New Orleans is one of my favorite places in the world. The food, the atmosphere, I never have a bad time in this great city. One concern many have is the crime rate in New Orleans. It is an unfortunate fact that violent crime in this city is a problem. Most tourists stay in or near the French Quarter, so many ask is the French Quarter safe? I also get asked is the French Quarter safe at night. I think there are two different answers to these questions.
Is the French Quarter Safe? I would say for the most part, yes, but it does get sketchier as the night goes on. The area is safer than other parts of the city, but not without its dangers. I have been in the French Quarter at all hours, I never felt unsafe, but have felt uneasy at times. If you think I am playing both sides of the fence with this statement you are right. I do not want to give you the impression that New Orleans is dangerous for tourists, I just don’t want you to think you can let your guard down. There are some not so good people in the French Quarter just waiting to take advantage of those visiting.
I usually stay in the French Quarter, I know there are plenty of better places in the city, but that is where most of us nonlocals stay. Although safe, it is still wise to take some precautions, especially at night. This is due to the excessive amount of drinking and the high volume of visitors. For the most part the people of New Orleans are some of the most wonderful you will meet in the world. There is unfortunately a shady element that will take advantage of circumstances if one lets them. Let us examine this further.
Violent Crime in the French Quarter
Although New Orleans on a whole has been doing better with violent crime, the French quarter has seen a spike in recent years. 2018 saw an increase of 16.5% (source). 2019 was trending better but there were still many high- profile cases of violent crimes. One that stuck in my mind happened in December 2019 when 11 people were shot in the French Quarter during the holiday season. You can read more about that situation at the link here. I personally never witnessed anything of this caliber, but it clearly happens. I do not want to make it out like the French Quarter is the wild, wild west and you shouldn’t go. As I mentioned in this article here, I love this city.
A lot of Drunk People
This is not hometown USA, there is a wonderful amount of excess drinking in this area. New Orleans can be dangerous from tourists as well as to tourists. In fact, on a whole I worry much more about the alcohol invincible dudes than I do about the locals when too much alcohol is involved. New Orleans is a hub for bachelor parties, which can bring a certain level of rambunctiousness. This kind of behavior is pretty much limited to Bourbon street and not the French Quarter on a whole, but it is something to keep an eye out for. I have seen some f-up things on Bourbon street at night, things I cannot unsee, but not much that made me feel unsafe
Scams in the French Quarter
There are a lot of minor scams in the French Quarter. Near Jackson Square you have a slew of fortune tellers, whether you think they are a scam is up to you. Just be careful, there are reports of them working harder and harder to milk you dry. Do not let fun entertainment turn into a $1000 learning lesson.
Another thing to look out for is someone trying to start up a conversation on the street. Be aware there is usually something more at play. They may want to sell you their rap CD, which is fine. If they aren’t trying to lead CHAZ, they are probably harmless. Other, not so harmless people are those who will follow or harass you trying to get you to go somewhere. We had a guy chase us a few blocks because we responded to his pleasantries. Some rules of thumb, don’t let anyone spell your name, guess your shoe size, or play any other game or dare. those that do this are glorified beggars trying to trick you into giving them your cash. Always be nice to people, just be wary of their motives…if something feels off it usually is.
Pickpockets in the French Quarter
I know New Orleans has a European feel, but sometimes there is too much of a good thing. Like Europe, the French Quarter is known for its pickpockets. This is more concentrated on Bourbon street and the bars in it. Bourbon street combines the two things thieves love: drunk people and heavy crowds. With the influx of so many drunken tourists, it is easy pickings for pickpockets.
One unfortunate thing is many bars are either working with the pickpockets or (more likely) just turn a blind eye to them. I do not know what it is about Bourbon Street, unlike the rest of New Orleans people who work there seem to have a contempt for tourists. Maybe they see their fair share of drunken jerks and it breeds a hatred for everyone visiting. I have read many of a TripAdvisor review about certain bars in which multiple people complain they lost their wallet and were not helped at all by the owners. It is unfortunate because most of the city is full of really nice people.
Is the French Quarter Safe at Night?
Is the French Quarter safe at night? Yes and no… I never had a problem, but there are definitely risks to be considered. Let us face it, nothing good ever happens after midnight, and most people who are out and about probably have been overserved. I have walked the French Quarter dozens of times at night, to avoid a violent situation it is probably best to stick to the more touristy (crowded) areas. Also wrap it up by midnight…you most likely have been drinking all day and the hurricanes will be flowing tomorrow early, why risk a problem?
One of the main issues in terms of safety is it is easy to slip into a less populated area. When you have been drinking all day and now it is midnight you may just be wandering from one neighborhood to the next, cocktail in hand. Next thing you know there isn’t a sole around, not the best situation in terms of safety. Once again, I am not trying to scare you, rather just give a bit of caution.
Tips for Safety in The French Quarter
I will end this by giving you a couple of tips on how to stay safe in the French Quarter. Some may seem obvious, but they always bear repeating. There a lot of tourist that come to New Orleans every year. If you take some precaution, someone else will be a victim, not you.
- Be Careful Going from Neighborhood to Neighborhood: Especially at night, I am thinking of my own experience visiting Frenchmen Street. We went late at night and it is an amazing area. Both the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street are usually crowded. The streets in between are where you must keep your wits about you. Some of the streets can be very iffy.
- Guard Your Wallet on Bourbon Street: I do not even like Bourbon Street, but most tourist find their way to this area. Do some research, you will find out which bars “allow” crimes to take place. Just avoid those like the plague.
- Know Where You Are Before Getting Too Drunk: I can tell you not to get too drunk, but I would be a hypocrite. Still set up a plan as to how to get home (or more likely your hotel) in case you are still drinking at 3 AM. This will come in handy when you are too drunk to remember the name of the place you are staying.
- Stay in Crowded Areas: This might feel like a no brainer, but you are less likely to get robbed if there are a million tourists around. Keep an eye out for your surroundings, if it is late and the population starts to dwindle, maybe turn around.
- Turn in Early, Start Drinking Early and Go to Bed Early:.. You are not a punk if you go to bed by midnight, if (and only if) you have been drinking since 9 am. At the very least, end the night at your hotel bar (or one close to your hotel) just to stay out of harm’s way.
Conclusion: Is the French Quarter Safe for Tourists?
So, when one asks is the French Quarter Safe, I give mixed messages. I did not mean to give the impression that the French Quarter is a terribly unsafe place. I never had any fearful experiences personally. The occasional scammer following us etc… then again New Orleans is not Japan (read my review here), it is a wonderful city, but not always the safest. Just use common sense and be careful. Day time is safer than night, keep your wits about you and you should be fine.
