City in Louisiana, United States
New Orleans for solo travelers
Is New Orleans good for solo travel?
Live jazz, Creole food and festivals in a walkable, atmospheric old core. Great for solo travelers who like music and nightlife; summer heat, street crime and rough pavements are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Very friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Doable with care. Expect catcalling on Bourbon Street, avoid walking alone late, watch drinks in crowded bars and use rideshare at night. |
How to meet people in New Orleans
Live music on Frenchmen Street, hostel events in the Marigny, free walking tours, cooking classes, pub crawls, and brass-band second-line parades.
Good things to do alone
- Hear live jazz on Frenchmen Street
- Ride the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District
- Eat beignets at Café du Monde at dawn
- Take a swamp tour or day trip to plantations
- Walk the Faubourg Marigny and Bywater murals
Where to stay in New Orleans
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| French Quarter | First-timers: music, bars and food; loud on Bourbon Street |
| Marigny / Bywater | Live music on Frenchmen Street, cafés and quieter lanes |
| Garden District / Uptown | Streetcar, mansions, restaurants and a calmer stay |
| Warehouse / Central Business District | Museums, modern hotels and walkable access |
| Mid-City | Cheaper long stays, local bars and streetcar access |
Solo travel across United States
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nashville | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Austin | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Los Angeles | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Francisco | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Honolulu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Washington, D.C. | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Chicago | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| New Orleans | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Diego | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Seattle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Key West | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Denver | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Philadelphia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Portland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Atlanta | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Charleston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Savannah | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kauai | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Big Island | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Sedona | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Orlando | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Maui | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Antonio | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Scottsdale | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is New Orleans good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Live jazz, Creole food and festivals in a walkable, atmospheric old core.
How do you meet people in New Orleans?
Live music on Frenchmen Street, hostel events in the Marigny, free walking tours, cooking classes, pub crawls, and brass-band second-line parades. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in New Orleans?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is New Orleans safe for solo female travelers?
Doable with care. Expect catcalling on Bourbon Street, avoid walking alone late, watch drinks in crowded bars and use rideshare at night.
More about New Orleans
Going to New Orleans solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in New Orleans meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- RTA (New Orleans Regional Transit Authority)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- New Orleans & Company (tourism)
- Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.