Hi! I live in New Orleans, across the street from the French Quarter. I see you've already gotten a million suggestions, and all of them are fantastic!
Basically, what it comes down to is this: You have exactly zero time, compared to the sheer number of things to do. But in a way, that works to your advantage. Because one of the biggest things that makes this city special is that all you have to do is walk out the front door with an open mind, and fun and excitement will find you. And it's never what you expect.
Example: One night I was wandering around by myself, and I went down to the Moonwalk, which is the walking path that runs along the river. It had just closed for the evening, so I couldn't go up the steps. But standing in front of the steps was a lone saxophone player, an elderly Black gentleman who was extremely talented. It was lightly raining, more of a mist. There was a full moon over the river, with clouds rushing by in front of it. And the gentleman's music was hypnotic. I swear in that moment, the entire modern world fell away, and I was transported back to the 1800s. We shared probably 15 minutes of time, him playing and me swaying to the music. Then I tipped him and we went our separate ways.
Those are the types of memories you want to make on your first trip to New Orleans. And you will only find them by following your heart and living in the moment. Not by sticking to an itinerary. That said, there are a few things you won't want to miss. The biggest one is Jackson Square. It's the center of the French Quarter, originally the hanging grounds and now a park/pedestrian area/free speech zone. St. Louis Cathedral is there (the oldest cathedral in continual use in the US), and WELL worth taking a look. It's flanked by the Cabildo and the Presbytere, both extremely important historical buildings that are part of the Louisiana State Museum complex (closed on Mondays). A little ways around the Square is the 1850 House, if you're interested in historic home museums. But you'll want to spend most of your time in the Square just absorbing the cultural life of the city. During the day you'll find mimes and visual artists of every description. At night, you'll find tarot readers and ghost/vampire tours. And you'll also find just the most interesting and eclectic collection of natives and tourists having fabulous spontaneous conversations....and quite likely a brass band or two.
Across Decatur Street from the Square is Cafe du Monde. It's the original home of beignets in the city, open continually (24 hours/day) since 1862 (except for Christmas Day and occasional hurricanes). Do NOT miss it. And the aforementioned Moonwalk is next to Cafe du Monde. It's a great place to take a stroll along the river.
If you're into it, you might consider a ghost or vampire tour from Haunted History (they're the most historical and best researched). They also have a 5-in-1 that gives you a little bit of everything. And if you REALLY want to go to a museum or whatever (and we do have some great ones!) head over to
neworleans.com and take your pick. But I'd make Jackson Square and its environs your main planned location, and spend the rest of your time just wandering the Quarter and seeing what comes your way. You can't go more than a block without tripping over an excellent restaurant or a cool neighborhood bar or a fun shop. Go to Bourbon Street once, take pictures, and then get off it. Huge tourist trap, and not at all reflective of this city. If you want live music, ask someone to point you to Frenchmen Street--that's where the locals go.
Bring cash, including a collection of one dollar bills. Some places still don't take cards, and you'll want to tip the various street performers. Keep an open mind, and just have fun. It's hard to get a bad meal or have a bad time in this town.
Any more specific questions, I'm happy to help!
