New Orleans Itineraries
Whether you have one day or a long weekend, here are pace-tested plans that hit the essentials without feeling rushed.
The perfect 1 day in New Orleans
If you only have a day, spend it in and around the French Quarter.
- Morning: coffee and beignets at Café du Monde, then explore the French Quarter — Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and Royal Street.
- Midday: lunch on a po'boy or gumbo; stroll the French Market.
- Afternoon: a guided history or food walk, or the Steamboat Natchez river cruise.
- Evening: dinner in the Quarter, then live music on Frenchmen Street.
The classic 3 days
Three days lets you go beyond the Quarter into the city's history and wild surroundings.
Day 1 — French Quarter
Follow the one-day plan above: the Quarter by day, Frenchmen Street by night.
Day 2 — History & the Garden District
Spend the morning at the National WWII Museum, then take the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District to see the antebellum mansions, with dinner at a classic Creole restaurant.
Day 3 — Into the bayou
Take a morning swamp tour to see alligators and cypress, then spend the afternoon at City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art, or relax with a jazz-soundtracked dinner.
A long weekend (Fri–Sun)
Arrive Friday evening for dinner and music. Use Saturday and Sunday for the three-day highlights at a relaxed pace, and build in a jazz brunch — a New Orleans institution — on Sunday before heading out. Don't over-schedule: half the appeal of the city is wandering and stumbling into music.
Tips for pacing your trip
- Stay central (the French Quarter, Marigny, or CBD) so you can walk or take a short ride to most of this.
- Book the WWII Museum and any swamp tour in advance, especially in spring.
- Leave unscheduled time for live music — it's everywhere and often spontaneous.
- Reserve big-name restaurants ahead, particularly during festival season.
Plan the rest: New Orleans guide · Things to do · Where to eat · Where to stay · Budget calculator