10-Day New Orleans Itinerary

Arrive and check in near the French Quarter

Fly into MSY (about 25-40 minutes by car to the Quarter) and drop your bags at a hotel in the French Quarter, Marigny or Warehouse District.

Beignets at Café Du Monde and a Jackson Square stroll

Order beignets and cafe au lait at the original Café Du Monde (lines move fast; take-out is quicker), then step into St. Louis Cathedral.

Royal Street galleries and a history walking tour

Browse antiques and galleries on Royal Street, peek into courtyards, and join a guided walk to learn how Creole, French and Spanish history shaped the Quarter.

Live jazz on Frenchmen Street

Have a casual dinner in the Marigny, then club-hop for brass bands and jazz. Sets start around 6-7 PM; bring cash for covers and the band's tip bucket.

St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District

Board on Canal Street around 9 AM, sit on the right for mansion views, and ride about 25 minutes to Washington Avenue.

Garden District mansions walk

Join a guided walk or self-guide past Greek Revival and Italianate homes on Prytania Street and First Street, staying on the sidewalk since homes are private.

Po'boy lunch and Magazine Street shopping

Grab a roast beef or fried shrimp po'boy at a neighborhood sandwich shop, then browse boutiques and vintage stores along Magazine Street.

Classic Creole dinner

Reserve a table at an old-line Creole dining room or a modern Cajun kitchen for gumbo, turtle soup, crawfish etouffee or bread pudding. Book a few days ahead on weekends.

French Market and the Mississippi riverfront

Arrive early to beat the heat, browse produce, pralines and crafts at the French Market, then walk the riverfront Moonwalk to watch the ships.

Creole cooking class with lunch

Join a hands-on or demonstration class to learn gumbo, jambalaya and pralines, then eat what you cook. Book a day or two ahead.

Treme, Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park

Walk to Congo Square, where enslaved and free people of color gathered for music and dance, and learn about Treme, one of America's oldest Black neighborhoods.

Preservation Hall jazz set

Book an early-evening set at Preservation Hall (tickets sell out; approx. USD 25-50), then end with a nightcap back on Frenchmen Street.

Road to Berlin and Road to Tokyo galleries

Arrive at opening and start with the two main campaign galleries, which are richly detailed and get busier after lunch.

Lunch at the museum canteen

Refuel on site so you do not lose your momentum, or walk a block for a quick bite in the Warehouse District.

Beyond All Boundaries film and aircraft pavilion

Catch your timed 4D film, then see the restored aircraft suspended in the US Freedom Pavilion.

Warehouse District dinner and galleries

Wander the art galleries on Julia Street, then have dinner at one of the area's chef-driven restaurants.

Pickup or drive to the swamps

Most swamp tours are 30-60 minutes from the city, near Slidell, Lafitte or Westwego; many offer hotel pickup.

Cypress swamp boat tour

Glide past moss-draped cypress, herons and, in warm months, alligators. Morning tours are cooler and wildlife is more active.

Afternoon rest and pool time

Return to the city for a slow afternoon; it is classic New Orleans to nap through the hottest hours.

Crawfish boil or Cajun seafood dinner

In season (roughly January to June), find a casual spot doing boiled crawfish by the pound; otherwise try a Cajun seafood platter.

Drive the River Road to Wallace

Drive about 1 hour west via I-10 and Louisiana's River Road, or join a small-group tour with transportation.

Whitney Plantation visit

Explore the memorials, restored cabins and church, and the first-person narratives of people enslaved in Louisiana. Reserve ahead.

Cajun lunch and the drive back

Stop for a plate lunch or boudin along the River Road, then return to the city by late afternoon.

Quiet dinner and reflection

Keep the evening low-key with dinner near your hotel and a stroll along the riverfront.

Canal streetcar to City Park

Take the City Park/Museum branch of the Canal line, about 25-30 minutes from the edge of the Quarter.

Besthoff Sculpture Garden and Museum of Art

Walk the free sculpture garden among lagoons and oaks, then see the museum's collection of American, French and Louisiana art.

Beignets in the park and Bayou St. John walk

Have a snack at the City Park Café Du Monde, then stroll the banks of Bayou St. John past historic Creole homes.

Mid-City neighborhood dinner

Eat at a relaxed neighborhood restaurant or po'boy joint in Mid-City, a favorite with locals.

Coffee and brunch in the Bywater

Start at a neighborhood coffee shop or brunch spot in the Bywater, about 10 minutes by car from the Quarter.

Crescent Park riverfront walk

Cross the arched 'rusty rainbow' bridge into Crescent Park for river views and a skyline panorama.

Street art and studios

Wander Bywater streets for murals, shotgun houses painted in bright colors, and small galleries and record shops.

Back to Frenchmen for one more night

Return to Frenchmen Street for a different lineup, or check the Bywater's own bars for local bands.

Streetcar to Uptown

Ride the St. Charles line past Tulane and Loyola universities, about 40 minutes from Canal Street.

Audubon Park loop

Walk or jog the shaded loop around the lagoon, home to egrets and huge live oaks.

Magazine Street shopping and a snowball

Work your way along Magazine Street for local design shops, and cool off with a shaved-ice snowball, a New Orleans summer staple.

Farewell dinner in a classic dining room

Splurge on a final multi-course Creole dinner in one of the Quarter's historic dining rooms; reserve ahead and check the dress code.

Farewell beignets and coffee

Have one last round of beignets and cafe au lait, then walk Jackson Square while it is quiet.

Pick up pralines, hot sauce and coffee

Shop for edible souvenirs like pralines, chicory coffee and Louisiana hot sauce in the French Market.

Check out and final lunch

Check out, store bags if needed, and have a last bowl of gumbo or red beans and rice.

Transfer to MSY airport

Allow 25-40 minutes to the airport, more at rush hour, and arrive about 2 hours before your flight.