New Orleans is a vibrant city known for its rich culture and history, lively music, and a culinary landscape with a unique blend of French, Spanish, and Creole influences, making it a must-visit destination. Conveniently located in the Southeastern region of the United States, the city is well-connected by air through the newly renovated Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport offering excellent air connectivity. If you are planning a quick getaway, this compact 3-day guide will help you make the most of your visit.
Day 1
Start early in the French Quarter, New Orleans’ iconic neighbourhood, with breakfast at Café du Monde. Enjoy pillowy soft, powdered sugar-covered beignets and a hot or iced café au lait. For a more traditional breakfast, head over to Brennan’s.
Next, venture over to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. Among the most recognized spots in New Orleans, the Cathedral is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for self-guided tours. Flanking the Cathedral on either side, the Cabildo and Presbytère are two Louisiana State Museums where permanent Mardi Gras and New Orleans history exhibits offer a glimpse into the unique culture.
For lunch, opt for a muffuletta at Napoleon House. Take it to go and eat it from a bench on the banks of the Mississippi River where you can watch ships pass by.
Literary tours, ghost tours, cemetery tours, Segway tours, LGBTQ history tours, carriage tours, bike tours, and more, find the one that piques your curiosity and spend the afternoon discovering the city.
Catching a show at Preservation Hall is always a great idea. Performances start in the early evening, perfect for a pre-dinner rest stop.
Before you head for dinner, stop for cocktail hour to try out a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s. For dinner, book a table at one of New Orleans’ centuries-old restaurants like Antoine’s, Galatoire’s, or Arnaud’s for the best flavours of Creole meal and history.
After dinner, catch a breeze off the Mississippi at Woldenberg Park. Watch the steamboats pass by as you end your quintessential New Orleans day. Or, head to the bustling Frenchmen Street corridor for live music all night.
Also Read: Southern Splendour: A Quick Guide to Louisiana’s 13 Regions
Day 2
For day two, venture outside of the French Quarter and into the Garden District and Uptown for delicious food, incredible architecture, and vivid nightlife. Grab breakfast at Surrey’s Café & Juice Bar or Bearcat Café or if you are in the mood for brunch, try Atchafalaya.
Next, catch the sight of the streetcar and the tree-covered mansions and extravagant buildings that line St. Charles Avenue. In New Orleans, no two houses are the same, making for an interesting architectural experience. You can also book a tour of the Garden District via foot, bike, scooter, or bus.
Lunch on Magazine Street will set you up for an afternoon of shopping. Enjoy banh mi sandwiches at Banh Mi Boys, salads and grain bowls at The Daily Beet, crawfish, and cheese empanadas from Empanola, red beans and rice from Joey K’s, and more! Grab a coffee from French Truck, and sno-balls from Imperial Woodpecker during the warmer months. Fuel yourself to shop ‘til you drop.
For dinner, enjoy Indian cuisine at Saffron, Italian cuisine at San Lorenzo, Cajun-Creole cuisine at Brigtsen’s or Commander’s Palace, or Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding cuisine at Boucherie.
Catch a show at Tipitina’s or Maple Leaf Bar to round out your evening, New Orleans-style.
Day 3
On day three, take the off-the-beaten-path, starting with exploring Tremé, New Orleans’ oldest historically Black neighbourhood. Enjoy breakfast at Backatown Coffee Parlour followed by a visit to the Backstreet Cultural Museum, filled with vibrant Mardi Gras Indian suits.
For lunch, enjoy authentic Creole dining at Lil’ Dizzy’s or Dooky Chase’s. Fried chicken, baked fish, greens, gumbo, and bread pudding are available at both restaurants.
Stroll or drive down tree-lined Esplanade Avenue and head east into the Marigny Bywater. JAMNOLA is a permanent pop-up museum with exhibits celebrating the joy, art, and music of New Orleans through interactive and fun experiences for the whole family.
Stop by and experience one of the coolest spots in New Orleans, Studio BE, the brainchild of local artist Brandan “B-mike” Odums and a contemporary warehouse turned gallery featuring the works of Black artists. Large-scale paintings, murals, and mixed media are highlights of the space.
Catch the Mississippi River from a different vantage point at Crescent Park. The 20-acre urban linear park is perfect for an afternoon stroll or bike ride at sunset.
The Bywater has many great restaurants including The Elysian Bar, N7, Saint-Germain, and Paladar 511, just to name a few! Enjoy delicious cuisine at the restaurant of your choice for dinner.
A little something extra
Get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown at New Orleans City Park. You could spend a whole day in that park, from browsing art at New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) to taking the kiddos to play at Storyland to renting a swan boat at Big Lake and strolling through the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Another option for enjoying New Orleans is travelling to the Lakefront. Enjoy seafood dinners and sailboat watching at this picturesque location that often flies under the radar.
Lastly, consider going beyond the city limits. Louisiana’s first and only swamp zipline is located 45 minutes out in LaPlace at Zip NOLA, across the river on the Westbank at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, a sportsman’s paradise. For the final beach moment in New Orleans, look no further than Fontainebleau State Park going north into Mandeville.
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