Itineraries,  Louisiana

The Perfect 3-Day New Orleans Itinerary

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The Big Easy, Nawlins, the Crescent City, NOLA…..whatever you call it New Orleans, Louisiana is a US city you shouldn’t miss. It is well known as hosting the greatest party on earth, Mardi Gras, and having a vibrant nightlife scene year-round. Any foodie will go crazy over the cajun and creole food. Outdoor enthusiasts will love checking out the parks and the bayou.

The history of the city is often pushed aside in favor of the more rowdy activities, but with voodoo, a melting pot of cultures and beautiful architecture you don’t want to miss out on learning about how the city came to be the city we know today. If you want to see and do it all and you only have 3 days in New Orleans your itinerary will be jam packed.

This 3-day New Orleans itinerary will introduce you to the best of what the city has to offer from beignets to the bayou. Purchase a New Orleans three day pass to receive free admission to many of the places included in this itinerary. 

If you can spare more than three days in New Orleans extend your time and go on a Delta Blues road-trip!

New Orleans Itinerary

New Orleans Itinerary Day 1

New Orleans Walking Tour

Jackson Square

Start your first morning off in the Big Easy with a walking tour. It’s a good way to get a feel of the city before exploring on your own. There are several different types of walking tours. Some of the tours below are available as “free” tours with Free Tours on Foot where you reserve your spot for $2.50 and then are expected to tip at the end of the tour. Many of the tours are also free with a New Orleans pass.

French Quarter

The classic New Orleans tour takes you around the iconic sights of the city in the French Quarter. Learn about the history of the city and hear interesting stories about the people, past and present, of New Orleans.

Ghost Tours

New Orleans is famous for being a spooky city. I wanted nothing to do with ghosts, vampires or anything remotely scary, but this ghost tour is very popular. I saw many groups of people in the evenings enjoying learning about the haunted side of the city on this tour.

Voodoo

Voodoo, on the other hand, I was quite intrigued about. The voodoo tour gives a history of voodoo and the famous New Orleans voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau. As people who practice voodoo are sworn to secrecy there are a lot of unknowns about what voodoo really is. I felt the tour explains more about what voodoo isn’t than what it is. It is also more of a walking informational talk versus a sightseeing tour. It was still interesting though.

Cemetery Tours

The New Orleans cemeteries with their above ground tombs and burial plots are popular places to visit. A cemetery tour will share the history of these graveyards with you as you see them up close and personal. Currently the cemeteries are closed and the tours are completed around the cemeteries.

Food Tours

One of the best ways to explore any new place is through the local cuisine. There is no better place to take a walking food tour than in New Orleans. It’s the perfect way to learn about the French Quarter from a guide, while tasting the best foods.

Garden District

Leave the French Quarter behind and head to the Garden District where you will find tree lined streets and beautiful mansions. The Garden District tour will show you another side of Nawlins away from the crowded French Quarter.

Lunch at Willie Mae’s Scotch House

Willie Mae's Scotch House

Established in 1957, Willie Mae’s Scotch House is a famous soul food spot known for fried chicken. Ms. Willie Mae Seaton was even awarded a James Beard award in 2005.

Based on everything I ate I have no doubt that the fried chicken is excellent, but I have no regrets ordering the fried catfish with candied yams and cornbread. It was one of my favorite meals in New Orleans and would make the list of places I return to on any future visits.

Located in the historic Treme neighborhood, the restaurant is about a 30 minute walk north of the French Quarter. The walk isn’t the most scenic, but it is interesting to see the old creole cottages and shotgun houses in a different part of the city. Don’t think the location deters people from visiting. Even on a weekday the place is packed. Most people just take a taxi to the restaurant.

Louis Armstrong Park

Louis Armstrong Park

On your way back to the French Quarter take a walk through Louis Armstrong Park. The park honors the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong and other notable residents with statues. There is also a lot of African American and voodoo history in the park. Congo square was where slaves would gather in the 1700s to sing and dance. Marie Laveau is also believed to have practiced voodoo in the square.

The park is located in the Treme neighborhood. It is only steps away from the French Quarter, but is much quieter. The walking paths and bridges around and over the large pond make for a peaceful atmosphere.

Explore the French Quarter

French Quarter

Whether you are looking to aimlessly wander the streets while admiring the architecture or sip on a drink, your 3 day New Orleans itinerary won’t be complete without spending some time in the French Quarter. Jackson Square is one spot you shouldn’t miss. It is the small park in front of St Louis Cathedral that is featured in many photos.

You may be surprised that the French Quarter actually has quite a few museums. The Historic New Orleans Collection is a small, but free history museum with rotating exhibits. It focuses on topics related to the city and especially the French Quarter. A museum of death, a voodoo museum, a pharmacy museum, and the Louisiana State Museum are some other museums in the area. The WWII museum isn’t in the French Quarter, but it is one of the best history museums in the US!

Dinner at Olde Nola Cookery

Olde Nola Cookery

You’ll want to try all the cajun and creole dishes when in New Orleans. The Olde Nola Cookery is a great place to order crayfish étouffée, gumbo and other seafood favorites. Crayfish étouffée, gumbo, and rice & beans is included in the Taste of New Orleans.

Olde Nola Cookery is located right on Bourbon Street. After your meal all you have to do is step out the door to start your night on this famous street. This is also a good dinner option if you arrive late on your first night as they are open until 1am Sunday – Thursday and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street New Orleans

I’m not much for nightlife or a rowdy drinking atmosphere. Typically I avoid these areas when traveling. This is New Orleans where the city motto is literally “let the good times roll” so I had to see what all the hype was about. It is one of the biggest party streets in the country so if this is your scene you already know that you must check it out.

With musicians, magicians and other performers the pedestrian street is full of random entertainment. I was intrigued by a pull up bar hanging contest in the middle of the street. If you could hang for 100 seconds you would win $100. It looked like a good way to lose $10 to try, but as a spectator it was fun to watch.

I learned you don’t need to visit Mardi Gras to catch beads. All night long people are standing on the balconies and more than ready to throw some down to you.

New Orleans Itinerary Day 2

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World was one place I knew I wanted to include in my New Orleans itinerary before visiting. It is a tourist attraction, but also a huge working studio. After touring Mardi Gras World you will have a new appreciation for all the effort that goes into the Mardi Gras parades.

Your visit will start in the gift shop with a piece of King Cake. Then you will head to the theater to watch an informative 15 minute movie about Mardi Gras.

Following the movie you go on a self-guided tour of the large studio space which is home to parade floats and props. I was surprised with how close you can get to all the props and floats. Informational signs are located around the space to provide details on the creation process. I found it fascinating to learn about how the props and floats are made and about the “super krewes” who put on the parades. You may even spot workers painting props, cutting styrofoam or conducting any of the other numerous jobs that need to happen.

Mardi Gras World offers a free shuttle to and from Canal St. Call (504-361-7821) on the day of your visit and they will come and pick you up at one of the designated spots. Free admission with the New Orleans pass.

Lunch at Elizabeth’s

Elizabeth's Restaurant

When I saw there was a restaurant named after me in New Orleans, I had to check it out. Both the weekday breakfast & lunch menus and the weekend brunch menu looked scrumptious so Elizabeth’s was added to my New Orleans itinerary.

You can expect down home cooking with unique spins on southern favorites. I tried the duck waffle which included a corn bread waffle with sweet potato duck hash & pepper jelly. I have been known to order chicken and waffles a little too much, so it was fun trying this inventive dish.

The place is really cute and off the regular tourist track. Like the other top places to eat in New Orleans, people still make their way here. Many people take a taxi. On the way there we walked along N Peters St & Chartres St. On the way back we walked through Crescent Park instead. The park is a much nicer place to walk.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park New Orleans

Head back to the French Quarter on foot by walking through Crescent Park. It is a 1.4 mile long linear park that runs along the Mississippi River. Along the shore there are several spots for great skyline views of the French Quarter and the Central Business District. Slightly further inland the paths are bursting with greenery.

French Market

French Market New Orleans

After reaching the end of Crescent Park you will be back in the French Quarter near the New Orleans Jazz Museum. As the birthplace of jazz there is no better place to learn about the history and culture of this musical genre than New Orleans. It is another one of the many attractions on the New Orleans pass.

The French Market across the street from the museum is a good place to look around for souvenirs. The shops of the Colonnade a little further afield also sell New Orleans products and gifts. From sporting goods to children’s clothes the shops sell a variety of goods, but they are all focused on New Orleans.

Beignets from Cafe Du Monde

Cafe du Monde New Orleans

You can’t go to New Orleans without having a beignet, a deep fried French style doughnut that is covered in powdered sugar. Café du Monde is a New Orleans tradition. The original stand has been around since 1862 in the French Market.

The lines are always long, but on a positive note they are open 7 days a week 24 hours a day! Beignets come in orders of three and are the only food for sale at the cafe. You can also buy a few drinks like coffee and milk. Purchases are cash only.

Eat at the cafe or go down the street to the steps across from Jackson Square. There are often performers here. If you are lucky, the man with an adorable dog who goes around picking up tips, might be performing.

I also tried Cafe Beignet and thought the beignets themselves were similar, but I didn’t like the clumpier powdered sugar at Cafe Beignet as much. If you have time try both places and see what you think!

Dinner at the Gumbo Shop

Work off your beignets by walking through Woldenberg Park and along the Mississippi River. For dinner, order one of the can’t miss creole dishes, gumbo, at the Gumbo Shop. Gumbo is the official state cuisine of Louisiana. It is a hearty soup with meat or seafood and the “Creole holy trinity” of bell peppers, celery, and onions.

The Gumbo Shop serves both chicken andouille gumbo and seafood okra gumbo. Both are delicious and are accompanied by French bread.

New Orleans Itinerary Day 3

Visit the Bayou

Bayou St John Kayaking

On your three day New Orlean’s itinerary make time to visit the bayou. Southeastern Louisiana is known for its bayous, swampy areas of slow moving creeks or shallow wetlands. They can contain a mixture of freshwater and saltwater and are often in wooded areas. Alligators are among the abundant wildlife found in the bayous.

Rent Kayaks

Kayaking is one of the best ways to experience the bayou. It’s environmentally friendly and a more active way to explore the bayou than merely sitting in a boat. Remember how I said there are alligators in the bayous? That means it is also for the more adventurous!

We rented kayaks with Bayou Paddlesports. We kayaked in Bayou St John along City Park right in New Orleans. By a combination of walking and taking the bus you don’t need to pay for a taxi or transportation.

It’s not as “swampy” feeling as I imagine the bayous are outside of the city, but we did see a lot of wildlife. I kayaked only a few feet away from an alligator! For me this made the experience and was one of the most memorable things I did in New Orleans. In addition to alligators, there were turtles and many different types of birds.

There is a clean port-a-potty at the starting point. You can go in two different directions and the staff is great about giving tips and helping you into and out of your kayak.

Guided Kayak Tour

You can also do a guided kayak tour in the Manchac and Maurepas swamps outside of New Orleans. You’ll have the full swamp experience and may see even more flora and fauna than within New Orleans, and have the benefit of local insights from your guide.

It will be pricier though. Public transportation is not available and taxis can be expensive if you don’t have your own car. Transportation can be included in your booking for an additional cost.

Swamp Boat Tours

Does kayaking right past a gator sound a little too close for comfort? You can also take a variety of different swamp boat tours. A traditional swamp boat tour includes a narrated cruise in a covered boat.

If you have a need for speed try the high-speed airboat ride. Part of the time you will be zipping around the bayou and the other part will be spent slowing down and seeing the wildlife.

Finally for a a smaller, more eco friendly tour, that doesn’t put you in charge of paddling like kayaking does, try a small group boat tour. These flat bottom boats are smaller and allow you to go deeper into the swamps. They also use quieter motors to avoid scaring off the wildlife.

Similar to a guided kayaking tour you will have the benefit of having a knowledgable guide on whichever tour you choose. All the tours can have transportation included for an extra fee. The New Orleans pass includes two different swamp tours.

Swamp & Plantation Tour

Another option is to combine a visit to one of the nearby plantations with a swamp tour (either kayaking or on a boat). Oak Alley Plantation, a historic sugar plantation, is one of the best places to learn about Black history in the south. Not only will you tour the “Big House” where the plantation owners lived, but also the slave quarters where the enslaved men and women resided.

Lunch at Parkway Bakery & Tavern

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

Despite the name, Parkway Bakery and Tavern hasn’t been a bakery since 1978. Although they do have some tasty sounding desserts. They also have a wide variety of drinks.

The casual spot is known for their poor boys, commonly referred to as Po’boys. It is a sub type sandwich made with meat or seafood on crusty French bread. Its roots are from New Orleans during the Great Depression when the Martin Brothers created and gave them away to the “poor boys” on strike from the streetcar.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern was among the first places to serve Po’boys. Since their 1911 opening Parkway has a really long and interesting history. Today you can see memorabilia throughout the restaurant of the earlier days.

Go with the deep fried creole BBQ shrimp and you won’t leave hungry. It’s the perfect time to try many of the gulf seafood specialities like shrimp, catfish and oysters. You can even order a smoked alligator po’boy. I didn’t try it here, but at another restaurant I had fun trying the fried alligator which tasted like chicken. When asked if you want your po’boy dressed, you are being asked if you want lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayonnaise added.

It’s a pleasant residential 1.5 mile walk along Bayou St. John if you are renting a kayak beforehand.

Mississippi River Cruise or Ferry to Algiers

Mississippi River Cruise

One of the best ways to see New Orleans is from the Mississippi River. Several different river cruise options leave from the French Quarter. Sit back in time on the old-fashioned Steamboat Natchez. The paddleboat offers daytime jazz cruises and evening jazz cruises. Both can be reserved with or without a meal.

With the New Orleans pass you can take a daytime historic river cruise on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen. During the cruise you will dock at the Chalmette Battlefield and receive a guided tour by National Park Rangers.

Another option is to take the ferry across the river to Algiers. It is a really short 4 minute ferry ride, but at $4 round trip it is an inexpensive way to sail across the water and admire the views. Algiers is a historic, primarily residential neighborhood. The Jazz Walk of Fame along the river doesn’t have a whole lot to do with jazz, but it is a nice path for biking or walking.

Dinner at Luke

Luke New Orleans

After only three days in New Orleans you may be ready for a more relaxing dinner on your last night. If you don’t treat yourself to an evening dinner cruise, enjoy a more upscale meal at Luke. Not only is the service excellent, but you can also make a reservation and avoid the long lines of most top places to eat in New Orleans. 

Most important, the food is delicious. It’s a great spot to try any seafood dishes you have yet to order like crayfish étouffée, crab or shrimp and grits. The crispy softshell crab was one of my favorite dishes. I can’t say enough good things about the flavor. It was a lick your plate clean kind of meal.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

Your itinerary for New Orleans doesn’t allow for any wasted time so you will want to stay close to the action. You’ll be tempted to stay right in the French Quarter, but for a quieter stay that is only a few blocks away stay in the Central Business District (CBD). You can easily walk from one of the main hotels in this area to the French Quarter and also sleep soundly every night.

I was impressed with the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD. The prices were lower than comparable hotels in the area, but the rooms were clean and spacious. We did have a hassle with being overcharged, but they did sort it out in the end.

The lobby is on the 11th floor and rooms start above that. From the top floor pool and sundeck there is a nice view. The pool was refreshing after a hot day, but it is quite small.

Tips for Visiting New Orleans

FOOD

  • The creole and cajun food of New Orleans is one of the biggest draws to the city. Be prepared to wait in long lines outside most of the restaurants I mentioned above. Most places have you wait in a single file line and the host brings the next group into the restaurant when a table is available. Other places will take your name down and give you an estimate of the wait time. Once a 30 minute wait only took 5 minutes. Another time a 30 minute wait turned into 45 minutes.

BATHROOMS

  • Public restrooms are located at the French Market and the Shops of the Colonnade – French Market. Expect to wait in line at either of these.
  • If you are over 21, Harrah’s Casino has nice, large bathrooms if duty calls when you are in the area.
  • You can duck into restaurants as well. They are usually so busy that no-one would notice, but most only have one person bathrooms which means more lines.

OTHER TIPS

  • It is easy to travel from Baton Rouge to New Orleans by bus.
  • Many restaurants and museums are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you are planning a long weekend in New Orleans you may want to consider Friday – Sunday instead of Saturday – Monday.
  • In regards to covid be aware that while signs are up saying masks are required, they are rarely enforced. Restaurants are packed and many servers do not wear masks. On crowded Bourbon Street you would never know that a pandemic is still happening.
  • I have traveled solo quite a bit in the US and abroad. New Orleans wouldn’t be my top choice to visit as a solo female traveler. This is partly because of the large party and eating atmosphere of the city. It is fun to share that with someone else. In addition it does have more of a dirtier feel and a large homeless population. I never felt unsafe, but on my last day when I was alone I was approached more than when I was with someone else. This of course can and does happen everywhere, but I felt it more in NOLA than I have in other cities.

I hope this 3-day New Orleans’ itinerary helps you make the most of your time in the Big Easy! 

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