Sight guide · St. Louis · United States
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kitz000 - Matt Kitces, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Saint Louis Art Museum is a museum in Forest Park, St. Louis. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Forest Park
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, art, rainy day and architecture
- Best months
- March–May
About 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.
Tip: Visit the German Expressionist galleries for the Beckmanns, then walk down Art Hill to the Grand Basin.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Forest Park.
Best time to visit Saint Louis Art Museum
Saint Louis Art Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- May: 25°C (77°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- March: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit St. Louis has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day St. Louis itinerary visits Saint Louis Art Museum on day 2, together with Forest Park and Saint Louis Zoo.
- No. 6 of the 19 sights in our St. Louis things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in St. Louis.
- One of the picks in museums in St. Louis.
- One of the picks in st. Louis on a rainy day.
Near Saint Louis Art Museum
Also in Forest Park, so you can walk between them:
- Saint Louis Zoo — 3–4 hours, free
- Missouri History Museum — 1.5–2 hours, free
- Forest Park — full day, free
If you like Saint Louis Art Museum
- City Museum — Downtown, 3–4 hours
- Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis — Central West End, 45 minutes
- Laumeier Sculpture Park — Sunset Hills, 1.5–2 hours
- Citygarden — Downtown, 30–45 minutes
Staying near Saint Louis Art Museum
Where to stay in St. Louis compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Saint Louis Art Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours. With Saint Louis Zoo nearby, it fits a half-day in Forest Park.
+Is Saint Louis Art Museum free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Saint Louis Art Museum?
March–May, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Visit the German Expressionist galleries for the Beckmanns, then walk down Art Hill to the Grand Basin.
+Do I need to book Saint Louis Art Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.