New Orleans is a city where romance hums in the background—porches draped in jasmine, cast-iron balconies, brass bands echoing down centuries-old streets. Founded in 1718, the Crescent City blends French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences into a living tapestry of music, food, and folklore.

Expect singular experiences: oysters on crushed ice, powdered-sugar beignets, antique streetcars, and candlelit jazz. Museums here are memorable—from the National WWII Museum’s immersive exhibits to the intimate Backstreet Cultural Museum, a love letter to Black Mardi Gras traditions.

Practical notes: Pack breathable layers and comfy shoes, plan for brief showers, and book popular experiences (like jazz cruises and food tours) in advance. Streetcars and rideshares make getting around easy, and neighborhoods like the Marigny, Bywater, and the Garden District reward wandering.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a sensory feast. Mornings mean coffee and beignets; afternoons, a saunter through oak-lined streets and hidden courtyards; nights, a soundtrack of jazz on Frenchmen Street and the slow churn of paddlewheels on the Mississippi River.

Top sights and neighborhoods: the French Quarter’s Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, the elegant Garden District, live-music–rich Marigny, colorful Bywater and Crescent Park, the museums of the Warehouse District, and sprawling City Park with its sculpture garden.

Food lovers can chase gumbo, étouffée, and po-boys one moment, then oysters, Gulf fish, and modern Southern plates the next. Seek out local favorites and you’ll eat royally without breaking the bank.

How to get here: Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY). Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: 1–2 hours from Texas/Florida, ~2.5–3 hours from the Midwest, ~3–4 hours from the Northeast. Rideshares/taxis to the French Quarter usually take 25–35 minutes depending on traffic.

Where to stay (romance + value):

• French Quarter/Canal Street (classic and central): The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans for spa days and a serene courtyard bar; Omni Royal Orleans for a rooftop pool, wrought-iron balconies, and steps-from-Jackson-Square convenience.
• Lower Garden District (boutique + budget-friendly): The Quisby offers stylish private rooms and easy access to Magazine Street and the St. Charles Streetcar.
• Apartments & porches: Browse whole-home stays with courtyards via VRBO New Orleans or compare hotels on Hotels.com New Orleans.

Day 1: Arrival, French Quarter Flavors, and River Romance

Afternoon: Arrive at MSY and check in. Shake off the flight with a classic beignet stop at Café du Monde (or quieter Café Beignet). Wander Jackson Square to watch painters at work, then step inside St. Louis Cathedral. If you’re hungry, grab a late lunch of red beans and rice or jambalaya at Coop’s Place or a shrimp po-boy at Parkway Bakery & Tavern (short rideshare away).

Evening: Celebrate night one with a jazz dinner cruise—live music, skyline views, and Mississippi River breezes. It’s effortlessly romantic and sets the tone for your stay.

Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

Nightcap: Drift into a candlelit cocktail at Bar Marilou (velvet banquettes, French spirits) or Jewel of the South (award-winning drinks, leafy courtyard). Keep it light—tomorrow is deliciously full.

Day 2: Foodie Deep-Dive, Cemeteries, and Frenchmen Street Jazz

Morning: Coffee at Spitfire Coffee (tiny, mighty espresso) or Baldwin & Co. (great brews plus a bookstore vibe). Then join a guided tasting walk through the French Quarter—expect boudin, pralines, gumbo, and the stories behind them. It’s the tastiest way to learn the city’s history.

New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter (Small-Group Option)

Afternoon: Visit the city’s “cities of the dead” on the official guided walk through St. Louis Cemetery No. 1—above-ground tombs, lore, and local architecture, including the reputed resting place of Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. Afterwards, swing by the Sazerac House for an interactive cocktail history experience (reserve in advance) or the Ogden Museum of Southern Art for regional art.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Walking Tour

Evening: Dinner picks for couples: Irene’s (old-world Creole-Italian, piano in the bar), Coquette (seasonal tasting menu in the Garden District), or Peche (wood-fired Gulf fish). For music, head to Frenchmen Street—pop into d.b.a., The Spotted Cat, or Snug Harbor. If you fancy a spooky twist later, consider a ghost walk or carriage ride through the Quarter.

Day 3: Bayou and Oak Alley—A Day Trip into Louisiana’s Heart

Make today a full-day adventure pairing wildlife-rich swamps with the photogenic oak-lined alley of an antebellum home. You’ll cruise cypress-studded waterways spotting gators and birdlife, then explore plantation history along River Road. It’s a powerful, uniquely Louisianan outing that balances nature, architecture, and storytelling.

Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

After you return: Freshen up, then slip to Bacchanal Wine in the Bywater—choose a bottle, order the cheese board, and listen to live jazz in a twinkly backyard. Prefer a sit-down dinner? Try Herbsaint (refined Southern plates) or Luvi (inventive Asian seafood) for something different.

Day 4: Art, Oaks, and Farewell Flavors

Morning: Breakfast at Willa Jean (biscuits, praline latte) or Bearcat (healthy/guilty menus). If you love history, head to the National WWII Museum—its immersive exhibits can be moving and memorable. Alternatively, stroll City Park’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden, then grab beignets at Morning Call under the live oaks.

Afternoon (departure): Squeeze in lunch near the museum at Cochon Butcher (muffuletta, hot boudin) or Turkey and the Wolf (creative sandwiches; check hours). If time allows, browse Magazine Street’s boutiques for local art and antiques. Then it’s off to the airport with jazz still playing in your head.

Coffee, snacks, and sweet stops to sprinkle in: District Donuts (wild flavors), Angelo Brocato (Sicilian gelato since 1905), and PJ’s Coffee for iced coffee refuels. For oysters, hit Felix’s or Superior Seafood (happy hours vary).

Live like a local: Ride the St. Charles Streetcar past Greek Revival mansions, stroll the Garden District’s Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 perimeter (when open for visiting hours/guided access), browse Crescent Park’s riverfront views in the Bywater, and time a sunset at The Fly behind Audubon Park.

Optional museum add-ons: Ogden Museum of Southern Art (regional artists), Backstreet Cultural Museum (Black masking Indians and second-line traditions), New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), and the Storyville Museum (a candid look at the city’s red-light past).

Getting around: The streetcar and bus network is straightforward, with affordable day passes available via the RTA app; rideshares are abundant, and the historic core is very walkable. Aim for closed-toe shoes on cobblestones and carry a light rain layer.

Book your essentials: Flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Stay at Omni Royal Orleans (romantic balconies), The Ritz-Carlton (spa retreat), budget-savvy The Quisby, or browse VRBO New Orleans and Hotels.com New Orleans.

Viator experiences featured in this itinerary:

• Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

  

• New Orleans Food Walking Tour of the French Quarter

  

• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Walking Tour

  

• Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour

  

In four days, you’ll taste, hear, and feel the essence of New Orleans—stepping from grand live oaks to glowing courtyards, from savory gumbos to moonlit jazz. It’s a city that lingers, and this itinerary balances romance with authentic local experiences so you can savor every note.