The heart of New Orleans including the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and the Central Business District.

About French Quarter / Downtown

The French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is the historic heart of New Orleans, a 78-block neighborhood of wrought-iron balconies, jazz clubs, Creole restaurants, and voodoo shops that has been the epicenter of American cultural innovation since its founding in 1718. Bourbon Street, the Quarter's raucous main strip, is a neon-lit gauntlet of live music bars, cocktail shops, and street performers, but the quieter blocks of Royal Street and Chartres Street reveal the Quarter's true elegance with antique shops, art galleries, and fine-dining institutions.

Jackson Square, the Quarter's central plaza, is presided over by St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States), flanked by the Cabildo and Presbytère museums (part of the Louisiana State Museum complex), and animated by street artists, fortune tellers, and brass bands. The Café du Monde, on the square's river side, has served beignets and café au lait 24 hours a day since 1862.

The adjacent neighborhoods complete the downtown experience: the Warehouse District/Arts District (the contemporary art galleries, WWII Museum, and Ogden Museum), the CBD (Central Business District with the Superdome and the emerging South Market district), and the Marigny/Bywater (Frenchmen Street, the locals' answer to Bourbon Street, with authentic jazz and blues clubs).

Nearby Landmarks

Jackson Square Bourbon Street Café du Monde St. Louis Cathedral

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost $36 (flat rate for 1-2 pax)
Time 25-40 minutes

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Rideshare (Grab/Uber)

Cost $22-35
Time 25-40 minutes

Level 1 arrivals, follow signs to Rideshare lot

Step-by-Step Directions

Take the JeT E-2 Airport Express bus from the airport to the CBD. Service runs approximately every 20-30 minutes.

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi $36 (flat rate for 1-2 pax) 25-40 minutes Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Rideshare $22-35 25-40 minutes Budget-conscious, app users

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

The French Quarter never truly sleeps, with Bourbon Street bars open 24 hours (no closing time by law in New Orleans). The Airport Express bus runs limited late-night service. Taxis and Uber/Lyft operate 24 hours. Ride-shares from the French Quarter to the airport cost $25-40. The St. Charles streetcar runs until approximately 1:30 AM. Walking in the French Quarter on main streets is generally safe late at night; avoid dimly lit blocks away from the Quarter.

Luggage Tips

The French Quarter's narrow sidewalks and uneven brick surfaces make rolling luggage bumpy but manageable on main streets. Taxis from the airport are the most practical option with luggage ($36 flat fare for up to 2 passengers). Most French Quarter hotels are in historic buildings — confirm elevator access when booking, as many have stairs to upper-floor rooms. Bourbon Street has no luggage storage. Hotels hold bags willingly.

Accessibility

The French Quarter presents significant accessibility challenges: uneven brick sidewalks, high curbs, narrow streets, and many historic buildings without elevators or ramps. Jackson Square and the Cathedral area are mostly accessible. The WWII Museum in the Warehouse District is fully accessible. Streetcars have accessible stops on Canal Street. Major hotels (Marriott, Hilton) in the CBD have full accessibility. Airport terminal is fully ADA-compliant.