If that's you, we highly recommend that you start with a minimum of 4 full days in New Orleans and work your way up from there. It's a big city and there's a good reason why it's known as “The Big Easy”: it's one of the worst places to go fast. NOLA's culture is relaxed and time goes by slowly when you're there. New Orleans is full of Creole and Cajun food, live jazz, street performers, history, beautiful architecture and a famous appreciation for all of life's temptations.
Life in the Big Easy is lived well. Founded in 1718 by the French, New Orleans struggled to get off the ground due to ongoing conflicts and wars with the indigenous population. To help the colony grow, slaves were sent from Africa. This mixture of French and African cultures led to the creation of the Afro-Creole culture of New Orleans, a culture that still survives to this day (this is also when voodoo began to take root here).
As an important port city at the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans has always been a melting pot of people and a mecca for interesting and, at times, rude people. Add in the French, African and Anglo-Saxon influences of the past and you have a truly unique city, unlike any other in the United States. Years later, I returned for Mardi Gras. Not only had it cleaned itself, but many new areas of the city also seemed to be bustling with life.
Many, many visits later and countless hours of walking, taking tours, listening to live music and eating as much food as possible, I have compiled what I think is the perfect itinerary to help you make the most of your time in the Big Easy. Take a voodoo or ghost tour: NOLA is considered one of the most haunted cities in the country thanks to the city's voodoo roots. New Orleans voodoo is a group of clandestine religious practices that grew out of African religious traditions that slaves brought to the United States. .
From ghost and vampire stories to Marie Laveau (the city's most historic and famous voodoo practitioner), New Orleans has a certain influencing factor. Relax in Audubon Park or New Orleans City Park. New Orleans is a city with a soul. It has been through difficult times, but the city has adopted an enthusiasm for life and a relaxed attitude that is contagious.
The energy, food and music scene make New Orleans one of the most eclectic and vibrant cities in the United States, if not the world. If the visit lasts less than 3 days, you'll have to make some sacrifices in terms of what you can reasonably do. On the morning of the second day, head to Jackson Square and follow the powdered sugar route to the world-famous Café du Monde. If you're thinking of spending 2 days in New Orleans soon, you're about to see one of the most exciting places the United States has to offer.
If you're spending 3 or more days in New Orleans, there are many more things you could add to your itinerary. If you only have 1 day to spend in the city, then this is a great option to see everything on your itinerary. I'll share a 3-day New Orleans itinerary with ideas on how to spend one more day if you're looking for a 4-day New Orleans itinerary. With only 2 days in New Orleans, it's a bit ambitious to get in, but it's essential to understanding the history of New Orleans.
You won't have enough time to see everything comfortably in 4 days, but you'll surely be able to visit the main sights of New Orleans at a reasonably comfortable pace. Fortunately, overeating is practically a requirement with just 2 days left to sample all of the food in New Orleans. If you are visiting New Orleans for the first time, today I share tips and tricks that will help you have an incredible trip. This quick guide will tell you everything you need to know to plan the perfect number of days for your vacation.
While you could easily spend more than 3 days, this is plenty of time to see New Orleans' major attractions and major points of interest. On the first day, you'll see the highlights of New Orleans outside the French Quarter, from food to architecture, history and jazz. .
