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3 days in New Orleans: a day-by-day itinerary

The most distinctive city in America, and the easiest to plan badly.

Trip length
3 full days
Best months
February, March, April, May, October, November
Rough daily budget
Mid-range: roughly $130–200 per person per day

This is a shape, not a schedule. Each day has two anchors and a lot of slack, because 3-day itineraries that book four things a day fall apart the first time lunch runs long. Move things around freely — the neighbourhoods are grouped so that walking between stops actually works.

Day 1 — Quarter and Frenchmen
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Beignets and chicory coffee early, then walk the Quarter before it wakes
Cabildo or the Historic New Orleans Collection
Po'boy lunch, then an afternoon on Royal Street
Dinner in the Marigny, then Frenchmen Street until late
Day 2 — Uptown and the Garden District
St Charles streetcar out to Uptown
Walk the Garden District and Magazine Street
Lunch at a Creole institution — book it
Evening in Bywater; Crescent Park at sunset
Day 3 — Water and music history
Swamp tour or Barataria Preserve in the morning
Tremé in the afternoon: jazz museum and Backstreet
Early dinner, then a brass band show
Late-night at a neighbourhood bar rather than Bourbon
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Before you go

  • Go in February to May, and October to November if you have the choice
  • Skip July to September: extreme humidity plus peak hurricane season
  • Walk the Quarter, Marigny and Bywater.
  • Book anything with timed entry as soon as your dates are fixed

Planning this with other people

The city runs on booked tables and shows, and the best restaurants take reservations weeks ahead. Split the bookings across the group rather than leaving it to one person, and keep them all on one shared plan so nobody double-books a night.

Common questions

How many days do you need in New Orleans?
Three days is right for the Quarter, the Garden District, music nights and one trip out of town. Four if you're there for a festival.
Is New Orleans expensive?
Cheaper than most major US cities for food and drinks, but hotel rates spike hard around Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and big football weekends.
Should you stay in the French Quarter?
Only if you don't mind noise. The Marigny, Bywater and the Garden District are quieter, cheaper and still a short walk or streetcar ride in.
Is New Orleans good for a group trip?
Excellent — it's walkable, the music is free or cheap, and a bachelorette or reunion weekend has an obvious shape. Just book the dinners early.
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Keep exploring: New Orleans travel guide · All itinerary guides · Where to go by month · Travel questions
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