This is a comprehensive itinerary for a 3-day weekend in New Orleans! This itinerary is budget friendly, it hits all the must-see spots with a limited amount of time, and is adjustable.

This Guide Includes:
📍Timed itinerary for 3 full days in NOLA
📍Restaurant Suggestions for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
📍Lodging Suggestions
📍Public Transportation Information
📍Weather Information
📍Interactive GPS Map

New Orleans, LA, USA

A Weekend in New Orleans, LA: 3-Day Itinerary

Take the first day to explore the city of New Orleans! Walk down the famous Bourbon Street and French Quarter and check out all the little shops along the way.

New Orleans is known for its gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, muffuletta, po-boys, and beignets - just to name a few. When I visited, everywhere I ate was delicious. I feel like no matter where you go or what you get to eat, you can't go wrong.

This is a Historic River Cruise! It offers a narrated history of New Orleans by a local historian. There is also a one-hour shore excursion at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and the historic Chalmette Battlefield. I really enjoyed this! Not only did I get to learn about the history of New Orleans, but I got to relax and enjoy the ride. This particular Paddlewheeler offers tours at 10am and 2pm.

An alternative boat experience is the Steamboat Natchez. I did not personally experience this cruise, but they offer a variety of daytime and evening options.

After exploring Jackson Square, you can walk over to the French Market. Here, there are several stalls set up with all types of souvenirs and trinkets. This is a great place to wander and shop.

Right down the street from the Miltenberger Houses, is the Reverend Zombie's House of Voodoo. This is the perfect shop for all your voodoo needs. There is also an in-house psychic by the name of Velocity if you want your Tarot Cards read! When I was there, I had my cards read, and it was such a cool experience! I highly recommend this if you're into this type of thing.

New Orleans has a humid, subtropical climate. That means hot summers and mild winters. June through September are New Orleans' hottest months to visit. And the temperatures and humidity can be particularly high. Hurricane season also peaks in August and September. So keep that in mind. The coolest months are December to January. It's also important to note that you will likely encounter rain, especially in the summer months, so be sure to pack an umbrella or rain coat. And remember to wear sunscreen even if the sun is behind the clouds!

 If you've ever googled New Orleans, you've likely seen a photo of these houses. These houses are found in the French Quarter on Royal Street and are aptly named Creole Cottages for their distinct blend of Caribbean and French Canadian design. They are really cool to see in real life. Definitely worth a visit!

Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It also houses the St. Louis Cathedral. Take time to wander around the beautiful park. And, there are often artists that display their artwork outside the park's fence - so be sure to check those out too!

During my stay in NOLA, I visited the Insectarium. The big pull for me was the butterfly exhibit where you get to walk in a room full of butterflies! It was so neat! They also have a variety of exhibits with information on all different types of bugs.

The Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium are located in the same building. You can buy a pass for both exhibits, or just one depending on what you'd like to do or how much time you have.

Before leaving NOLA, be sure to ride the historic St. Charles Streetcar! This streetcar line has been running since 1835 and is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. Fare is $1.25 for each ride with exact change or, you can buy a Jazzy Pass.

You could easily spend a full day here. This museum has several exhibits. Some of them include: Road to Tokyo, Road to Berlin, The D-Day Invasion of Normandy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Gallery. This museum experience is unlike any other. I highly recommend stopping by even if for just a couple hours. You can reach the museum via the streetcar, then pop back on to make it back into the main part of the city.

This itinerary is designed for the use of public transportation and on foot exploration in the city.

Public Transportation from/to the Airport

From the MSY Airport, the taxi location is: 1 Terminal Drive Kenner, LA 70062. There is a line of taxis ready and available. You will go to the booth and pay before hopping in. Taxi rides cost $36.00 from the airport to the Central Business District or French Quarter for up to 2 passengers. For 3 or more passengers, it is $15 per person. You can specify the location of your hotel and taxi driver should accommodate if it is within these boundaries.

If you wish to take a taxi back to the airport when your trip is over, you can call the same taxi you used upon your arrival (don't forget to jot down their taxi # and contact info) and they can take you back to the airport. I believe the fare should be the same, but you can double check with the taxi driver.

When I went to New Orleans, the flight we took arrived fairly late in the evening, so instead of taking public transportation into the city, we opted for a taxi as it felt a little more safe so late.

For transportation back to the airport, we had time and opted for public transportation. It was a packed ride, but we had light luggage, so it wasn't too bad.

A Jazzy Pass can be purchased online, via the Le Pass app, or at a Ticket Vending Machine in the city. Local Walgreen's also sell passes. If you're near one, you can pop in and ask the cashier if they have any for the day and purchase them there.

For public transportation from and to the airport, you can take the 202 Airport Express. This is a public shuttle bus. It runs between the airport and the downtown area. The fare for this shuttle is $1.50 per ride (and I believe is covered with a Jazzy Pass). But, be aware that the bus only runs certain hours of the day and only offers one bus every hour. So be sure to check your flight arrival time/departure time and if the bus is running.

For the most part, we were able to walk on foot to most of the places we wanted to visit. The only time we used public transportation in the city was for the streetcar. But with the Jazzy Pass, you have access to RTA buses, streetcars, and ferries.

A Weekend in New Orleans, LA: 3-Day Itinerary

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