New Orleans is a wild city. Not a night goes by where you can’t find some form of debauchery here. Infamous Bourbon Street, the city’s main draw, is an energetic hub of live music, cheap drinks, and rambunctious travelers from dusk until dawn.
But there’s more to the Big Easy than just nightlife.
Home to 375,000 people, New Orleans is also steeped in fascinating history and boasts a plethora of haunted walking tours, eerie cemeteries, and quirky museums. It’s one of the best destinations in North America for eating a variety of cuisines and for drinking unique cocktails too, making it a must-stop destination for foodies.
In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about spending three days in NOLA so you can have fun, save money, and make the most of your trip! In my (not-so-biased) opinion, it’s the best 3-day itinerary to New Orleans on the internet!
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Side note: This post was written by Matt, a New Orleans expert. This way, you can ensure you are reading the best and most accurate New Orleans weekend trip guide! Read more about Matt in the author’s bio at the end of this post!
Table of Contents
How do I get to New Orleans?
Getting to and from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is easy. If you take a taxi, expect to pay around $36 USD each way for the 25-minute journey, similar to the cost of using a car service like Uber or Lyft.
A cheaper option is bus number 202. It picks up travelers at all airport terminals and goes to Canal Street in central New Orleans. The fare costs $1.50 USD.
You can also rent a car at the airport, but that is only necessary if you plan on traveling out of town. Public transportation such as buses and trollies are the best way to get around in the city itself.
What is the best time to visit New Orleans?
The climate in New Orleans is hot and humid. For this reason, the best time to go is typically the shoulder seasons: April-May and September-October. The winter months are not bad either.
If you want to time your visit during Mardi Gras in February, just make sure to book early, as this is the most popular time of year to visit and things sell out fast!
Where should I stay in New Orleans?
Wondering where to stay in New Orleans? Here are my suggestions for the best neighborhoods (plus personal recommended accommodations):
If you’re visiting for the first time and want to take part in the nightlife, the French Quarter is the best neighborhood for your stay. Just keep in mind that this area will be loud at night, so only stay here if you plan to be out late.
If you’re traveling as a family, Mid-City is the place for you. In addition to hugging the expansive City Park, the area is also home to the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
For something a bit further from the revelry of the French Quarter, stay in the Warehouse District. Still within walking distance of the French Quarter, it’s filled with great shops and boutiques. Make sure you hit Magazine Street, which stretches into the Lower Garden District as well.
Tremé and the Seventh Ward are excellent for people who travel with their stomach and taste buds in mind. There are new trendy spots but also a handful of excellent traditional Creole and Cajun restaurants.
While lots of people might point history buffs to the French Quarter, the Garden District is a more tranquil neighborhood that is worth exploring, replete with 19th-century mansions and historic cemeteries.
My Personal Recommendations:
Budget-friendly Hotel options in New Orleans:
- City House Hostel – City House Hostel is one of the most centrally located, budget-friendly accommodations in town. The bunk beds in the dorms don’t have privacy shades, but the mattresses are quite comfortable. There’s a kitchen for guests and a fun common room with foosball.
- The Quisby – Housed in an old hotel from the 1920s in the Warehouse District, the Quisby is a fun and social hostel with a 24-hour bar that serves cheap drinks. As for the dorms, the beds are comfy and each bunk has a reading light and an outlet nearby.
Midrange Hotels in New Orleans:
- Villa Convento – Rumored to be the “House of the Rising Sun” from the famed 1960s song by the Animals, Villa Convento is steeped in history. Located in a former convent from the 1830s, this French Quarter villa has loft, balcony, and courtyard rooms, all of which are bedecked with antique furniture.
- Lucky Inn – Quirky and bohemian in spirit, the Lucky Inn is a small boutique hotel in Mid-City with a lot of style and personality. It has spacious king-sized bedrooms fit for the whole family.
Luxury Hotels in New Orleans:
- The Ritz-Carlton – Situated in the western edge of the French Quarter, the Ritz-Carlton is the epitome of luxury. Rooms are decorated with the commissioned work of local artists. They also feature signature robes, marble bathrooms with Asprey amenities, soundproof windows, and high ceilings.
- Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast – This really is a grand Victorian house, one of the most stunning in the Garden District. The rooms have antique furniture, Egyptian cotton towels, balconies, and Jacuzzi hot tubs. There is also a huge, decadent breakfast too.
Dog-friendly:
- Virgin Hotels – Located in the Central Business District, this hotel lets guests’ pets stay for free and provides a lot of “pet-menities,” including dog food, a water bowl, and even a bed for your traveling animal.
3-Day Itinerary for New Orleans
It’s timeeeee! Here’s the ultimate New Orleans weekend trip guide. From walking city tours to Voodoo museums, this 3-day New Orleans itinerary has something for everyone!
Day 1 in New Orleans
Morning: Explore the French Quarter
The famous French Quarter is where you’ll see the city’s iconic 18th-century French-style homes and wrought-iron balconies. The area was settled by the French (hence the name) in 1718.
The district is now a haven for revelers on Bourbon Street, antique shoppers on Royal Street, and foodies seeking some of the best Cajun food in town. Here you’ll find Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest in the country, dating back to 1789), beautiful homes, and bars blaring top-notch jazz.
I start off every visit to a new city with a free walking tour. Try the one by NOLA Tour Guy. You’ll learn about the history of the neighborhood and get access to an expert local guide who can answer all your questions. Just be sure to tip at the end!
And for more walking tour suggestions, check out my list of the best walking tours in New Orleans. It has something for everything interest and budget!
Afternoon: Visit the National World War II Museum
Opened in 2000, this is the largest museum dedicated to World War II in the country. It’s consistently ranked as one of the best museums in the US too — and for good reason: its use of audio, video, artifacts, and personal stories tie the history of the war together in incredible detail. I spent over three hours here and still had more to see.
Even if you’re not a history buff like me, I highly recommend visiting. Many veterans spend time here, and you can listen to firsthand accounts of the war as well as see some of their pictures. It’s sobering but incredibly insightful.
945 Magazine St, +1 504-528-1944, Open daily 9am-5pm. Admission is $36 USD.
Evening: Take a Free Tour of the Sazerac House
The Sazerac House, open since 2019, is part bar, part museum, highlighting the importance of the eponymous cocktail, born at this very location and considered by many to be the oldest American cocktail.
The several floors of interactive exhibits are an immersive experience. You can chat with virtual bartenders about their favorite drinks and see what the French Quarter looked like in the 1800s. It’s a super detailed and fun experience that’s one of the best in New Orleans.
You can also take a 90-minute tour (that includes samples) for free or attend an event or workshop (which start at $30 USD), such as a whiskey tasting or a lesson on how to craft whiskey-based cocktails.
101 Magazine St, +1 504-910-0100, sazerachouse.com. Open Tuesday-Sunday, noon-6pm. Admission is free, but booking in advance is required.
Day 2 in New Orleans
Morning: Take a Tour of the New Orleans Jazz Museum
This museum not only has a ton of artifacts (over 25,000) but it hosts lots of concerts and over a dozen festivals throughout the year. Housed in an old US Mint building, it features instruments, artwork of and by musicians, memorabilia, and more. Most events are free, and many of them are broadcast live as well, so you can watch them for free from home too.
400 Esplanade Ave., 504-568-6993. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm. Admission is $8 USD.
Afternoon: Visit the Voodoo Museum
This small museum is the place to learn more about voodoo and to actually see objects used in its practice. Just two (jam-packed) rooms, it opened in 1972 and is full of all kinds of artifacts, talismans, taxidermy animals, and dolls. Not only is it full of interesting objects and information, but the museum can also facilitate psychic readings and other rituals with local practitioners for anyone so inclined.
You can visit the museum at your own pace via the self-guided option, or take their voodoo walking tour, which includes a guided tour of the museum.
724 Dumaine St, +1 504-680-0128, Open daily 10am-6pm. Admission is $10 USD for a self-guided tour or $32 USD for the guided museum/walking tour.
Evening: Listen to Music on Frenchmen Street
From street bands to jazz halls, New Orleans has music in its DNA. End your day listening to some incredible music on Frenchmen Street, which became a popular place to listen to live performances in the 1980s. It’s famous for its collection of jazz bars, including my favorite, The Spotted Cat.
You’ll find lots of bookstores, record shops, and cafés in this neighborhood as well. The area is also home to many early 19th-century Creole cottages that survived the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (as this is one of the highest parts of town).
Day 3 in New Orleans
Morning: Chill Out in a Park
I’d highly recommend spending a morning wandering around one of two stunning parks, both with ponds, walking trails, and plenty of space to relax with a book or a picnic. They’re wonderful places to chill out when the weather gets too hot and you want to relax in the shade.
The 350-acre Audubon Park was formerly a plantation, a staging area for both the Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War, and host to a World’s Fair in 1884–85.
City Park is a massive green space spanning over 1,300 acres (50% larger than NYC’s Central Park, and one of the biggest urban parks in the country). It is home to centuries-old oak trees, the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the New Orleans Museum of Art, cafés, and restaurants, among other attractions. Because it’s so big, it’s a popular place to bike around (there are rental facilities in the park).
Afternoon: Tour 1850 House
During the period before the Civil War, slavery made white plantation owners incredibly wealthy. They built elaborate homes to show off their riches, and some of those antebellum houses are still standing today. Located next to Jackson Square, 1850 House is an example of what many of those looked like.
Built by the wealthy aristocrat and 19th-century personality Baroness Micaela Almonester Pontalba, this particular house had many occupants over the years. When the Louisiana State Museum took it over, it was decorated to be representative of upper-middle-class life at the time of its construction in 1850. It’s the best place to get an immersive understanding of just how affluent white slave owners were in the South.
523 St Ann St, +1 504-524-9118, louisianastatemuseum.org. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm. Admission is $5 USD.
Evening: Take a Voodoo or Ghost Tour
NOLA is considered one of the most haunted cities in the country, thanks to the city’s roots in voodoo, a set of underground religious practices that came out of the African religious traditions enslaved people brought to America.
Both voodoo and the occult are synonymous with New Orleans. From stories of ghosts and vampires to Marie Laveau (the city’s historic and most famous voodoo practitioner), New Orleans has a certain creep factor to it.
Voodoo tours take you through the French Quarter and its cemeteries and teach you about the area’s spooky past. Witches Brew Tours is one of the best.
400 Royal St, +1 504-454-393, There are multiple tours daily, including some only for adults. The Cemetery Insiders Walking Tour lasts two hours and costs $35 USD.
Check out pricing and availability for New Orleans Ghost Tours here!
Other things to do in New Orleans:
1. Visit Studio Be
Located in the hip, artsy Bywater neighborhood, Studio Be is a unique art gallery created by local artist Brandan “Bmike” Odums. In the 35,000-square-foot warehouse, you’ll find colorful spray-painted murals and large-scale pieces, as well as multimedia installations by Bmike and other local artists, largely focused on social justice issues. Meandering through is a moving way to glean insights into the Black experience in New Orleans.
2941 Royal St, 504-252-0463, Open Wednesday through Saturday 2pm-8pm and Sunday 2pm-6pm. Admission is $15 USD.
2. Take a Tour of the Bayou
Outside town, take a kayak tour around the bayou and explore the swamps filled with alligators and Spanish moss-covered trees. These swampy sections of slow-moving rivers, provided early settlers with trees for homes, fish for eating, and waterways for commerce. It’s still part of the lifeblood of the region and an important part of its culture. Spend your morning in this beautiful and relaxing area by getting back to nature.
Kayak tours cost around $50-80 USD and last a couple of hours. Wild Louisiana Tours offers guided tours that will get you out on the water and teach you about the ecosystem. It also offers rentals from $40 USD if you don’t want a tour.
1047 Piety Street, +1 504-571-9975
See more of the best New Orleans tours on GetYourGuide or Viator!
Where (Else) to Eat in New Orleans
- Commander’s Palace: Located in the Garden District, Commander’s Palace is one of the most iconic restaurants in the city, if not the entire country. Come here for NOLA staples and make sure you’re hungry, because the big portions will ensure you’ll leave very full.
- Parkway Bakery and Tavern: The main reason to point yourself to Parkway is to devour its po’ boy sandwich, one of the best in town. It’s a bit different from the shrimp-laced sandwich you may be used to; here the messy roast beef and gravy po’ boy is mouth-wateringly delicious.
- Mopho: Located near the City Park, Mopho is a Cajun-Vietnamese hybrid of sorts, serving up excellent and creative dishes such as fish and chips, but more with the flavor profile of Hanoi staple cha ca la vong.
Other Tips to Know before Visiting New Orleans:
- New Orleans is a walking city, so bring some comfortable shoes.
- You can walk around outside with an alcoholic drink, but don’t get too crazy.
- To use the city’s buses and streetcars, you can buy a one-day, three-day, seven-day, or thirty-one-day pass. Learn more about tickets here!
3-day New Orleans Weekend Trip Itinerary Recap:
- Day 1: French Quarter, World War II Museum, & tour of The Sazerac House
- Day 2: Jazz Museum, Voodoo Museum, & Live music on Frenchmen Street
- Day 3: City Park, 1850 House, Ghost Tour
3-Day New Orleans Itinerary Map
Download and save this map to make your trip to New Orleans stress-free! If you do end up using this itinerary, I’d love to hear about it over on Instagram!
One Weekend in New Orleans Isn’t Enough
As you can see, there’s SO much to do in New Orleans that one weekend would never be enough to see it all. You can customize your 3-day New Orleans itinerary based on what interests you. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of entertaining activities to create your own fun-filled, jam-packed adventurous weekend in New Orleans!
What else would you add to this “One Weekend in New Orleans” Itinerary?
About the Author!
Matt Kepnes runs the award-winning travel site nomadicmatt.com, which helps people travel the world on a budget. He’s the author of the NYT best-seller How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and the travel memoir Ten Years a Nomad. His writings and advice have been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, Afar, Budget Travel, Time, and countless other publications, as well as on CNN and the BBC. You can follow him on Instagram @nomadicmatt.
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