Travel guide · United States
St. Louis travel guide
The Gateway Arch, free museums in Forest Park and toasted ravioli on The Hill
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sam valadi, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
St. Louis grew where the Missouri River joins the Mississippi, as a French fur-trading post and later the gateway for pioneers heading west, a role commemorated by the 192-metre Gateway Arch on the riverfront. Its greatest asset for visitors is Forest Park, larger than New York's Central Park and site of the 1904 World's Fair, where the zoo, the art museum, the history museum and the science centre are all free. Add the playground-like City Museum, the Missouri Botanical Garden, a strong blues and beer heritage and distinctive local foods, and it is one of the best-value city breaks in the United States. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- STL
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$290 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Free museums and City Museum
Why visit St. Louis
- The Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center are all free, and all in Forest Park.
- A tram ride inside the Gateway Arch climbs to a viewing room 192 metres above the Mississippi.
- City Museum turns a 10-storey former shoe warehouse into climbable sculpture, caves and slides for all ages.
- The Missouri Botanical Garden, founded in 1859, has the Climatron geodesic dome and one of the largest Japanese gardens in North America.
- St. Louis foods — toasted ravioli, Provel-topped pizza, gooey butter cake and frozen custard on old Route 66 — exist almost nowhere else.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Landmark · Downtown
Gateway Arch
Eero Saarinen's stainless-steel arch, completed in 1965, rises 192 metres over the Mississippi and is the tallest arch in the world.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Park · Forest Park
Forest Park
Larger than Central Park, Forest Park covers about 525 hectares of lawns, lakes and woods and was the site of the 1904 World's Fair.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Zoo · Forest Park
Saint Louis Zoo
One of the few major zoos in the United States with free general admission, the Saint Louis Zoo has more than 10,000 animals in areas such as Penguin and Puffin Coast, Sea Lion Sound with an underwater viewing tunnel and the River's Edge.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
Experience · Downtown
City Museum
Artist Bob Cassilly turned the former International Shoe Company warehouse into a giant playground of salvaged materials: caves, tunnels, a 10-storey spiral slide, an outdoor climbing structure of steel and aircraft fuselages called MonstroCity, and a school bus hanging over the roof's edge.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Active
- Art
Landmark · Downtown
Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village
The St.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Forest Park
Saint Louis Art Museum
Housed in Cass Gilbert's Palace of Fine Arts built for the 1904 World's Fair, the free museum's collection ranges from Egyptian mummies and Chinese bronzes to Monet's Water Lilies and the world's largest public collection of paintings by Max Beckmann.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Where to stay
Downtown is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and nightlife
Downtown
The Arch, Busch Stadium and the Washington Avenue loft district
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, first-timers and culture
Central West End
Sidewalk cafés, boutiques and mansions beside Forest Park
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and budget
Soulard
French-founded brick neighbourhood of blues bars, the farmers market and the brewery
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and food lovers
Lafayette Square
Painted Victorian townhouses around one of the oldest parks west of the Mississippi
What to eat
- Toasted ravioli — Meat-filled ravioli breaded and deep-fried until crisp, dusted with Parmesan and served with marinara for dipping.
- St. Louis-style pizza — A cracker-thin, unleavened crust topped with Provel, a processed blend of cheddar, Swiss and provolone, and cut into squares rather than slices.
- Gooey butter cake — A dense, flat coffee cake with a sticky, sweet butter-and-sugar layer on top, created by St.
- Frozen custard concrete — Frozen custard blended with mix-ins until so thick that it is handed over upside down to prove it will not fall out of the cup.
- St. Paul sandwich — An egg foo young patty served on white bread with dill pickles, onion, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, invented in St.
- Slinger — A late-night diner plate of hash browns, eggs and a hamburger patty, all smothered in chilli and topped with cheese and onions.
When to go
The best time to visit St. Louis is April to May and September to October, when days are about 19–27°C and comfortable for Forest Park, the Arch and the Botanical Garden. Summer is hot and humid but busy with baseball, outdoor theatre and festivals, and winter is cold and quiet with low prices.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blooms in Forest Park and the Botanical Garden, baseball's return and changeable weather with strong storms. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid days, free outdoor Shakespeare, the Muny, Cardinals games and Fourth of July fireworks at the Arch. |
| Autumn | September–November | Pleasant September and October weather, festivals, autumn colour and the start of hockey season. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold with occasional snow or ice, Garden Glow lights, Soulard Mardi Gras and the year's lowest hotel rates. |
Getting there and around
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is about 23 km northwest of downtown. MetroLink's Red Line runs from both terminals to downtown in about 35–40 minutes and to Forest Park in about 25 minutes. Taxis and rideshares take about 20–25 minutes outside rush hour.
MetroLink light rail links the airport, downtown, Forest Park, the Central West End, the Delmar Loop and Clayton, covering many visitor needs. Buses fill gaps, but a car or rideshare helps for The Hill, Soulard and outlying sights.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Arch, City Museum and a day in Forest Park. A third day adds the Botanical Garden, the Cathedral Basilica and dinner on The Hill; add a day for Cahokia Mounds or Missouri wine country.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Main visitor areas are generally fine with normal precautions, but conditions vary from block to block, so stay in busy areas at night and use rideshares between neighbourhoods. Car break-ins happen, so keep valuables out of sight. Summer heat and spring storms are the main weather risks.
Flights to St. Louis
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in St. Louis?
Two days covers the Arch, City Museum and a day in Forest Park. A third day adds the Botanical Garden, the Cathedral Basilica and dinner on The Hill; add a day for Cahokia Mounds or Missouri wine country. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit St. Louis?
The best time to visit St. Louis is April to May and September to October, when days are about 19–27°C and comfortable for Forest Park, the Arch and the Botanical Garden. Summer is hot and humid but busy with baseball, outdoor theatre and festivals, and winter is cold and quiet with low prices.
+What is St. Louis known for?
Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Free museums, City Museum, Cardinals baseball, Budweiser, Toasted ravioli and Blues. The Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center are all free, and all in Forest Park.
+Is St. Louis expensive?
St. Louis is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$290 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in St. Louis?
Not essential for a city break if you stay near MetroLink; rideshares cover the rest. A car is useful for day trips and outlying neighbourhoods.