Population: Approximately 220,000
Time zone: GMT -6 hours
Currency: US Dollar
Language: English
Int. dialling code: +1
Religion: Predominantly Christian
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Essential New Orleans information
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Julia Buckley
Travel Editor, The London Paper
www.thelondonpaper.com
"New Orleans - it's not like anything you'd expect from a US city. The French Quarter's got an air of crumbling, Venetian hush, the Garden District's all palatial white clapboard mansions and Magazine Street's as trendy as it gets. And of course it's music central, and reinvents itself every generation. Stay off Bourbon Street, and you'll have much of it to yourself."
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carre, is the cultural hub of the city and the place to begin any exploration of New Orleans. Bourbon Street is renowned for vibrant nightlife, music and dining.
Jackson Square, St Louis Cathedral and the French Market are all in the Vieux Carre and any wide-eyed tourist could spend days in that part of the city alone.
Great jazz dominates the music scene with its characteristic sound pouring out of most bars.
Food in New Orleans is world famous for quality. Creole, Spanish, French, Italian and Cajun influences dominate the spicy cuisine and combine to produce a distinctive Louisiana flavour. Po-boy sandwiches, beignets, jambalaya and gumbo are just some of the delicious and unique specialities that you have to try.
Extraordinary and beautifully-made above ground tombs are featured on the citys cemetery tours. The Historic Voodoo Museum is worth a visit. New Orleans has a strong link to the cult and it is still practised by some of the population to this day.
And there is lots more to see too. For more information visit the citys tourist website at New Orleans Tourism.
Did you eat at a fantastic restaurant or stay in a wonderful hotel in New Orleans? Maybe you discovered a hidden sight or you have a Louisiana travel tip that you want to share with other visitors?