New Orleans in 1 Day: all you need to know

Are you planning to spend a day exploring New Orleans but don't know what to see or how to organise yourself? Although there are endless activities to do and see in New Orleans, you can optimise your time and make the most of it by exploring the city in a single day. Of course, you'll need to start as early as possible so you don't miss anything.

You can visit some of the city's iconic neighbourhoods, learn a little history at the National World War II Museum, soak up the local culture, have fun at Mardi Gras World, and end the day with a cruise on the Mississippi River. These are the best tours for a unique experience and to see the best of the city in one day.

This is one of the most famous and beautiful neighbourhoods in New Orleans. It is residential, and its majestic mansions make it well worth a visit. I recommend taking a tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery to see everything and hear its interesting history dating back centuries.

Over the course of two hours, you can enjoy learning about the events that took place in these old mansions, such as Buckner Mansion, which you will surely recognise from American Horror Story, and those that are currently home to various celebrities in the area.

You will be able to appreciate American architectural styles and enjoy the neighbourhood's landscapes. In addition, the tour also includes Lafayette Cemetery and will allow you to learn a little about its history, traditional tombs and funeral processes.

This neighbourhood is located between St. Charles, Jackson, Magazine and Louisiana Streets.

Useful information:

• Departure point: 1400 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
• What's included: approximately 2-hour walking tour.
• Price: approximately €29

Discover the facilities of this centre where most of the floats that parade through the streets of New Orleans during the carnival season are designed and built.

This centre offers unique and fun experiences to its visitors. I recommend trying on the authentic Mardi Gras costumes and seeing the most beautiful and exuberant floats. The tour will be led by a guide who will tell you a little about the history. It lasts approximately one hour and you can take it between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

You can't leave New Orleans without visiting the National WWII Museum. It is a place steeped in history and one of the city's main attractions. Here you will find thousands of objects and memorabilia that will give you a close-up view of what World War II was like. In addition, its exhibitions will teach you about all the events that took place during the war.

To enter the museum, you must purchase your ticket in advance, which costs around €28. To avoid queues and save time, I recommend buying your ticket in advance. This way, you can explore the museum at your own pace and without any setbacks.

The French Quarter is located in the heart of New Orleans, where you will find a harmonious blend of history and tradition with novelty and modernity. It is a charming area with a timeless appearance, as if it were frozen in time.

The neighbourhood is full of interesting sites and attractions, but on top of that, it has a stellar gastronomic reputation. Some would say that it is home to the best restaurants in the city, so a good plan is to take a gastronomic tour of the area. I also recommend a few places where you can grab a bite to eat and recharge your batteries for the rest of the day:

• Antoine's: This is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans and has an extensive menu. I recommend trying some of the most popular dishes: Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou, which are eggs on a bed of artichokes with anchovies, covered with hollandaise sauce, or Pommes de Terre Souffles, classic puffed potatoes.
• Galatoire's: This is a real gem located in the French Quarter. This restaurant has been recognised as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans and in the world!
• Brennan's: considered one of the 100 best brunch restaurants in the United States, it offers a variety of dishes with a mix of Creole traditions and contemporary New Orleans influences.

The French Quarter of New Orleans is amazing, not only because it has the most delicious culinary delights you will ever taste, but also because of its history and tradition that you should learn about. This neighbourhood was founded by the Spanish, but then the French left their mark there in the 18th century, and it is precisely from that time that its beautiful colonial-style buildings date.

To make the most of your day, I recommend taking a historical tour of the French Quarter. This is the best way to get to know the neighbourhood: by taking an in-depth tour of its history in a short amount of time.

Over the course of an hour and a half, you will tour the French Quarter with a guide who will tell you all about this amazing neighbourhood. You will be able to explore its narrow streets, discover its French and Spanish architecture, St. Louis Cathedral and some of the oldest buildings in America.

Jackson Square is a national historic landmark located in the heart of the French Quarter. This park began as a place for military parades called Plaza de Armas. In the 19th century, it was transformed into a garden and the square was renamed in honour of Andrew Jackson, an American president who defended the inhabitants of New Orleans from the British.

It has been the setting for several films and events, and you are likely to find artists exhibiting their work outdoors, as they often use the place as a studio.

If you are walking through Jackson Square, I recommend stopping for a coffee accompanied by the best beignets in New Orleans at Café du Monde, while enjoying the view of the square.

Just a few metres from Jackson Square, you will find the traditional St. Louis Church. It is the oldest in New Orleans and the second oldest in the United States. It is one of the few American Catholic churches that continues the Spanish tradition of being located in a public square with other main buildings, as it is next to Jackson Square and between the historic buildings of the Cabildo and the Curial House.

Visiting it won't take long, and I recommend you do so to take away a memory of another important part of the city's history.

The Cabildo was the former seat of colonial power in Louisiana and serves as a gateway to exploring the history of this state and New Orleans. You will discover its enormous, spacious halls, enjoy its exquisite Spanish colonial design and its impressive, sophisticated French-style ceilings. Even from the windows on the second floor, you will find an exclusive view of Jackson Square.

One of its main attractions is the magnificent Chapter House, which was once a court and a centre for meetings and all kinds of events. Here you will find an exhibition of all kinds of objects, such as Native American tools and period advertisements with notices of escaped slaves.

It won't take you long and it's worth a visit so you can take away a little more of the city's history.

The French Market is a historic site in the city that represents pride and progress for the people of New Orleans and is also one of the most famous places you should visit during your stay in the city.

It is over 200 years old and has been built and rebuilt many times over the years, but one thing has remained unchanged since day one: its spirit of commerce, community and culture.
Here you will find literally everything! From decorative ceramics by artisans, clothing and sculptures made from various materials, crafts, gastronomy...

The market is located at 1008 N Peters St. and has its own car park, in case you want to go by car. It is also easily accessible by public transport, taking the Riverfront tram, the Marigny-Bywater No. 5 bus or the Elysian Fields No. 55 bus.

Marigny and the French Quarter are separated by the beautiful Esplanade Avenue, a tree-lined, picturesque, quiet avenue steeped in history. Walk a few blocks along it, enjoying the scenery, until you reach Marigny, where you'll find the best music in New Orleans.

You can't visit New Orleans without visiting this neighbourhood. This is where the music that makes this city unique is located. The world's most renowned jazz clubs are located on the famous Frenchmen Street. I recommend walking along it to find the widest variety of music in NOLA and even the world.

In Marigny, you will also find the city's trendiest restaurants, offering all kinds of classic dishes and reinventions of typical New Orleans cuisine. There are also galleries and second-hand shops with a variety of art for all budgets.

To end the day with a unique experience and take away the best memories of New Orleans, you can take a cruise on the Mississippi River to enjoy a beautiful evening on the river, to the rhythm of jazz and watching the sunset.

This way you can say goodbye to this magical city, appreciating it from a different perspective, enjoying good jazz and discovering another way to experience the culture and beauty of New Orleans. The tour lasts about two hours and includes dinner and a jazz show.

Useful information:

• Departure point: Grey Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St. and the time is 6 p.m.
• What's included: a 2-hour cruise with dinner.
• Price: approximately €157.

Almost all of the activities I mentioned are close by and can be done on foot or by public transport. But since you only have one day to explore the city, you can save time by taking the tourist bus known as Hop On Hop Off to cover greater distances and get to know the city at your own pace.

It's an excellent option for optimising your time, getting to know different parts of the city with an expert guide, and being able to stop wherever you want to explore in depth. This bus connects the best neighbourhoods of New Orleans perfectly so you don't miss a thing.