New Orleans

Airport transfer to French Quarter(30-45 minutes)

Airport Shuttle ($24 one-way) or Uber/Lyft ($25-35). The E2 bus ($2) runs to Tulane/Loyola and connects to the streetcar but takes 50+ minutes

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde(45 minutes)

$5 for 3 beignets buried in powdered sugar, $3 cafe au lait. Open 24/7 at 800 Decatur St. Wear dark clothing at your own risk

Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral sunset(1.5 hours)

Street performers, tarot readers, and art stalls surrounding the cathedral (free entry). Walk Royal Street for antique shops and galleries as the golden light hits the wrought-iron balconies

French Market & Cafe Beignet breakfast(1 hour)

Walk the open-air French Market (daily 10AM-5PM) for local crafts and hot sauce. Cafe Beignet on Royal Street is a quieter alternative to Cafe Du Monde

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park(1.5 hours)

Free ranger-led talks and live jazz at 916 N. Peters St. Concerts most days at 2PM and 3PM. Walk to nearby Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park afterward (free)

Lunch at Central Grocery — muffuletta(45 minutes)

The original muffuletta ($16, feeds 2) — round Italian bread stuffed with salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad. On Decatur Street since 1906

Royal Street gallery walk(1.5 hours)

Antique shops, art galleries, and musicians performing at every intersection. Free to browse. Look up — the balconies with ferns and ironwork are the real art

Live jazz on Frenchmen Street(3 hours)

Walk the 3-block stretch and follow your ears. The Spotted Cat (no cover, 2-drink minimum), d.b.a. ($5-15), Maison ($10-20). Music starts 5PM, best Thursday-Saturday

St. Charles Streetcar to Garden District(30 minutes)

$1.25 exact change or Jazzy Pass ($3/day). The oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. Board at Canal Street

Garden District walking tour(2 hours)

Self-guided walk starting at Magazine & 1st Street. Antebellum mansions draped in live oaks and Spanish moss. See the Buckner Mansion (American Horror Story), Sandra Bullock's house, and Anne Rice's former home

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1(30 minutes)

Free, open Mon-Sat 9AM-4PM. Above-ground tombs dating to the 1830s. The setting for countless films and novels

25-cent martini lunch at Commander's Palace(2 hours)

The legendary deal — 25-cent martinis with an entree purchase ($25-40). Turtle soup and bread pudding souffle are signatures. Book 2+ weeks ahead at commanderspalace.com. Jackets suggested but not required at lunch

Magazine Street shopping(1.5 hours)

6 miles of independent boutiques, vintage shops, and galleries. Funky Monkey vintage ($15-50) and Hazelnut on Magazine are favorites

Cajun Encounters swamp tour(3 hours)

$30-55 for 2-hour boat tour with hotel pickup. See alligators, herons, turtles, and cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Best March-June when gators are most active. Book 2-3 days ahead

Lunch at Dooky Chase's Restaurant(1.5 hours)

Leah Chase's legendary Creole restaurant in Treme — gumbo ($15), fried chicken ($18), and stuffed shrimp ($22). Where civil rights strategies were planned over plates of food. On Orleans Ave

Treme neighborhood walk(1.5 hours)

The oldest African American neighborhood in the US. Walk past Creole cottages, Backstreet Cultural Museum ($10, Mardi Gras Indian suits and jazz funeral artifacts), and St. Augustine Church (1842)

Cocktails at The Sazerac Bar(1 hour)

Inside the Roosevelt Hotel on Baronne Street. Try the Sazerac — New Orleans' official cocktail ($14). The Art Deco bar room is stunning

Free morning — sleep in(3 hours)

New Orleans runs late — embrace the slow start

Lunch at Parkway Bakery & Tavern(1 hour)

The best po'boys in the city on Hagan Ave near City Park. Roast beef debris ($10-14) — gravy-soaked and messy in the best way. Eat on the outdoor picnic tables

Bywater neighborhood walk(2 hours)

Walk from the Marigny into the Bywater — rainbow-colored shotgun houses, murals, and a bohemian vibe. Crescent Park (free, elevated park along the river) has great skyline views

Evening second-line or live music(2 hours)

Check WWOZ (wwoz.org) for second-line parade schedules (most Sundays) or return to Frenchmen Street for another round of live music

City Park morning walk(1.5 hours)

1,300 acres — larger than Central Park. Walk under centuries-old live oaks, visit the Botanical Garden ($8), and stop at Morning Call for beignets ($5) — the less-crowded Cafe Du Monde alternative

New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)(2 hours)

$15 (free for Louisiana residents on Wednesdays). Strong glass art collection. The adjacent Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free and stunning — 60+ works set among live oaks

Lunch at Bevi Seafood Co.(45 minutes)

On Magazine Street — Cajun boiled crawfish when in season (Feb-June, market price ~$8-12/lb) and shrimp po'boys ($14)

Red beans and rice Monday dinner(1.5 hours)

Monday is red beans day in New Orleans — every restaurant serves it. Try Coop's Place on Decatur ($8-12) or Willie Mae's Scotch House ($14 with fried chicken). A tradition from washday Mondays when the dish simmered all day

Breakfast at Willa Jean(1 hour)

On O'Keefe Ave in the CBD — the biscuit board ($16) and cornbread skillet ($8) are modern Southern perfection

Last walk through the French Quarter(1 hour)

Morning light on the Quarter is quieter and more photogenic. Pick up pralines at Loretta's ($4 each) on the way out

Airport transfer to MSY(30-45 minutes)

Uber/Lyft $25-35. Allow extra time — the new terminal opened in 2019 and is smooth but security can be slow

Airport transfer to French Quarter(30-45 minutes)

Airport Shuttle ($24) or Uber/Lyft ($25-35)

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde(45 minutes)

$5 for 3 beignets, $3 cafe au lait at 800 Decatur St. Open 24/7

Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral sunset(1.5 hours)

Street performers, art stalls, cathedral (free entry). Walk Royal Street as golden light hits the balconies

French Market & breakfast(1 hour)

Open-air market for crafts and hot sauce. Daily 10AM-5PM

Jazz National Historical Park(1.5 hours)

Free concerts at 2PM and 3PM at 916 N. Peters St. Walk to Congo Square afterward

Lunch — muffuletta at Central Grocery(45 minutes)

$16 original muffuletta (feeds 2). Decatur Street since 1906

Royal Street gallery walk(1.5 hours)

Antique shops, galleries, musicians at every intersection

Frenchmen Street live jazz(3 hours)

Spotted Cat (no cover), d.b.a. ($5-15), Maison ($10-20). Best Thursday-Saturday

St. Charles Streetcar(30 minutes)

$1.25 exact change or Jazzy Pass ($3/day)

Garden District walking tour(2 hours)

Self-guided from Magazine & 1st. Buckner Mansion, Sandra Bullock's house, live oaks

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1(30 minutes)

Free, Mon-Sat 9AM-4PM. Above-ground tombs from the 1830s

Commander's Palace lunch(2 hours)

25-cent martinis with entree ($25-40). Turtle soup, bread pudding souffle. Book 2+ weeks ahead

Magazine Street shopping(1.5 hours)

Independent boutiques, vintage shops. Funky Monkey ($15-50)

Cajun Encounters swamp tour(3 hours)

$30-55 with hotel pickup. Alligators, herons, cypress trees. Book 2-3 days ahead

Lunch at Dooky Chase's(1.5 hours)

Legendary Creole in Treme — gumbo ($15), fried chicken ($18). Civil rights history on every wall

Treme walk(1.5 hours)

Backstreet Cultural Museum ($10), St. Augustine Church (1842), Creole cottages

Sazerac cocktails at The Sazerac Bar(1 hour)

Roosevelt Hotel. Sazerac cocktail ($14) in Art Deco splendor

Po'boys at Parkway Bakery(1 hour)

Roast beef debris ($10-14) on Hagan Ave. Outdoor picnic tables

Bywater neighborhood walk(2 hours)

Rainbow shotgun houses, murals, Crescent Park for skyline views

Evening music at d.b.a.(2 hours)

Frenchmen Street. Brass bands, jazz, blues nightly. $5-15 cover

City Park morning(1.5 hours)

1,300 acres, centuries-old oaks. Morning Call beignets ($5)

NOMA & Sculpture Garden(2 hours)

$15. Free sculpture garden with 60+ works among live oaks

Lunch at Bevi Seafood(45 minutes)

Cajun boiled crawfish (Feb-June) and shrimp po'boys ($14)

Red beans and rice dinner(1.5 hours)

Coop's Place ($8-12) or Willie Mae's ($14 with fried chicken)

National WWII Museum(4 hours)

$32. Beyond All Boundaries 4D film narrated by Tom Hanks, plus immersive exhibits spanning the Pacific and European theaters. Allow a full morning — it's enormous and deeply moving

Lunch at Cochon(1.5 hours)

Cajun-rooted fine dining on Tchoupitoulas Street in the Warehouse District. Cochon de lait ($26) and Louisiana rabbit ($28). Chef Donald Link is a James Beard winner

Ogden Museum of Southern Art(1.5 hours)

$13.50. Contemporary Southern art, photography, and folk art. Thursday Ogden After Hours ($20) has live music and cocktails 6-8PM

Dinner at Herbsaint(1.5 hours)

Bistro dining next to Cochon. Shrimp bisque ($12), duck leg ($26). One of the city's most reliable fine-dining experiences

New Orleans School of Cooking class(3 hours)

$40 demonstration class at 524 St. Louis St in the Quarter. Learn gumbo, jambalaya, and pralines. You eat everything you cook

St. Charles Streetcar to Audubon Park(30 minutes)

$1.25. Ride through the oak-canopied Garden District and Uptown

Audubon Park walk(1.5 hours)

Free. Tranquil 350-acre park with live oaks, lagoons, and a golf course. The Tree of Life (a massive live oak) is worth finding

Lunch at Jacques-Imo's Cafe(1.5 hours)

On Oak Street in Uptown — fried chicken ($22), alligator cheesecake appetizer ($14), and blackened redfish ($28). Expect a wait. BYOB if you bring wine

Sleep in and brunch at The Ruby Slipper(2 hours)

On Decatur Street — BBQ shrimp and grits ($18), eggs Cochon ($17). Weekend waits 20-30 min

Explore at your own pace(4 hours)

Options: Frenchmen Street Art Market (Sat night 7PM-1AM), revisit a favorite bar, or take the Canal Street Ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers Point (free, great skyline views)

Drive to Whitney Plantation(1 hour)

Rent a car or book a guided tour ($80-120). The only plantation museum focused entirely on enslaved people's experiences. 50 km west on River Road

Whitney Plantation tour(2 hours)

$25. Guided tour through slave quarters, memorials, and the Big House with an emphasis on the lived experience of enslaved people. Deeply moving and essential

Lunch at B&C Seafood in Vacherie(45 minutes)

A no-frills roadside spot near Laura Plantation — boiled crawfish, fried catfish, and boudin ($8-14). The real deal

Oak Alley Plantation(1.5 hours)

$26. Famous for its quarter-mile canopy of 300-year-old live oaks. Tours cover both the plantation house and the slave quarters exhibit. 15 minutes from Whitney

Lower Ninth Ward tour(2 hours)

See the neighborhood still recovering from Katrina. The House of Dance and Feathers ($10 donation, call ahead 504-957-2678) is a private collection of Mardi Gras Indian artifacts. Brad Pitt's Make It Right houses are visible. Uber here — limited transit

Chalmette Battlefield (Jean Lafitte NHP)(1.5 hours)

Free. Site of the Battle of New Orleans (1815). Walk the battlefield with ranger-led talks (check nps.gov schedule). 10 minutes from the Lower 9th

Lunch at Dong Phuong Bakery(45 minutes)

In New Orleans East — the best Vietnamese banh mi ($5-7) in a city with a significant Vietnamese community. The king cake (seasonal) won the James Beard Award. On Chef Menteur Hwy

Evening on Bourbon Street (once is enough)(2 hours)

Walk the strip once for the spectacle — neon lights, open containers, cover bands. Get a Hand Grenade ($12) or Hurricane ($10) in a go cup. One visit is plenty — the real city is elsewhere

Bayou St. John morning walk(1.5 hours)

A historic bayou winding through Mid-City. Walk or bike the path, watch locals kayaking. Pitot House ($10, 1799 French colonial cottage) sits on the bayou's banks

Lunch at Liuzza's by the Track(1 hour)

Near the Fair Grounds (Jazz Fest venue) — their gumbo ($10) and fried garlic oyster po'boy ($14) are local legends. BBQ shrimp is outstanding. Cash only

Rock 'n' Bowl(2 hours)

Bowling, live music, and dancing — all at once. On Carrollton Ave in Mid-City. Zydeco, swing, and R&B nights ($8-15 cover). A uniquely New Orleans experience

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum(1 hour)

$7 at 724 Dumaine St in the Quarter. Small but fascinating collection of altars, artifacts, and voodoo history. Readings available ($25-50)

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 guided tour(1 hour)

$25 through Save Our Cemeteries (required — no unguided visits). The burial site of voodoo queen Marie Laveau. The above-ground tombs are hauntingly beautiful

Lunch at Napoleon House(1 hour)

In the Quarter since 1914 — muffulettas ($16), gumbo ($12), and a Pimm's Cup ($10, their signature). The crumbling courtyard ambiance is pure New Orleans

Haunted History ghost tour(2 hours)

$25-30. Evening walking tours through the Quarter covering vampires, ghosts, and true crime. Haunted History Tours and Free Tours by Foot (tip-based) are well-reviewed. Start at 7PM or 8PM

Breakfast at Willa Jean(1 hour)

Biscuit board ($16) and cornbread skillet ($8) on O'Keefe Ave

Pralines at Loretta's & last Quarter walk(1 hour)

Handmade pralines ($4 each). Morning light on the Quarter is quiet and photogenic

Airport transfer to MSY(30-45 minutes)

Uber/Lyft $25-35. Allow extra time for security

Airport transfer to French Quarter(30-45 minutes)

Uber/Lyft $25-35 or Airport Shuttle $24

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde(45 minutes)

$5 for 3, $3 cafe au lait. 800 Decatur St, open 24/7

Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral sunset(1.5 hours)

Street performers, art stalls, free cathedral entry. Walk Royal Street

Jazz National Historical Park(1.5 hours)

Free concerts at 2PM and 3PM. Walk to Congo Square

Muffuletta at Central Grocery(45 minutes)

$16, feeds 2. Since 1906

Frenchmen Street live jazz(3 hours)

Spotted Cat, d.b.a., Maison. Best Thu-Sat

St. Charles Streetcar(30 minutes)

$1.25 or Jazzy Pass $3/day

Garden District walk(2 hours)

Buckner Mansion, live oaks, Spanish moss

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1(30 minutes)

Free, Mon-Sat 9AM-4PM

Commander's Palace lunch(2 hours)

25-cent martinis with entree ($25-40). Book 2+ weeks ahead

Cajun Encounters swamp tour(3 hours)

$30-55 with hotel pickup. Alligators, cypress trees

Lunch at Dooky Chase's(1.5 hours)

Gumbo ($15), fried chicken ($18) in Treme

Treme walk(1.5 hours)

Backstreet Cultural Museum ($10), St. Augustine Church

Sazerac Bar cocktails(1 hour)

Roosevelt Hotel. Sazerac ($14)

Po'boys at Parkway Bakery(1 hour)

Roast beef debris ($10-14)

Bywater walk(2 hours)

Rainbow houses, murals, Crescent Park

City Park morning(1.5 hours)

Ancient oaks, Morning Call beignets ($5)

NOMA & Sculpture Garden(2 hours)

$15. 60+ sculptures among live oaks

Lunch at Bevi Seafood(45 minutes)

Crawfish (seasonal), shrimp po'boys ($14)

Red beans and rice dinner(1.5 hours)

Coop's Place ($8-12) or Willie Mae's ($14)

National WWII Museum(4 hours)

$32. Beyond All Boundaries 4D film, immersive exhibits

Lunch at Cochon(1.5 hours)

Cochon de lait ($26), James Beard winner

Ogden Museum of Southern Art(1.5 hours)

$13.50. Thursday Ogden After Hours ($20) with live music

Dinner at Herbsaint(1.5 hours)

Shrimp bisque ($12), duck leg ($26)

New Orleans School of Cooking(3 hours)

$40 demonstration class. Gumbo, jambalaya, pralines

Audubon Park walk(1.5 hours)

350 acres, live oaks, Tree of Life

Dinner at Jacques-Imo's(1.5 hours)

Fried chicken ($22), alligator cheesecake ($14). BYOB

Brunch at The Ruby Slipper(2 hours)

BBQ shrimp and grits ($18), eggs Cochon ($17)

Canal Street Ferry to Algiers Point(2 hours)

Free ferry across the Mississippi. Walk the quiet, historic streets of Algiers Point — great skyline views of the Quarter from the levee. Old Point Bar has live music and cheap drinks

Whitney Plantation tour(2 hours)

$25. Focused on enslaved people's experiences. Essential

Lunch at B&C Seafood(45 minutes)

Roadside crawfish and boudin ($8-14)

Oak Alley Plantation(1.5 hours)

$26. Quarter-mile canopy of 300-year-old oaks

Lower Ninth Ward tour(2 hours)

House of Dance and Feathers ($10), Make It Right houses

Chalmette Battlefield(1.5 hours)

Free. Battle of New Orleans site, ranger talks

Banh mi at Dong Phuong Bakery(45 minutes)

Best Vietnamese banh mi ($5-7). James Beard-winning king cake

Bourbon Street walkthrough(2 hours)

See it once. Hand Grenade ($12), Hurricane ($10). Once is enough

Bayou St. John morning walk(1.5 hours)

Historic bayou, Pitot House ($10), kayakers

Lunch at Liuzza's by the Track(1 hour)

Gumbo ($10), fried garlic oyster po'boy ($14). Cash only

Rock 'n' Bowl(2 hours)

Bowling + live zydeco/swing. $8-15 cover on Carrollton Ave

Voodoo Museum(1 hour)

$7 at 724 Dumaine St. Altars, artifacts, readings ($25-50)

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 tour(1 hour)

$25, required guide. Marie Laveau's tomb

Lunch at Napoleon House(1 hour)

Since 1914. Muffulettas ($16), Pimm's Cup ($10)

Ghost tour(2 hours)

$25-30 evening walk. Vampires, ghosts, true crime

Drive to Lafayette(2 hours)

Rent a car. I-10 West through the Atchafalaya Basin bridge — 29 km of elevated highway over swamp

Vermilionville Living History Museum(1.5 hours)

$12. Reconstructed Cajun and Creole village on Bayou Vermilion. Costumed interpreters demonstrate 18th-century crafts. Live Cajun music on weekends

Lunch at Johnson's Boucaniere(1 hour)

On Johnston Street — smoked meats and boudin ($8-14). The brisket and boudin plate is legendary. Don't skip the cracklins ($5)

Breaux Bridge — Crawfish Capital(1.5 hours)

20 minutes east of Lafayette. Visit Pont Breaux's Cajun Restaurant for live Cajun music and crawfish etouffee ($16). The Crawfish Festival (May) draws 100,000+ visitors

Afternoon at Bacchanal Wine(3 hours)

In the Bywater — pick a bottle of wine inside ($15-40), order cheese and charcuterie at the counter ($12-20), and sit in the outdoor garden with live jazz starting at 6PM. The most New Orleans way to spend an afternoon

Drive across Lake Pontchartrain Causeway(45 minutes)

$5 toll (southbound only). 38 km bridge — the longest continuous bridge over water in the world. Open water in every direction at mid-span

Abita Brewing Company tour(1.5 hours)

$5 for a tour and tasting. On the main road in Abita Springs. Their Purple Haze (raspberry wheat, $5-7) is Louisiana's most famous craft beer

Lunch in Downtown Covington(1 hour)

Walk the charming downtown. Lola Restaurant ($18-30 entrees) or Del Porto Italian ($14-28). The Tammany Trace trail (free) runs through town for walking or cycling

UCM Museum (Abita Mystery House)(45 minutes)

$5. A gloriously weird collection of found-art dioramas, UFO crash sites, and an alligator-human hybrid. Pure Louisiana eccentricity

Preservation Hall(1 hour)

The shrine of New Orleans jazz on St. Peter Street. Intimate 45-min sets by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. $25-50, shows at 5PM, 6PM, 8PM, 9PM, 10PM. Buy tickets at preservationhall.com — walk-ups can wait 30+ min

Fats Domino House & Ninth Ward music walk(1.5 hours)

Drive past Fats Domino's house on Caffin Avenue in the Lower Ninth (yellow house, private, view from outside). The neighborhood produced some of America's greatest musicians

Lunch at Lil Dizzy's Cafe(1 hour)

In Treme — buffet-style Creole ($16). Fried chicken, red beans, gumbo. Run by the Baquet family, New Orleans restaurant royalty since the 1940s

Record shopping on Decatur Street(1.5 hours)

Louisiana Music Factory ($5-30 for vinyl) — the best record store in the city, specializing in local jazz, blues, zydeco, and brass band music. Staff recommendations are gold

Tipitina's evening show(2.5 hours)

The legendary Uptown music venue on Napoleon Ave. Named after Professor Longhair's song. $15-40 cover depending on act. Check tipitinas.com for schedule

Spa day at The Spa at Windsor Court(2 hours)

In the Windsor Court Hotel on Gravier Street. Southern-inspired treatments ($150-250). The hotel's afternoon tea ($45) is also a lovely experience

Magazine Street slow walk(3 hours)

6 miles of shops, galleries, and cafes. Stop at Sucre for macarons ($3 each), District Donuts ($3-5), and Peche Seafood Grill for an early dinner ($18-30) — their whole grilled fish is outstanding

Drive to Slidell(45 minutes)

East on I-10 across the twin span bridges

Honey Island Swamp Tour(2.5 hours)

Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours ($27). Smaller boats than the Cajun Encounters tour, more intimate wildlife encounters. Wild boar, nutria, and alligators in a pristine cypress swamp

Lunch at The Chimes in Covington(1 hour)

Louisiana craft beers on tap and excellent crawfish ($12-16). On Highway 190

Evening at Vaughan's Lounge(2 hours)

In the Bywater on Lesseps Street — Thursday night at Vaughan's with Kermit Ruffins is a New Orleans institution. Free or $5 cover, BBQ served outside. The most authentic music experience in the city

Morning at your favorite spot(2 hours)

Return to Frenchmen Street, the Bywater, City Park, or wherever called you most

Lunch at Willie Mae's Scotch House(1 hour)

If you haven't yet — James Beard America's Classic Award fried chicken ($14). On St. Ann Street in Treme. Expect a line

Farewell dinner at Galatoire's(2.5 hours)

On Bourbon Street since 1905 — ironically, the best restaurant on the worst street. Shrimp Remoulade ($16), trout meuniere ($32). Friday lunch is the city's most legendary dining ritual. Jacket required in the main dining room. No reservations for the first floor — line up

Breakfast at Willa Jean(1 hour)

Biscuit board ($16), cornbread skillet ($8)

Last pralines at Loretta's(30 minutes)

$4 each. Stock up for the flight home

Airport transfer to MSY(30-45 minutes)

Uber/Lyft $25-35