New Orleans is one of the best bachelorette party destinations in the US! NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) is an excellent option for any budget, known for the 24/7 party on Bourbon Street, fantastic creole cuisine, and captivating architecture that makes you forget you’re not traveling abroad.
If your bachelorette party lands between February and May, when the city has the best weather and the most parades, it’s the perfect time to let the good times roll in New Orleans. But if your party falls outside of those months, New Orleans is still a fantastic place to host your party, and we’re rounding up all the tips you’ll need to throw an epic New Orleans bachelorette party!
How to get to New Orleans
By Air: Louis Armstrong New Orleans National Airport (MSY) is the largest airport in the area and has the best flight deals. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are the fastest way to get from MSY to the French Quarter (the heart of the city), an easy 20-30 minute drive depending on traffic. If you’re bachelorette-ing on a budget, the public shuttle bus will take you directly from MSY to the French Quarter, the Superdome, or Harrah’s Casino for $1.50.
By Car: New Orleans is less than an 8-hour drive from Houston, Nashville, or Atlanta.
By Cruise Ship: This is definitely an option! NOLA is a popular cruise ship destination and a home port of Carnival Cruises. If you’re visiting New Orleans while on a cruise, you’re likely under a time constraint, so the best thing to do is use rideshare services to maximize the hours spent exploring.
Getting Around in New Orleans
If you know you’ll spend most of your New Orleans bachelorette party in the French Quarter, you won’t need a rental car. That will save you from having to worry about parking, which can be painfully difficult as spots are limited and fill up fast. Even if you take excursions like a swamp or cemetery tour (we highly recommend both!), your tour will likely include hotel pick-up.
Streetcars: The historic St. Charles streetcar is the world’s oldest continuously operating streetcar line, connecting the Garden District and the French Quarter since 1835. For $1.25, you can take a scenic 45-minute ride through New Orleans’ most grand homes, the Business District and Audubon Park, and easily move between some of the city’s most popular spots. You must have the exact chance to ride the streetcar!
Rideshare: Both Uber and Lyft operate in New Orleans.
Limo & Party Bus Services: Burton’s Limo Service repeatedly gets the best reviews out of all the available luxury shuttle services in New Orleans. Tracy Nicoll’s Limousine Service is also a great option and has been in business for over 23 years.
Where to Stay in New Orleans
New Orleans’ French Quarter has it all: Bourbon Street, the oldest (and most haunted!) buildings, world-famous cemeteries, and genre-defining restaurants. Staying in the Quarter means you’ll be within walking distance of the city’s most iconic attractions, plus essentials like food, drinks, and entertainment.
If you know you’ll need a break from the sheer energy of the French Quarter, opt to stay a streetcar ride away in the Garden District. Primarily residential, you’ll feel safe and still be within walking distance of award-winning food and classy jazz bars in the Garden District.
$: Budget Options
- Hotel St. Pierre in the French Quarter consists of converted French Colonial cottages from the 1700s. Rooms start at around $100 per night.
- Once owned by legendary voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, Inn on St. Annin the French Quarter is the picture of a creole townhouse, complete with wrought-iron balconies. Rooms start at around $100 per night.
- St. Charles Coach House in the Garden District is a laidback boutique hotel on the streetcar line. Rooms start at around $100 per night.
- Airbnb also offers some great budget-friendly options, including the Rocheblave Residence that sleeps 6 and is priced from $100 per night.
$$: Mid-Tier Options
- Crowne Plaza is near everything in the French Quarter and has an incredible rooftop pool. Rooms start at $120 per night.
- Hotel Indigo in the French Quarter is a colorful, fun property with a bar and lounge. Rooms start at $150 per night.
- Bourbon Orleans has been the meeting place of NOLA’s elite since its founding in 1806 and is one of the most haunted hotels in America. Rooms start at $175 per night.
$$$: Worth the Splurge
- Hotel Saint Vincent is where old-world luxury meets modern design, with its original 1861 building and modernized rooms. Rooms start at around $260 per night.
- Hotel Monteleone is a luxurious literary dream; Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and William Faulkner once lived here. Modern authors like Anne Rice and John Grisham are also fans of the hotel. Did we mention the revolving Carousel Bar? Rooms start at around $500 per night.
- Maison Grace: a luxurious home with a pool that sleeps up to 16 guests. Pricing starts at around $2,000 per night.
Best Things to Do in New Orleans
$: Budget-Friendly Activities
Bourbon Street: Lined with bars, balconies, incredible food, strip clubs, and people, Bourbon Street is part of what makes New Orleans one of the world’s best bachelorette party destinations. There are no open container laws, which means you can legally consume alcohol on the streets of the French Quarter. That’s part of the beauty of Bourbon: you never have to settle for one spot! When you’re ready for a new view, snap up your Hurricane and go.
Jackson Square: Street performers, creators of every medium, and plenty of (cash only) fortune tellers are set up in Jackson Square daily. You might recognize this spot from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and shows like K-Ville and The Originals. Buy art directly from the artist or learn the secrets hidden in your palm- anything is possible at Jackson Square!
Old Absinthe House: With over 200 hundred years of serving alcohol, The Old Absinthe House has seen everyone from Mark Twain to Frank Sinatra to the pirates and politicians that founded New Orleans. Tip: Order the Absinthe Frappe and thank us later!
Cafe Du Monde: A perfect spot for photos, beignets, and cafe au lait, the original Cafe Du Monde was established in 1862 and has been an icon of the Crescent City ever since.
Try all 4 of New Orleans’ Original Cocktails: No New Orleans bachelorette party would be complete without a cocktail crawl! NOLA is the birthplace of 4 of the most popular drinks in the world: The Hurricane, The Sazerac, Vieux Carre, and the Gin Fizz.
Take a Free Walking Tour: Gather the girls for a free, self-guided walking tour of the French Quarter, the southern mansions of the Garden District, and other iconic NOLA experiences.
$$: Activities with a Set Cost
- Brunch on a Steamboat: Get dolled up for a cruise down the Mississippi River on the historic Steamboat Natchez, where you can listen to live jazz and dine on traditional creole food.
- See Alligators via Airboat: You can explore the infamous Louisiana swamps the traditional way: by airboat. This airboat tour includes admission to the Albino Alligator exhibit at the Audubon Nature Institute, plus round-trip hotel transportation.
- Cemetery Tour: Filled with beautiful architecture, a history of Voodoo and vampires, and above-ground tombs, NOLA’s cemeteries are unlike anywhere else in the world. While ‘cemetery’ might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of ‘fun bachelorette party ideas,’ New Orleans will change that for you! Note: Most New Orleans cemeteries are accessible via tour only.
$$$: Bucket List Activities
- Helicopter Tour: Who says a bachelorette party shouldn’t cross a few things off your bucket list? This helicopter tour flies you directly over glittering Jackson Square in the evening.
- Party Bus: Burton’s Limo Service has you covered with their iconic New Orleans Party Bus for a swanky night out on the town.
It’s Time to Start Planning
We hope you enjoy your New Orleans bachelorette party! Check out our other guides, including Bachelorette Party Ideas, US Bachelorette Destinations, and The New Orleans Bachelorette Bucket List.
We’d love to see pictures from your New Orleans Bachelorette party – make sure to tag @BDR on Instagram!
Before you go, if you don’t know where to start, make sure to check out our Bachelorette 101 guide for a perfect bachelorette party.