You don’t just visit New Orleans—you feel it. The air is thick with jazz and legends, the streets hum with history, and if you plan it right, two days is enough to glimpse both its wildest landscapes and darkest secrets. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, this 48-hour itinerary blends iconic landmarks with unforgettable local tours, giving you a true taste of the city’s edge.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Swamp, Soul, and Southern Charm
7:30 AM – Breakfast with a View at Willa Jean
Start your morning in the Warehouse District with a biscuit from Willa Jean and a strong cold brew. This trendy café-bakery combo serves up southern comfort with a modern twist. You’ll need the fuel—because we’re heading deep into the Louisiana wetlands.
9:00 AM – Swamp Tour with Bayou Swamp Tours
Book a Bayou Swamp Tour and let their covered boat or airboat take you where the city ends and the wilderness begins. Glide through cypress groves, lock eyes with alligators, and learn about Cajun culture from guides who actually live it. If you’re looking for things to do in New Orleans that go beyond Bourbon Street, this is the move.
Choose the airboat for speed and thrill. Go with the covered boat if you want a relaxed, scenic ride perfect for photos and families.
Transportation from the city is available—just book in advance.
12:00 PM – Return and Refuel with Po’boys
After returning to the city, swing by Domilise’s or Parasol’s for a traditional New Orleans po’boy. Opt for roast beef with gravy or fried shrimp, and don’t skimp on the hot sauce.
2:00 PM – Explore the French Market & Quarter
Walk it off through the historic French Quarter. Visit the French Market, sip on something cold at the Gazebo Café, and browse voodoo shops and local art vendors. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a brass band performing live right in the street.
5:00 PM – Dinner in the Marigny
Head just outside the Quarter to the Marigny and grab dinner at The Franklin or Adolfo’s, a local favorite perched above a dive bar. This area’s got less noise and more character—perfect for transitioning into your evening.
7:30 PM – Haunted French Quarter Tour
Nightfall means one thing: time to meet the city’s haunted past. Join a Big Easy Ghost Tour and walk through the shadowy streets of the French Quarter. Hear tales of murder, voodoo, and ghosts that still linger behind wrought-iron balconies and shuttered windows. These aren’t campfire stories—many stops include real documented hauntings.
Their Haunted French Quarter Tour is a must, but thrill-seekers should try the Vampire & Voodoo Combo Tour for deeper lore.
9:00 PM – Drinks at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar on a pub crawl with Big Easy Ghost Tours
End your night with a drink at one of the oldest bars in America. Candlelit and slightly eerie, this 1700s tavern is the perfect place to debrief your ghost tour over a Purple Voodoo daiquiri.
Day 2: History, Jazz, and the Supernatural
8:00 AM – Café du Monde (You Have To)
It’s cliché for a reason. Powdered sugar, piping hot coffee, and the buzz of a city waking up make this the ideal second-day start. If it’s too packed, try Café Beignet around the corner—less iconic, still delicious.
9:30 AM – National WWII Museum
Yes, it’s that good. Even if you don’t think you’re a museum person, the WWII Museum will change your mind. From immersive exhibits to Tom Hanks-narrated films, it’s earned its reputation as one of the best museums in the country.
1:00 PM – Lunch at Cochon Butcher
Walk over to Cochon Butcher for inventive sandwiches, house-cured meats, and seasonal specials. Their muffuletta and pork belly sliders hit the spot every time.
3:00 PM – St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (or Bus Tour Option)
Visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, home of Voodoo queen Marie Laveau. For those who prefer to sit back, Big Easy Ghost Tours also offers a Haunted Cemetery Bus Tour, perfect for exploring multiple cemeteries and getting deeper stories along the way.
5:00 PM – Dinner in the Garden District
Ride the streetcar down St. Charles and wander through the Garden District, a quiet neighborhood of mansions and oak trees. Grab dinner at Commander’s Palace or something casual like Joey K’s. You’ve earned it.
7:30 PM – Final Show: Jazz on Frenchmen Street
End your trip where jazz still breathes—Frenchmen Street. Pop into The Spotted Cat or Snug Harbor, order a drink, and let the horns take over. It’s the perfect sendoff.
Planning Tips:
- Book swamp and ghost tours early, especially on weekends.
- Use Uber/Lyft or the streetcar to get around; parking is tough.
- Check the weather and bring bug spray for swamp tours.
Want to make your 48 hours count?
Explore the swamp. Hear the ghosts. Dance to jazz. In New Orleans, everything lives a little louder—and so will you.
