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Bourbon Street

Road

Bourbon Street runs through New Orleans' French Quarter and remains a draw for live jazz, late‑night bars, Creole and Cajun restaurants, and the Mardi Gras parade routes that surge through the neighborhood.

Bourbon Street New OrleansBaton Rouge, LouisianaShreveport, LouisianaLafayette, LouisianaMetairie, LouisianaNatchitochesBourbon Street
In this guide

Bourbon Street essentials

Address: Bourbon Street, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, USA
Hours: Public street - open 24 hours
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About Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is a street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, famous for its nightlife, music venues and bars. It is one of the city’s best-known entertainment streets and a focal point of festival activity.

The street is lined with clubs, bars, restaurants and performance venues concentrated over multiple blocks in the French Quarter, with live jazz, brass bands and open-front bars common along its length. Nighttime activity is lively year-round, and the street is a central artery for Mardi Gras and other large public events.

The architecture is characterful 18th- and 19th-century urban fabric with wrought-iron balconies and close-set buildings that host street-level entertainment. Walking the blocks of Bourbon Street provides immediate access to a concentrated music and hospitality scene.

Bourbon Street dates to the colonial era of New Orleans and was named for the ruling House of Bourbon when the city was laid out in the early 18th century; it developed over centuries into an entertainment and cultural district. The street’s present-day reputation for music and nightlife is the result of long-standing local musical traditions and commercial development in the French Quarter.

Bourbon Street runs through the heart of the French Quarter in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River and centered within the city’s historic core.

  • Peak times: Nighttime and festival periods such as Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest see the highest crowds and live music activity along the street.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Bourbon Street

Best time depends on appetite for crowds: Mardi Gras for maximal spectacle, autumn or spring for livelier weather and fewer extremes.

Spring
February-April · 12-25°C
Mardi Gras season (February-March) is peak spectacle - crowded, loud, and unforgettable.
Autumn
September-November · 18-28°C
Fewer hurricanes and sticky summer days; evenings are lively and more comfortable.
Summer
June-August · 24-33°C
Hot and humid, with thunderstorms; nightlife is intense but weather can be oppressive.

Weather & Climate near Bourbon Street

Climate

Bourbon Street's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 33°C. Abundant rainfall (1594 mm/year), wettest in July.

Air Quality: AQI 38 Good
Best Time to Visit
OctoberMayNovember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
-5°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Good 6° - 17° 12° 139 mm partly cloudy 81% 3.5 m/s 0.7 moderate 10.4h
February Good 8° - 19° 13° 141 mm partly cloudy 82% 3.5 m/s 1.0 moderate 11.0h
March Very Good 11° - 23° 17° 136 mm partly cloudy 80% 3.7 m/s 1.4 high 11.9h
April Very Good 14° - 26° 20° 117 mm partly cloudy 79% 3.7 m/s 1.8 very high 12.8h
May Excellent 19° - 30° 25° 125 mm some cloud 76% 3.2 m/s 2.0 extreme 13.5h
June Good 22° - 33° 30° 141 mm partly cloudy 76% 2.8 m/s 2.1 extreme 13.9h
July Good 23° - 33° 32° 167 mm partly cloudy 77% 2.3 m/s 2.0 very high 13.7h
August Good 23° - 33° 32° 156 mm partly cloudy 77% 2.3 m/s 1.9 very high 13.1h
September Very Good 21° - 32° 27° 140 mm some cloud 78% 2.7 m/s 1.7 very high 12.2h
October Excellent 16° - 27° 22° 79 mm mostly sunny 77% 3.0 m/s 1.3 high 11.3h
November Excellent 11° - 23° 17° 119 mm some cloud 79% 3.1 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.6h
December Good 8° - 19° 13° 134 mm partly cloudy 82% 3.4 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.2h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street sits in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. From the Central Business District and Canal Street, it’s a short walk across the streetcar terminal at Canal; the Riverfront streetcar and Canal Street streetcars stop nearby. The nearest major landmark is Jackson Square, about a 5-10 minute walk.

Tips for Visiting Bourbon Street

  • For the best people‑watching and music, visit in the evening after dinner service - Bourbon Street's entertainment ramps up after dark.
  • Walk a block or two off Bourbon to find quieter French Quarter bars and better local food; the main drag is great for spectacle, less so for nuance.
  • Be aware of local laws on public drinking and open containers; police presence is routine late at night, and petty theft can be a problem in crowded areas.