A Day in the New Orleans French Quarter
This week Brockie and I spent one day in the French Quarter, the heart and life of New Orleans. New Orleans was the first stop on our 2022 cross country road trip. Neither Brockie nor I had been to New Orleans before, so it was a new experience for both of us!
Brockie and I covered a lot of ground during our day in the French Quarter, walking a total of nearly four miles as we zig-zagged through the streets over the course of the day. We ended up doing a lot of wandering around and backtracking! But by the end of the day we had a solid feel for the area.
After a full day of fun and exploration, I put together an efficient but leisurely guide to touring the French Quarter in a day and experiencing all it has to offer.
By the way, if you haven’t looked at our 2022 cross country road trip plans yet, click here for the Week 1 trip itinerary.
But back to New Orleans…
Get a Feel for the French Quarter Layout
The French Quarter is 13 blocks long from Canal Street on one side to Esplanade Street on the other side. North Rampart Street forms the top border of the French Quarter, with the Mississippi River flowing along the bottom of the French Quarter.
All you need to remember are a few of the streets that run the length of the French Quarter, from Canal Street to Esplanade. At the bottom and closest to the Mississippi River lies Decatur Street, home to Jackson Square, Café du Monde, and the French Quarter Market. Next is Royal Street, which is two blocks up from Decatur. Royal Street is lined with shops, art galleries, and antique shops. Above Royal Street you have Bourbon Street, famous for its nightlife.
These three parallel streets that run the length of the French Quarter (Decatur, Royal, and Bourbon) are where you will probably spend the majority of your time. Once you go above Bourbon Street, you will mostly find hotels and residential housing.
Plan Parking in Advance
Driving in the French Quarter is not something I would care to do again. I’m still a little bit surprised that I somehow emerged without hitting any pedestrians or without being hit by another car! The roads all throughout New Orleans are awful—probably because the city is sinking, so at least they have a good excuse—but it’s really bad in the French Quarter. Most of the streets are narrow one-way roads, with street parking on one side.
Finding a parking space can be quite a treasure hunt, especially if you are trying to find cheap parking. Some of the parking lots cost $20 an hour or more…which is more than I am willing to pay. Streetside parking is definitely cheaper, but it is difficult to find open parking spots, especially on the weekends. If you are planning on parking streetside, then make sure you arrive early in the morning.
Otherwise, you have a few other options:
Park somewhere else in the city and take the bus to the French Quarter
Park down at the Crescent Park and walk to the French Quarter
Stay in a hotel with a parking garage (you will still have to pay for parking)
One Day in the French Quarter
Early morning (6-9)
Put on some shorts, a thin, cool top, and shoes that you can comfortably walk around in all day. You might want to bring some sunscreen and a sunhat or ballcap too. After prepping for a hot day in the city, head into the French Quarter and find a nice little café to eat breakfast. The famed Café du Monde is often busy, so plan to get there early. There are plenty of other cafes to choose from though. For a Café du Monde alternative, try Café Beignet. You can choose between four different locations: Royal Street, Decatur Street, Bourbon Street, and Canal Street.
Late morning (9-12)
If you plan to do a guided walking tour of the French Quarter, now is the time to start a tour, before it gets too hot. You can book tours online, or stop at one of the tour companies on St. Peter Street. You will find many businesses offering tours throughout the French Quarter, so don’t worry if you haven’t booked anything in advance.
Otherwise, start off with a short riverwalk along the Mississippi River. Enjoy the nice breeze coming off the water, and get some nice views looking down into the French Quarter.
At 10 a.m., the French Market on Decatur Street opens. The French Market is outdoors, so I suggest you knock out the market before heading through the rest of the city, because the day will only keep getting hotter. If you forgot your sunhat, you can buy one here, along with some sunglasses and a New Orleans t-shirt. This is a great place to pick up small gifts, like jewelry and carvings.
While you’re making your way through the market, stop by one of the outdoor bars to grab a mixed drink or a fruit smoothie. You can also take a few minutes to listen to the live music that is often playing around the market.
After going through the French Market, stroll down Decatur a few blocks to the shops at Jax Brewery, which is a fun indoor shopping mall and food court.
Afternoon (12-5)
It’s time to leave the riverside area and work your way into the heart of the French Quarter. Venture next door from the Jax shopping mall to the Washington Artillery park, which is tiny but offers a great view of the St. Louis Cathedral. It’s the oldest cathedral in the US that is still in regular use! You can cross Decatur Street to the Jackson Square, then take a self-guided tour of the cathedral.
After touring the cathedral, circle back to Jackson Square for a carriage ride! It will give you a break from walking, plus you get a more in-depth tour of the area.
Once your carriage ride is over, it’s time to get started on Royal Street, heading in the direction of Canal Street. With art galleries and antique shops lining the street, there is plenty to see and buy. Even if you aren’t into buying art or antiques, still take the time to explore some of the art galleries. Why? First, because art is really cool and there are a lot of beautiful pieces on display. Second, because the art galleries are usually well air-conditioned, and you will be hot.
Eventually, you will hit Canal Street, coming to one end of the French Quarter. You can spend some time shopping on Canal Street, or turn back to the French Quarter on Chartres Street to continue your walk-through of the French Quarter.
Evening (5-7)
You have lots of dinner options. Looking for a seafood restaurant? There are several seafood places on Bourbon Street, as well as some of the streets intersecting Bourbon near the Canal Street end of the French Quarter. For classic Cajun dishes, you could go to either Canal Street, Decatur Street, or Bourbon Street. St. Louis Street also has some good choices. Is a lively bar what you’re looking for? Walk over to Bourbon Street and simply take your pick. The French Quarter is full of good food!
Nighttime (7-really late)
Finally the temperature drops enough to where you aren’t covered in sweat anymore, and the French Quarter really comes to life. Bourbon Street is definitely the place to be once it starts getting dark! The street is crowded with people walking up and down the long line of bars and dance clubs. Finding a bar with live music isn’t hard, as nearly all of them have bands playing the blues, with a few country and rock bands mixed in. Sip a drink, stay and listen a while, then move on to the next bar and the next band.
If you get tired of the bars, don’t go anywhere just yet! Hang around for a while, listening to the variety of buskers that come perform on the street. Some of them gather quite a crowd. If you stick around long enough, you’ll probably get caught up in some dancing. Make sure to bring cash with you for your night on Bourbon Street, so you can tip the bands and musicians!
Don’t leave until you have the sounds of jazz and wild laughter ringing in your ears. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a good way to end a day to me!
For more city insights, click here to read my post on visiting Baton Rouge.
