A New Orleans weekend with friends
Itineraries · New Orleans, LA · 3 days
A 3-day New Orleans plan for a group: beignets at Café du Monde and Jackson Square, a Creole dinner at Arnaud's, the St. Charles streetcar to Commander's Palace and the Garden District, jazz on Frenchmen Street, and brunch at Brennan's before City Park.
This plan works for bachelorette weekends and friend groups who want the classics without spending every night on Bourbon Street. Day 1 stays in the French Quarter, Day 2 rides the streetcar uptown before a night of jazz on Frenchmen Street, and Day 3 is a late breakfast and an easy afternoon in City Park before the airport.
The French Quarter
6 stops- StayHotel Monteleone214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Hotel MonteleoneOr wherever the group is staying
- 9:00 AM9:00 AMEatCafé du Monde800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Café du MondeBeignets and café au lait; walk through the French Market next door afterward
- 10:00 AM10:00 AMDoJackson Square700 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Jackson SquareStreet artists and musicians around the square, with St. Louis Cathedral facing it
- 12:30 PM12:30 PMEatNapoleon House500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Napoleon HouseKnown for its Pimm's Cup; order a warm muffuletta to share
- 2:30 PM2:30 PMDoThe Historic New Orleans Collection520 Royal St, New Orleans, LA · Map of The Historic New Orleans CollectionFree, but get a ticket at the front desk; closed Mondays
- 7:30 PM7:30 PMEatArnaud's813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Arnaud'sClassic Creole dinner, Monday to Saturday; book ahead
If we have time
- DoPreservation HallTraditional jazz nightly; buy tickets aheadMap of Preservation Hall
- DoCarousel BarThe revolving bar inside the Hotel Monteleone, open since 1949Map of Carousel Bar
The streetcar, the Garden District and Frenchmen Street
5 stops- 10:15 AM10:15 AMTravelCanal St at Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA to St. Charles StreetcarSt Charles Ave at Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA · Map of St. Charles StreetcarRide route 12 uptown and get off at Washington Ave
- 11:00 AM11:00 AMEatCommander's Palace1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA · Map of Commander's PalaceJazz brunch on weekends (from 11 AM Saturday, 10 AM Sunday); lunch Wednesday to Friday. Business attire
- 1:15 PM1:15 PMDoGarden District Book Shop2727 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Garden District Book ShopStart a walk past the Garden District mansions from here
- 3:00 PM3:00 PMDoAudubon Park6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Audubon ParkStay on the St. Charles streetcar to get here; a 1.8-mile path loops the park
- 7:00 PM7:00 PMEatSnug Harbor Jazz Bistro626 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Snug Harbor Jazz BistroDinner downstairs, then the 9:30 PM set in the Music Room; buy show tickets ahead
If we have time
- DoLafayette Cemetery No. 1Reopened in October 2026 for small guided tours run by Save Our Cemeteries; book a slot aheadMap of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- DoThe Spotted Cat Music ClubLive jazz until late; 21 and up, one-drink minimum, no foodMap of The Spotted Cat Music Club
Brunch and City Park
5 stops- 9:00 AM9:00 AMEatBrennan's417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA · Map of Brennan'sBreakfast from 8 AM on weekends and 9 AM on weekdays; reserve well ahead
- 11:00 AM11:00 AMTravelCanal St, New Orleans, LA to Canal Streetcar (City Park)Esplanade Ave at Wisner Blvd, New Orleans, LA · Map of Canal Streetcar (City Park)Take the Canal–City Park line to the end; NOMA is a short walk
- 11:30 AM11:30 AMDoNew Orleans Museum of Art1 Collins C Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA · Map of New Orleans Museum of ArtThe Besthoff Sculpture Garden next door is free and open daily; the museum is closed Mondays
- 1:30 PM1:30 PMEatParkway Bakery & Tavern538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA · Map of Parkway Bakery & TavernPo-boys by Bayou St. John; closed Monday and Tuesday
- 3:30 PM3:30 PMTravelParkway Bakery & Tavern to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)1 Terminal Dr, Kenner, LA · Map of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)Drive west on I-10; allow extra time for traffic
If we have time
- DoDr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp ToursSwap for City Park; book the hotel-pickup option and a morning departureMap of Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours
Tips
- Streetcar drivers don't carry change. Pay with exact change or the Le Pass app, or buy a Jazzy Pass, which also covers RTA buses.
- Brennan's opens reservations 60 days ahead and books up fast. Reserve Commander's Palace and Arnaud's as soon as your dates are set.
- Commander's Palace expects business attire: no shorts, T-shirts or flip-flops, and jeans are discouraged.
- Frenchmen Street clubs like The Spotted Cat are 21 and up and check ID at the door. Bring a physical ID or passport; photos of IDs aren't accepted.
Plan it together in Freya
Every stop goes on your trip with its place from Apple Maps, so the group gets directions, drive times and the weather. Then swap things out, vote and split the costs.
Change any stop, move things between days or add your own, then add your version to Freya. Not on an iPhone? Copy the plan for the group chat.
Questions
Is 3 days enough for New Orleans?
For a first visit, yes. This plan fits 16 stops into 3 days (Day 1: The French Quarter; Day 2: The streetcar, the Garden District and Frenchmen Street; Day 3: Brunch and City Park). Add a day if your group likes a slower pace.
When is the best time to go to New Orleans?
March to May and October to November; summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs June to November.
Where should a group eat in New Orleans?
This plan stops at Café du Monde, Napoleon House, Arnaud's, Commander's Palace, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro and Brennan's. Vote on dinner in Freya if the group can't agree.
What if the group wants to split up?
The ideas under “If we have time” (Preservation Hall, Carousel Bar, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, The Spotted Cat Music Club and Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours) are optional. In Freya, set who's going on a stop so everyone knows where to meet back up.
How do we use this plan as a group?
Tap Add to Freya on an iPhone. Every stop goes on a shared trip with its place from Apple Maps, so the group gets directions, drive times and the weather. Friends join from a link with just their first name, then swap stops, vote on plans and split the costs.
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Have your own plan in a Google Doc, a Google Sheet or an AI chat? Paste it into Freya, or import it in the builder. Here’s how, or plan together with our Google Sheets and Docs templates. Or make your own version of this plan in the builder.