Solo Female Travel in New Orleans: Is it Safe? + What to Know
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Just like any other big city in the United States, New Orleans is dangerous, statistically speaking. So it's true that there's a ton of crime, and you could easily find yourself in a highly undesirable situation if you're not careful. I'm not going to lie to you! But the real question is this: Is solo female travel in New Orleans safe? Is it a good idea? Or should it be avoided at all costs?
And the answer, in short, is that yes, solo female travel in New Orleans is safe. But there are some things you need to know so you can feel confident, comfortable, and excited about your solo trip!
I had an amazing time on my week-long solo trip to NOLA, discovering this city's vibrant, rambunctious culture while creating the perfect 3-day New Orleans itinerary!
In my book, solo travel is always a good idea. Even more nomadic adventures, like solo traveling in Nicaragua, can be highly rewarding!
So now, I'm going to tell you what I wish I'd known! Here are my top tips for exploring NOLA solo.
1. Choose a Hotel in a Safe, Touristy Area.
Staying in a hotel in a nice, safe area where there are plenty of other tourists will help ensure that you won't wander into trouble accidentally. Who knows, you may even meet some new friends to explore with.
I stayed at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter during my stay, and I felt completely safe and comfortable.
Located in one of New Orleans's safest, most touristy neighborhoods. It could not have made my first solo female travel experience in New Orleans any better!
Where to Stay in New Orleans
These top-rated stays are all located in the safest neighborhoods in NOLA. No matter your budget, you're sure to find something below that suits you.
Luxury Accommodations
- Maison de la Luz – Warehouse District – beautiful decor!
- The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans – French Quarter
Mid-Range Accommodations
- Hyatt Centric French Quarter – French Quarter, my favorite!
- Maison Perrier Bed & Breakfast – Garden District
Budget Accommodations
- Factors Row – Downtown
- The Brandywine – Warehouse District
2. Some Neighborhoods are “Out of Bounds.”
There are some wonderful places in New Orleans that should not be missed, and then there are others that should be completely written off. And I mean that literally too. On your map, ask a friendly local (which is pretty much everyone in New Orleans!) or your hotel concierge to scribble out all of the city's no-go zones.
There are areas that some New Orleanians don't like to pass through, so why should you?
RELATED READING: The Most EPIC 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary
New Orleans Neighborhoods
While in New Orleans, if you stick to exploring these neighborhoods, you're sure to have a safe and fun time!
- The historic, bustling, and touristy French Quarter
- The trendy and eclectic Warehouse District
- The charming and upmarket Garden District
- The quaint, laid-back, and artsy Marigny & Bywater Districts
3. Don't be Flashy.
Given the hard times that this city has been through, robberies are not uncommon in New Orleans.
So here's the plan: Don't call attention to yourself. Don't flash your wallet, cash, brand new iPhone, or your camera. And mind your own business. Hopefully, everyone else will leave you to your business, too. (But in the event that they don't, and they ask you to give them your money, do it. Just give them whatever items they ask for.)
If you want to take extra precautions, you can always buy a money belt to wear under your shirt. Another option is to keep a credit card and/or cash in one of your shoes, and keep some in your wallet. That way, if you're forced to empty your wallet, you won't be totally out of luck.
Chances are – if you stay aware of your surroundings and conscious of your own actions – you won't run into a situation like this!
4. Explore at the Right Times of the Day and Night.
I figured this one out pretty quickly.
A short story: On my first day in New Orleans, I woke up very early, at about 5:30 am, ordered room service for breakfast, got ready, and left my room at about 7:00. I was eager to start exploring New Orleans (clearly!), and once I stepped outside, I immediately realized that I should've been a little less enthusiastic. I could've slept just a few hours longer.
Out on the Bourbon Street was me, and a handful of sketchy-looking guys, uttering dirty remarks at me that I have no interest in repeating, as well as drunk people passed out in all different nooks and crannies.
After about twenty minutes of walking around (uncomfortably), I walked right back to my hotel room and slept a little bit longer. When I set out again at about 10:30 am, tourists and non-creepy locals alike were bustling about, jazz emanating from every street corner. Now that's the New Orleans I'd hoped for!
As a female solo traveler in New Orleans, you are best exploring when the streets are bustling with activity.
Don't wander around in the middle of the night either, but that should go without saying… I hope.
5. Stay Aware on Bourbon Street.
Bourbon Street is all about drinking. Period.
While this fact makes for some pretty awesome people-watching, entertaining conversations, and, well, fun, remember to keep your wits about you. Be aware. Make sure you don't get too caught up in the party scene.
If you're easily distracted or get carried away easily, keep reminding yourself that you're in New Orleans and you're all alone. Bourbon Street is party central – and in this kind of setting, there is no easier target than a drunk girl roaming the streets all by herself.
Don't drink too much, and always keep a watchful eye on your drink.
If you don't feel comfortable walking back to your hotel alone, don't. Call an Uber or Lyft (these options are preferred, thanks to the paper trail!) or catch a taxi home instead.
6. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings.
While I'm not saying that you should look over your shoulder every few seconds to make sure that no one is following you, I am saying that you should at least pay attention to your surroundings and make note of where other people are around you! This applies to wherever you choose to travel solo.
If you notice that a street looks oddly quiet and deserted, should you walk that way? Probably not.
As a rule of thumb, only venture down well-lit streets where there are plenty of other people in sight.
7. Book Guided Tours
Not only are guided tours a great way to meet people, but also, there's safety in numbers!
While in New Orleans, here are the best guided tours to book as a solo female – or just as a human, in general!
When I was in New Orleans, multiple locals told me not to explore the cemeteries alone, since creepy, and perhaps dangerous, people hang out in them. In fact, whether you're traveling alone or not, a guided St. Louis cemetery tour is the only way to go.
And yeah, this may seem like an odd tip!
But since New Orleans is a swampland, the dead could not be buried underground, and instead were laid to rest in beautifully embellished, above-ground tombs. So, in other words, New Orleans's cemeteries are a must-see!
This guided tour of the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the one I recommend!
Food & Drink
New Orleans's legendary food and drink culture is not to be missed! So if you want to eat and drink with a local foodie expert – and other food-loving travelers – then book my favorite New Orleans food and cocktail tour! This is one of the most fun and safe ways to savor NOLA's best craft cocktails and classic dishes.
- New Orleans Cocktail and Food History Tour – my #1 recommendation!
- Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter
- Cocktail History Walking Tour in the French Quarter – perfect for vegetarians… cocktails only!
Ghost Tour
If you don't really feel comfortable exploring alone the streets at night, I don't blame you. I didn't really either. The best way to safely get out and about at night is on a New Orleans ghost tour!
Whether you believe in voodoo, vampires, witchcraft, and ghosts or not, whatever. Ghost tours are the thing to do in New Orleans at night… And you're going to have FUN on this tour, as you have a few drinks, roam NOLA's eery, dark streets (in the safety of the group!), and visit the city's most haunted places. All of this, while your ghost tour guide regales you with bone-chilling true-crime tales and ghost stories.
- Adults Only New Orleans Ghost, True Crime, Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour – my #1 recommendation!
- New Orleans Premier Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, Vampire, and Mystery Tour
- Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans
8. Call a Taxi
Wondering how to get around the city? For the most part, I walked everywhere! And felt 100% comfortable doing so, during the daytime!
But as I mentioned above, if you don't feel comfortable walking back to your hotel at night, then… Just. Don't.
Even if you're trying to “stay on a budget.” It's not worth it!
Call an Uber or a Lyft, if possible; these options are always best because there's a paper trail attached. But you can also just hop in a cab.
RELATED READING: The Most EPIC 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary
So again: Be smart, be aware, and be safe. If you do those things and follow the tips I've just detailed for you, solo female travel in New Orleans should be a breeze.
Over to you! Have you traveled to New Orleans alone before? Did you feel safe? Do you have any other tips for solo travelers in New Orleans (or anywhere else in general)? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you for the tips! I just booked my first solo trip to, guess where? New Orleans! I am staying with a verified host through Airbnb about two miles away from the French Quarter and it has a lot of public transportation near by. It was sort of impulsive and I worry that I will feel out of place and not meet people on my ventures but I am going to do it anyway. I am hopeful that it will be a great experience, as long as I am cautious.
I think the best, safest place you could stay would be within the FQ, but yes, you’re right. As long as you’re cautious, you should be fine and have a great trip! :)
how was your trip?
As a former New Orleanian, I complete agree with this list. In particular, just give them what they want and don’t be flashy!
Another tip especially during Mardi Gras- don’t let ANYONE borrow your phone for any reason. People will just run off with it. Seen many a Mardi Gras ruined with too much trust lol.
As long as you pay attention, like you said so eloquently, New Orleans is a wonderful city for a woman.
See, everyone?! This former New Orleanian agrees! Just be cautious and GO!
Great post! I’ve never traveled to NOLA alone but I’ve traveled there several times with friends. Like you said, it can be a very dangerous city, especially in certain areas & during certain times of the day. Like any other place, you really have to exercise caution. If you do, it can be really fun. There is a lot to explore and experience, as I’m sure you did!
Totally agree! It’s all about being aware. It really was an incredible solo trip, but next time the two of us want to go together! Thanks for your input :)
Hey Maddy,
I booked a solo trip for 3 nights in New Orleans and am staying in the FQ. However now I am getting very worried about going as everyone is telling me it’s very dangerous and that it’s best to go with someone. I have tours booked during the day and planned on being in the hotel come sun down, haha. I talked with a friend who lives in NOLA and she too said it’s pretty dangerous but just to be aware. I don’t know what to do as my trip is next month. Maybe I should just cancel and go another time with someone? I was thinking to go to Nashville solo, instead.
-So Confused
I would say 100% do NOT cancel your trip! I felt the exact same way before I went. I couldn’t find anyone to come with me, and my whole family was nervous about me going. But I went anyway, and it was a great trip. If you plan on being back at your hotel once the sun goes down — which is what I did as well — you will be fine. Don’t stress out about it. Once you get there, you’ll be having so much fun and eating so much amazing food that you’ll forget all about your worries. Like your friend said, just be aware and you’ll be totally fine! If you need any more tips or have more questions, just leave another comment and I’m happy to help. :)
Thanks so much for the reply!! People are making it sound like I’ll be in an episode of the Walking Dead!
No, no, no. You’ll be totally fine! I’ve written other articles too on what to do and where to eat if you need them! Enjoy your trip :)
Maddy – Thank you for this! I’ve walked around in NOLA once before during the day time until my boyfriend at the time plane landed and I was fine! However, now I’m going for 3 nights as well by myself and the guys at work are freaking me out!
Natalie – How was your recent solo trip there? Do you have any other advice?
Thank you both!
I travel to NOLA alone at least once a year and have always felt perfectly safe. No one bothered me, and I didn’t feel any less safe than in any other large city. Use common sense and you will be fine, basically these tips here can be transferred to any city you are visiting.
And certainly don’t stay in your hotel after sundown! You will miss so much!
Thanks for your input!
I’ll be travelling to NOLA while my husband is there for a conference, so I’ll end up being alone most of the day. To top it off, I’ll be +5 months pregnant. I’ve been there over 10 yrs ago, but I’m still nervous about touristing alone while pregnant. any recommendations?
Hi Linda,
As far as more tips for safety, I don’t really have anything to add. If you stick to what I detailed above, I think you will be totally fine.
However, if you’re asking about other tips for New Orleans in general, check out this article for what to see, where to eat, and where to stay:
https://maddysavenue.com/three-days-in-new-orleans/ (https://maddysavenue.com/three-days-in-new-orleans/)
Thanks for stopping by and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Hi there! What would you pack for clothing and shoes, when traveling in New Orleans? Obviously, a large part of it depends on weather, but what are the touristy things to do? I am debating if I should pack tennis shoes only or some pumps and dress sandals, as well. I’m unsure what the dress culture is like there or if it would even be appropriate to wear pumps and dress sandals on the street. Thanks for all your help (*_*)
Hello! Yes, of course it will first depend on the weather. But if there’s one thing I learned while in New Orleans, it’s that anything goes. Literally. There is not one specific way that people dress. In the French Quarter, you’ll see EVERYTHING. People wear wacky costumes with wigs and bright colors, women wear nice dresses and heels, but they also wear dresses that barely cover anything on them… It’s all your preference. You can wear anything and get away with it. If you have room in your suitcase, I would pack all three options: heels, dress sandals, and tennis shoes. Tennis shoes for walking around in the daytime, because there’s a lot of walking to be done, and heels and sandals to go out at night. For my entire time in New Orleans, given it was hot, I wore different pairs of dress sandals, and nice summer dresses! I hope that helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!
Thank you so much! :-) I truly appreciate all your feedback.
Happy to help! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Good tips and an entertaining read overall. Good to see that you had a nice time alone but were careful & cautious :)
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes definitely careful and cautious but still had lots of fun all by myself!
These are some great tips! Visiting NOLA alone as a woman is a bold move….
Glad you enjoyed it! It sure is, but it’s also very rewarding!!
I actually agree with all of this, and that’s rare for me!~ Guess we travel similarly :)
I guess so! :)
would you say you like solo travel or traveling with other people better? There are pros and cons to both I think.
I agree, there are pros and cons to both. Since I’ve only really traveled solo one time, I would say I feel much more safe/comfortable whilst traveling with others. But I do like to do my own thing and I’m a very independent person so I don’t have a problem with traveling solo. I don’t get lonely easily; I can have fun even when I’m all by myself. Traveling with someone else can be taxing if you’re always having to compromise on what to do, where to eat, etc. When you’re alone, there’s no one to disagree with. That said, of course I love to travel with family and friends and overall, I think I have a better time with them than when I’m on my own!
Thanks for sharing this post. This is a good article – especially for people who are apprehensive about visiting NOLA alone! I can see how it can be a nerve racking experience, but I bet it was rewarding too!!
I was pretty nervous before my trip – especially because it was my first ever solo trip! It was definitely rewarding though!
This really helped me! I leave for my first ever solo trip to New Orleans ltonifht, and your tips make me feel a little more at ease, in the sense that I have an idea of what to look for. Thank you!
let me know how it goes Sarah, was planning a trip solo and would like to hear your thoughts! Thank you
Though I’m not sure that I’ll ever visit New Orleans alone, these are some good solo travel tips!
Thanks! :)