In a city that is all about indulgence, it’s no surprise that an itinerary for a day in New Orleans will lean heavier toward food than sightseeing, toward music than monuments, and toward meandering rather than long checklists of things to do.
New Orleans is all about the good times–and however you define the good times, you’ll find them here.
If this is your first time in New Orleans, don’t worry–this day in New Orleans itinerary will make sure that you have more than enough time to see its most famous sights, learn a few things about the history of the city.
Start your day in Jackson Square
If you’ve seen photos of New Orleans, you’ve likely seen Jackson Square: a small park that sits in front of St. Louis Cathedral, the view of New Orleans’ beautiful white cathedral is one of the most classic shots of New Orleans.
It doesn’t take long to walk around, but the real treat is what’s between Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral.
In this small walking area, you’ll often find energetic street performers, from jazz musicians to jugglers, as well as plenty of people willing to exchange a bit of touristy New Orleans voodoo for a fee.
The area is lively, exciting, and definitely a great first stop in New Orleans.
Head into Cafe du Monde
Just a short walk away (essentially on the opposite side of Jackson Square as the St. Louis Cathedral) sits the famous Cafe du Monde, home to French-style beignets (fried doughnuts topped with a literal inch of powdered sugar) and a cafe au lait.
The menu is very small–beignets are the only food that they serve, though there are a few other drinks on the menu.
Stroll along Decatur Street & the French Market
Decatur Street is, in many ways, one of the main drags of the French Quarter, and is home to some of New Orleans’ most popular restaurants.
You can also find souvenir shops, tour companies, donkeys hooked up to carriages offering rides, and just about any other tourist staple you can think of here.
Be sure to duck inside the French Market that runs parallel to Decatur Street for several blocks to do a little souvenir shopping!
Wander the French Quarter
New Orleans is all about meandering: the French Quarter is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods I’ve ever seen in the USA, full of beautiful architecture, bustling street life, and plenty of bars, candy shops, restaurants, and more urging you to indulge in them.
If you want a bit more of a structured look at the history of the Quarter, consider booking a walking tour–prices are very reasonable, and they’re a great way to get an initial overview of New Orleans.
Take your pick for nightlife: Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street
New Orleans is famous for its nightlife, and no New Orleans itinerary would be complete without including it: this isn’t a place to call it quits and head back to the hotel after dinner.
The French Quarter offers tons of nightlife, but by far the two best-known streets are Bourbon Street (known for raucous partying and debauchery) and Frenchmen Street (known for live jazz playing in all of the clubs every night of the week).
