Westwego(United States) Travel 2026: Cheap Flights, Hotels & Top Attractions

In Westwego, the best-rated hotel is The Westwego Inn, a historic boutique property nestled along the Mississippi River. It blends Cajun architectural charm with modern comfort, featuring red brick walls, wrought-iron windows, and original hardwood floors. Guests enjoy river-view balconies and easy access to the Westwego Riverfront Park. The inn also hosts seasonal events like Cajun cooking demonstrations and live zydeco music nights, offering an authentic taste of Louisiana culture. Perfect for travelers seeking both tranquility and local flavor.

The Riverfront District is the ideal area for staying in Westwego, offering scenic views of the Mississippi River and proximity to cultural hotspots. This quiet, walkable zone features charming bed-and-breakfasts like Riverfront Cottages, which provide private docks and outdoor lounging spaces. Guests can stroll to the Old Town Market for fresh Gulf seafood and local crafts. It’s also the perfect launch point for swamp tours and riverboat cruises, combining convenience with genuine Southern hospitality and a relaxed pace of life.

Westwego offers immersive cultural experiences such as Cajun language walking tours and guided swamp boat excursions through the Mississippi Delta. Every Saturday, locals gather at Old Town Square for Cajun Kitchen Night, where chefs demonstrate traditional dishes like gumbo and étouffée using cast-iron skillets. Visitors can also join Acadian storytelling sessions that reveal ancestral recipes and family histories. Evening performances feature live blues and zydeco music, allowing guests to experience the soulful rhythms of rural Louisiana firsthand.

Yes, Westwego is highly suitable for families. The town offers child-friendly accommodations like Family-Style River House, complete with a backyard pool and game room. Weekly events include Kids’ Farm Day at Westwego Park, where children feed goats, make pottery, and paint Cajun masks. Interactive nature trails come with scavenger hunt cards that teach kids about local wildlife. Families can also enjoy free outdoor stargazing movie nights under the open sky—perfect for bonding and creating lasting memories in a safe, welcoming environment.

Westwego Riverfront is a prime photography location, especially during golden hour when sunlight glows across the century-old oaks and iron bridge, mirrored in the slow-moving Mississippi waters. Capture silhouettes of fishermen hauling nets at dusk. The Old Town Church with its red-brick spire and intricate ironwork offers a classic Southern backdrop. For candid moments, visit the weekend farmers' market to photograph vendors in traditional Cajun attire selling handmade goods—ideal for storytelling visuals of authentic Louisiana life.

While Westwego is a small town without public transit, it’s easily accessible by car from New Orleans International Airport (MSY), just one hour away via scenic Louisiana Swamp Highway. For exploring locally, rent electric bikes or use guided shuttle services offered by tour operators. The river dock provides boat transfers to nearby villages. Though driving is recommended, the town’s layout is pedestrian-friendly, with well-marked trails and bike lanes along the riverfront, making it convenient for visitors who prefer low-impact travel.

Westwego hosts the annual Cajun Festival, a two-week celebration of music, food, and heritage. It features saxophone competitions, traditional dance shows, and craft markets showcasing handmade items. During summer, the Riverfront Starlight Concert Series brings live blues and country acts to the waterfront stage. In winter, the Holiday Light Parade transforms the town with handcrafted lanterns and Cajun-style decorations, while children participate in a festive treasure hunt. These events reflect the community’s deep-rooted traditions and are perfect for immersive cultural experiences.

Westwego lies within the Mississippi Delta wetlands, home to diverse ecosystems including cypress swamps and waterway networks. This region supports wildlife such as alligators, herons, and wild ducks. Guided eco-tours use silent rubber boats to navigate narrow channels, allowing close-up views of animals in their natural habitat. Seasonal flooding enriches the soil, promoting lush native vegetation and supporting natural water filtration. Visitors can join tree-planting initiatives to help restore native species, turning tourism into meaningful conservation action.

Nightlife in Westwego is laid-back and community-focused. At The Bayou Breeze Bar, nightly live music features blues and zydeco, played on vintage instruments in a rustic setting with hand-carved wooden bar and local artwork. On Fridays, the Guitar Night brings together amateur and professional musicians for impromptu jams. Some guesthouses host intimate evening cocktail gatherings, serving house-made blackberry rum and lemon mint cocktails. With no loud clubs, the atmosphere is ideal for unwinding and connecting with locals in a peaceful, authentic Southern setting.