How to spend one week in the snazziest and jazziest American city.
New Orleans is one of the most enchanting cities I have ever visited.
I spent a week and loved it so much that years later, I returned to stay for 3 months. During my long-term stay, a friend visited and I planned the perfect itinerary for a memorable week. It was his first time in NOLA, and this itinerary did not disappoint!
What is NOLA? This is an affectionate abbreviation and nickname for New Orleans. It’s an acronym for New Orleans, Louisiana (LA).
The highlights of this city are food, culture, and jazz. A vibrant city with art pouring out of every crack and crevice, from street art to world-class museums to festivals to galleries to neighborhoods seeped in color and pizazz.
NOLA is the birthplace of jazz. This history adds a rich layer to New Orleans culture. Hear jazz around nearly corner and find music venues in every neighborhood.
See below my itinerary for making the absolute most of a week in New Orleans!
Jump to a Section:
One Week Itinerary
Bourbon Street
Ghost Tour
Antiquing in New Orleans
JAMNOLA
Live Music at Bacchanal
Swamp Tour
Jazz Clubs on Frenchmen Street
Frenchmen Art Bazaar
Beignets at City Park
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and Sculpture Garden
Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park
New Orleans Jazz Museum
Steamboat Natchez
Jackson Square
The French Market
Voodoo Museum
Where to Stay in New Orleans
Everyone talks about the French Quarter, saying that’s where all the action is. And it’s true that the majority of tourist action happens in that neighborhood. If you are only in the city for a day or two, the convenience of staying in the French Quarter would pay off. Note that your costs will match the level of convenience – both very high.
For those staying in town for a week or more, I recommend the next-door Marigny/Bywater neighborhood. Technically these are two separate neighborhoods, but they are often looped into one, since they offer very similar vibes and activities.
Marigny is closest to the French Quarter, and Bywater is the next neighborhood over. For reference, I stayed in Bywater (near Saturn Bar, to be specific) and it took me about 30 minutes to walk to the French Quarter. On a nice day this was the best walk! Beautiful houses, cute coffee shops, live music spilling out of backyards and filling the sunny streets.
Another neighborhood to consider is Mid-City. This is farther out from the French Quarter. What you sacrifice in convenience, you make up for in uniqueness and authenticity. I have friends living in Mid-City who barely visit the French Quarter or Marigny/Bywater because there is so much to do in Mid-City alone! There is incredible food, museums, and spooky sites (did someone say haunted house?) in this neighborhood. Consider staying here to experience a more local version of New Orleans.
How to Get Around in New Orleans
New Orleans is a relatively large city, and if you plan to travel between neighborhoods, you will likely have to drive. Rideshares are plentiful in the city, including Uber and Lyft.
Public buses are very accessible in NOLA. You can plan trips ahead of time on the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) website, or download the app for real-time bus routes and updates.
Seriously – real time! It eliminates the need to wait at a bus stop for one that may come way behind schedule. Check the app to see when the bus will be at your stop and plan accordingly.
You can purchase a multi-day pass for the duration of your trip or a day pass if you only plan on using it one day. See this website for the current fare schedule.
Make the best choice according to your physical ability, but I recommend walking between activities as much as you are able! There is so much magic to discover around corners you may never turn in a car.
One thing I will say about walking, though – this is a closed-toed city. There is lots of litter and broken glass and spilled booze, depending on where you are walking. Don’t plan to wear sandals around.
When to Visit New Orleans
Geographically located in the southern United States and built on a low-level swamp, New Orleans gets HOT. Starting around May, the temperature and humidity climb. Dramatically. I would avoid visiting New Orleans from May to September.
On the opposite end, the dead winter can get chilly! While snow is rare, it can get cold enough for a winter jacket in December and January.
The sweet spot is within the shoulder seasons. I love spring in New Orleans, because it is the season that jasmine blooms. With its potent scent permeating the city streets, the smell of jasmine is a well-known and loved characteristic of the city. This sweet-smelling flower is so synonymous with the city that it is the origin of the word jazz.
Jasmine blooms anywhere from late March to early May. With that in mind, April is the perfect time to experience New Orleans.
Day 1: Explore the French Quarter
Dive right into the magnetic pull of the city, and spend your first day in the French Quarter.
In New Orleans, brunch is the most important meal of the day. Indulge yourself at the iconic Ruby Slipper, where you can enjoy a strong mimosa and classic New Orleans breakfast foods. We’re talking shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, catfish, and other Creole cuisine.
Spend time walking around, soaking in the beautiful architecture. You are bound to stumble into some street musicians along the way.
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is next! Depending on your affinity for drinking alcohol, you could spend hours barhopping and people-watching. In New Orleans, you are legally allowed to walk around with open alcohol, as long as it is in a plastic or metal (not glass!) container.
On Bourbon Street, the party lasts all day. The crowds get bigger at night, so if you’re looking for a party you should visit after dark. I recommend visiting in the afternoon to free up your evening for a ghost tour. Grab some drinks and maybe a bite to eat, or just enjoy the atmosphere.
New Orleans Ghost Tour
Get immersed in the spooky side of the city! New Orleans is, after all, the most haunted city in America.
With plenty of ghost tours to choose from, find one that piques your personal interest. Be that true crime, voodoo, vampires, haunted pub crawl – NOLA has them all. A few of my recommendations are below.
This tour focuses on the dark true-crime history of New Orleans, enticing you with mysteries of unsolved murders and the gritty details of real stories.
- 90-minutes long, starting at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30 PM
- This tour is for 16+ because of the gruesome nature of the stories.
If scary isn’t your thing, maybe you’d prefer to hear pleasant ghost stories while enjoying some sweet treats! This tour includes 4 dessert tastings accompanied with stories of good-natured spirits in New Orleans.
- 90-minutes long, starting at 3:30 and 8:30 PM
- All ages are welcome.
It wouldn’t be New Orleans if there wasn’t a drinking option. (Well, you are allowed to BYOB to the other tours, but this one is built around the booze.) This tour brings you to historic buildings and haunted bars, so you can satisfy your itch to go out on the town and your itch to get scared at the same time.
- 2 hours long, starting at 4:30, 7:3 and 8:00 PM
- This tour is 21+
Focus your evening on the women who were influential in New Orleans history and still haunting the city today. This tour is raunchy and uncensored with stories brothels, Voodoo Queens, and murders.
- 90-minutes long, starting at 7:00, 8:00 and 8:30 PM
- This tour is 16+ because it is not suited for children.
I must have been scared on my ghost tour, because the only few photos I took are so blurry! A true testament to the spook level, I suppose. But really, having been on a few New Orleans ghost tours I can confidently recommend this as a fun thing to do in New Orleans.
Day 2: Marigny/Bywater
Today, the goal is to explore the neighborhoods outside of the French Quarter called Marigny/Bywater. These two neighborhoods are directly east of the French Quarter, slightly farther from the tourist chaos. They are often lumped together when considering NOLA neighborhoods.
I spent 3 months in Bywater and loved it far more than the French Quarter. It is quieter, but still bustling with restaurants, street art, and things to do. You could spend days exploring Marigny/Bywater, but if you only have one, please be sure to do these four things.
Brunch in Bywater
Another day, another brunch! I recommend Elizabeth’s Restaurant, a cozy restaurant in Bywater with southern cooking and walls covered in local art. (And enormous mimosas, if you’re into that.)
For a lighter but still completely satisfying breakfast, go to Casimiro, a Mexican restaurant with outdoor seating (seasonally) and delicious coffee. Plus a full bar, of course.
Antiquing in New Orleans
There are some fun and funky antique stores around the city, and my favorite one is in Bywater. The Bargain Center is weird in all the best ways, with a constantly changing supply of thrifted and antique finds. Walk around and understand the city through the lens of discarded treasures.
JAMNOLA (Joy, Art, Music NOLA)
For a dose of whimsy, head over to JAMNOLA. It’s an interactive museum experience, where you get to walk through rooms covered in fantastical art. Step into the scene (so many fun photo opportunities) and learn about the history of New Orleans in the coolest way. The JAM of JAMNOLA stands for Joy, Art, Music.
Live Music at Bacchanal
End your day with some live music in an outdoor space at Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits. Get a drink in the beautiful treehouse bar, then grab a seat with a view of the stage.
Check Bacchanal’s website for a list of upcoming shows, but expect to find live music every day! It’s best to confirm the time of the show, because it varies by the schedule. Sometimes there are multiple bands in a day to enjoy.
Day 3: Nature in New Orleans
It’s time to experience the nature of the area! New Orleans was built on a swamp, and is surrounded by marshland, swamps, and bayous.
Swamp Tour
A visit to a swamp will include a boat tour, and you can choose the type of boat – airboat for a real classic swamp feeling, but expect a lot of noise; pontoon boat for a comfortable ride; or a kayak to get up close to nature.
Expect to see alligators, turtles, egrets, and maybe even racoons.
Swamp tours are outside of the city. If you aren’t renting a car, consider finding a tour that includes transportation from downtown, like those offered by Cajun Encounters.
Jazz Clubs on Frenchmen Street
When you get back to the city, take a nap or grab a coffee if you need before spending the evening on Frenchmen Street.
Frenchmen Street is an integral part of New Orleans, offering a three-block stretch of live music venues. Walk down the street to jazz, blues, and brass spilling out of every open door.
Frenchmen Art Bazaar
Between 6 P.M. and midnight every night, a corridor off Frenchmen Street springs to life with artists and creatives. Walking through the stalls you will find handmade local art including jewelry, paintings, metal work, beadwork, and textile art.
It feels like a cross between art museum and shop – even if you don’t feel like purchasing any souvenirs, it’s worth visiting just to see the art. (It’s also a really great place to purchase a souvenir if you do feel like shopping.)
Day 4: Art at the Park
Take a day of your New Orleans trip to experience visual art. New Orleans has shaped so much of American art history, especially through music, but the visual arts produced from this city are nothing to scoff at.
Make your way to City Park. This park is a 10-15 minute drive from the French Quarter. (Consider taking the bus.)
Beignets at City Park
City Park is huge at 1,300 acres, and has sooo many things to do. There are trails to walk, sports to play (disc golf, tennis, golf), water to enjoy. Boats, bikes, botanical gardens, oh my!
The best start to your day in City Park is with beignets, which are rich, deep-friend pastries sprinkled with powdered sugar. Café du Monde is world-famous for their New Orleans beignets. Most people go to the location in the French Quarter. But because everyone goes there, it can be incredibly busy. I recommend getting your Café du Monde fix here instead.
New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden
Next, visit NOMA, the New Orleans Museum of Art. The fine art museum has an incredible collection. I was moved to tears more than once! The art spans over 5,000 years and includes work by Georgia O’Keefe, Pablo Picasso, Mary Cassatt, Claude Monet…you get it. Some absolutely astounding works of art.
The museum also includes the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. It’s worth a walk around! See sculptures incorporated into the natural landscape, interwoven by trails and bridges and among flowers and trees.
Enjoy the Park
After appreciating the art both inside and outside, let yourself appreciate the nature of the park. Find a lake to walk around or take a boat ride. There is truly so much park to explore.
Day 5: Jazz
Jazz was born in New Orleans and has fundamentally shaped the city and local culture. Day 5 is your chance to learn more about this aspect of New Orleans history.
Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park
Start today with a visit to Louis Armstrong Park and within it, Congo Square.
Immediately next to the French Quarter is Louis Armstrong Park. The park is named, of course, for Louis Armstrong, who was born in New Orleans and is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. The park is home to a few statues, walking paths, and a pond, plus plenty of grass and greenery. This is a great place to lay in the sunshine, read a book, and watch the ducks and turtles.
Within Louis Armstrong Park is Congo Square, steeped in history and meaning. In the 18th century, enslaved people were granted one day off a week. Each Sunday, enslaved people would gather and socialize around town, until eventually, in 1817, being restricted to just one space. That space being Congo Square, colloquially named for the large population of enslaved Bokongo people in the area.
On Sundays, the square would fill with people singing, dancing, and playing music. There was also a market each week, which was significant as enslaved people could buy their freedom at the time. The market set up in Congo Square was a means to freedom for many people.
If not permanent freedom, at least temporary freedom. The community would enjoy themselves, enjoy each other, and enjoy music in this square. A rare corner of joy at the time.
The people gathered were from many countries and cultures, so what was created was an amalgamation of many instruments, songs, and dances. This multicultural soundtrack influenced all of New Orleans, with its rhythms making their way into local traditions. These tunes and beats can still be heard in second lines, voodoo rituals, and popular compositions.
Take your time walking around the park and feeling the historical energy in Congo Square.
New Orleans Jazz Museum
Either walk or grab a bus to the New Orleans Jazz Museum to continue learning about the music that shaped this city. The museum is full of art and exhibits which tell the story of jazz musicians who influenced New Orleans and the global jazz community.
Jazz Dinner Cruise on Steamboat Natchez
This evening is time for one of my favorite activities that this city has to offer: take a sunset jazz cruise on Steamboat Natchez. Dinner is included in this excursion, as well as a steamboat ride down the Mississippi with live jazz serenading you all night.
Watch the NOLA neighborhoods pass by while you enjoy the fresh air and the live band.
Day 6: South French Quarter & Voodoo
Today is the day to explore the southern part of the French Quarter, for all the art and shopping along the river. There is no lack of breakfast options in the French Quarter, so indulge in a delicious breakfast or brunch in the French Quarter.
Take a walk down Decatur St, which is simply iconic New Orleans. Pop into shops including art stores and antique/thrift stores.
Jackson Square Artists and Fortune Tellers
Make your way to Jackson Square, where you will find artists selling their work all around the square. Painters, photographers, sketchers, and sculptors display their art directly on the fences surrounding the park, some of whom have been selling their artwork there for decades.
Another fun activity around Jackson Square is getting a fortune telling. What better place to have your fortune read than New Orleans! There is a community of open-air tarot and palm readers that sets up between Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral.
The French Market
Find lunch at one of the many incredible restaurants nearby, then head back to the French Market in the afternoon. Again, you will find a treasure trove of local art and funky goods. Great souvenir shopping! Especially if you love local and handmade treasures.
New Orleans Voodoo Museum
Take a break from your shopping tour to explore the Voodoo Museum. This is a short walk away from the French Market, taking you a little deeper into the French Quarter. The museum is rather small, only a few rooms in a creaky, old house. But each wall and surface is covered in art and artefacts teaching the history of Voodoo, and specifically its migration and significance to New Orleans.
Conclusion
I’ve visited 22 countries, 27 U.S. states, and countless cities – and New Orleans still tops my list. The life, the energy, the people, the music, the food. There is nowhere like this place anywhere else in the world.
Use this itinerary to spend a week in New Orleans, getting immersed in the best parts of the city.
