What to Wear on a Walking Tour of New Orleans

A question we always hear is, ‘What should I wear on a Walking Tour in New Orleans?’ We get it- New Orleans is a magical, mysterious place full of history, architecture, myths, legends, and life-changing food. Proximity to the Gulf Coast makes the city humid; many of its neighborhoods are below sea level, and navigating The French Quarter streets requires some care.

Good news: New Orleans is the Big Easy, which applies to clothing! While dressing up for a night on Bourbon Street or wearing a Halloween costume every day in October is perfectly acceptable, so is relaxed attire of jeans and a t-shirt.

Here, we have broken down what to wear on your walking tour by season, but note that there is never a wrong time to visit New Orleans–

A few rules, tips, and tricks will help improve your New Orleans walking tour any time of the year-
Bring comfortable shoes for strolling the narrow, winding streets of The French Quarter.

-Fabrics like linen and cotton work all year since the city is almost always humid. Layer these fabrics in the colder months.

-Pack at least one formal outfit. New Orleans is a culinary hot spot in the US, and there is a lot of fine dining to explore.

–Rain in New Orleans is notorious for coming down sideways. For this reason, a poncho can work better than an umbrella, and you have the added bonus of not having to fight with an umbrella in crowds. Ponchos do trap heat, so consider an umbrella in the summer.

-Mardi Gras-styled beads are always a win in NOLA.

-The city’s favorite colors are purple, green, and gold.

Spring in New Orleans is nothing short of stunning! As winter fades away, the weather begins to warm, the city’s parks and walking paths are colored with wildflowers, and festivals like the French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Festival are in full swing.

Early spring will still have chilly evenings dipping below the 60s, but the days can easily reach the mid-80s. You’ll want to wear light pieces that move with you and don’t trap midday heat. The key here is layers so you can dress up or down to accommodate the changing temperatures.

-Sandals and open-toed shoes let your feet breathe. Tread carefully in The French Quarter!
-Linen and cotton pieces work well for layering.
-A light sweater or jacket will work for chilly evenings.
-Wide-brimmed hats or ball caps help on sunny days.
-Rain boots are useful for trekking through muddy festival grounds and flooded French Quarter potholes.

One word describes a New Orleans summer quite well- and that word is sweltering. With high temps and heavy humidity, New Orleans summers are hot. Temperatures in the 100s are not unheard of, especially in August. The nights don’t cool down much, rarely dropping below the 70s, and even the mornings can be humid and hot. Summer is also the city’s rainy season, so pack accordingly. With a subtropical climate, the NOLA is known to have sudden and intense bouts of rain with little warning beforehand.

Walking tours are best scheduled early in the morning. Pack light, breathable fabrics in light colors, and carry extra changes of clothes if you have room in your suitcase. Bring an umbrella, rain boots, and anything else you need to stay dry during your walking tour. If you find the heat of the day too brutal, know that there are plenty of things to do indoors!

-You will need both sunscreen and bug repellent.
-Everything you wear should be designed to withstand or filter humidity. Absolutely no spandex or tight clothing- that will only increase the sweating.
-Closed-toed shoes are essential, as the ground will get muddy from the rain.
-Long dresses or palazzo pants are airy and still offer sun coverage.
-Sunglasses, hats, long-sleeved (but breathable!) shirts, use anything that will help protect your skin from the sun.

Fall in New Orleans means Halloween everywhere, celebrations like Beignet Fest, cooling temperatures, and plenty of seasonally-inspired food and drink specials. This isn’t the place for apple picking and hay rides. Autumns in the Big Easy are filled with revelries, hot bowls of gumbo, and Saints Season.

The fall months in New Orleans are usually pleasant, an excellent time for a walking tour. Rain slows down after September, and the gas lamps that line The French Quarter feel cozy at night. Temperatures at night can hang around the 60s and 50s, and the evenings could require a light jacket.

-Ankle to mid-rise boots are great for French Quarter navigation and fall fashion.
-Sleeves or a light jacket are required for a walking tour at night.
-Think in layers- the days can be hot, and the nights are often cool.
-In October, costumes are welcome all month long!

Winter is one of the best times to visit New Orleans. Don’t expect snow, but a modest winter with temperate weather.

There are many ways to ring in the New Year in the Crescent City when rates and crowds are still low. December and January see the streets dressed in their holiday best with seasonal events, smaller crowds, and more reasonable hotel rates. February in New Orleans is defined by Mardi Gras when over 4 million people come from around the world to celebrate in The French Quarter. Without a doubt, Mardi Gras is the city’s busiest time of the year.

Overall, winter is a great time for a walking tour, especially if you don’t want to wake up early to beat the summer sun. Expect temperatures averaging in the 50s at night and 80s during the day. Overall, winter is an ideal time to tour New Orleans if you’re visiting on a budget or want to avoid crowds.

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-Expect temperatures to be cold during the night, and pack accordingly.
-While winter is drier than the rest of the year, rain isn’t uncommon, so bring your waterproof gear.
-Boots, jeans, and jackets are great; remember to layer to accommodate for humidity.

Just as some tips are universal, some are tour specific. Here are some helpful hints for different types of New Orleans walking tours:

In its hundreds of years of life, The Quarter has gathered many secrets and mysteries, and the best way to learn them is via a guided French Quarter walking tour. Wear comfortable footwear because the streets can be tricky to walk on. Dark, neutral outfits will pop nicely against the vibrant colors of The French Quarter in photos but may not be suitable for harsh sun.

The romantic (and haunted) above-ground cemeteries of New Orleans require a good set of closed-toed shoes and lighter clothing, even during some of the cooler months due to the high humidity levels. Discover all the best cemetery lore with our walking cemetery tour!

Follow along with the ancient oak trees, streetcar lines, celebrity homes, and luxury gardens on a guided walking tour of The Garden District. Like The French Quarter, you’ll need comfortable shoes for navigating the ancient, potholed streets.

You can still see the city on a budget. Take our free, self-guided walking tour of the French Quarter, The Garden District, and other iconic NOLA sites. Make sure to pack a tripod for taking photos, and wear pockets or bring a bag for stowing away your phone when needed.