How To Spend One Day in New Orleans

New Orleans is known for its French-style architecture, bayous, Cajun cuisine and multicultural history, which often comes to life best through the city’s famous year-round celebrations. Probably the most popular is Mardi Gras, a time when locals and travelers alike line the French Quarter for a colorful Carnival celebration.

No matter what time of year you travel, the city is brimming with culture and stories waiting to be uncovered, from the cobblestoned streets of its oldest neighborhood to the endless culinary options.

Read on for a list of things to do that are quintessentially New Orleans on your next Royal Caribbean cruise vacation:

Key Takeaways: What To Do With One Day in New Orleans

● New Orleans has one of the richest cultural histories in the U.S., and is a great place to visit before or after a cruise vacation.

● Top attractions include restaurants serving authentic, local cuisine, the museums and the tours of local landmarks like the aboveground cemeteries and the French Quarter.

● You can pack a variety of different New Orleans experiences into one day if you plan in advance.

● There are plenty of New Orleans cruises available each year, so you can start planning a vacation now.

1. If You’ve Got Cravings for Creole: New Orleans Food and Drink

An Evening of Dinner and Jazz

Time it takes: 4 hours
Recommendation: Come hungry

Dine in a 19th-century French Market warehouse, just feet away from local musicians as you feast on an authentic, three-course Creole dinner. You’ll also savor Dixieland jazz, also referred to as “hot jazz” or “traditional jazz,” a native style of music from New Orleans that’s been around for more than a century.

French Quarter Pub Crawl

Time it takes: 3.5 hours
Recommendation: Wear walking shoes

Stroll through the French Quarter and visit some of the most popular bars in town with complimentary drinks — try a local favorite like the Sazerac, a potent rye-based drink rumored to be America’s oldest cocktail, accompanied by live jazz and a history lesson of the district. Who says drinking and learning don’t mix? Cheers!

Shrimp, Beignets and BBQ

Time it takes:
Recommendation: Make a “must-eat” map

Make sure to indulge in some renowned Big Easy staples, including shrimp, fried oysters, BBQ and catfish po' boys served on French bread. Find the fluffiest beignets any time of the day or night at the legendary Café Du Monde, and flavor-popping seafood boils with crawfish and shrimp.

2. If You're a History Buff: Museums and Tours

The National WWII Museum

Time it takes: 4 hours
Recommendation: Book it before you purchase your flight; includes airport transfer

Transport yourself back to the time of World War II at the recently renovated National WWII Museum, which has a stunning collection of military trucks, airplanes, tanks and uniforms. For the full museum experience, don’t miss the 4-D interactive film “Beyond All Boundaries,” which brings the experience of the war to life through the use of fog, moving chairs and other elements.

Grand City Tour

Time it takes: 3 hours
Recommendation: Wear walking shoes and bring your camera

The scenic French Quarter will mesmerize you; buildings adorned with intricate ironworks influenced by the French and Spanish line the historic streets. After your stroll, visit the St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, also known as the “City of the Dead” for its countless tombs.

New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

Time it takes: It’s up to you
Recommendation: Bring a sketchbook (if you can’t pack your trombone).

Be sure to check out more than 40,000 pieces permanently on display at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), located in the sprawling City Park. If music is more your thing, hit the New Orleans Jazz Museum to hear the full story of how the city shaped this great American art form.

3. If You’re Seeking Adventure: Out-of-the-Ordinary Experiences

Louisiana Swamp Tour

Time it takes: 3 hours
Recommendation: Get ready for way more than just alligator watching.

Venture into the heart of bayous and swamplands in a boat as you meander past cypress and tupelo trees and all sorts of wildlife, including alligators, egrets and mink. As you drift through the waters, you’ll also hear tales of how the swamps have been used as a transportation hub, food source and local economy for centuries.

Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour

Time it takes: 1.5 hours
Recommendation: Bring courage to explore the other side.

Visit the afterlife and tour America’s most haunted city. Learn about the legends and lore of New Orleans as you make your way through the darkened streets of the French Quarter. Be wary of souls returned from the dead!

Get Started With a Sample Itinerary

Building a New Orleans must-do list can be tricky. There's so much to experience, how will you fit it into the hours in a day? Here's one way to schedule your day, which can be adjusted to your tastes and interests:

● A morning tour: Before lunch, you can see one of the many sides of the city, from the swamps to the cemeteries to the streets of the French Quarter.

● Lunch: Time to sample the local cuisine. Gumbo, po' boys, barbeque, it's all on the menu and it's all good.

● An afternoon at the museum: After lunch, why not stop into a museum with a collection that suits your specific interests? That could mean military, history, fine art, jazz or anything in between.

● Dinner and an evening out: It's time to circle back and have another amazing meal. Whatever you didn't have at lunch, it's time to make up for it at dinner. Then, if you're a night owl, the bars and jazz clubs are calling.

Now that you've got a jumping-off point and know what to see in New Orleans in one day, it's time to plan your next cruise vacation.

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