What should I pack for New Orleans?

Closed-toe walking shoes with ankle support are the single most important thing to pack for New Orleans. The sidewalks, from the French Quarter's 300-year-old brick paths to the cracked concrete along Magazine Street, are uneven, puddled, and occasionally missing entirely. The flagstones around Jackson Square, where the square was established in 1721 and repaired unevenly since, will roll an ankle in flat sandals. Expect to walk 8-12 km on a full day between the Garden District and Frenchmen Street. New Orleans sits 1-2 meters below sea level in most neighborhoods, so the ground stays wet long after rain stops. Suede and canvas shoes will be soaked and stinking by dinner. Leather or synthetic uppers with rubber tread soles handle the wet brick along Decatur Street. You might wear sandals on a lazy Marigny afternoon, but not as your only pair.

September temperatures in New Orleans are running around 32°C, feeling closer to 37°C with the humidity. That range holds from May through October. Cotton feels fine for about 20 minutes, then stays damp against your skin the rest of the day. Lightweight synthetic or linen breathes better in this kind of wet heat. Three tops, two bottoms, rotate daily. One long-sleeve shirt matters more than you'd think. Commander's Palace in the Garden District still enforces a jacket-required dress code for men at dinner, and several Warehouse District restaurants turn away tank tops after 8 PM. Mind you, air conditioning here runs aggressively cold. Restaurants along Decatur Street and the bars on Bourbon Street keep interiors around 18-20°C while the sidewalk outside sits at 34°C. That 15-degree swing every time you walk through a door is why locals carry a light layer even in August.

Rain arrives without warning in New Orleans. A clear sky at noon can become a 30-minute downpour by 12:45, then sunshine again by 1:15. This happens 3-4 days a week from June through September. A waterproof shell beats an umbrella because you'll want both hands free on Frenchmen Street's narrow sidewalks, and wind off the Mississippi River turns umbrellas inside out in seconds. Mosquitoes breed year-round in the low ground near City Park and along Bayou St. John, worst at dusk when the air goes still and heavy. DEET-based repellent is the only thing that reliably works. The September UV index here tends to hover around 8-9, strong enough to burn exposed skin in under 25 minutes. A wide-brimmed hat keeps the sun off your neck along the exposed Riverwalk between the Convention Center and the Outlet Collection.

Bring a portable charger, 10,000 mAh minimum. Between Google Maps, photos at St. Louis Cathedral (built 1794), and checking live music set times on Frenchmen Street, your phone will likely be dead by 3 PM. New Orleans uses standard US 120V Type A/B outlets, so international visitors need a plug adapter. A crossbody bag with a zipper closure matters here. The city's solo-traveler safety score is 3.8 out of 10 (see the TTDI Solo-Safety Index), and pickpocketing along Bourbon Street and on crowded St. Charles Avenue streetcars is a known problem. Keep your phone and wallet in a front zippered pocket or a bag held against your body. A reusable water bottle saves $3-4 per refill compared to French Quarter convenience stores, and New Orleans tap water is safe to drink. The fountains at Louis Armstrong Park and most hotel lobbies offer refill stations.