01

Day 01

The French Quarter & Riverfront

Historic streets, Jackson Square, a river stroll, and beignets at Café du Monde.

1. Morning

   Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral

   Start at Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest active cathedral in the country, while the plaza is quiet. It's the ideal orientation point for a first full day in the Quarter.

2. Late Morning

   The Cabildo

   Devote an hour or two to the Cabildo, the Louisiana State Museum where the Louisiana Purchase was signed, an easy walk from the square.

3. Lunch

   French Market

   Lunch along the French Market with vendors and the river breeze beside you, a relaxed pause before an afternoon of wandering the Quarter.

4. Afternoon

   Royal Street galleries

   Stroll Royal Street for antique shops, art galleries, and cast-iron balconies, the most elegant blocks in the historic core.

5. Late Afternoon

   Moon Walk & the Mississippi

   Walk the Moon Walk promenade along the Mississippi, watching steamboats and barges pass with late-day light on the water.

6. Evening

   Beignets at Café du Monde

   Close the day with New Orleans's iconic beignets and chicory café au lait at the original Café du Monde, open into the late hours.

02

Day 02

The Garden District & Uptown

The St. Charles streetcar, mansions, Magazine Street shopping, and Audubon Park.

1. Morning

   St. Charles Streetcar

   Begin by riding the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar, the oldest continuously operating line in the world, out beneath a canopy of live oaks.

2. Late Morning

   Lafayette Cemetery area

   Walk the Garden District's leafy streets past its grand antebellum mansions and the historic above-ground tombs, a hallmark of the city's burial tradition.

3. Lunch

   Magazine Street

   Enjoy lunch along Magazine Street, whose boutiques, cafés, and casual kitchens stretch for blocks through the neighborhood.

4. Afternoon

   Commander's Palace

   For a leisurely afternoon meal, book a table at Commander's Palace, the landmark Creole restaurant at the heart of the Garden District.

5. Late Afternoon

   Audubon Park

   Ride the streetcar further uptown to Audubon Park, strolling its oak-lined paths and lagoon across from Tulane and Loyola universities.

6. Evening

   Uptown dinner

   Dine uptown, where restaurants along Freret and Oak Streets cover everything from Vietnamese to modern Louisiana cuisine.

03

Day 03

Faubourg Marigny & Frenchmen Street

Colorful cottages, riverfront views, an art market, and live music into the night.

1. Morning

   Crescent Park

   Walk the riverfront Crescent Park through the Marigny and Bywater, a green ribbon of paths and public art with sweeping views of the river and skyline.

2. Late Morning

   Bywater murals

   Explore the pastel Creole cottages, corner galleries, and street murals of the Bywater, plus the shops tucked along St. Claude Avenue.

3. Lunch

   Bywater cafés

   Settle in for lunch at one of the Bywater's acclaimed neighborhood cafés, or choose from the area's many casual kitchens.

4. Afternoon

   Faubourg Marigny

   Wander back through the Marigny past its colorful shotgun houses and quiet corners, a stylish, unhurried afternoon of browsing.

5. Evening

   Frenchmen Street music

   Head to Frenchmen Street for dinner and live jazz, where clubs like the Spotted Cat and d.b.a. line one of the city's most beloved music blocks.

6. Evening

   Frenchmen Art Market

   Finish at the nighttime Frenchmen Art Market, browsing local crafts as the music spills out of the surrounding clubs.

04

Day 04

Mid-City, City Park & Museums

A sculpture garden, a world-class art museum, oak-lined lagoons, and Creole classics.

1. Morning

   New Orleans Museum of Art

   Spend the morning at the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park, exploring its French, American, and Louisiana collections, a highlight for all ages.

2. Late Morning

   Besthoff Sculpture Garden

   Move next door to the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, wandering its winding paths among modern sculpture and ancient oaks.

3. Lunch

   Parkway Bakery po'boys

   Grab lunch at Parkway Bakery and Tavern, a Mid-City institution famous for its roast beef and fried shrimp po'boys.

4. Afternoon

   City Park

   Wander City Park's lagoons and the largest stand of mature live oaks in the world, then ride the antique carousel at Storyland.

5. Late Afternoon

   Bayou St. John

   Walk out to Bayou St. John for a peaceful waterside view past historic Creole homes before heading back toward the center.

6. Evening

   Mid-City dinner

   Have dinner in Mid-City, where restaurants along Canal Street and Esplanade serve everything from Creole classics to fresh Gulf seafood.

05

Day 05

The Warehouse District & Riverfront

The National WWII Museum, contemporary art, riverfront shopping, and a farewell dinner.

1. Morning

   The National WWII Museum

   Visit the National WWII Museum, one of the finest in the country, with immersive galleries and archival exhibits that reward an early arrival.

2. Lunch

   Warehouse District eats

   Lunch in the lively blocks of the Warehouse District, from casual cafés to the restaurants that fill Julia and Fulton Streets.

3. Afternoon

   Ogden & CAC galleries

   Head to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the nearby Contemporary Arts Center, an easy, art-rich pairing along Camp Street.

4. Late Afternoon

   Riverwalk & Woldenberg Park

   Relax along Woldenberg Park and the riverfront Outlets at Riverwalk for classic river-and-steamboat photos.

5. Evening

   Central Business District

   Finish browsing near Canal Street, passing the historic hotels and the streetcar tracks that fan out through downtown.

6. Evening

   Farewell Creole dinner

   End your trip with dinner at one of the city's storied Creole tables like Antoine's or Arnaud's; reserve ahead for its most celebrated dining rooms.