What to do in New Orleans – a 3 day itinerary

Laissez les bon temps rouler! There’s perhaps no sentence that better encapsulates New Orleans. Located along the Mississippi River, New Orleans is the largest city in the U.S state of Louisiana. When you hear New Orleans, there’s a good chance that the first images popping into your mind are Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street parties. There’s a lot more to experience in this city on the Bayou though. History, food, jazz and voodoo are just a few of the many highlights of a trip to New Orleans. In this three day itinerary we’ll explore some of the best ways to Let the Good Times Roll!

Day One: French Quarter

New Orleans is a fairly easy city to get around. Most destinations you’ll want to visit are within walking distance of one another, so you won’t need to worry too much about getting from place to place. With that said, I’ve always stayed somewhere in the French Quarter when I’ve visited. This distinct neighbourhood is the very heart of New Orleans, and today you’ll be exploring it.

Start your day with breakfast at Cafe du Monde in the French Market. That means one thing – sugar powdered beignets – a New Orleans specialty. You can’t visit this city without trying one. Head over early to beat the crowds though, this place is incredibly popular. With your morning sugar dose received, make your way through the French Quarter to Jackson Square. In this iconic town square, you’ll find various street performers and artists. The photogenic buildings surrounding the square contain numerous museums and other important sites. You’ll also find the Andrew Jackson Statue in the middle of the square, paying tribute to the former U.S President that played a key role in the Second War of Independence.

There’s a whole heap of places to check out around Jackson Square. Here’s just a few that you might want to explore:

• St Louis Cathedral: this beautiful triple spire Catholic Church still hosts services. Even if you’re not religious, its well worth looking inside this architectural marvel. The Church dates back to 1850 and is actually the oldest cathedral in the United States.
• The Cabildo: occupying the former seat of power from the colonial days, the Cabildo Museum showcases the history of New Orleans and wider Louisiana. Exhibits include a hall dedicated to Native American tools and a section on the Battle of New Orleans. The museum even houses an original Napoleon Death Mask. This is a great place to learn more about the history that shaped the city and its unique culture. Its the large building on the left hand side when you face the St Andrew’s Church.
• The Presbytere: while the Cabildo focuses on the history behind the city, the Presbytere (located in a similar building on the other side of St Andrew’s Church) looks at contemporary New Orleans. The Presbytere Museum is home to two permanent exhibits highlighting significant events that continue to shape life in the city. One explores the famous Mardi Gras holiday, with vibrant parade floats and costumes to see. The other exhibit looks back at the devastating Hurricane Katrina which in 2005 flooded 80% of the city. The effect of the storm continues to impact on lives in New Orleans today.

When the hunger sets in, stop by Johnny’s Po Boys for lunch. At this bustling diner, you’ll be able to try some amazing southern food in an authentic setting. Definitely try the shrimp!

Spend the rest of your day exploring the various streets, museums and shops of the French Quarter. Don’t worry about getting lost as the Quarter is incredibly compact. Just a few ideas to fill in the rest of your day include:

• Strolling along the bank of the Mississippi River (don’t forget to check out the NATCHEZ Steamboat).
• Enjoying a jazz band performance and marvelling at the Creole architecture along Royal Street.
• Learn more about the music scene at the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park visitors center.
• Explore the other side of New Orleans culture at the Historic Voodoo Museum.
• For a darker experience, take a trip to the Museum of Death.

As evening sets in, make your way towards Bourbon Street. Find a restaurant to enjoy a good feed (oysters anyone?), then be ready for a night on the town. Bourbon Street is definitely one of the wildest party streets I’ve visited. Beads will be thrown, drinks will be had, and good times will roll. Just be careful with the hand grenades – these infamous cocktails pack quite the punch!

Day Two: Downtown & Garden District

Today you’ll be exploring some of the other neighbourhoods outside the French Quarter (yes, they do exist!). Start your day by boarding the St Charles Streetcar and making your way to the Garden District. If you’re staying in the French Quarter you can board at the cross of Canal and Carondelet Streets. The streetcar is a unique way to make the trip, having commenced operating in its current electrified form in 1893. It travels along St Charles Avenue, and is a wonderful way to experience one of America’s most beautiful streets. You’ll know you’re in the Garden District when you’re under the shade of large oak trees lining both sides of the road.

Get off the streetcar at Washington Avenue and make your way to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. Established in 1833, the cemetery contains around 1,000 tombs. While its not the oldest cemetery in New Orleans (that distinction belongs to the St Louis Cemetery), there’s a great sense of history here and its also appeared in numerous films and TV shows. One of the most noteworthy tombs here is that of the Jefferson Fire Company No 22, a large and distinct crypt containing a fire pump. You can also get a peak inside Koneig’s Tomb. You could spend an eternity wandering among the grand designed crypts and tombs here as the cemetery takes up a whole city block.

There’s far more to see in the Garden District than the cemetery though. Venture out along the streets and admire the various mansions, historic buildings and celebrity homes around the tree filled district. Two buildings that I’d definitely recommend seeing are the Buckner Mansion (as seen in American Horror Story: Coven) and the Morris Israel House (which supposedly inspired Disneyland’s beloved Haunted Mansion). Of course there’s many others to see so take your time exploring.

When you’re finished exploring the District grab a bite for lunch in a nearby cafe then get back on board the Streetcar in the direction you came from. Disembark around Lee Circle, where you’ll find a number of museums.

The most impressive museum here is your next stop – the National World War II Museum. It may seem out of place, after all you don’t normally associate New Orleans with World War II. However, the link comes through the Higgins Boat that served during the Normandy D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. The boat was originally purposed for commercial use on the Louisiana Bayou and is now on display at the museum. You’ll easily be able to spend the afternoon here – the museum is huge and covers pretty much everything you would want to know about World War II. If you do find yourself pressed for time, I’d highly recommend the two Campaigns of Courage exhibits that provide an immersive overview of the Roads to Berlin and Tokyo campaigns.

After a busy day exploring the city, head back into the French Quarter to find a bite for dinner. For a very different atmosphere to Bourbon Street, you might want to check out nearby Chartes or Decatur Street, which contain numerous bars that tend to be more frequented by locals. Alternatively, end your day with a live jazz performance at Preservation Hall (just show up prior to showtime so that you can snag a good seat!).

Day Three: Plantations and Swamplands

Today you’ll be making your way outside of the city and learning about both the ugly history in the region, as well as experiencing the natural environment of the Bayou up close. Getting out of the city can either be arranged as a day-trip to a plantation and into the swamp, or you can rent a car and make the drive yourself.

Start your morning with a trip to one of the many plantations along River Road. This road winds along the banks of the Mississippi River and is where you’ll find many of the Louisiana plantations which provide a contemporary look back at the atrocities committed towards African American slaves in the Antebellum Era. While there are a number of plantations you can visit, the most deserving of your time is the Whitney Plantation (around 45 minutes out of the city). Unlike some other plantations in the area, a tour of this property doesn’t glorify the mansion and its owners, but instead provides an authentic account of the effects that slavery had on those that served at the plantation and the conditions they endured. Throughout your tour here, you’ll here first hand recollections recorded. Its an emotionally charged experience.

If you were to pick another Plantation, the Laura Plantation is also a worthwhile experience. It also gives some attention to the heinous conditions faced by those enslaved, but not as transparently as at the Whitney. Its actually unique though in that the Laura was a Creole-run plantation rather than having Anglo-Saxon owners. Of course, there’s also the famous Oak Alley Plantation that you could visit, but from I’ve heard it doesn’t really portray the lives of the slaves authentically and is the experience is more focused on showing off the (admittedly beautiful) property.

You’ll only have time for one plantation if you’re planning on taking a Bayou Swamp Tour today. There’s numerous ways to tour the swampland outside of New Orleans, perhaps the best being via an airboat. Take your choice of operator, but know that Honey Island Swamp and Jean Lafitte Historic Park and Preserve are two of the more popular destinations. You’ll spend your afternoon cruising about the swamplands, guided by a local, learning about the ecosystem and the various wildlife that calls it home. You might (or probably will) come across some alligators on your journey. Its a part of the trip that you won’t forget. After around 2 hours on the water, head back to New Orleans for some food, jazz and drinks to finish up the day.

That’s my three days in New Orleans itinerary. Is there anything I’ve missed that you’d recommend? Or do you have any memories from your trip to New Orleans? If so, leave your comments below.