Visit New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2 days

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 2 November 2025

For this new trip to the USA, we spent 10 days in Louisiana. The program included a 2-day visit to New Orleans and a week-long road trip to discover part of Louisiana.

But let’s start with a visit to New Orleans, the emblematic city of Louisiana and the United States. Indeed, it’s renowned for its cultural richness, complex history and festive atmosphere.

So to be honest, when we arrived, at night, we had a mixed first impression between the heat, the humidity, the noise and the world. We were afraid we wouldn’t like The Big Easy. But no! New Orleans is a city that offers a unique experience, where culture, music and history blend to create an incomparable atmosphere.

So what can you do in New Orleans in 2 days? Here are 12 must-sees. At the end of the article, you’ll find Kiki’s very long but passionate review of his time in New Orleans.

Introducing New Orleans

New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. It owes its name to the Duc d’Orléans, regent of France at the time. The city was then successively under French, Spanish and, from 1803, American control, when Louisiana was sold to the United States. These European and Caribbean influences are reflected in the architecture, cuisine and local traditions. In fact, New Orleans is famous for its unique cultural melting pot, a blend of French, Creole, African, Spanish and American traditions.

New Orleans is also located along the Mississippi River. Its particularity is that it lies partly below sea level, making it vulnerable to flooding.

After this brief introduction, here are the must-do activities in New Orleans.

1) Visit the French Quarter of New Orleans

The Vieux Carré, also known as the French Quarter, is the historic and cultural heart of New Orleans. In fact, it’s one of the oldest and most famous neighborhoods in the United States.

After coming under Spanish control in 1762, many of the buildings were rebuilt in the Spanish colonial style following the serious fires of 1788 and 1794. This mix of architecture, combining French and Spanish influences, gives the district its unique character.

But what to do in the Vieux Carré?

Stroll along Rue Royale with its historic buildings

Vieux Carré is famous for its historic buildings, especially the wrought-iron balconies often adorned with plants and flowers. These are emblematic of the Spanish architectural style. You’ll find them in particular on Rue Royale.

For the record, good tourists that we are, we went looking for the famous building with the wrought-iron balconies and plants you see in all the photos. It’s located at the junction of Rue Royal and Rue Peter.

Indeed, with so many tourists taking photos of themselves, we were in no doubt that this was the building!

Also on Rue Royale is the Hotel Monteleone, founded in 1886 by Italian immigrant Antonio Monteleone. It is renowned for having played host to such famous writers as Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.

And in the French Quarter, many houses have hidden courtyards and colorful facades that add a special charm.

Discover Jackson Square with Saint Louis Cathedral

Formerly known as Place d’Armes, Jackson Square is the nerve center of Vieux Carré. This public square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Cathédrale Saint-Louis, the oldest Catholic cathedral in the United States still in use, recognizable by its three skyward-pointing spires.

It’s a must-see in New Orleans, its vibrant heart!

2) Enjoy the ambience of Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street between Ann Street and Canal Street is undoubtedly the most famous street in Vieux Carré. It’s famous for its festive atmosphere and its many bars, nightclubs, jazz clubs and restaurants. We were there on a Saturday night and it was very noisy with all the different music and people.

You can’t go wrong with necklaces in New Orleans, often called beads. Indeed, they’re an emblematic symbol of Mardi Gras, one of the city’s biggest celebrations. But beads are available all year round. In fact, many people throw them from balconies. You can even pick some up off the ground.

The atmosphere in New Orleans, and more specifically on Bourbon Street, is truly incomparable!

3) Go to the French Market and eat a Po’Boy

The French Market is a market where you can buy local products including spices, souvenirs and sample Louisiana culinary specialties.

You’ll find plenty of stalls for all your shopping needs.

A New Orleans specialty is po’boy, the poor boy sandwich. It’s a sandwich with lettuce, tomato, shrimp and mayonnaise.

So I don’t know if we were unlucky, but we weren’t thrilled with this sandwich. We ate it in other restaurants, but we weren’t convinced either.

4) Eat doughnuts at Café du Monde

New Orleans’ Café du Monde, open since 1862, is located in the Vieux Carré, next to the French Market. There are two queues, depending on whether you want to eat in or take away. Either way, you’re in for a long wait.

We took three warm doughnuts sprinkled with powdered sugar to go. Are they the best doughnuts? Not necessarily. But is there any charm in eating them while watching tourists queue up and listening to music?

Please note that you must pay in cash, as credit cards are not accepted!

5) Taste Aunt’s Sally’s cookies

Are we talking about Aunt’s Sally’s pecan cookies? Yes, because they’re the best cookies. You can find them all over Louisiana, but there’s a wonderful store near the French Market.

We also tasted pecan nuts. My regret? Not bringing any back to France! Don’t miss out on Aunt’s Sally’ s cookies, and stock up before you return to France.

6) Listen to music on Frenchmen Street

New Orleans is the cradle of jazz. Indeed, it was the birthplace of such legends as Louis Armstrong. Today, jazz, blues and other genres resonate throughout the city, but especially on Frenchmen Street from Royal Street to Decatur Street. So you’ll find plenty of restaurants with live music.

We went to the Three Muses restaurant at 536 Frenchmen Street. We ate a delicious hamburger while listening to a live band. We had a great time.

Then, on our last night in New Orleans, we went to The Maison: the best night and the best live music of our stay in New Orleans, with a concert by Jevavieve and the Windin Boys. At last, the music I’d been waiting for!

Don’t forget to take some cash with you so you can tip the musicians.

7) Take a double-decker bus tour of New Orleans

The double-decker bus gives you a bird’s-eye view of New Orleans, taking in several neighborhoods. Commentary is live and in English only.

The bus departs from the Visitor Center (near Café du Monde). You can hop on and off at any stop. You can book your activity to get a first glimpse of the city of New Orleans.

8) Walk along the Mississippi at Moonwalk Riverfront Park

To get away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, you can go to Moonwalk Riverfront Park and walk along the Mississippi.

You can see the steamboat Natchez and even take a cruise on the Mississippi. You can even book your own cruise.

We really enjoyed this walk. We wanted to put our hand in the Mississippi but unfortunately that’s not possible!

9) Climb the Vue Orleans Observation Deck

If you go to Vue Orleans, you’ll start with an interactive exhibition to discover the history of New Orleans. There’s also a booth where you can learn about New Orleans culinary specialties, as well as the history of music and its importance. It’s interactive and really well done. We had a great time!

Then we took an elevator to the 33rd floor. There’s a film inside as we climb. When you get out of the elevator, the view of the whole city is incredible.

Afterwards, you can take the elevator up to the 34th floor. From here, you can go to an outdoor platform and walk around for a 360-degree view of New Orleans.

The view of New Orleans and the Mississippi is magnificent.

There’s also a bar on the 34th floor. You can choose your cocktail (with or without alcohol). It’s great to have a drink with this incredible view of the whole of New Orleans.

We were surprised to see that there was no one at Vue Orleans. It’s a real shame, because this place really deserves a visit. What’s more, the ticket price is $29.95 with cocktail included. It would be a shame to miss out! We really recommend it when visiting New Orleans. You can book your ticket online.

10) Take the streetcar to visit New Orleans

There are two streetcars in New Orleans: the red and the green.

Take the red streetcar

The red tramway has several lines. Streetcar 49 runs along Canal Street and the Mississippi River to the French Market. You don’t have to be in a hurry, as the streetcars don’t really run on time. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a streetcar!

Taking the streetcar named Désir

The green streetcar named Désir runs from the French Quarter to the Garden District. It refers to the famous “Desire” streetcar line that actually existed in the city in the early 20th century. This tramway line passed through the Desire neighborhood in the northeastern part of New Orleans, from which it took its name.

The line’s fame was immortalized in the play “A Streetcar Named Desire “, written by Tennessee Williams in 1947.

As with the red streetcars, timetables are not always respected and waiting times can be very long.

Tickets cost $1.25. You can also take out a pass on the “le pass” app for $3 a day.

For the record, the tramway passes in front of the Caesars Superdome stadium. And when we were there, there was an American soccer match between the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles. There was a great atmosphere on the streetcar and in the city between fans of both teams.

11) Visit the Garden District of New Orleans

We took the streetcar to the Garden District to discover this magnificent part of New Orleans on foot. What a pleasant surprise, as the houses are each more beautiful than the next, and so peaceful. It’s a totally different style from the French Quarter, with lots of nature.

A real favorite in New Orleans.

12) Shopping at Riverwalk Outlet

The Riverwalk Outlet is a large shopping center where you’ll find all the major clothing brands, including Levis. There’s also a Food Court with a beautiful view of the Mississippi. It’s not the best food, but the setting is quite pleasant.

It’s also a great place to enjoy air conditioning when it’s too hot outside! It’s right next to the Vue Orleans Observation Deck.

How to get to New Orleans

There are no direct flights to New Orleans from France or Switzerland. You’ll have to go via London or make a stopover in the USA. There are many internal flights to and from New Orleans. By the way, I was just arriving from Denver after my week in Colorado.

Then from the New Orleans airport to the French Quarter, it’s a 25-minute drive for around $55 if you take an UBER.

Do you need a car to visit New Orleans?

So no, you can visit the French Quarter on foot. And to get around the other neighborhoods, you can take the various streetcars.

How many days will it take to visit New Orleans?

You can visit New Orleans in a day if you focus solely on the French Quarter. However, we recommend that you spend at least two days if you also want to discover the Garden District, take time by the Mississippi, store or visit museums. I also think two evenings is ideal for enjoying the New Orleans nightlife.

When to visit New Orleans

The best time to visit New Orleans depends on the weather, as the city enjoys a humid subtropical climate.

February to May is the peak tourist season. The weather is pleasant, with mild temperatures. However, there are more people and higher accommodation prices, especially during Mardi Gras. This festival is celebrated every year with spectacular parades, colorful costumes and a carnival atmosphere. The next edition will take place on March 4, 2025.

There’s also the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, celebrating local music, culture and traditions with concerts, performances and food stalls. See you between April 24 and May 4, 2025.

October and November offer a good balance between mild weather (less hot and humid than summer), fewer tourists and more affordable prices.

June to September are the hottest and most humid months, with temperatures that can exceed 30°C and high humidity. It’s also hurricane season (June to November). There are also interesting festivals like the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.

We left in the last week of September. It’s worth noting that we escaped a storm by a week or so and really suffered from the heat and humidity. In fact, we averaged 24 degrees in the morning, evening and night, and up to 35 during the day.

Where to stay in New Orleans?

For this trip to New Orleans, we stayed in two hotels. The first was the Best Western Plus St. Christopher Hotel. This hotel is ideally located in the Vieux Carré. You can do everything on foot. The breakfast is decent and the room comfortable.

Our second hotel in New Orleans was the Best Western Plus French Quarter Courtyard Hotel. The room was a bit old-fashioned, but still comfortable. Breakfast was decent. The big advantage of this hotel is its location. In just a few minutes on foot, you’re in the center of the French Quarter. What’s more, there’s a private parking lot next to the hotel, which is very convenient if you have a car (it costs $25 a night). Special mention for the swimming pool, which we loved. Perfect water temperature!

You can book your hotel in New Orleans.

What to do around New Orleans

We took a week-long road trip to Louisiana, starting and finishing in New Orleans. We discovered :

• The plantation route
• Baton Rouge

Kiki’s opinion of his visit to New Orleans

Do you too have this image in mind? The famous Mississippi, lined with magnificent paddlewheelers, winding through the French Quarter of New Orleans. People strolling casually through the narrow streets, dancing to the sound of jazz musicians playing on corners, while the flower-filled balconies of historic houses complete the scene. A dream of Southern romance, isn’t it? If so, then Kiki’s advice is: erase that image from your mind, right now. Sure, these elements exist, one way or another – but the reality? It’s very different.

Music in New Orleans

New Orleans is noisy, lively, and the smell of marijuana is so penetrating that you wonder if you’re breathing weed instead of oxygen. Music reaches your ears everywhere, from countless clubs to the most eccentric street musicians. But there’s hardly any jazz. If you wander down Bourbon Street one evening, it’s not the magic of a bygone era that awaits you, but a musical culture shock. It was here, at the latest, that Kiki made a frightening realization: he had aged. In the old days, he would have plunged into the rhythmic whirl of the city, becoming one with the crowd, part of the party. Those days seem gone.

The Mississippi

In New Orleans, the Mississippi, which began its long journey in Minnesota, ends after almost 3,800 kilometers, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Kiki was thrilled to see this river with its history and magnificent name with his own eyes. And then, what he saw was probably his greatest disappointment: a huge brown broth used exclusively for industry, wedged between protective walls. Not a romantic river, but a sad picture. Only a nostalgic wheeled boat for tourists tried to save the picture – and even he seemed to be there only for selfies.

The charm of New Orleans

After reading these lines, you’re probably thinking that Kiki has been disappointed by New Orleans. Not at all! The city has a unique charm, an incomparable atmosphere – only don’t go there with overly romantic ideas. Unless you have the same glorious idea as Kiki of visiting the city during hurricane season, this zany but grand Louisiana metropolis absolutely must be on your bucket list.