Photo by Joe Lavigne on Unsplash
Three easy days: the French Quarter and live music on Frenchmen Street, the streetcar to the Garden District, and a day of museums by the old city park. Plenty of time to eat, and no car needed.
Dishes the travel guides name for this place, and the restaurants they list for them.
The Louisiana take on the sandwich, served on a po-boy loaf and "dressed" with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.
A deep fried square pastry covered with powdered sugar, served in orders of three with cafe au lait.
From Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Listings are what the guides list, not a ranking, and places change, so check before you go. Photos: T.Tseng, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
The oldest part of the city, all on foot. Start early on Jackson Square, before the streets fill, and finish with live music.
The green square at the heart of the French Quarter, with St. Louis Cathedral at the head and street artists along the iron fence. A good place to get your bearings.
Go when Early morning, before the square fills and the heat builds.
Local tip Walk to the riverfront on the far side for a look at the Mississippi, only a minute away.
Beignets are square fried doughnuts buried in powdered sugar, the city’s classic morning treat, served hot with coffee.
Local tip Go early or late to avoid the line, and brush off the sugar before you step into the sun.
Hours change, so check before you go.
One of the oldest public markets in the country, a long row of stalls beside the river with food, crafts and music. Easy to wander for an hour.
Go when Late morning, when the stalls are all open.
Local tip It stretches for several blocks and the stalls change along the way, so walk the whole length.
The classic sandwich here is a po’boy: fried shrimp, oysters or roast beef on soft, crusty French bread, dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.
Local tip Ask for it dressed, which means with the lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.
Hours change, so check before you go.
The old Spanish government house on Jackson Square, now a museum of Louisiana history. A cool, quiet stop in the middle of the day.
Go when Early afternoon, when the day is at its hottest.
Local tip Look at the building itself, where Louisiana changed hands from France to the United States in 1803, as well as the exhibits.
For dinner try the dishes the city is known for: gumbo, red beans and rice, jambalaya or shrimp remoulade. Creole cooking is a mix of French, Spanish and African traditions.
Local tip Order a few small dishes to share and try more of the menu.
Hours change, so check before you go.
A short street of small music clubs just outside the Quarter, where most doors are open and the bands play late. Walk it and follow your ears.
Go when After dark, when the music is at its best.
Local tip Walk the length of the block once before you pick a club, since every door sounds different.
A slower day. Ride the streetcar up St. Charles Avenue, walk the old houses and spend the evening in a big park.
Streets of grand old houses behind iron fences and live oaks, built in the 1800s. Walk it slowly: the porches and gardens are the show.
Go when Morning, when the light is soft and the streets are quiet.
Local tip Take the St. Charles streetcar to get here, and remember the houses are private homes, so look from the sidewalk.
One of the city’s old cemeteries, where the dead rest in white tombs above the ground. Check ahead whether it is open and whether you need to go with a guide.
Go when Late morning, while it is open and before the heat peaks.
Local tip Stay on the paths, and do not touch the tombs, which are fragile and often old.
Magazine Street has a long run of small cafes and plate lunch counters, a relaxed place to eat away from the Quarter crowds.
Hours change, so check before you go.
A long street of small shops, galleries and cafes, a good place to wander and stop for lunch away from the Quarter crowds.
Go when Afternoon, for a slow walk and a stop for lunch.
Local tip The street is long, so pick one stretch to walk and use the bus or a rideshare to hop between them.
A big, shady park of old oaks and lagoons by the river, a calm place to walk as the light goes soft.
Go when Late afternoon, before sunset (about 5:04 PM), when the light turns gold on the oaks.
Local tip A walking path loops the park, so follow it for an easy, shady stroll with views of the lagoon.
The neighborhoods near the park have casual restaurants serving seafood, gumbo and po’boys, an easy way to end the day without going back to the Quarter.
Local tip Take the streetcar back along St. Charles Avenue, a ride worth doing for itself.
Hours change, so check before you go.
A day of indoor stops that suits a hot or rainy day. The big museum comes first, and the park keeps the evening gentle.
A large museum of the Second World War, told through personal stories, with several buildings to explore. Allow most of the morning, and book a timed ticket ahead.
Go when First thing in the morning, since the museum is large and tiring.
Local tip Do not try to see everything: pick two or three of the buildings and give them your full attention.
The muffuletta is a round sesame loaf stacked with cold cuts, cheese and olive salad, a New Orleans original and a meal for two.
Local tip Share one, because a whole sandwich is large.
Hours change, so check before you go.
The studio where the giant floats for the Mardi Gras parades are built. You walk through a workshop full of colorful figures. Check ahead whether you need to book.
Go when Midday, since the tour is indoors and cool.
Local tip It sits on the river, a short ride from the Quarter, so plan the trip there and back.
The city’s main art museum, set in City Park, with a sculpture garden of old oaks next door that is worth a walk.
Go when Afternoon, followed by a walk in the sculpture garden.
Local tip The garden next door is among the most pleasant places in the city to walk, so leave time for it.
A slow, quiet waterway on the edge of City Park, lined with old houses and good for an easy evening walk.
Go when Evening, before sunset (about 5:04 PM), when the water is calm.
Local tip It is a quiet corner of the city where locals walk and jog, so it is a good place to see everyday New Orleans.
Mid-City, near the bayou, has casual neighborhood restaurants that locals love, a quiet way to end the trip.
Hours change, so check before you go.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, February to April and October to December are the most comfortable months for walking around New Orleans. This plan is built for mid November, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 3 days in New Orleans, planned for mid November. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 1.1 to 5.8 miles between its stops, and 10.4 miles in all across 3 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Another plan for this city: 6 days in New Orleans for Mardi Gras
Other guides with a page about New Orleans. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageNew Orleans, the free travel guide
Condé Nast TravelerNew Orleans travel guide
Time OutThings to do in New Orleans
The InfatuationRestaurant guide to New OrleansPhoto by Steve Lussier on Unsplash · Photo by Mary Hammel on Unsplash · Photo by Jessica Tan on Unsplash · Photo by JR Harris on Unsplash
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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