10 Days in New Orleans
🎷 Complete Itinerary & Cost Guide
10 days in New Orleans lets you go beyond the highlights — take day trips, revisit favourites, and enjoy slow mornings. Here's a realistic day-by-day plan plus what it costs.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This plan covers the essentials without burnout. Adjust based on opening hours, weather, and your stamina. Most days are 4–6 hours of activity with long meals and downtime built in.
Settle into your hotel, grab a light lunch, then ease into New Orleans with French Quarter — Bourbon St nightlife vs. quieter Royal/Frenchmen St for real music. Don't overbook day one — jet lag is real.
Garden District architecture walk. Pair it with a sit-down lunch nearby and an evening walk through a different neighbourhood.
Beignets at Café du Monde (24h, cash-friendly, expect a line). Take the morning slow and use the afternoon to explore a quieter district away from the tourist core.
Live jazz on Frenchmen Street — more authentic than the Bourbon St tourist bars. Pair with a long lunch — Gumbo, jambalaya and po'boys taste completely different from Bourbon St tourist versions — eat a few blocks off the main strip, or in the Marigny.
A cemetery and cultural tour (above-ground tombs are a real, distinctive feature due to the water table). This day usually involves a longer journey so start early.
Revisit French Quarter — Bourbon or spend the morning at a café in a quieter neighbourhood. The best travel days are often the unscheduled ones.
Revisit Garden District architecture walk or spend the morning at a café in a quieter neighbourhood. The best travel days are often the unscheduled ones.
Revisit Beignets at Café du or spend the morning at a café in a quieter neighbourhood. The best travel days are often the unscheduled ones.
Use this day for whatever you didn't get to: a museum, a hammam, a long lazy lunch. The best memories come from unplanned hours.
Hit one final must-see (A cemetery and cultural tour (above-ground tombs are a real, distinctive feature due to the water table)), pick up souvenirs, and leave time for a relaxed lunch before your flight or onward train.
What does 10 days in New Orleans cost?
Estimates below are per person, including accommodation, food, local transport, and ~1 paid activity per day. Flights to New Orleans are not included — they vary wildly by origin.
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Trip essentials for New Orleans
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New Orleans survival tips
The French Quarter and Garden District are walkable; the St. Charles streetcar covers the rest cheaply and scenically.
Gumbo, jambalaya and po'boys taste completely different from Bourbon St tourist versions — eat a few blocks off the main strip, or in the Marigny.
Bourbon St hand grenades and "go-cups" are priced for tourists — drink prices drop fast one block over. Check hurricane forecasts and trip insurance if traveling June–September; the risk is genuine, not just a caveat.
When to go
February, March, April, May, October, November are the best months for New Orleans — the climate is at its best and crowds haven't peaked. Avoid June–September (brutal humidity + real hurricane season risk).
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for New Orleans?
Yes. Most travellers find 3 days ideal for New Orleans, so 10 days gives you time for the major sights, day trips and slow mornings.
How much does 10 days in New Orleans cost?
Expect around $1,600 per person mid-range (3-star hotel, casual restaurants, one paid tour). Budget travellers can do it for ~$900, luxury runs ~$3,300. Flights not included.
What is the best month to visit New Orleans?
February, March, April, May, October, November offer the best balance of weather and crowds. Avoid June–September (brutal humidity + real hurricane season risk).
How do I get around New Orleans?
The French Quarter and Garden District are walkable; the St. Charles streetcar covers the rest cheaply and scenically.