3 days in New Orleans

Day by day

1. Day 1: Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral

   Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral and Café du Monde and the French Market, then Bourbon Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Jackson Square

      The former Place d'Armes, renamed after Andrew Jackson's 1815 victory at the Battle of New Orleans, is the French Quarter's central square, framed by St.

   2. Late morning

      St. Louis Cathedral

      Walk round to St. Anthony's Garden behind the cathedral on Royal Street after dark, when the floodlit statue of Christ casts a giant shadow on the back wall.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Beignets

      Café du Monde at the French Market, serving them since 1862, and Café Beignet on Royal and Bourbon streets.

   4. Afternoon

      Café du Monde and the French Market

      Café du Monde has served beignets, square doughnuts buried in powdered sugar, with chicory café au lait under its green-and-white awning since 1862.

   5. Evening

      Bourbon Street

      See it once early in the evening, then head to Frenchmen Street for better live music.

2. Day 2: Frenchmen Street and The National WWII Museum

   Frenchmen Street, The National WWII Museum and St. Charles streetcar, then Preservation Hall in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Frenchmen Street

      Carry small bills for the band's tip bucket and a one-drink minimum, wander between clubs and stay where the music grabs you.

   2. Late morning

      The National WWII Museum

      Designated by Congress as America's official World War II museum, this campus of pavilions tells the story of the war through oral histories, personal artefacts, aircraft suspended in the Boeing Center and immersive galleries following the Road to Berlin and the Road to Tokyo.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gumbo

      Almost every Creole restaurant; Dooky Chase's in Tremé is known for its gumbo z'herbes, a green gumbo served on Holy Thursday.

   4. Afternoon

      St. Charles streetcar

      Ride out to Audubon Park, walk through to the zoo or the river, and come back at dusk; have exact change or a pass in the Le Pass app.

   5. Evening

      Preservation Hall

      Stand near the front for the closest view of the band; sets are about 45 minutes, so it fits before a late dinner.

3. Day 3: Steamboat Natchez river cruise and Audubon Aquarium

   Steamboat Natchez river cruise, Audubon Aquarium and The Cabildo, then Frenchmen Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Steamboat Natchez river cruise

      The Natchez is a steam-powered sternwheeler that sails from the Toulouse Street Wharf behind Jackson Brewery, with a calliope concert on deck before departure and a jazz band on board.

   2. Late morning

      Audubon Aquarium

      Combine it with the riverfront walk and the Canal Street ferry to Algiers Point.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Jambalaya

      Creole and Cajun restaurants across the city, and food stalls at Jazz Fest and French Quarter Festival.

   4. Afternoon

      The Cabildo

      The Spanish colonial seat of government beside the cathedral, built in the 1790s, is where the Louisiana Purchase transfer took place in 1803.

   5. Evening

      Frenchmen Street

      The best concentration of live-music clubs, with jazz, brass and funk from late afternoon into the small hours.

Before you go

• Preservation Hall: Capacity is small; buy tickets for a specific set online, especially at weekends and during festivals.

If it rains

• Swap in Mardi Gras World (Warehouse District): Visit if you can't be in town for Carnival; it is the closest you will get to the floats up close.
• Swap in Ogden Museum of Southern Art (Warehouse District): Combine it with the WWII Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center, all within a few blocks.
• Swap in The Historic New Orleans Collection (French Quarter): Step into the courtyards between galleries for a rare peaceful pause in the Quarter.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, French Quarter keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Faubourg Marigny ($$) suits nightlife, solo travellers and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–22 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.2 hours in December to 14.1 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in New Orleans
• 2 days in New Orleans
• 4 days in New Orleans
• 5 days in New Orleans
• 7 days in New Orleans

Questions travellers ask