December Overview
- High temperature: 65°F (18°C)
- Low temperature: 46°F (8°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 5 hours
- Water temperature: 63°F (0°C)
Head to New Orleans in December if you are after some mild but Christmassy conditions allowing you to chill on the beach. Temperature highs reach 65°F (18°C), the sun shines for 5 hours each day on average and it’s pretty dry with 6 rainy days on average for the month of December. The tough ones might even want to go for a swim- the nearby Gulf of Mexico water temperature now measures a cold 63°F (17°C). Temperatures can drop to lows of 46°F (8°C) so do bring a coat too.
Even though the weather in New Orleans in December is lovely and mild, the city turns itself into a very Christmassy place. The Celebrations in the Oaks in City Park is a spectacular event with some incredible Christmas lights and simply everything around Christmas. The weather is also ideal to do some more sightseeing. Check out the New Orleans Museum of Art and especially if you are travelling with kids, the Zoo and Aquarium.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans
Weatherwise it can be recommended to visit New Orleans almost all year round. July and August though can get pretty hot and humid. From February until May the Mardi Gras celebration is at its height and accompanied by some pleasant, mild weather.
Even in the coldest winter months daytime temperatures reach warm highs of 64°F (18°C) and hotel prices are at the lowest. If you want to swim in the nearby Gulf of Mexico you should wait until April/May. The least rainy months are April, May and October. And the hurricane season in Louisiana runs from June until November.
Things to know about New Orleans
The Big Easy- New Orleans can’t be compared with any other city on this planet! Located in Louisiana, New Orleans is particularly well known for the Mardi Gras (carnival) and jazz music. New Orleans is basically surrounded by the water of the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain. Thanks to the Mississippi, New Orleans flourished as the paddlewheeler ships were able to bring all sorts of goods from the north of the States to the south. Today these paddlewheelers can be cruised on up and down the Mississippi.
First, New Orleans was the capital of the French colony of Louisiana. Later on though it became a Spanish colony. The descendendants of the Spanish and French were called Creoles and they then took over New Orleans. In 1803 New Orleans became part of the USA. The Creoles continued to inhabit the French Quarter and their architectural style is still visible today. What you can see in French Quater:
- A must see in the French Quarter is Jackson Square with the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson.
- Also located on the square is St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously used Catholic church in the US.
- Right next to the cathedral you will find the Café du Monde serving their famous beignets. And there is also the French Market offering fruit and vegetables and all sorts of other stuff.
- Also in the French Quarter you will find the entertainment district with the Preservation Hall which hosts many concerts and events centered around Jazz Music.
- Just around the corner is Bourbon Street where all the nightlife is happening. And believe it or not, here you can drink alcohol on the streets!
Then if you jump on one of the famous St. Charles Streetcars, you will get from Canal Street to the Garden District where you can find some stunning villas.
Other things to do around the city:
- Then of course there is Mardi Gras. It’s French and stands for fat Tuesday and basically involves a lot of partying, eating fat food and dressing up for the carnival.
- Visit the Mardi Gras World or Mardi Gras Museum if you don’t manage to be there for the real event and get a good feel for what is happening at this unique fete!
- If you are interested in things a bit more spiritual, you could visit the Voodoo Museum. Voodoo is actually quite big in New Orleans and you will see shops selling voodoo stuff all around.
- Then on the other end of the spectrum is the National WWII Museum which you might want to visit.
If you are looking for some outdoor time and entertainment for the kids- here we go:
- The City Park is a huge park and one of the oldest urban parks in the States. From Botanical Gardens, to an amusement park, tennis courses and even an 18 hole golf course, there is something for everyone.
- Then the Audubon Nature Institute offers a zoo, aquarium, insectarium and nature center.
- The >Louisiana Children’s Museum is a perfect place to visit for kids.
Last but not least, the weather in New Orleans is fantastic and allows you to swim almost all year round. Below you can find out a bit about the nearest and best beaches.
- Straight opposite New Orleans in Mandeville you’ll find the closest beach at Fontainebleau State Park. It’s a lovely place to relax and enjoy and if you feel like it, you can also take a hike within the state park or visit the Sugar Mill Ruins.
- Just a 1 hour drive takes you to the next closest beach at the Bay St. Louis. It’s a cute town with endless beaches and great restaurants on the water. It’s a great place to visit with children too.
- Then there is the very special place of Ship Island. You will have to drive to Gulfport from where you can take the Ship Island ferry which takes you there within around 1 hour. This island in the Gulf invites you to chill on the beach or explore the historic Fort Massachusetts.
- Then around 30 minutes further up from Gulfport is Biloxi. There you won’t just find some lovely beaches but also casinos, restaurants and watersport activities.
- 100 miles south of New Orleans is Grand Isle which can be reached without a ferry. It offers over 10 miles of pristine white sand beaches.
