The Ultimate 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary & Travel Guide

Looking to travel to the Big Easy? If you find yourself with a long weekend, I cannot recommend visiting NOLA enough! In this epic 3-day New Orleans itinerary you’re going to know the best things to do, delicious food to eat, and where to stay.

Honestly, I think your biggest problem might be what you’re going to eat in New Orleans. Every time I go, I come back ten pounds heavier, but legit, no regrets.

In Louisiana, they have an expression…”Laissez les bons temps rouler”. In English, this phrase means “let the good times roll”. So let’s go ladies and gents!

Table of Contents

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How To Get To New Orleans

Wondering how to travel to New Orleans? The best way to get to New Orleans is via airplane. You will fly into the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The airport code is MSY.

How To Get Around New Orleans (3-Day New Orleans Itinerary)

I noticed everything in New Orleans is defined by the proximity to the Mississippi River and historic streets such as Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Magazine Street, and Decatur Street.

New Orleans By Streetcar

One of the easiest ways to get around the city is via street cars. There are four distinct lines with each originating in downtown. These lines are the Saint Charles Line, Canal Street Line, Riverfront Line, and Loyola Line.

They will take you through the French Quarter and beyond to places you might not otherwise get to see. Personally, I think this is a better way to see the city.

Have exact change if you’re going to use cash. One ride costs $1.25 for adults.
If you’re going cashless, download the Le Pass app.

New Orleans By Blue Bikes

Another great way to sight see and not have to do so much walking is to use the Blue Bikes ride share. This is a partnership between the City of New Orleans and Drop, and is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

These are electric bikes so you can visit many destinations more efficiently. Click here to download the app and get more information about Blue Bikes.

New Orleans By Ride Share

You can always use ride share apps like Lyft or Uber to get around the city. Expect to pay around $15-$20 for a ride. If you’re on a tight budget, I recommend walking around or using the Blue Bikes.

New Orleans Go City Pass

Want to get the most bang for your buck? Travel can be hella expensive so rolling all your activities into one convenient pass is a win.

Having a 3-day New Orleans itinerary means you’re going to do a lot. With this pass, you’ll get free entrance or discounts to the top 25 New Orleans attractions.

This pass gives you entry into the most popular things to do in New Orleans, including French Quarter attractions, as well as surrounding Louisiana attractions. Book your New Orleans Go City Pass here.

When is the best time to visit New Orleans?

I personally do not enjoy the super hot weather. I am someone who absolutely thrives in cooler weather and my tolerance for the cold is a lot higher than most.

If you’re someone who loves warm weather, you’re going to love New Orleans. However, New Orleans is six feet below sea level and is quite humid so it can make the temperatures feel cooler or hotter.

January through March in New Orleans

January is the coldest month in New Orleans. The average daytime high will be 18°C (64°F) and the average nighttime temperature will be 7°C (45°F).

Locals have told me February is one of the best times to visit for Mardi Gras. It’s actually a two month event for them and during this time you’ll get to see the very best of New Orleans without all the craziness.

New Orleans in February will reach daytime highs of 19°C (66°F) and nighttime lows of 8°C (47°F). During March the temperatures go up to 23°C (73°F) during the day and 12°C(54°F) at night.

April through June in New Orleans

I also had the amazing opportunity to visit New Orleans in April for the Jesse McCartney concert. And yes, I am totally a millennial and grew up listening to his music. #hellyeah

April sees average daytime highs of 26°C (79°F) with the low dropping down to 16°C (61°F) at night. This is a great time where the rooftop pools start being more popping.

During May in New Orleans, the temperatures during the day are 30°C (85°F) and at night will be about 20°C (68°F). Lastly, the temperatures in June range from 32°C (90°F) during the day and 23°C (74°F) at night.

July through September in New Orleans

July and August are the hottest months in New Orleans. They have about the same average highs and lows. During the day the temperature will be 33°C (92°F) and at night will dip to 24°C (76°F).

In September daytime temperatures will cool down to about 31°C (88°F) during the day and 22°C (72°F) at night.

October through December in New Orleans

I’ve visited New Orleans in late October. It was still hot but not unbearable. You can also visit several festivals like the Andouille Festival. Temperatures during October in New Orleans range from 27°C (81°F) during the day and 17°C (62°F) at night.

In the month of November, the average temperatures will be 22°C (72°F) during the day and 12°C (53°F) at night. December sees average daytime temperatures drop to 18°C (65°F) with the average low being 8°C (46°F) at night.

Tips For Visiting New Orleans

During your 3-day New Orleans itinerary, there’s some things you have to no about the Big Easy. Here are some of Gina Bear’s handpicked tourist knows!

Public restrooms are scarce. Use them any time you’re in a restaurant or bar.
Ignore the hecklers in the French Quarter. Treat them like you would in NYC.
After the pandemic many places are short staffed and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Many restaurants and bars have dress codes. Don’t dress like you’re going to Walmart.
Book the New Orleans City Pass. REALLY. It will save you so much money!

Where To Stay in New Orleans

Wondering where the best neighborhoods are in New Orleans? Each one below has their own distinct charm. For your epic 3-day New Orleans itinerary, I recommend staying the French Quarter.

French Quarter – Perfect for first time travelers to NOLA and central to everything.
Marigny | Bywater – For the music lovers with close proximity to Frenchmen street.
Central Business District – Also known as the CBD, it is best for foodies and culture lovers.
Warehouse District – A trendy neighborhood with converted warehouses and is perfect for art lovers, history lovers, and hipsters.
Uptown | Garden District – French Quarter atmosphere with all the great food and chill vibes.
Mid-City – For the nature lovers who love the outdoors.

Luxury Hotels in New Orleans

Four Seasons New Orleans – Located in the CBD, this property is located features a restaurant, fitness center, a bar and garden. Popular places nearby are of the Morial Convention Center, Bourbon Street, and St Louis Cemetery No 1.
Hotel Monteleone – This gorgeous boutique hotel is located in the French Quarter. Hotel Monteleone is a historic hotel one block from Bourbon Street. Criollo restaurant, the Carousel Bar, and a heated rooftop swimming pool are featured on site.
Hilton New Orleans St Charles Avenue – Each room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. You will find a coffee machine in the room. They also provide free toiletries and a hairdryer.

Mid-Range Hotels in New Orleans

SpringHill Suites by Marriott – SpringHill Suites by Marriott New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street also features an on-site rooftop bar named Vue, which offers views of downtown New Orleans.
Voco St James Hotel IHG – This beautiful hotel offers accommodations with a restaurant, private parking, a bar and a garden. Voco The features a terrace, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi throughout the property.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans – Offering a heated outdoor pool with sundeck and bar, Hyatt Regency New Orleans features rooms with free WiFi adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Smoothie King Center.

Budget Hotels in New Orleans

The Quisby – The Quisby is a hostel in New Orleans,LA located on historic Saint Charles Ave. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar and relax in the lobby lounge.Rooms come with a private bathroom. The Quisby features free WiFi throughout the property.
City House New Orleans Samesun – This hostel is located in the French Quarter of NOLA. All rooms in the hostel are equipped with a coffee machine. They have a shared bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer, and free WiFi. At the accommodation the rooms have bed linen and towels.
Ramada by Wyndham – Boasting an outdoor swimming pool, Ramada by Wyndham New Orleans is located in New Orleans and is 5 mi from Bourbon Street. Featuring a shared lounge, the 2-star motel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi.

What To Eat in New Orleans

The food scene in New Orleans will leave you wanting to spend extra time in the city so you can eat your way through the delicious dishes the city offers.

Gumbo – A dish with Roux, a flour and fat mixture found in many French dishes. It is loaded with chicken and fowl, sausage, and seafood, and seasoned with salt and spices
Po-boys – New Orleans most famous sandwich. They can have anything from fresh gulf seafood, smoked pork, and meatballs. They’re topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.
Jambalaya – A rice and pork, or a rice and seafood dish eaten by both Cajuns and Creoles.
Red Beans and Rice – A slow-cooked dish combining pork, kidney beans, rice, and spices.
Étouffée – A dish that combines seafood, with roux and butter; and onions, green peppers, and celery into a rich gravy that is served over rice.
Muffulettas – These are large, round sandwiches filled with Italian deli meats, cheeses, and homemade olive salad.
Oysters – These are a staple of NOLA cuisine and you can find them raw, fried, baked, or chargrilled.
Turtle Soup – This is a rich stew garnished with hard-boiled egg and a drizzle of dry sherry.
Beignets – These these square fritters are powered sugar donuts and have been a New Orleans staple since 1862.
Bananas Foster – This is a dessert dish where bananas are sautéed in sugar, rum, and liquor, and flambeed tableside. The warm banana topping is served over cold vanilla ice cream.
Pralines – Sugar coated pecans.
King Cakes – Sweet circular treats covered in colorful icing.

New Orleans Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is three days enough for New Orleans?

In my opinion, three days isn’t enough for New Orleans because of how amazing the food scene is. It is literally a foodie’s paradise. However, three days is enough to give you a feel for the city and go to some of the best restaurants.

2. Which part of New Orleans is best to stay?

For first-time travelers to New Orleans, the French Quarter is one of the best places to stay since it is central to everything. If you’ve been to NOLA before stay in the Garden District or Uptown.

3. What is the best month to go to New Orleans?

The best months to go to New Orleans are February, April, and October. The temperatures during these times are warm and not too hot. It also doesn’t get really cold at night.

4. What is the cheapest month to go to New Orleans?

July through September are the best times to stay in New Orleans. Since temperatures are super hot, most people are going to beach destinations.

5. How has Hurricane Katrina affected New Orleans?

Despite the devastation, damage, and weeks under water that NOLA suffered, the city has rebuilt to become better than ever! However, there is still some damage around Louisiana state and New Orleans that hasn’t been quite repaired.

If you’re interested to know about the recovery efforts, you can book a New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina Recovery Tour here.

Map For Your 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary

Places mapped by Wanderlog, the best trip planner app on iOS and Android

Day One New Orleans Itinerary

On your first day in NOLA make sure you bring your best walking shoes because you’re going to be going everywhere. You’ll also be doing a lot of eating and sampling the best of Crescent City’s food scene.

French Quarter

Also known as the vieux carré, it is known as the crown jewel of New Orleans with the most beautiful architecture. No one does Mardi Gras like the French Quarter and it is THE place to be during Carnival season. If you’re keen on learning the history, check out this self-guided tour here.

It’s also one of the most beautiful places in New Orleans for how well they have preserved the historic buildings with original brick walls. Here you can see a blend of the early French and Spanish settlers. The large buildings and the bright colors will always draw you in.

St Louis Cathedral

The St. Louis Cathedral is among the tallest structures in the French Quarter. It has been seen in hundreds of movies, TV shows and other visual presentations and it is a local and international architectural icon.

Jackson Square

Jackson Square is a National Historic Landmark nestled in the center of the French Quarter. (This historic park is also the filming location of one of my favorite TV series The Originals.)

Café du Monde

Cafe du Monde was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market. The menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice.

The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. And let’s be real… The best way to start your morning is with fresh beignets in your face.

On Royal Street which is a couple blocks away, you’ll find several trendy antique shops. It’s a great spot to find yourself some treasure.

French Market

The French Market is one of the best places for local dining and local shops. Here you’ll find all sorts of delicious food, interesting shops, a flea market, and even a farmer’s market.

Happy Hour at Broussard’s

Thursday through Saturday Broussard’s features happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. Here you can find drink specials at $5 for signature cocktails, $4 wines, and $3 beer. I have nothing but great things to say about this restaurant that looks like a historic home.

You’ll also get the best of the NOLA food scene with delicious creations such as Duck and Alligator Sausage Gumbo and Louisiana Blue Crab Cake. This is perfect to get your liquid courage before going on a ghost tour.

Go on a New Orleans Ghost Tour

Louisiana is literally one of the most haunted places I have ever visited. This will definitely be a unique experience to listen to ghost stories late at night and give yourself the chills. There’s a lot of horror stories about the Battle of New Orleans which makes it all the more spookier.

Bourbon Street

To get a great feel for Crescent City you definitely need to go on Bourbon Street for some great live music. You’ll have the best time walking around, drinking from to-go cups, and finding the best bars for live jazz music. There are also many street performers that add to the entertainment of this district.

If you wanna get down and party, Lousiana’s open container laws allow you to drink anywhere in public as long as your beverage is in a covered to go cup.

Day Two New Orleans Itinerary

Cafe Beignet

One of my favorite things to do in New Orleans is eat. Their soul food is second to none. I especially love their beignets. Cafe Beignet is another great place to start your morning.

Louis Armstrong Park

Just steps away from the French Quarter is Louis Armstrong Park… A perfect place dedicated to one of the best musicians of all time. At this city park, local artists and voodoo practitioners still gather at Congo Square which has historically been a cultural hub for African Americans.

Have a Drink at the Carousel Bar

Opened in the 1949, the Carousel Bar is one of New Orleans most notable bars. Located inside Hotel Monteleone, it is the first and only rotating bar in New Orleans. It’s also the filming location of Girl’s Trip starring Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and Jada Pinkett Smith.

It makes one full rotation every 15 minutes and is a nice place to go for an afternoon cocktail. You can also book your stay at Hotel Monteleone here.

Go On New Orleans Tour

There are so many amazing things to do in in New Orleans. I personally like going with a tour guide who knows the city and makes me feel like I’m a part of it.

I don’t like to be like the other tourists who go in without a clue and don’t really know and understand the place. If you get the New Orleans Go City Pass, you’ll get attractions such a New Orleans voodoo tour, and cemetery tour included.

Try a NOLA Food Tour

NOLA is one of the best places to eat. I never thought the South would have such amazing culinary delights. Below are some food tours I would recommend. They’re all a great time and come highly recommended.

Visit an Eclectic Museum

Among the vibrant French Quarter you’ll find an assortment of interesting museums that will take you deep into the culture of NOLA.

I’ve been to Louisiana many times before and the people here LOVE to tell stories. And NGL, I absolutely love hearing them. Save money on visiting these museums by booking your New Orleans City Pass here.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
New Orleans Jazz Museum
Louisiana State Museum
Mardi Gras World

P.S. If you visit a Voodoo Museum, you’ll learn all about Marie Laveau who was the queen of Voodoo.

Frolick in Nature at the New Orleans Botanical Garden

The New Orleans Botanical Garden is a beautiful place to visit. They also have a sculpture garden.

In the New Orleans City Park, you’ll also see the Langles Bridge. This historic bridge is one of the most Instagrammable spots in New Orleans. It’s also one of the most photographed locations in the whole city.

The Bridge is favorite spot among New Orleans natives for engagement and wedding photos. It’s just a short walk away from the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Have Dinner at Commander’s Palace

This is a popular place and one of the best restaurants for Creole dishes. You can take the St Charles Streetcar here. Give yourself some enough time to really enjoy this culinary experience.

They have live jazz music. There is a dress code of business casual so please don’t walk in there looking like a rag muffin drugstore cowboy. You can make a reservation for Commander’s Palace here.

Day Three New Orleans Itinerary

Your last day in NOLA is a great way to soak in the interesting history of Louisiana… And you best believe there is a lot!

Plantation Tour

I had the amazing opportunity to tour the River Parishes in Louisiana for TBEX and they took me to the most unforgettable places. I admit I was very ignorant of the history of many enslaved people in the United States.

Touring these plantations helped open my eyes. I have been to each and every one of these tours and sincerely recommend them. My favorite was the Laura Creole Plantation tour.

Swamp Tour

If you’re thinking… What the heck? A swamp tour? Could this be any fun? And this answer is yes. They are hella fun. I got to meet some of the gators on the tour. They’re scary asf, but that added to the thrill.

Steamboat Tour

I recommend ending your 3-day New Orleans itinerary in style. These steamboats really add to the history of the City and you can dance while listening to jazz music.

I hope you found everything you need in this blog post to help you plan your epic 3-day New Orleans itinerary. Crescent City is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to visit again! I hope I’ll get a chance to visit during Mardi Gras in February. It has been on my bucket list forever.

This post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you, I make a small commission to help keep Gina Bear’s Blog running. Thanks for your support!

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April 3, 2024 | 0 comments