3 Days in New Orleans: The Perfect Itinerary
A balanced 3‑day itinerary in New Orleans covering historic French Quarter sights, local cuisine, music, and a day trip to the Garden District, with realistic travel and meal times.
Day 1 — Arrival & French Quarter Exploration
- 08:30 — Flight arrival at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY))
- 09:30 — Airport shuttle to hotel (Hotel Monteleone)
- 09:45 — Check‑in at Hotel Monteleone (Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 10:30 — St. Louis Cathedral (St. Louis Cathedral, St. Peter St, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 11:45 — Breakfast at Café du Monde (Café du Monde, 800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116)
- 13:00 — Jackson Square & French Market (Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 14:45 — Lunch at Antoine’s Restaurant (Antoine’s Restaurant, 713 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 16:15 — Royal Street shopping & art galleries (Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 17:30 — Rest at hotel (Hotel Monteleone)
- 19:00 — Dinner at Coop’s Place (Coop’s Place, 1106 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116)
- 21:00 — Live jazz at Preservation Hall (Preservation Hall, 726 St Peter St, New Orleans, LA 70130)
Day 2 — Garden District & Magazine Street
- 08:00 — Breakfast at hotel (Hotel Monteleone)
- 08:45 — Streetcar to St. Charles Avenue (St. Charles Streetcar Line)
- 09:30 — Guided walking tour of Garden District (incl. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1) (Garden District, New Orleans, LA 70115)
- 11:45 — Lunch at Commander's Palace (Commander's Palace, 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 13:15 — Explore Magazine Street boutiques (Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115)
- 15:00 — Coffee break at Café Beignet (Café Beignet, 334 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130)
- 16:15 — Rest at hotel (Hotel Monteleone)
- 18:00 — Dinner at Dooky Chase's Restaurant (Dooky Chase's Restaurant, 2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119)
- 20:00 — Evening stroll & drinks on Frenchmen Street (Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70116)
Day 3 — City Park, Museum Day & Departure
- 07:30 — Breakfast at hotel (Hotel Monteleone)
- 08:15 — Taxi to City Park (City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124)
- 09:00 — New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) (New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Pl, New Orleans, LA 70124)
- 10:45 — Walk through City Park & Besthoff Sculpture Garden (City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124)
- 12:30 — Lunch at Café du Parc (Café du Parc, 2201 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116)
- 13:45 — Return to hotel & check‑out (Hotel Monteleone)
- 14:30 — Shuttle to airport (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport)
- 15:30 — Flight departure (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY))
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Quick answers
How many days do you need in New Orleans?
This itinerary covers New Orleans in 3 days — see the full day-by-day plan above.
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