New Orleans: a 3-day plan and the best time to go

The best time to go

The most comfortable months for walking about are March and November: mild days and less rain. The warmest month is August, at about 87°F (31°C) in the afternoon. The wettest is August.

1. Jan60°98 mm
2. Feb64°107 mm
3. Mar69°104 mm
4. Apr76°128 mm
5. May82°119 mm
6. Jun87°176 mm
7. Jul87°173 mm
8. Aug87°190 mm
9. Sep85°129 mm
10. Oct78°105 mm
11. Nov69°76 mm
12. Dec62°128 mm

Bars show the typical night-time low to daytime high; the numbers are daytime highs in °F and rain in millimetres for the month. Averages for 2001–2020 from NASA POWER, so a given year can be warmer, colder or wetter.

Three days in New Orleans

Written with AI from public facts about New Orleans, then checked by Sureno's rules. Opening times and prices change: check them before you go.

Day 1 French Quarter

Morning

Jackson Square

French Quarter

Stroll the square and admire its historic buildings and lively street scene.

Afternoon

St. Louis Cathedral

French Quarter

Step inside if open, or enjoy the cathedral’s exterior from the square.

Evening

Café du Monde

French Quarter

Try beignets and café au lait at this well-known French Quarter café.

Day 2 River and gardens

Morning

Moonwalk Riverfront

French Quarter

Take an easy riverside stroll and watch ships pass on the Mississippi.

Afternoon

New Orleans City Park

City Park

Relax among the park’s oak trees and gardens, choosing a short, comfortable visit.

Evening

Commander's Palace

Garden District

Enjoy classic New Orleans dining in the Garden District; check current details before visiting.

Day 3 Garden District

Morning

Garden District walk

Garden District

See historic homes and leafy streets at an unhurried pace.

Afternoon

Audubon Park

Uptown

Rest in the shade and enjoy the park’s greenery and walking paths.

Evening

Frenchmen Street

Faubourg Marigny

Choose a nearby restaurant and enjoy the neighborhood’s music scene from a comfortable seat.

What to eat

• Try gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and beignets.
• Ask about portion sizes and seating when choosing a restaurant.

Getting there

• Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans (MSY).
• From New York: about 2 h 53 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From Los Angeles: about 3 h 51 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From London: about 9 h 24 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• Use taxis or rideshares for longer trips and walk short distances at an easy pace. Streetcars can be a pleasant way to travel; check current routes and service before setting out. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) serves the city.
• Check official entry rules for the United States before travel.
• March and November are often pleasant months to visit; check the forecast and plan breaks in the shade.

Plan the flight from your city

Where to stay

• French QuarterIt is close to many historic sights, cafés and the riverfront.
• Central Business DistrictIt has central access to attractions and transport, with a range of places to eat.
• Garden DistrictIt offers leafy streets and historic homes in a quieter setting.

The official New Orleans tourism siteWhere to sleep, on Wikivoyage

About New Orleans

New Orleans is a consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 census, New Orleans is the most populous city in Louisiana, the second-most populous in the Deep South, and the twelfth-most populous in the Southeastern United States; the New Orleans metropolitan area, with about 1 million residents, is the 59th-most populous metropolitan area in the United States. New Orleans serves as a major port and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region. The city is coextensive with Orleans Parish.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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