How many days · New Orleans · United States
How many days do you need in New Orleans?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for New Orleans, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers the French Quarter, the Garden District by streetcar, the WWII Museum and two nights of live music. A fourth day adds City Park, a swamp tour or a plantation visit; with a week you can reach Cajun Country around Lafayette.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 10.2 h (Dec) to 14.1 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Café du Monde and the French Market and Bourbon Street |
| 2 days | Rushed | Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street and Preservation Hall |
| 3 days | Good | The National WWII Museum, St. Charles streetcar and Steamboat Natchez river cruise |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Whitney Plantation |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Whitney Plantation and Oak Alley Plantation |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in New Orleans add up to roughly 19–23 hours of visiting time — about 3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are The National WWII Museum (Full day), Frenchmen Street (An evening) and Bourbon Street (1–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Square | 45 minutes | French Quarter |
| St. Louis Cathedral | 30 minutes | French Quarter |
| Café du Monde and the French Market | 1 hour | French Quarter |
| Bourbon Street | 1–2 hours | French Quarter |
| Frenchmen Street | An evening | Faubourg Marigny |
| Preservation Hall | 45 minutes | French Quarter |
| The National WWII Museum | Full day | Warehouse District |
| St. Charles streetcar | About 45 minutes each way | St. Charles Avenue |
| Steamboat Natchez river cruise | 2 hours | Riverfront |
| The Cabildo | 1.5 hours | French Quarter |
| Garden District walk | 2 hours | Garden District |
| St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 | 1 hour | Tremé |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Audubon Zoo |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Whitney Plantation and Oak Alley Plantation |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.2 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.1 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining New Orleans with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in New Orleans?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Three days covers the French Quarter, the Garden District by streetcar, the WWII Museum and two nights of live music. A fourth day adds City Park, a swamp tour or a plantation visit; with a week you can reach Cajun Country around Lafayette.
+Is a week too long in New Orleans?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Whitney Plantation and Oak Alley Plantation.