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Louisiana, United States

New Orleans

Plan 3 days: the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street, the Garden District by streetcar, and a museum day. We have mapped 2 sights, 2 activities and 4 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan New Orleans with friendsBrowse 10 places
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Places
10

2 See · 2 Do · 4 Eat · 2 Drink

Curated routes
1

New Orleans & Gulf Coast

Best season
Feb – May

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

31°C / 87°F avg high

Coolest month
January

16°C / 60°F avg high

Wettest month
August

about 190 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in New Orleans

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across French Quarter and Warehouse District.

  • Jackson Square in New OrleansPhoto: Bernard Spragg. NZ · CC0
    See

    Jackson Square

    Historic square framed by St. Louis Cathedral, street painters and brass bands.

    Tip Go early before crowds, then walk to Café du Monde.

    • French Quarter
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • The National WWII Museum in New OrleansPhoto: Donna M Qualk · Google
    See

    The National WWII Museum

    Large museum with immersive exhibits on the Second World War.

    Tip Allow at least 4 hours; buy timed tickets online.

    • Warehouse District
    • $$$
    • 4 hr
    • Weekday

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Garden District and French Quarter.

  • St. Charles Avenue Streetcar in New OrleansPhoto: Brooke Moss · Google
    Do

    St. Charles Avenue Streetcar

    1920s green streetcar line past Garden District oaks and mansions.

    Tip Buy a Jazzy Pass on the GoMobileNOLA app; exact change otherwise.

    • Garden District
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Preservation Hall in New OrleansPhoto: Francis Lee · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    Preservation Hall

    Tiny hall dedicated to traditional New Orleans jazz, sets nightly.

    Tip Buy timed tickets online; no bar inside.

    • French Quarter
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

Eat

Where we would book a table in New Orleans across French Quarter, Garden District and Tremé.

  • Café du Monde in New OrleansPhoto: ajay_suresh · CC BY 4.0
    Eat

    Café du Monde

    Open-air coffee stand serving beignets and chicory café au lait since 1862.

    Tip Cash-friendly; the takeout window beats the table line.

    • French Quarter
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Early morning
  • Commander's Palace in New OrleansPhoto: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
    Eat

    Commander's Palace

    Turquoise Garden District landmark for Creole fine dining and jazz brunch.

    Tip Book weekend jazz brunch; 25-cent martinis at weekday lunch.

    • Garden District
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Weekend brunch
  • Dooky Chase's Restaurant in New OrleansPhoto: Infrogmation · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Dooky Chase's Restaurant

    Leah Chase's Tremé restaurant for gumbo and Creole fried chicken.

    Tip Lunch service; get the gumbo and fried chicken.

    • Tremé
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Lunch
  • Willie Mae's Scotch House in New OrleansPhoto: Krista · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Willie Mae's Scotch House

    James Beard–honored corner spot famous for crisp fried chicken.

    Tip Expect a line at the Tremé original; go early.

    • Tremé
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in New Orleans across Marigny and CBD.

  • The Spotted Cat Music Club in New OrleansPhoto: Keith J.P. · Google
    Drink

    The Spotted Cat Music Club

    Small Frenchmen Street bar with nonstop live jazz and swing dancing.

    Tip One-drink minimum, cash only; arrive early for space.

    • Marigny
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late evening
  • The Sazerac Bar in New OrleansPhoto: The Sazerac Bar · Google
    Drink

    The Sazerac Bar

    Art deco bar in the Roosevelt Hotel, home of the namesake cocktail.

    Tip Order a Sazerac or Ramos Gin Fizz; dress smart-casual.

    • CBD
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

How to fit New Orleans into a trip

New Orleans is stop 1 of 3 on our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route. Follow it as-is or lift New Orleans into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

New Orleans month by month

Average daily highs run from 16°C / 60°F in January to 31°C / 87°F in August. August is the wettest month, with about 190 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. New Orleans weather and the best time to visit →

Near New Orleans

4 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

New Orleans questions, answered

How many days do you need in New Orleans?

Our route notes suggest 3 days in New Orleans. On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is New Orleans best known for?

Plan 3 days: the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street, the Garden District by streetcar, and a museum day. Standouts on our list: Jackson Square (Historic square framed by St. Louis Cathedral, street painters and brass bands); The National WWII Museum (Large museum with immersive exhibits on the Second World War); St. Charles Avenue Streetcar (1920s green streetcar line past Garden District oaks and mansions).

When is the best time to visit New Orleans?

Our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route is best Feb – May. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (31°C / 87°F), the coolest in January (16°C / 60°F) and the most rain in August (about 190 mm).

What are the best things to do in New Orleans?

Start with Jackson Square, The National WWII Museum, St. Charles Avenue Streetcar and Preservation Hall. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 4 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés.

Where should a group eat in New Orleans?

Our picks: Café du Monde (French Quarter); Commander's Palace (Garden District); Dooky Chase's Restaurant (Tremé); Willie Mae's Scotch House (Tremé). Cash-friendly; the takeout window beats the table line (Café du Monde).

What is near New Orleans?

The closest destinations in our guides are French Quarter & Riverfront (about 1 km / 1 mi), Garden District & Uptown (about 3 km / 2 mi) and Mobile (about 212 km / 132 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan New Orleans with your crew

Open the New Orleans & Gulf Coast route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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