Itinerary · New Orleans · United States
7 days in New Orleans
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing New Orleans, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ, CC0
Quick answer
7 days is enough to see New Orleans's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. Day 1: Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. Day 2: Café du Monde and the French Market and The Cabildo. Day 3: The Historic New Orleans Collection and New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint. Base yourself in French Quarter.
Key facts
- Days
- 7
- Sights covered
- 13
- Day trips
- 2
- Best base
- French Quarter
- Book ahead
- Preservation Hall
Day by day
Day 1: Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, then Bourbon Street in the evening.
Morning
Jackson Square
French Quarter · 45 minutes · free.
Late morning
St. Louis Cathedral
French Quarter · 30 minutes · free.
Lunch
Lunch: Beignets
Café du Monde at the French Market, serving them since 1862, and Café Beignet on Royal and Bourbon streets.
Evening
Bourbon Street
See it once early in the evening, then head to Frenchmen Street for better live music.
Day 2: Café du Monde and the French Market and The Cabildo
Café du Monde and the French Market and The Cabildo, then Preservation Hall in the evening.
Morning
Café du Monde and the French Market
French Quarter · 1 hour · low cost.
Late morning
The Cabildo
French Quarter · 1.5 hours · low cost.
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.
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.
Day 3: The Historic New Orleans Collection and New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint
The Historic New Orleans Collection and New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint, then Frenchmen Street in the evening.
Morning
The Historic New Orleans Collection
French Quarter · 1 hour · free.
Late morning
New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint
French Quarter · 1 hour · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Jambalaya
Creole and Cajun restaurants across the city, and food stalls at Jazz Fest and French Quarter Festival.
Evening
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.
Day 4: Day trip to Whitney Plantation
About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Car or guided tour.
Morning
Travel to Whitney Plantation
About 1 hour by car (Car or guided tour); about 80 km.
Day
Whitney Plantation
It is a sobering and essential counterpoint to the grand plantation houses nearby.
Evening
Back in New Orleans
Dinner: try Po'boy.
Day 5: The National WWII Museum and Mardi Gras World
The National WWII Museum and Mardi Gras World, then Frenchmen Street in the evening.
Morning
The National WWII Museum
Warehouse District · Full day · mid-priced.
Late morning
Mardi Gras World
Warehouse District · 1–1.5 hours · mid-priced.
Lunch
Lunch: Po'boy
Parkway Bakery & Tavern in Mid-City, Domilise's Uptown and Johnny's Po-Boys in the French Quarter.
Evening
Frenchmen Street
The best concentration of live-music clubs, with jazz, brass and funk from late afternoon into the small hours.
Day 6: Day trip to Oak Alley Plantation
About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Car or guided tour.
Morning
Travel to Oak Alley Plantation
About 1 hour by car (Car or guided tour); about 85 km.
Day
Oak Alley Plantation
Many tours combine it with the Whitney.
Evening
Back in New Orleans
Dinner: try Muffuletta.
Day 7: Ogden Museum of Southern Art and St. Charles streetcar
Ogden Museum of Southern Art and St. Charles streetcar, then Bourbon Street in the evening.
Morning
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Warehouse District · 1.5 hours · mid-priced.
Late morning
St. Charles streetcar
St. Charles Avenue · About 45 minutes each way · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Muffuletta
First made at Central Grocery on Decatur Street; Napoleon House on Chartres Street serves a warm version, and delis across the city sell it by the half or quarter.
Evening
Bourbon Street
Neon, cover bands, daiquiris and balcony parties, busiest at weekends and during festivals.
Before you go
Reserve timed tickets for Preservation Hall before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.
Where to stay for this itinerary
With 7 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 19–23 hours of visiting over 7 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
Questions travellers ask
+Is 7 days enough in New Orleans?
7 days is enough to see New Orleans's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. How many days New Orleans needs.
+What should I book before visiting New Orleans?
Preservation Hall.