NOLA 3-Day & 2-Night Travel Guide (with Star Ratings ⭐)

Excluding the first and last days (which were for flights), we spent a total of 3 full days in NOLA. There aren’t too many attractions here, so we had a very relaxed trip. The downtown area has concentrated attractions—you can choose to wander around Bourbon Street and Royal Street. ⭐ The Sazerac House (Cocktail Museum): Free entry. Unless you’re joining a taste tour, there’s no need to book too early. You can also check in in advance to get 3 free drink tastings. Personally, I didn’t think the drinks were very good. ⭐⭐ The LaBranche House: An iconic building in downtown. It’s always crowded with people and cars, so getting a good photo is really hard—you’ll need a lot of patience to wait for the right moment 📸. ⭐⭐ Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, The Presbytère, French Market: All located in the French Quarter. You can visit them all just by walking around, and it doesn’t take too long. Attractions we skipped (simply not interested): The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art, Audubon Aquarium, The Moonwalk Riverfront Park, The Cabildo ⭐⭐ Preservation Hall (Jazz Venue): You need to book tickets online in advance. There are options for seated and standing tickets. The venue is very small—even if you don’t understand jazz well, the vibe is unique. Note: No food or drinks are allowed inside 🎶. ⭐⭐⭐ Cajun Swamp Tour: Just book a tour online. It takes 30 minutes to get there. You can choose a tour where you can hold a baby alligator, but even just staying on the boat, you’ll see many alligators in the river 🐊. There are also lots of trees around, and the tour guide will drive the boat into deeper areas to spot raccoons 🦝. ⭐⭐⭐ Oak Alley Plantation: If you want to tour the inside of the house, you need to buy a ticket. There are plenty of tickets available online. The guides provide very detailed explanations, the garden is beautiful, and it’s perfect for taking stunning photos 🌳. Food Recommendations ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Big EZ Seafood: We went twice! Their grilled oysters are incredibly delicious—so flavorful 🦪. We ordered one plate on our first visit, and three plates on the second. For the boiled seafood: the “mild” spice level is very bland, while “spicy” is quite hot. ⭐⭐⭐ Hot N Cajun Boil House: Located in downtown. We also ordered boiled seafood here, and the taste was good. ⭐⭐ Luke: We tried their oysters during happy hour. The raw oysters (sashimi-style) are huge—great for anyone who loves big oysters! The baked and fried oysters were just so-so. ⭐⭐ Mr. Ed's Oyster Bar & Fish House: We’d had too much boiled seafood already, so we ordered other dishes. The food was average, but the alligator meat was okay—nothing special, nothing bad. ⭐ Café Du Monde: Their coffee and beignets were just average to me. We also accidentally went to a fried chicken restaurant once—definitely not recommended. A few tips: The roads in NOLA are uneven, so renting an SUV is highly recommended 🚙. Accommodation might have poor sound insulation, but otherwise, just relax and enjoy your trip! #NewOrleans #NOLA #TravelGuide #NewOrleansFood