Few American cities cast a spell quite like New Orleans. Founded by the French in 1718, shaped by Spanish rule and the African diaspora, and sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, it has brewed a singular mix of language, foodways, and music that you can taste and hear on every corner. Jazz was born here, second lines still wind through neighborhoods, and the smell of powdered sugar and chicory coffee wafts from open-air cafés at all hours.

Beyond the postcard French Quarter, New Orleans unfurls into storybook neighborhoods: the oak-draped Garden District, creative Marigny and Bywater, and historic Tremé. Food is a narrative in its own right—gumbo and jambalaya, oysters and étouffée, po-boys and muffulettas, snowballs and beignets. Cocktail lore runs deep too, from the Sazerac to the Pimm’s Cup, served in storied rooms where legends once held court.

Practical notes: summers are hot and humid; hurricane season runs roughly June–November (check forecasts). The city is walkable in core areas with streetcars and rideshares to fill gaps. At night, stick to well-lit, busy streets and use plastic “go-cups” if you take drinks to go (that’s the local way). Bring comfortable shoes—you’ll happily cover miles.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a living soundtrack: brass bands in Jackson Square, blues on Bourbon Street, and intimate jazz sets on Frenchmen Street. Architecture ranges from wrought-iron balconies to Greek Revival mansions, and the mighty Mississippi frames it all with working-river drama.

• Top sights: Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the Historic New Orleans Collection, National WWII Museum, City Park and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Audubon Park, and vibrant Frenchmen Street.
• Food & drink: Beignets at Cafe du Monde, po-boys at Parkway Bakery & Tavern, gumbo at Dooky Chase’s, oysters at Pêche, whole-hog goodness at Cochon, refined Creole brunch at Brennan’s, and a classic Sazerac at Jewel of the South.
• Fun facts: The city’s above-ground cemeteries are “cities of the dead”; the St. Charles Avenue streetcar is the world’s oldest continuously operating streetcar line; and New Orleans claims the birthplace of both jazz and the cocktail.

Where to stay (handpicked):

• The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans — Grande dame on Canal Street with a serene spa and courtyard jazz brunch.
• Omni Royal Orleans — Historic French Quarter address with a rooftop pool and blockbuster views.
• The Quisby — Stylish budget-friendly hostel/hotel hybrid on the St. Charles streetcar line.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: New Orleans | VRBO: New Orleans

Getting there and around: Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY). Nonstop flights from major U.S. hubs typically take ~2–5 hours; roundtrips often range ~$200–$500 depending on season. Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Airport to the French Quarter is ~25–35 minutes by rideshare or taxi. In town, walk the Quarter and Marigny, ride the St. Charles and Canal streetcars, and use rideshares at night.

Day 1: Arrival, Jackson Square, and a Ghostly Night

Morning: Travel day. Aim for a midday arrival so you can settle in and catch golden-hour light on the Mississippi. If you’re still weighing flights, compare options on Trip.com and Kiwi.com and target MSY around noon.

Afternoon: Drop bags and shake off travel with chicory coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde at Jackson Square. Stroll the square’s ironwork galleries, step into St. Louis Cathedral, then duck down Pirates Alley to Faulkner House Books—tiny, atmospheric, and perfect for a literary souvenir.

Evening: Early dinner at Napoleon House (muffuletta and a crisp Pimm’s Cup) or Coop’s Place (rabbit and sausage jambalaya). Then meet your guide for the New Orleans Premier Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour.

Stories of hauntings and voodoo queens animate the Quarter’s lantern-lit lanes. Cap the night with a Sazerac at the Carousel Bar (yes, it rotates).

Day 2: French Quarter Feasting and Frenchmen Street Jazz

Morning: Breakfast at Brennan’s for eggs Hussarde and bananas Foster flambéed tableside, or Cafe Beignet on Royal for a lighter start with live piano. Window-shop Royal Street’s antiques and art; stop by the Historic New Orleans Collection for a concise primer on the city’s past.

Afternoon: Eat your way through the Quarter on the New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter.

Expect gumbo, pralines, boudin, and the stories behind them from a passionate local guide. Espresso pick-me-up at Spitfire Coffee (tiny, third-wave shots that cut through the humidity).

Evening: Head to Frenchmen Street for live music: The Spotted Cat Music Club for trad jazz and swing, d.b.a. for stellar acoustics, and The Maison for brass bands. Dinner options nearby include Paladar 511 (seasonal Italian-leaning plates) or Dat Dog (wild sausages and rooftop people-watching) if you want something casual between sets.

Day 3: Streetcars, Garden District, and the WWII Museum

Morning: Coffee and a kolache at District Donuts on Magazine Street, then ride the St. Charles streetcar under cathedral oaks to the Garden District. Wander past Greek Revival mansions and ornate cemeteries; peek into indie boutiques along Magazine (home decor at Sunday Shop, clever gifts at Funky Monkey).

Afternoon: Lunch at La Petite Grocery for blue-crab beignets and a refined take on Southern staples, or at Gris-Gris for shrimp and grits on their balcony. Spend a few hours at the National WWII Museum—moving exhibits, restored aircraft, and oral histories that make it one of the country’s top museums.

Evening: Seafood supper at Pêche (whole grilled fish, chilled oysters, smoky seafood gumbo) or rustic Cajun at Cochon (wood-fired meats, fried alligator with chili-garlic aioli). Nightcap at Bar Marilou (velvet banquettes, French-leaning cocktails) or Cure on Freret Street (a James Beard Award–winning craft bar).

Day 4: Swamps and a Grand Plantation (Full-Day Excursion)

Today is your out-of-the-city adventure with the Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans.

Glide through cypress swamps spotting gators and herons, then continue to Oak Alley to walk beneath its cinematic live oaks and learn the site’s complex history. It’s a full-day experience with transportation included—bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Back in town, keep dinner easy: Parkway Bakery & Tavern for roast-beef or shrimp po-boys, or Toups’ Meatery in Mid-City for cracklins and Cajun-forward plates.

Day 5: Audubon Park, Magazine Street, and a Riverboat Jazz Night

Morning: Start at HiVolt Coffee (bright, modern café) before a stroll through Uptown’s Audubon Park—birdsong, lagoons, and runner-friendly loops beneath ancient oaks. Browse more of Magazine Street’s six miles of shops and galleries; it’s great for locally made art, vintage finds, and chic home goods.

Afternoon: Lunch at Turkey and the Wolf (playful, award-winning sandwiches—order the collard green melt). If you’re in the mood for sweets, swing by Sucré for macarons and gelato. Rest up before tonight’s river rendezvous.

Evening: Board the Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option for skyline views, calliope music, and live jazz as the paddlewheel churns the Mississippi.

Choose the dinner buffet aboard or dine afterward at Compère Lapin (Caribbean-Creole magic) in the Warehouse District.

Day 6: Tremé, City Park, and Preservation Hall

Morning: Sip chicory brews at Backatown Coffee Parlour in Tremé, then wander Louis Armstrong Park and historic Congo Square, where African rhythms helped shape jazz. Pause at the Backstreet Cultural Museum if open during your visit to learn about Mardi Gras Indians and second-line traditions.

Afternoon: Head to City Park for the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden (free, shady, and superb). Snack on beignets at Cafe du Monde’s City Park outpost or grab a po-boy at Parkway if you missed it earlier. If it’s warm, a seasonal snowball at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz is a rite of summer.

Evening: Early fried chicken at Willie Mae’s Scotch House or a civil-rights-era classic at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant (book ahead, check hours). Then line up for an intimate set at Preservation Hall—45 minutes of pure, acoustic New Orleans jazz. Toast the night with a frozen Irish coffee at Erin Rose or a courtyard Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s in a plastic go-cup.

Day 7: Farewell Brunch and Last Stroll

Morning: Brunch at Willa Jean (biscuits with spicy honey, griddled banana bread, and serious coffee) or Atchafalaya in the Irish Channel (build-your-own Bloody Mary bar with refined Southern plates). Pick up edible souvenirs—pralines, hot sauces, and café chicory—for friends back home.

Afternoon: Take a final Mississippi River walk or a quick streetcar spin before heading to MSY (~25–35 minutes by rideshare). If you have extra time, browse the French Market for local crafts and spices.

Evening: If your flight is late, sneak in one more neighborhood dinner—Saba for Israeli-Gulf Coast flavors or Herbsaint for contemporary bistro plates—then say au revoir to the Crescent City.

Booking tips: For flights, compare times and fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. For stays, scan deals and map locations with Hotels.com or find larger spaces on VRBO.

In seven days you’ll taste the city’s soul: brass bands and beignets, river breezes and oak-lined avenues, Creole kitchens and candlelit jazz rooms. New Orleans rewards curiosity—follow the music, try something new at every meal, and let the Crescent City’s rhythm set your pace.