StayAreasIs French Quarter a good place to stay in New Orleans?
Yes, especially for a first visit. Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, the French Market and the river are all a walk away, though nights are loud and rooms cost the most here.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- Nightlife lovers
- Couples on a city break
Look elsewhere if
- You want quiet nights
- You're on a tight budget
- You're travelling with young kids and want calm streets
Hotels in French Quarter
All French Quarter hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in French Quarter
The French Quarter is the most convenient place to stay in New Orleans for a first visit. Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Café Du Monde, the French Market and the riverfront are all a short walk apart, and the streetcars on Canal Street and along the river take you to the CBD, the Warehouse District and beyond.
The area is a grid of narrow streets lined with Creole townhouses, hidden courtyards and iron-lace balconies. Royal Street has antique shops, galleries and street musicians, Bourbon Street is the neon party strip, and the lower Quarter towards Esplanade Avenue is quieter and more residential. Restaurants range from grand old Creole dining rooms to po'boy counters, and Preservation Hall plays traditional jazz every night.
The downside is the noise and the crowds. Bourbon Street and the blocks around it stay loud until the early hours, the streets can smell after a big night, and hotels here cost more than anywhere else in the city. On Mardi Gras and festival weekends, prices climb even higher.
What makes the French Quarter special is that the city's whole atmosphere is on your doorstep. You can start the day with beignets by the river, wander from courtyard to courtyard and end it listening to a brass band, all without looking for a taxi. Nowhere else in the United States feels quite like it.
Getting around
- Bourbon Street2walk
- Preservation Hall2walk
- Jackson Square4walk
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 112walk
- French Market14walk
- Frenchmen Street15walk
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)45
French Quarter questions
Is French Quarter a good area to stay in New Orleans?
Yes, especially for a first visit. Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, the French Market and the river are all a walk away, though nights are loud and rooms cost the most here. It suits first-time visitors, nightlife lovers and couples on a city break.
How much does a hotel in French Quarter cost?
A typical double is around $140 a night at a budget hotel, $190 mid-range and $430 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to French Quarter?
About 45 minutes door to door: Airport Express bus 202 to downtown, then a short walk; a taxi takes about 25 minutes.
How far is French Quarter from the main sights?
Door to door from French Quarter: Bourbon Street 2 minutes on foot, Preservation Hall 2 minutes on foot, Jackson Square 4 minutes on foot and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 12 minutes on foot.