New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, it is world renowned for having a rich history - from it's beginnings as a French settlement to the recent situation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans is famous for its jazz music, streetcars, Creole cooking and the world famous Mardi Gras carnival festivities during February - during which the city comes alive with colour, flamboyant costumes, upbeat music and plenty of dancing. Car hire in New Orleans is recommended for your visit to the city, but be wary of traffic around the time of the Mardi Gras celebrations.
The French Quarter is the oldest part of the city, and is one of the main areas for things to do. The area is famed for its architecture, a wide variety of hotels, bars and restaurants - particularly along Bourbon Street - and is a prime location for viewing the Mardi Gras celebrations. New Orleans is known as the 'birthplace of jazz' and has an abundance of piano bars dotted around the French Quarter. The city also plays host to the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - which runs for around two weeks in late April/early May. New Orleans is also famous for its steamboat tours, and tours that take you down the Mississippi River are a must when you visit the city. Within New Orleans there are a number of museums centred around the history of the city - including the National World War II Museum and the St Louis Cemetery, which can be reached by car, making car rental a key part of your trip to the city.
Car hire is essential if you want to explore all that New Orleans and the Louisiana countryside has to offer, but be aware that there may be some areas which may still be off limits due to repair work after Hurricane Katrina.
