New Orleans is the perfect getaway for a girl’s trip! If you are planning a weekend in New Orleans, here is the perfect New Orleans 3-day itinerary so that you can make the most of your time there!
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How to Spend a Weekend in New Orleans
Table of Contents
- Day 1: Check in to your hotel & dinner
- Day 2: Explore the French Quarter
- Day 3: The Garden District & Swamp Tour
Day 1: Check in to your hotel & dinner
The first day is a travel day. Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll probably be arriving late in the afternoon.
You’ll want to check into your hotel, relax, grab some dinner, and get a good night’s sleep before hitting the ground the next day!
Check into your hotel
We would highly recommend staying in the Garden District during your weekend in New Orleans.
It is away from the crowds and much quieter. It is also conveniently located only a short trolley ride away from the French Quarter.
For a true New Orleans experience, book a night in the historic Magnolia Mansion.
This home was built in 1857 and has hosted some of the grandest social events in New Orleans.
The Magnolia Mansion is the epitome of Southern charm with a sprawling wrap-around porch, hurricane shutters, and gas lanterns.
Check for the best rates: Hotels.com | Booking.com | Expedia
A few more of the best hotels in the Garden District:
- Pontchartrain Hotel: This swanky 1920s hotel has hosted many celebrities over the years. The location and price are both great! Hotels.com | Expedia | Booking.com
- Club Wyndham: The best bang for your buck! The rooms are a little dated, but the price is very budget-friendly. Booking.com | Expedia | Hotels.com
- Garden District Bed & Breakfast: This 19th-century home has been converted into a charming bed & breakfast. Booking.com | Expedia | Hotels.com
Grab some dinner
The Jack Rose restaurant is located inside the Pontchartrain Hotel and is the perfect spot to grab dinner on your first night.
We love the eclectic decor and delicious food at this Instagram-worthy restaurant.
Start your meal off with the Kale Caesar Salad, Crawfish Cornbread, or Cheeseboard.
For the main dish, try the Pork Belly, Fried Oyster, or Red Shrimp & Fusili.
And be sure to order the Mile-High Pie for dessert!
Day 2: Explore the French Quarter
Today will be a full day exploring the French Quarter, so be sure to get an early start!
Take the St. Charles Street Car to the French Quarter
The St. Charles Street Car is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world and has been in operation since 1835.
This is such a fun and convenient way to get to the French Quarter from the Garden District.
There is a trolley stop for the St. Charles Street Car conveniently located right in front of the Pontchartrain Hotel.
It is also adjacent to the Club Wyndham Hotel and around the block from the Magnolia Mansion Hotel.
Before your trip, you’re going to want to download the RTA Go Mobile app.
This user-friendly app is where you can find the trolley schedule and purchase your fare. The one-way fare is $1.25, or you can purchase a 24-hour Regional Ride Fare for $6.
Use the trip planner on the app to determine where you want to go and what time you want to arrive.
For this New Orleans 3 day itinerary, I would recommend making 10 am brunch reservations at the Court of Two Sisters.
Take the 9:30 am trolley from St. Charles/Josephine and get off at the last stop at Canal/Carondelet.
You’ll get off at 9:48 am then walk a half-mile to the restaurant where you’ll arrive right on time for your 10 am reservation.
Brunch at the Court of Two Sisters
I can’t think of a better way to kick off your weekend in New Orleans than with a jazz brunch on Royal Street in the heart of the French Quarter!
At the Court of Two Sisters, you can enjoy traditional New Orleans cuisine while listening to a live jazz band in the courtyard of this historic 19th-century building
The brunch includes an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring popular southern dishes such as gumbo, turtle soup, jambalaya, grits, barbecue ribs, crawfish, boiled shrimp, bananas foster, bread pudding, pecan pie, and so much more!
Just be sure to make reservations in advance as this popular spot fills up fast!
Take a tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Prior to your trip, you’ll want to book reservations for a 12 pm tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
This is currently the only cemetery open for tours, and the only tour operator that is allowed inside of the cemetery, so you’ll want to book your reservations far in advance.
New Orleans is known for its hauntingly beautiful above-ground cemeteries and the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest of them all.
On the tour, you’ll walk among paths lined with tombs dating back to the early 1800s.
You’ll even get a chance to view the tomb of the legendary Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and the curious pyramid-shaped tomb that was commissioned by Nicolas Cage.
Explore the French Quarter
The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood and is considered the ‘Jewel of New Orleans’.
It was first settled by the French in 1718 but it fell under Spanish rule in the late 1700s. As a result, you’ll find a strong influence of French and Spanish architecture.
The French Quarter is one of those places where you’ll want to just get lost wandering the streets.
However, there are a few noteworthy spots that you’ll want to check out.
Bourbon Street is like New Orleans’ version of the Las Vegas strip.
You’ll find the street lined with rowdy bars, live music spilling out of clubs, and the glow of neon lights illuminating the night.
While this may not be for everyone, it is something that everyone needs to experience at least once during your weekend in New Orleans!
The St. Louis Cathedral is a bit of a reprieve from Bourbon Street.
Here you can tour the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the US.
Take some time to stroll around Jackson Square in front of the cathedral where you can watch street performers and purchase handmade souvenirs from local artisans.
Then take a peek inside Faulkner House Books around the corner in Pirate Alley.
This was once the home of famed author William Faulkner and now serves as a cozy book shop.
If you’re hungry for a mid-afternoon snack, definitely drop by Cafe Du Monde across from Jackson Square for a signature beignet and coffee!
Afterward, head over to explore the French Market, the oldest market in the United States. This market spreads across 5 city blocks and is filled with hundreds of local vendors.
You can pick up a souvenir voodoo doll, listen to live music, and even taste alligator meat!
There are several iconic bars in the French Quarter, including Old Absinthe House, The Carousel Bar, Pat O’Brien’s, and Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar.
Lafitte’s Bar probably has the coolest backstory. The building was constructed in 1722 and it is the oldest structure to be used as a bar in the US.
It was originally a blacksmith shop that served as a front for a smuggling operation run by the French pirate, Jean Lafitte.
The 300-year-old building still doesn’t have electric lights installed and you’ll feel as if you stepped back into time.
For more recommendations of things to do and see in the French Quarter, check out our guide 12 Unique Things to do in the French Quarter!
Dinner at Tableau
After spending the afternoon exploring the French Quarter, make 6 pm dinner reservations in advance for Tableau.
Tableau is one of the newer members of the Brennan restaurant family.
It is housed in a beautiful historic building that was built in 1789. It previously served as a hospital, an orphanage, and the home of the 7th governor of Louisiana.
It is located in the heart of the French Quarter, adjacent to the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square.
You can choose to dine on the outdoor balcony, inside the historic dining room, or in the garden courtyard.
I would highly recommend eating on the balcony. Watching the parades make their way down the street at sunset was definitely one of the highlights of our weekend in New Orleans!
Not only is the ambiance on point, but the food is delicious. The menu takes a modern twist on classic Creole dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
Try the Bown Butter Gnocchi, Oyster Pan Roast, Maison Salad, or Chicken Tableau. Be sure to save room for the Crème Brûlée!
For more restaurant recommendations, be sure to check out our guide 8 of the Best Places to Eat in New Orleans!
Take a Ghost Tour of the French Quarter
The French Quarter has a storied past that includes death, secrets, pirates, voodoo rituals, fires, epidemics, and torture that all lead to the inevitable ghost stories.
For a fascinating and creepy experience, take a walking ghost tour of the French Quarter where you will learn the dark history of New Orleans.
The tour guides are very entertaining and the stories they share are based on historical facts.
If you are hesitant to take a ghost tour, rest assured that it is more about the interesting history and less about the scary paranormal.
The tours usually last about 1 1/2-2 hours and I would recommend booking a tour no later than 8 pm.
We stepped out of the tour a little early so that we could catch the 9:30 pm trolley back to the Garden District.
You’re going to be exhausted after a long day and you won’t want to be on the streets too late.
Day 3: The Garden District & Swamp Tour
After a long day, you’ll want to sleep in a little and enjoy a slow morning before heading out to explore the Garden District.
Breakfast at District Donuts
Start your morning at District Donuts where you can enjoy fresh donuts made from scratch, a signature coffee, or a savory breakfast sandwich.
Once you are fueled up, it’s time to explore the leafy streets of the Garden District.
Self-guided walking tour of the Garden District
The Garden District is considered the most beautiful neighborhood in New Orleans.
This area was once dotted with sprawling plantations. As the city grew, the land was parceled out into smaller sections.
Charming Victorian homes with manicured gardens soon popped up amidst the stately southern antebellum mansions.
This resulted in the eclectic mix of architecture that is unique to the Garden District.
Many celebrities and prominent figures have called the Garden District home over the years.
If you want to see some of the celebrity homes, this self-guided walking tour will take you to the most famous homes and locations in the Garden District.
Plan for about 2 hours to complete the tour.
Lunch at Commander’s Palace
Commander’s Palace is the most iconic restaurant in the Garden District, and perhaps all of New Orleans.
The restaurant first opened in 1893 and received its signature turquoise blue coat of paint in the 1970s. It has been serving high-end Creole cuisine to guests from around the world for nearly 130 years.
Make lunch reservations for 1 pm in the Garden Room and enjoy Shrimp & Tasso Henican, Summer Squash Burrata, Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé, and .25 cent martinis.
Afternoon swamp tour
The best way to end your weekend in New Orleans is with a bayou swamp tour!
The Cajun Pride Swamp Tours is located in LaPlace about 30 minutes northwest of the Garden District.
Make reservations for the 4:15 pm tour and you’ll need to arrive by 4 pm. The cost of the 1 1/2 hour tour is a reasonable $27.
The swamp is privately owned so you won’t be sharing the water with any other tour groups. The tours are led by locals who were born and raised in the bayous of Louisana.
The guides are both entertaining and informative as they take you along the calm waters searching for alligators and sharing tales from the swamp.
Chances are, you’ll probably encounter about a dozen alligators on the tour. They will even swim right up to the boat where the guide will feed them.
We were really looking forward to this experience, but unfortunately, the company called and canceled that morning due to unforeseen circumstances.
The tour comes highly recommended so hopefully you will get a chance to experience it for yourself during your weekend in New Orleans!
And if you still have more time in the area, you may want to consider tacking a trip to Mobile, AL onto your girl’s weekend in New Orleans.
We spent a few days in Mobile and it completely surpassed our expectations, it is quite the hidden gem!
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We hope this New Orleans 3 day itinerary will help you make the most of your girl’s weekend in New Orleans! And if you’re looking for more girls’ trip inspiration, see our guide 11 Best Girls’ Trip Destinations in the US!
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