3 Days In New Orleans Itinerary For First Timers (Where To Eat, Stay And Play)

And it was that night, an hour into listening to a big brass band performance on the street below, with the warm wind in my hair and a slight buzz from a local beer, that it hit me: New Orleans is a magical city.

It’s really not like any other United States city I’ve ever been to. I’ve spent 3 days in New Orleans and I still can’t name another city in North America that does food, history and music the way this one does (and a lot of it!) Which can make it a bit hard to narrow down exactly what to do on a short trip to The Big Easy (and where to eat!) So, I’m helping you out!

Keep reading for my 3 day New Orleans itinerary breaking down exactly how to spend your time for the best trip possible, along with local travel tips and fun history facts. Consider this your one-stop-shop for planning a trip to New Orleans!

Foodie Approved 3 Days in New Orleans Itinerary + Huge City Guide

A few years ago, my sister moved to Pensacola, Florida, which is in the Panhandle and just a few hours drive from New Orleans. Instead of dropping mad cash to fly directly into Pensacola, my husband and I decided we’d tack on extra time to our family trip by flying into NOLA and visit the city first.

It was our first time to The Big Easy, and I was concerned if 3 days (which is basically a New Orleans weekend trip) would be enough time to explore this historic city.

A weekend trip to New Orleans is enough time to fall in love, eat a lot of beignets, listen to jazz and soak up the history. Just make sure you wear comfy, stretchy pants (more on that later!)

Is 3 Days In New Orleans Enough Time?

Spoiler alert: Three days in New Orleans is honestly not enough time to eat all the things we wanted to eat. I wish I could eat 10 meals a day sometimes when I’m traveling…

BUT we felt like this itinerary got us to the highlights and a great crash course to the city. (But of course, we’re low-key planning future New Orleans trips with more days included on those, just so we can eat more food on each visit!! HA!)

Here’s the deal. Three days gets you the French Quarter, the Garden District, a real night of live music and about six meals worth remembering. What it doesn’t get you is City Park, the WWII museum, a swamp tour or a second night on Frenchmen Street. If those are non-negotiable for you, add a day.

• Worth it if this is your first time and you want the greatest hits done properly.
• Skip the 3 day version if you’re coming during Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest, because the festival eats an entire day of your plans whether you want it to or not.

How To Get To New Orleans From The Airport

Louis Armstrong International (MSY) sits about 13 to 15 miles west of the French Quarter, which works out to roughly 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

We opted to take an uber into the city from the airport, which wasn’t too expensive. When you’re short on time, it’s sometimes better to bite an $20 extra to get your vacation started quickly, vs. wasting time on a long bus ride. Here’s what your options actually cost now:

• Taxi: a city-set flat rate of $36 for one or two people to the French Quarter or Central Business District, then $15 per person once there are three or more of you. Groups, take the taxi. The math wins.
• Uber or Lyft: usually somewhere in the $28 to $50 range, and it surges hard on weekend nights and during any festival.
• RTA 202 Airport Express bus: about $1.25 to $1.50 and the cheapest way in by a mile, but plan on 60 to 90 minutes with a transfer. Not fun with big luggage.

Pro-tip: if you’re landing during Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest, pre-book a car. Rideshare surge during those weeks is genuinely painful and some streets close to vehicles entirely.

Where To Stay In New Orleans

New Orleans in 3 days means you’ll need to book a hotel for 2 nights. There are a lot of hotels in New Orleans but I think the best place to anchor yourself for your first visit is the French Quarter. 

The entire city is full of history, but the French Quarter is the epicenter of culture and history, in my opinion. True to the name, wandering these narrow streets really makes you feel like you are transported to an old-world European city. 

Hotel Monteleone, My French Quarter Hotel Pick

One of the best hotels in New Orleans is Hotel Monteleone, aka the carousel bar hotel! Dating back to 1886, this hotel has a super-rich history. It has played host to names like Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote, along with appearing in tons of films and TV shows.

Its famous carousel bar (which is just as it sounds – a revolving carousel bar for a truly unique happy hour) is a New Orleans bucket list item itself. Oh, and the hotel is haunted (but by friendly ghosts, don’t worry.)

It was humid when we visited, but despite the heat my favorite part of New Orleans (other than eating!) was just wandering the French Quarter, listening to street musicians, looking at all the cute houses and popping into shops. The French Quarter is really the heart of New Orleans, so having your hotel in the heart of the heart is the best choice.

I’m only recommending this one hotel because I truly think it’s the best hotel in the French Quarter for a short 3 day trip to New Orleans. When we stayed, average room rates ran around $169 a night, though I’ve watched them climb since and they spike hard during festival weeks, so check current dates before you get attached. I wrote a dedicated hotel feature on the property if you want to read more! 

Should You Stay In The Central Business District Instead?

If the Quarter is booked out or the rates have gone feral on your dates, look at the Central Business District. It sits right next door, it’s full of newer hotels with actual elevators and normal-sized rooms, and it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk to Jackson Square.

The trade-off is real though. The Central Business District is quiet at night in a way the Quarter never is, and you lose the thing where you stumble out your front door into a brass band. Worth it if you’re a light sleeper or traveling with kids. Skip it if this is your first time and you want to be in the thick of it.

Do I Need A Car In New Orleans?

Nope! New Orleans is super walkable. They also have an efficient streetcar you can take to neighborhoods that are a bit further away (like the Garden District.) We used Uber once when it got too hot to bear, but walked and took public transportation the rest of the time.

A single streetcar or bus ride runs about $1.25, and if you’re riding more than twice in a day, grab a Jazzy Pass instead for unlimited rides (they start around $3 for one day and you can buy them in the RTA GoMobile app). Exact change if you’re paying cash on board.

You’ll need a car if you plan on doing any day trips outside of the city (like to visit Oak Alley Plantation) but otherwise, skip the rental. Parking in the Quarter is expensive and miserable.

3 Day New Orleans Itinerary At A Glance

If you just want the skeleton before you read the whole thing, here’s the 3 day itinerary in one glance:

• Day One: Check in, beignets at Cafe Beignet, wander the French Quarter, oysters on a balcony at Royal House, voodoo ghost tour after dark.
• Day Two: Streetcar to the Garden District, breakfast at Gracious Bakery, historic houses and Magazine Street, lunch at Commander’s Palace, pool break, to-go cocktail on Bourbon Street, live music on Frenchmen Street.
• Day Three: Beignets at the French Market, Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, brunch and swimming at The Country Club, dinner at Napoleon House, last call at the Carousel Bar.

DAY ONE: Arrive, Beignets, French Quarter, Oyster Dinner, Voodoo Ghost Tour

Now, let’s get your 3 days in New Orleans itinerary started!

By 1pm: Check-in To Hotel Monteleone

Check-in to Hotel Monteleone, or drop your bags off if you can’t check-in yet. Since we were coming from San Francisco on the West Coast, we arrived late enough to check-in right away. We freshened up and then hit the streets to explore (and start eating!)

2:30pm: Cafe Beignet for Coffee and Beignets

OK, so there’s a big debate about who has the best beignets in the city: Cafe Du Monde or Cafe Beignet. I’m team Cafe Beignet for a few reasons. I thought the beignets were fluffier and less greasy than at Cafe DuMonde. Plus, i really adored their cute shop on Royal Street. 

It’s totally Instagram-worthy on the inside and out. There’s also a garden area for outdoor seating at this shop, and if you’re lucky, you can spot the beignet cat! Order yourself some fresh beignets and an iced coffee to perk up and cool off. 

(And don’t worry, you’ll have time later in your trip to visit Cafe DuMonde to compare.)

3:30pm-5pm: Explore The French Quarter To Get Your Bearings

My favorite thing to do when we arrive in a new city is to just walk around a bunch that first day so I can build a mental map and see what’s there. 

After you get a caffeine buzz and a snack from Cafe Beignet, just start wandering the French Quarter! Stroll down Royal Street, pop into art galleries. You’ll probably pass someone playing the saxophone, so pause to listen for a while (that’s one thing you’ll notice about New Orleans, I swear there is ALWAYS jazz music playing in the distance.)

Want to get inside a cemetery on this trip? Slot it in here. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the closest one to the Quarter and the only way in is a licensed guided tour, which runs about 45 minutes and starts around $29 for adults. You have to book ahead, the groups cap at 20 people and same-day spots sell out constantly. I’ll explain more on Day Two about why this matters.

5pm-6:30pm: Happy Hour + Dinner at Royal House

Robin and I don’t have any outdoor space in our apartment here in San Francisco. Hence, when we travel, we always aim to find restaurants with outdoor seating so we can soak up the fresh air! Unless it’s the middle of August (aka hot AF in New Orleans) you’ll probably also want to grab dinner outside. 

We stumbled upon Royal House (on Royal Street, a few blocks down from Hotel Monteleone) and asked to sit on their upstairs balcony. Here’s the thing about New Orleans balconies: they’re really tiny and narrow! 

But, because it’s narrow, that means every table got a front-row view of the streets below (aka amazing people watching.) Oh, and the food here is BOMB! Skip the Acme Oyster House and treat yourself to a plate of oysters here instead. For the main course, try the cheesy shrimp and grits, which I’m drooling over just thinking about.

7pm: Voodoo Ghost Tour 

If you need to, pop back to the hotel real quick to change or freshen up. Depending on the time of year, you may want to grab a light jacket because this walking tour takes place at night! 

I don’t always love guided tours, but I highly recommend doing a haunted New Orleans voodoo walking tour on your first night in the city. It’s a great way to learn about the history of the city, local lore and landmarks around the French Quarter you may have missed. 

We did the Witch’s Brew Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour which was so much fun. All the guides sort of dress up a bit and do an excellent job at navigating your group around the French Quarter without feeling too rushed. We learned a lot of interesting local lore (like a SUPER haunted house that Nicolas Cage once bought and the house that a Vampire supposedly used to live in.)

It’s about 2 hours, but it flies by fast and you even get a break in the middle to grab a drink at a bar if you want, making this ghost tour a fun nighttime activity. I felt like it was the perfect way to get introduced to New Orleans. 

DAY TWO: Garden District, Magazine Street, Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street Live Music

Woohoo, time for day two! Wear something stretchy around the middle because today is going to have even MORE food stops slotted in. Try to get yourself up early and out the door. You’ll be exploring the Garden District today and it’s most enjoyable well before the heat of the day sets in (and the crowds!)

Head to St. Charles Ave & Common Street to catch the streetcar that runs on St. Charles Ave towards the Garden District. Get off at 6th street. You can also take the #11 Magazine Street bus. It’ll take you about 20 minutes (cheaper and probably faster than waiting for an uber!)

8:30am: Gracious Bakery Breakfast

Fuel up at Gracious Bakery, an affordable little cafe/bakery shop near Lafayette Cemetery. You can grab baked goods here if you love a sweet breakfast, or bagel sandwiches (which is more my jam. Hello lox and cream cheese!)

9am: Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (Closed Now, Here’s What To Do Instead)

I’m gonna be honest with you, this is the biggest thing that’s changed since our trip and I’d rather tell you straight than let you show up to a locked gate.

Lafayette Cemetery has been closed to the public since 2019 while the city does extensive repairs. Right now the only people allowed inside are families with loved ones interred there, plus city-hired workers and cemetery professionals, and every single one of them has to request individual permission from the cemetery office. The city has declared it an unsafe environment for general visitation. There’s no announced reopening date, so check before you go rather than trusting any blog post (including this one) on the timing.

So here’s what I’d do instead. Still walk Washington Avenue past the gates, because you can see the tombs through the iron fence and it’s right next to Commander’s Palace anyway. Then, if you want to actually stand among the tombs, book the guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 back near the French Quarter (I mentioned slotting it into Day One). It’s the only legal way inside that one, tickets start around $29, and you’ll want to reserve before you fly out.

All the cemetery photos in this section are from our visit, back when you could still walk the grounds.

There are a LOT of cemeteries in New Orleans but Lafayette is probably the most famous (and more beautiful! Yes, cemeteries can be beautiful!) Because of the wet marshland that Louisiana is made of, you can’t really bury people… well, because there’s a high chance they’ll float back up or their grave will be flooded.

So, Louisiana cemeteries are usually always above ground, complete with intricate marble headstones or tombs and thus, it’s a very cool place to visit if you enjoy history. Or, a film buff (MANY movies and shows have been filmed here!)

You can still read THIS free self-guided tour for the history and the stories behind the tombs, even though you can’t walk it right now. We used it to navigate our way around the cemetery by ourselves back when it was open and loved going at our own pace. 

10am: Explore The Garden District + Magazine Street

Spend some time exploring the historic Garden District and look at pretty houses! All the houses here are so dang dreamy, with huge flower gardens and tower oak trees. 

This neighborhood dates back to 1832 and is now considered to be one of the best-preserved historic neighbors in the South. There are a LOT of famous houses but perhaps start at Gilmour – Parker House on 1520 Prytania Street, which was home to a former Louisiana governor. 

When you’ve had your fill of gawking at mansions, walk a few blocks down to Magazine Street. It runs for six miles through the Garden District and it’s where the local boutiques, vintage shops, coffee places and non-touristy restaurants live. If you want to buy a souvenir that isn’t a Bourbon Street t-shirt, buy it on Magazine Street.

11am: Lunch at Commander’s Palace 

My biggest regret on our trip to New Orleans is we DIDN’T have lunch at the Commander’s Palace. I’m honestly not sure why, I think we had to book it to Florida to visit my sister… or perhaps Robin didn’t pack proper attire (they have a dress code) but regardless, I’ve been having FOMO ever since. 

See, Commander’s Palace is probably the most famous restaurants in New Orleans. Built in 1893, it’s grown famous for its blue exterior, fantastic food, jazz brunches (with live music of course) and their 25 cent martinis. You read that correctly. 

Two things to know before you get your hopes up. The 25¢ martinis are a lunch thing only, and only on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekends are jazz brunch instead, which is also lovely but is not the martini deal. And the dress code is very much enforced: collared shirts and closed-toe shoes for men, jackets preferred, no shorts or t-shirts or ripped jeans on anyone.

Do yourself a favor and book yourself a table here for lunch (they run reservations through Resy and popular days go fast). Don’t forget to check their dress code, first, to make sure you pack the right clothes! 

1pm: Sit By The Pool To Cool Off + Relax

After an early morning of a lot of walking and a huge brunch, take a little downtime to relax by the pool. Hotel Monteleone has a rooftop pool with sweeping views of the city. 

They also have huge fans blowing mist on guests so you don’t overheat, a must in the sticky hot weather of Louisiana! I was VERY grateful for this. 

If you aren’t a poolside person and are eager to go go go, opt instead to visit some of the wacky museums in the French Quarter. Like the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum (also low-key haunted but totally fine in the daylight if that freaks you out.)

3:30pm: Cocktail To Go On Bourbon Street

You simply cannot go to New Orleans and NOT take advantage of their to-go cocktails. That’s right: here in NOLA, you can order a cocktail to go… and then… leave the bar… and take it with you outside!!! 

Apparently there are also drive through cocktail places which sound like a really bad idea. This whole concept is single-handily probably the reason why so many people get plastered in New Orleans, but I WAS HERE FOR IT. 

There are many bars that have cocktails to go but I suggest you head to Daiquiri Delight on Bourbon Street. Use this time (in the daylight hours before the drunk 22 years old come) to explore this street a bit. It’s fun seeing in in the daylight and nighttime, the vibe changes a lot!

You can also head to the Tropical Isle Bar and try a Hand Grenade cocktail, which is a famous New Orleans cocktail that only 5 bars in the whole city are licensed to sell (Tropical Isle bar is the OG spot.) Warning: this lime green cocktail gets you DRUNK, fast. We split one since it’s so powerful. 

One rule to actually follow: your to-go cup has to be plastic. Glass and cans are a no on the street, and the bar will pour it into a go-cup for you if you ask.

4:15pm: Drinks By The Mississippi River

Once you order your cocktail to go, head to Washington Artillery Park, which is right across the street from Jackson Square. There’s steps that sit right on the water here and when the weather is nice, it’s super relaxing to sip your cool cocktail and watch the steamboats chug down the Mississippi River. 

5pm: Frenchmen Street 

Once you got your happy hour on, head to Frenchmen Street, aka Faubourg Marigny, aka the center of live music and culture! (You’ll see a lot of people write it as Frenchman Street, but it’s Frenchmen.) Our night on Frenchmen Street was by far my favorite memory of our entire New Orleans trip, and easily one of the top 10 nights of any trip I’ve ever taken. Ever. Yes, I’m hyping it up that much. It was the star of the whole trip.

Get dolled up and get ready for a night of music, dancing and soul food!

I highly recommend you walk to Frenchmen Street (vs taking an uber) because you’ll get to see more of the city this way. It’s not too far, I did it in heels. Plus, save that money for more drinks or food!

5:45pm: Dat Dog + Big Band Jazz

We were on the hunt for alligator hot dogs and that led us to Dat Dog on the corner of Frenchmen Street. Dat Dog is a funky little gourmet hot dog shop with psychedelic decor and some really interesting takes on dogs (alligator and crawfish are my recommendations!) They also serve vegan dogs. Still open, still weird, still great, though the dogs run closer to $15 now than they did when we went.

I tell you to get there by 5:45pm for a specific reason: street music below tends to pop off starting around 6pm and then goes every other hour on the hour (with room for variation of course.) There’s usually a large Big Band Jazz group that performs each night here. 

Dat Dog has a second level with a huge porch that just happens to overlook Frenchmen Street. Hurry up there and stake your claim on a table that has a good view of the intersection. Once the music starts, the porch will get crowded with fellow onlookers and you’ll want your seat already! 

Here’s the thing: we had plans to go jazz bar hopping this night. We had every intention of checking out some of the popular clubs and hopping from one bar to the next. But, we never left this porch. I think we sat here for over 3 hours, eating weird hot dogs, drinking beer and listening to Big Band Jazz.

We had the best seats in the house, best seats on the whole street that night in my opinion.  

When we left, we did dance in the middle of the street for a few songs. Also a favorite memory of mine. So, head to Frenchmen for music and food. If you don’t want to anchor yourself down all night, use this handy street guide to find another live music venue to hit up! Most of them have no cover or a small one, and the bands rotate every couple of hours. 

DAY THREE: French Market Beignets, Jackson Square, Swimming, Napoleon House

9am: Beignets At Cafe Du Monde French Market

And now it’s time to taste test the beignets at Cafe Du Monde! As I mentioned earlier, people are torn on which spot they think has better beignets. Cafe Du Monde is the MOST famous of the beignets shops, so it’s worth a stop just for the notoriety. 

I personally found it to be crowded beyond its own good. They have a large seating area with waiters, but despite flagging down multiple servers, we still were ignored for over 20 minutes. Instead, we grabbed beignets and coffee to go and took them across the street to eat.

Pro-tip: it’s cash preferred and open 24 hours, so if you’re a morning person, go at 7am instead of 9am and you’ll walk right up. While you’re here, wander the rest of the French Market too. It’s been a market on this spot since 1791 and it’s a decent place to grab a praline or a hot sauce to take home.

9:45am: Jackson Square + St. Louis Cathedral

We found a nice shaded bench in Jackson Square that overlooked the famous St. Louis Cathedral, which was honestly such a nice way to wake up and ease into the day! 

After breakfast, we wandered the square, looked at the street art and took a moment to visit some shop and galleries we missed on earlier explorations. 

The cathedral is the oldest continuously operating one in the country and it’s free to walk into outside of Mass times. Even if you’re not religious, pop your head in for five minutes. The square out front is where the tarot readers, painters and brass players all set up, so it’s excellent people watching.

11am: Brunch at The Country Club 

Don’t eat too many beignets because you are about to have the BEST and more unique brunch experience of your life. Head over to Bywater / Ward 9 the Country Club. This yellow building is unassuming from the outside. You would never know that on the inside is tons of colorful decor AND A POOL!!!

Yes folks. This country club has a pool, which is open to the public and made for a super unique (and relaxing) way to cool off in New Orleans for us. 

Before we chat about the pool, let me tell you about the food. Fried green tomatoes, chopped salad, truffle mac & cheese, crab cakes. We feasted here and it was one of the best meals we had in New Orleans (and that says a lot because, New Orleans!!) They also do a drag brunch on Saturdays and Sundays now, which books out months ahead, so reserve early if that’s your thing.

Go Swimming At The Country Club

And now, time to rave about the pool! Day passes are $20 now (they were $15 when we went, still a deal) and if you go on a weekday, you’ll have no trouble grabbing a chair. There’s a bar back there with drinks and a small menu (if you somehow still have room for more food!)

Two things that have changed and matter: the pool is walk-in only, so you cannot reserve a spot, and the pool area is 21 and up. Don’t plan this stop with kids in tow.

It’s far enough away from the French Quarter that not too many tourist visits and I enjoyed kicking it with locals in a great pool during that hot day. Put this on your bucket list! 

5pm: Happy Hour + Dinner at Napoleon House

For your last dinner in New Orleans, you can’t miss out on Napoleon House. This 200+ year old landmark has a cool history around Napoleon and famous artists throughout the ages. The decor is old-world feeling which I also loved, and if the weather is behaving, ask to sit in the inner courtyard out back.

But, of course, the menu is what you came for and you HAVE to order a Pimms Cup here. It’s kinda what they’re most known for. Also, their muffuletta, which is a New Orleans style sandwich and holy moly, it’s so good. Think soft bread, tons of meats and tangy oils. 

8pm: Last Call At The Carousel Bar

End your 3 days in New Orleans back where you started. The Carousel Bar is in the lobby of Hotel Monteleone, about a 5 minute walk from Napoleon House, and it’s been spinning since 1949 without stopping. The whole 25-seat bar makes one full rotation every 15 minutes, which is roughly how long it takes to drink a cocktail. You won’t get dizzy, I promise.

Order a Vieux Carré. It was invented here, so drinking one anywhere else in the city feels a little bit like cheating. There’s live music in the adjoining lounge seven nights a week.

Here’s the deal on actually getting a seat, because this part trips people up. The bar doesn’t take reservations and those 25 seats go fast, especially on weekends. Your options are to show up right when they open at 11am, hover in the lounge area and pounce when someone leaves, or just accept a table in the lounge instead. The drinks are the same, you’re only missing the spin. If you’re staying at the Monteleone, guests can book a 10am early access session with mixologist Marvin Allen for $100 a person, which guarantees you a seat plus a cocktail and the full history of the place.

Worth it if you want one last proper New Orleans moment before you fly home. Skip it if it’s a packed Saturday night and the wait would eat your whole evening, in which case walk back to Frenchmen Street for one more set instead.

What To Pack For 3 Days In New Orleans

New Orleans food is off the hook and as I’ve stressed before, bring stretchy clothes! The last thing you want after feasting on soft shell crab and beignets is a tight pair of jeans. 

The weather can also be HOT and humid. We visited in May and my husband, Robin, was just covered in sweat the entire time due to the humidity. But, the winters are cool and require sweaters and jackets. Here’s a rough packing list for the seasons. 

One more thing worth packing that isn’t on either list: one dressy outfit. If you’re doing Commander’s Palace, you need it, and it’s nice to have for a night out on Frenchmen Street too.

When Is The Best Time To Visit New Orleans?

We visited in late May and it was HUMID AF. I think April is probably better. If you absolutely hate the heat, then come in the winter. It’ll be chilly (like, a sweater and light jacket sort of chilly) during the winter months. But if you’re like Robin who melts in the heat, winter may be better.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I booked, though. New Orleans has a festival calendar that completely changes what a 3 day trip looks like:

• Mardi Gras (February or March, the date moves with Easter): incredible, and also the single hardest time to do this itinerary. Hotels triple, parade routes close streets to cars, restaurants book out months ahead and some places shut entirely on Mardi Gras Day. Come for Mardi Gras if Mardi Gras is the point. Don’t come during Mardi Gras expecting a chill weekend of beignets and museums.
• French Quarter Fest (April): free live music all over the Quarter and my pick for the best weather of the year.
• Jazz Fest (late April into early May): two weekends of huge crowds and surge pricing on everything.

If you want this exact 3 day itinerary to run smoothly, aim for a regular week in March, April, late October or November. Avoid July and August unless you have a very high heat tolerance.

More Fun Things To Do In New Orleans

There are SO many New Orleans things to do. For me, my favorite things to do in this city is eat… like, seriously, my stomach wasn’t exactly happy with the amount of amazing soul food I was shoving into each day but my taste buds were on cloud 9.

Check out my huge New Orleans City Guide for even MORE ideas on things to do that didn’t make this 3-day itinerary. Or, my must-eat New Orleans restaurant list for more eating suggestions. 

Day Trips From New Orleans

Looking for fun New Orleans day trips from the city to add onto your 3 day New Orleans itinerary? Louisiana is full of beautiful and history-rich locations that make for a fun day or overnight trip (though I suggest adding that on to your 3 days vs. taking away a day in New Orleans.) 

Robin and I had a chance to visit the Nottoway Plantation, which had been turned into a hotel but was a former working plantation. We both grew up in Wisconsin and I really appreciated having a chance to learn about the history of slavery and the role of plantation in America’s foundation firsthand. We didn’t grow up with that. 

Update: Nottoway’s main house was destroyed in a fire in May 2025 and was declared a total loss. The other structures on the property survived and the owner has begun rebuilding in phases with plans for a memorial honoring the enslaved people who worked there, but you can’t visit the house we toured. So I’d point you somewhere else. I haven’t been to either of these two yet, so I’m telling you where I’d go now, not where I’ve been.

Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley is about an hour west of New Orleans along the Mississippi River and it’s the one most people picture when they picture a Louisiana plantation, thanks to that quarter-mile corridor of 300-year-old oak trees leading up to the house. Oak Alley Plantation runs a slavery exhibit alongside the big house tour, so you get both halves of the story rather than just the architecture.

Go early. The tour buses roll in mid-morning and the oak alley itself gets crowded fast.

Whitney Plantation

If you only do one, I’d honestly point you here over Oak Alley. Whitney is the only plantation museum in Louisiana built entirely around the experience of the people who were enslaved there, told through their own recorded testimony. It’s self-guided with an audio tour and it’s heavy. Go anyway.

3 Days In New Orleans FAQ

How Many Days In New Orleans Do You Need?

Three days is the sweet spot for a first time visit. It gets you the French Quarter, the Garden District, one proper night of live music and enough meals to understand what the food fuss is about. Four days lets you add City Park, the WWII museum or a day trip to Oak Alley Plantation without cutting anything. Two days is doable but you’ll be rushing, and you’ll almost certainly skip the Garden District.

How Long Do You Need In New Orleans If You’ve Been Before?

Two days, easily. Once you’ve done Jackson Square, Bourbon Street and the cemetery tour, a repeat trip is mostly about food and music, and both of those you can pack into 48 hours. I’d spend one of those days entirely outside the Quarter, in Bywater and along Magazine Street.

Is 36 Hours In New Orleans Enough?

It’s enough for a taste, not a trip. With 36 hours in New Orleans I’d do this: beignets and a wander through the French Quarter, a balcony dinner, a ghost tour at night, then the next morning hit Jackson Square and the French Market before spending your whole evening on Frenchmen Street. Cut the Garden District entirely. It deserves a real half day and you won’t have one.

What Should I Know Before Planning A Trip To New Orleans?

Book restaurants earlier than feels necessary, especially Commander’s Palace and any weekend brunch. Check the festival calendar before you book flights, because Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest change every price in the city. Pack for humidity even in spring. And build in an afternoon of nothing, because this city is more tiring than it looks and everything good happens at night.

Is New Orleans Walkable For A First Time Visitor?

The French Quarter, the Central Business District and Frenchmen Street are all very walkable and connected. The Garden District is not within walking distance, so take the St. Charles streetcar, and the Bywater (where The Country Club is) is a rideshare. Sidewalks in the Quarter are uneven brick and slate, so wear real shoes.

Is It Safe To Walk Around New Orleans At Night?

The busy, lit parts of the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street are fine and full of people until late. Where I’d take a car instead of walking: anywhere past the edges of the Quarter after dark, the quiet blocks between the Marigny and the Bywater, and the walk back from Frenchmen if it’s just you. Rideshares are cheap and plentiful, so just take one. Standard city stuff, keep your bag zipped and your phone in your pocket on Bourbon Street.

I hope this helps you plan what to do in New Orleans on your trip! I put a lot of thought into this New Orleans 3 day itinerary for the perfect trip, but if you have any hidden gems you LOVE in NOLA that didn’t make it to this post, leave a comment below so everyone can see it!

And, if you have any questions about things to do in New Orleans, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help you out!!