A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beijing vs. New Orleans for Food, Nightlife, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Beijing or New Orleans?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and New Orleans can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Beijing

Beijing is a historic, massive, and jam-packed city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a fun-filled, festive, and vibrant city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, nightlife, and live music.

Beijing and New Orleans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beijing or New Orleans?

You'll generally find more things to do in Beijing than New Orleans. Beijing is bigger than New Orleans, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Beijing is better known for its museums, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while New Orleans is more popular for its nightlife, music, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere. Beijing is well known for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. Also, Beijing is famous for The Forbidden City. New Orleans is well known for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties.

How is Beijing different from New Orleans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New Orleans and Beijing. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Beijing from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Beijing or New Orleans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Beijing and New Orleans can be an enjoyable experience.

Many restaurants in Beijing have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

Eat your way through New Orleans, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in New Orleans is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

The nightlife in Beijing has something for everybody. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Music?

New Orleans is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Beijing is not a live music destination.

In New Orleans you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Beijing is not a live music destination.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a great destination for its historic old town charm. However, Beijing does not have a historic old town.

New Orleans is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Beijing does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Families?

Beijing is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Beijing is a family-friendly city. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Couples?

Both Beijing and New Orleans are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Beijing is a good city for couples to visit. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

New Orleans is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Beijing is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Students?

Beijing is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Beijing. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

New Orleans is popular with students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Is Beijing or New Orleans Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Beijing is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit in Beijing is fairly effecient and thorough. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is Beijing or New Orleans a more walkable city?

New Orleans is a city with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable city. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Beijing Worth Visiting? and Is New Orleans Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New Orleans or Beijing?

How long in Beijing or New Orleans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Beijing and New Orleans. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than in New Orleans. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Beijing, and 2-3 days is enough time in New Orleans.

Families should spend more time in Beijing than New Orleans. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Beijing, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in New Orleans than Beijing. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New Orleans that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than New Orleans if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Beijing.

One day in Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing is a cultural city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In New Orleans, you'll find food and nightlife. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing is a historic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

In New Orleans, you'll find nightlife and live music. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Orleans has to offer.

Five days in Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing is a cultural city where you can fill many days. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

New Orleans is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this city.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Orleans. Many people enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting New Orleans. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia and New Orleans is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Beijing.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is New Orleans Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Beijing or New Orleans?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Beijing and New Orleans, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Beijing or New Orleans?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Beijing or New Orleans in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Beijing as well as New Orleans. The summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.

In the summer, Beijing is around the same temperature as New Orleans. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and New Orleans averages at about 82°F (28°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the summer, Beijing often gets less sunshine than New Orleans. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 264 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. Beijing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Beijing usually gets more rain in July than New Orleans. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or New Orleans in the Autumn?

Both New Orleans and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Also, many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Beijing is generally much colder than New Orleans. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

It's quite sunny in New Orleans. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as New Orleans during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than New Orleans. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Beijing or New Orleans in the Winter?

Both New Orleans and Beijing during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. Beijing is much colder than New Orleans in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and New Orleans fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the winter, Beijing often gets more sunshine than New Orleans. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 158 hours of full sun.

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Beijing usually gets less rain in January than New Orleans. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or New Orleans in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and New Orleans. Many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Beijing is cooler than New Orleans. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and New Orleans averages at about 68°F (20°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as New Orleans during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 254 hours of full sun in the spring.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Beijing usually receives less rain than New Orleans. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for New Orleans and Beijing