s not that cold.
The evenings can be colder and more windy however, so be prepared for a drop in temps as the sun goes down. This is why layers are important!
What To Pack for New Orleans in January
New Orleans in January requires more things than you probably want to pack, but should!
- Good walking shoes that can get wet. I travel with both a sneaker and a low waterproof boot.
- Jeans or comfortable pants for day and evening wear.
- One nicer outfit if you plan on a dinner at one of the less casual restaurants such as Commander’s Palace or Brennan’s.
- A winter dress coat, a thin puffy jacket, and/or a rain jacket. These coats can fit a sweater underneath to stay warm and dry for a daytime activity and can dress up a bit for the colder evenings.
- A hat for the colder or rainy days.
- An umbrella.
- Sweaters that fit under your coat for the layers.
- Of course, if you don’t have the perfect thing, you can always shop and buy a cozy New Olreans sweatshirt!
Where are the best places to eat in
New Orleans in January?
I can’t imagine that you would ever have a bad meal in New Orleans!
My Number One, non-negotiable is Jacques-Imo’s. This is a must-eat-at-in-New-Orleans spot!
8324 Oak St.
504-861-0886 (phone reservations only)
Here are some of our other favorite spots:
~ Arnaud’s – Creole cuisine – 813 Rue Bienville
~ Brennan’s – Creole cuisine – 417 Royal St.
~ Cafe Du Monde – Beignets – 800 Decatur St.
~ Commander’s Palace – Louisiana cuisine – 1403 Washington Ave.
~ Dooky Chase’s – Creole cuisine – 2301 Orleans Ave.
~ Galatoire’s – Creole cuisine – 209 Bourbon St.
~ Johnny Sanchez – Mexican cuisine – 930 Poydras St.
~ Pomello – Thai cuisine – 4113 Magazine St.
~ Royal Oyster Bar – Louisiana cuisine – 441 Royal St.
~ Shaya – Mediterranean cuisine – 4213 Magazine St.
~ Willa Jean – Southern cuisine – 611 O’Keefe Ave.
Some other big cities for January visits!
Consider San Francisco in January.
Visit New York City in January.
Looking for warmer weather? Try L.A. in January!
Enjoy your visit to
New Orleans in January!
In a nutshell…
Taking a trip to New Orleans in January is a fabulous plan! It is a very exciting time to be in the vibrant atmosphere that is New Orleans. From the walks in the French Quarter to the delicious Creole and Cajun food, every moment in this city feels like a celebration.
Explore the Mississippi Riverfront and the beautiful Garden District bundled up in the cooler weather. The blend of live jazz, historic tours, and the more relaxed, pre-Carnival pace allows for a deeper appreciation of New Orleans.
Whether it’s the charm of its architecture, the friendliness of the people, or the culture and unique traditions, New Orleans in January provides an enriching experience that stays with you and makes you want to return!
Carrie
Carrie Green Zinn is the owner and author of Carrie Green Zinn – A Travel Blog, which helps travelers become inspired to explore and step out of their comfort zones. Carrie focuses on family vacations, empty nest travel, and girlfriend getaways. Her work is informed by her life as a former dancer, therapist, and school psychologist. She brings her passion for writing, photography, and making the world a smaller place to her ever growing blogging audience.
