Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in New Orleans?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in New Orleans?
Many visitors spend two to three days in New Orleans during their trip. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because your journey calls for making the most of every moment. The city offers the chance to dine out at amazing restaurants, dance the night away, listen to some live music, and browse around the old town.
New Orleans is at the heart of the southern party scene. It has many music roots and plays host to many festivals that feature music, food, and fun. The city has an all night nightlife scene that is concentrated in the French Quarter and it's at its peak during Mardi Gras season. The local food scene has also grown rapidly and there are now a combination of celebrity and local chefs that create incredible dishes.
Do you have one or two days to visit New Orleans? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in New Orleans?
New Orleans enjoys immense popularity among tourists because of its many sights and attractions. One day is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of New Orleans such as the food, the nightlife scene, plenty of live music, and the historic old town. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule two to three days to fully experience the festive city. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.
How to spend a day in New Orleans
When visiting New Orleans, you can't miss the French Quarter as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
The delicious food of New Orleans is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Seven Three Distilling Tour and Tasting ($15)
- New Orleans Hands-On Cooking Class with Meal ($162)
- Food Tour of New Orleans Garden District group of 9 or less ($129)
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in New Orleans?
A weekend trip is usually not enough time to experience the festive city of New Orleans, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. Or, perhaps you'll want to return another time to take it all in. You don't want to miss the chance to dine out at amazing restaurants, dance the night away, listen to some live music, and browse around the old town. Many tourists set aside two to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule only gives you a couple of days, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your weekend adventure in New Orleans below.
How to spend 2 days in New Orleans
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in New Orleans, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.
A few tour suggestions include:
- New Orleans St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 Walking Tour ($25)
- Unveiling Voodoo Walking Tour (with Entrance into Voodoo Temple) ($39)
- Ghost Stories and True Crime Walking Tour of the French Quarter ($30)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party ($25)
- True Crime Pub Crawl in New Orleans ($37)
- New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl ($15)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about New Orleans, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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