2 Days In New Orleans: Best Itinerary For A Short Stay
If you only have 2 days in New Orleans, you’ll want to make the most of your time and see the best of what the Big Easy has to offer! The itinerary has everything covered, from the French Quarter, to live jazz, Bourbon Street, some of the best food in the country, ghost tours, historic sites and so much more.
Is 2 Days In New Orleans Enough?
Whether you’re planning on taking a weekend trip or visiting during the week, 2 days in New Orleans should be plenty of time to get a feel for what the Crescent City has to offer and see a lot of the city. As long as you’re careful not to party TOO much so you can take advantage of the mornings, and you aren’t expecting to see the entire city in 2 days, you will have a fantastic time on your short trip. Enjoy!
- 8:00-10:00: Café Du Monde City Park and Explore
- 10:00-12:00: St Louis Cemetery No 3 Self-Guided Tour
- 12:00-1:30: Lunch at Verti Marte
- 1:30-5:00: French Quarter: French Market, Jackson Square Art and Street Performers
- 5:00-6:00: Break / Regroup
- 6:00-8:00: Dinner at Oceana Grill
- 8:00-10:00: Bourbon Street and Pat O’Brien’s: Dueling Piano Bar New Orleans
- Alternative: Ghost Tour
- 9:00-11:30: Bearcat New Orleans Brunch
- 11:30-4:00: Garden District & Audubon Park
- Garden District
- Audubon Park
- Alternative: Alligator Swamp Tour
- 4:00-5:30: Break / Regroup
- 5:30-7:30: The Apothecary New Orleans
- 7:30-10:00: Frenchman Street: Best Jazz In New Orleans
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2 Days In New Orleans: Where to Stay
To get the most of your time, you’re best off staying right in the French Quarter. This way you can easily get to everywhere you need to go and you’ll be in a safe, central location. For an iconic stay, the Andrew Jackson hotel is known to be haunted and a local treasure with great prices as long as you book early enough.
The Frenchman Orleans at 519 is another great choice, along with the more centrally located ACE Boutique Hotel, previously known as The Barnett. Each of these choices will put you within walking distance or within an easy walk from one of the many St. Charles streetcar stops, so getting around will be a breeze.
Day 1:
For your first of 2 days in New Orleans you’ll see the gorgeous City Park, then head to one of the captivating New Orleans cemeteries. Next you’ll try some classic New Orleans cuisine for lunch, and explore the world-famous French Quarter. Last, you’ll head to Bourbon street for dinner and drinks.
Café Du Monde In City Park & Explore 8:00-10:00
The first stop on your amazing New Orleans weekend trip will be up Esplanade Avenue at the Café Du Monde in the gorgeous City Park. This is a great way to experience Café Du Monde without the crazy lines which are almost always present at the French Quarter location. The St. Charles Streetcar is a unique way to get to the park if you have a few extra minutes, or you can always drive to the park as there is more than enough parking.
The melt-in-your-mouth beignets and coffee pair perfectly with the natural setting. There are plenty of tables at Café Du Monde but we recommend finding your own spot on one of the benches or bringing a picnic blanket. There are so many beautiful places to hangout throughout the park. Just bring a few napkins because these beignets can get messy. 🤭
Once you finish your breakfast, take a stroll through this massive park to see some of the Louisiana wildlife. We loved watching all the birds and seeing the art at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
St Louis Cemetery No 3 Tour 10:00-12:00
The St Louis Cemetery No 3 is about a mile away from City Park, so you can make your way over there for your next stop easily. With only 2 days in New Orleans, the cemeteries or “cities of the dead” as they’re sometimes called, are absolutely something you should see – even if cemeteries aren’t typically your thing (which they probably aren’t). New Orleans is unique in that they have to bury their dead above ground due to the city being at or below sea level. Hence the huge above-ground tombs.
The St Louis Cemetery No 3 is the best cemetery to tour and one of the top creepy things to do in the city because of its great location, selection of tombs and the fact that you can do a self-tour as opposed to a guided tour.
If a guided tour is more your style, check out the St Louis Cemetery No 1 instead which is also just outside of the French Quarter. Read my blog for more ideas on spooky things to do in New Orleans if that’s your thing (it’s mine!).
Lunch At Verti Marte 12:00-1:30
Head back to the French Quarter to try a Muffalata or Po-boy for lunch at the Verti Marte in the French Quarter. These two sandwiches are both New Orleans classics, and Verti Market is known to be one of the best delis in the city and a favorite of the locals. It also has a big menu, helpful for the picky eaters.
French Quarter, French Market & Jackson Square 1:30-5:00
Now that you’ve eaten it’s time to stroll the Crescent City’s famous French Quarter, starting at the French Market, then heading to Jackson Square and last seeing the famous Canal and Royal streets.
French Market
Right down the street from Verti Marte you’ll find the historic French Market along the Mississippi river, which is a five block open-air market where vendors sell delicious bites to eat, local produce, specialty art, souvenirs and more. Take a look around, try some food and support the local artists.
Jackson Square – Local Artists & Street Performers
Jackson Square is a historic park in New Orleans in the French Quarter and it’s one of my favorite places to be during a weekend day in New Orleans. Here you’ll find local artists selling their art, live street performers, fortune tellers and live musicians.
If you get overheated you can try one of the city’s famous frozen craft cocktail drinks, which can be consumed while you walk around, shop and explore. So fun!! There are also tons of stores along Decatur street for you to pick up a souvenir or two.
Royal Street, Canal Street & Explore
Royal Street and Canal Street are two famous streets in the French Quarter with lots of character. Start by walking down Royal Street toward Canal. As you walk you’ll find historic sites, architecture, antique shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries.
The palm-tree lined Canal Street is at the heart of New Orleans, and a popular street for the famous New Orleans parades. I was surprised at how it goes so quickly from the historic architecture of the French Quarter to the towering buildings on Canal. It’s worth walking down and taking in the sites!
There is so much more to see in the French Quarter, so I’ve put together a list of other highlights and top things to do in case you have extra time or want to pass on any of the things above:
Break 5:00-6:00
Because everyone needs some rest, especially while visiting the vibrant Big Easy!
Dinner At Oceana Grill 6:00-8:00
New Orleans is known for its food and Oceana Grill is the perfect place to experience it. While this restaurant can be relatively pricy, it doesn’t have to be depending on what you choose and since you have only 2 days in New Orleans, you want to make sure to get some of the best food in the city. Oceana is also right in the French Quarter, so you won’t have to walk far as long as you’re staying in downtown New Orleans. One of the best things on the menu is their Cajun Pasta Dishes with the special Oceana sauce. Yummmm.
Important Tip: Make sure to make a reservation on the Oceana website ahead of time, as this place can get crazy!
Bourbon Street and Pat O’Brien’s: Dueling Piano Bar New Orleans 8:00-10:00
Bourbon Street is an absolute blast, from the live music to the live street performers and people watching. There’s really nowhere else like it. With so much going on it can be overwhelming, but that’s what the cocktails are for. 😉 There are also quieter bars and side streets that you can duck into if needed.
Our favorite thing about visiting New Orleans was that it seemed like no matter your age you will have fun here. Everyone seemed to be letting loose, but not too loose haha, and really living life. Bourbon Street is the perfect place to soak in this scene. You’ll have a lot of fun just walking around and people watching, listening to the live music and popping in and out of places that seem exciting to you.
Eventually you’ll want to end up at the Dueling Piano Bar New Orleans: Pat O’Brien’s. This place is so much fun and the crowd always gets really into it. There’s also a courtyard and sidebar for when/if you’d like a quieter atmosphere.
Alternative: Ghost Tour
If the party crowd isn’t your style, there are so many other things to do at night in this city but a New Orleans ghost tour is the most unique and fun. There are tons of tour vendors that offer a variety of different tours so you can pick the one that fits what you’re interested in. A few great companies to check out are New Orleans Ghost Adventure Tours and New Orleans Haunted History Tours.
Day 2 of Your 2 Days In New Orleans:
For day two, you’ll start off at one of the best brunch spots in the city. Next you’ll see the Garden district and Audubon park, or opt for an Alligator Swamp tour, whichever you choose. For dinner you’ll visit a vampire apothecary and one of the best spooky things to do in New Orleans, followed by a night of authentic NOLA jazz to end your trip.
Bearcat Brunch 9:00-11:30
You can’t leave the Big Easy without getting brunch, which is for sure the best way to start out the last day of your 2 days in New Orleans. To experience the best brunch in New Orleans visit Bearcat in Uptown. We had recommendations for this place left and right and after going, we now we know why! The menu is broken up into Good Cat and Bad Cat sections, for the healthier versus heartier options, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You can’t go wrong here but we loved the Brisket Hash and the Blueberry Jelly on a few of their homemade biscuits. Soooo good!
This iconic New Orleans brunch restaurant does not take reservations, so make sure to show up early, ideally before 9:30. This will assure you can get a spot without having to wait for hours. It’s completely worth the wait either way though, as long as you’re hungry!
Explore the Garden District & Audubon Park 11:30-4:00
You have a few options for the 2nd day of your perfect 2 days in New Orleans depending on what your group is feeling. Option 1 is to explore the Garden District and Audubon Park, which is right down the street from the Bearcat brunch spot. This is the less structured option, which I tend to lean towards personally when I travel.
Garden District
After you’ve had probably more than enough food, it’s the perfect time to tour the Garden District and/or see Audubon Park. If you only have time for one I recommend the Garden District since it’s more unique to NOLA.
The garden district is beautiful, calm and brings a completely different energy than the French Quarter. You can start the day by exploring the many mansions, including famous homes like the Buckner Mansion from American Horror Story or celebrity homes like Jennifer Coolidge’s mansion.
Must-see streets are Prytania, Coliseum and Magazine Street, which is where most of the shops and restaurants are. Along the way stop in a local eatery and watch out for a Second Line, which is a parade unique to New Orleans which are typically put on for weddings and funerals.
Audubon Park
Next up head over to Audubon Park at the far side of the Garden District, where you’ll find some of the most stunning greenery in the city. The many sprawling oak trees will blow you away. Here you can check out the Zoo which is great for kids, take a stroll along the water at The Fly, go for a bike ride and see the famous Tree of Life.
If you’re visiting outside of the hot summer season and have a great weather day, bring a few chairs, a blanket and some snacks or drinks so you can have a picnic and relax under the oak trees. This picnic idea is one of our top things to do in New Orleans for couples. It’s surprisingly less crowded than you would think, especially during the mornings, evenings or during the week, and we weren’t bothered by many bugs. The best spot for a picnic is either near the Tree of Life or at The Fly where you can watch the sun start to go down over the water.
Alternative: Alligator Swamp Tour
If you’re more of a tour person or want something a little more exciting, opt for a swamp tour instead where you’ll get to see lots of alligators in their natural habit. This is another thing that is very unique to New Orleans, and they even let you bring drinks on board to ease your nerves. 😉 These swamp tours aren’t actually anything to be scared of though – crocodiles are the reptiles to be afraid of, while the alligators native to New Orleans aren’t interested in humans.
My husband did New Orleans for his bachelor party and everyone absolutely loved this tour. I recommend using the company Airboat Swamp Tours if possible because they’re very close to the French Quarter, so you won’t have to waste as much time traveling to and from. You’re basically guaranteed to get up and close to tons of alligators in a safe and fun way, and you’ll have some great stories to bring back to tell your friends!
Break 4:00-5:30
Time for some down time, maybe a nap or shower!
Dinner At The Apothecary New Orleans 5:30-7:30
The Apothecary New Orleans is a unique and fun vampire-themed restaurant and bar. The food is delicious and everything about the place is entertaining – from the color-changing cocktails to the decor and lively servers. We recommend getting the Alchemist’s Elixir cocktail, Absinthe if you don’t mind liquor-forward drinks and the Short Rib. You’ll need reservations for this one as well, so make sure to plan ahead and reserve on the Apothecary Open Table Page.
If you end up having time after dinner for some more fun, ask them about their secret Vampire Speakeasy New Orleans which is right around the corner in the French Quarter and you might get the invite.
Best Jazz New Orleans on Frenchman Street 7:30-10:00
There’s no better way to close out your perfect 2 days in New Orleans than to experience the best jazz in the city on Frenchman Street. Live music is everywhere in NOLA but you’ll find the best live jazz on Frenchman Street, where there are multiple local musicians and bands playing every night of the week. This is where locals go for their nightlife – for good reason! Typically there is either no cover or a small cover, with the requirement of just one drink to support the musicians. Bar hop around to see what you like best, or if you only have time for one bar, d.B.A and Spotted Cat are both great options.
Map View of 2 Days In New Orleans Itinerary
To make your 2 days in New Orleans easier, here’s a map you can save to your phone so you can easily find each of the spots I mention above. Enjoy!!
If you’re visiting the area while working remote or are interested in it, make sure to read my New Orleans travel blog and digital nomad guide here!
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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