Things to do · St. Louis · United States
19 best things to do in St. Louis
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lightmetro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in St. Louis are Gateway Arch, Forest Park and Saint Louis Zoo. Of the 19 picks below, 12 are free, 8 work on a rainy day and 10 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Gateway Arch
- Free sights
- 12
- Good on a rainy day
- Saint Louis Art Museum
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch | Downtown | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Forest Park | Forest Park | Full day | Free |
| Saint Louis Zoo | Forest Park | 3–4 hours | Free |
| City Museum | Downtown | 3–4 hours | Mid-priced |
| Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village | Downtown | 3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Saint Louis Art Museum | Forest Park | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Missouri History Museum | Forest Park | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Saint Louis Science Center | Forest Park | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | Shaw | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis | Central West End | 45 minutes | Free |
| Anheuser-Busch Brewery | Soulard | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Soulard Farmers Market | Soulard | 1 hour | Free |
| Delmar Loop | The Loop and University City | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Laumeier Sculpture Park | Sunset Hills | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Citygarden | Downtown | 30–45 minutes | Free |
| St. Louis Union Station | Downtown West | 1–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Pulitzer Arts Foundation | Grand Center | 1 hour | Free |
| National Blues Museum | Downtown | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Chain of Rocks Bridge | North St. Louis | 1–2 hours | Free |
The 19 best things to do
Landmark · Downtown
1.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. Small five-seat tram pods climb inside each leg to a narrow observation room with views over the river and city. The museum beneath it tells the story of westward expansion and the arch's construction.
Book the tram for early morning or late afternoon, and arrive early for the airport-style security screening.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Tram tickets often sell out on summer weekends and holidays; buy timed tickets online in advance.
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Park · Forest Park
2.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. It holds the city's free zoo, art museum, history museum and science centre, the Jewel Box greenhouse, the Muny outdoor theatre and paddleboat rentals on Post-Dispatch Lake.
Rent a bike or walk the paved loop of about 10 km to link the museums, and stop at the Grand Basin below the art museum.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Zoo · Forest Park
3.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. Some extras, such as the train and carousel, cost a small fee.
Arrive at opening to find parking and see the animals before the heat, especially in July and August.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
Experience · Downtown
4.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. Adults enjoy it as much as children.
Wear closed shoes, kneepads if you have them and clothes you can crawl in, and bring a torch for the caves.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Active
- Art
Landmark · Downtown
5.Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village
The St. Louis Cardinals, one of baseball's most successful teams, play at Busch Stadium, with views of the Gateway Arch beyond the outfield. Next door, Ballpark Village has bars, restaurants and the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum.
Even without game tickets, visit the Cardinals Hall of Fame and soak up the pre-game atmosphere at Ballpark Village.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Forest Park
6.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.
Visit the German Expressionist galleries for the Beckmanns, then walk down Art Hill to the Grand Basin.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Forest Park
7.Missouri History Museum
In the Jefferson Memorial Building in Forest Park, the free history museum covers St. Louis from its founding to the present, with a large gallery on the 1904 World's Fair and a replica of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, named for the city's backers.
Start with the 1904 World's Fair gallery to understand Forest Park before exploring the rest of the park.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Forest Park
8.Saint Louis Science Center
The free science centre has hands-on galleries on dinosaurs, space and engineering, the McDonnell Planetarium and a glass bridge over the interstate where children can clock passing cars with radar guns. Some attractions, such as the OMNIMAX theatre, charge extra.
Head to the bridge over Interstate 64 for the radar guns, then catch a planetarium show.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
Garden · Shaw
1.Missouri Botanical Garden
Founded by Henry Shaw in 1859, the garden is one of the oldest in continuous operation in the United States. Highlights are the Climatron, a 1960 geodesic dome holding a tropical rainforest, the Seiwa-en Japanese garden with its lake and stone lanterns, and Shaw's Victorian country house.
Walk the Japanese garden in the morning light, and visit in late spring for the azaleas and irises or in winter for the Garden Glow lights.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
_-_exterior,_quarter_view_2.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Central West End
2.Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Inside this Romanesque-Byzantine cathedral, completed in the early 20th century, more than 41 million pieces of glass tesserae cover the domes and walls in one of the largest mosaic collections in the world. A small mosaic museum in the lower level explains how they were made.
Visit on a bright day, and look up at the central dome before exploring the side chapels; check the Mass schedule first.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Soulard
3.Anheuser-Busch Brewery
The flagship brewery of Budweiser, a National Historic Landmark, has Victorian brick buildings, the ornate Brew House and the 1885 stables of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Guided tours show the brewing process and end with tastings for adults.
Take a tour that includes the Clydesdale stables and Brew House; families are welcome, with soft drinks for children.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Food
.jpg){kind=link}
Market · Soulard
4.Soulard Farmers Market
A market has stood on this site since the 18th century, and today's 1929 market hall and open sheds have produce, meat and cheese stalls, spice vendors and snack stands. Saturday mornings are the busiest and most atmospheric time to go.
Go on a Saturday morning and combine it with a walk around Soulard's historic streets and a brewery tour.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Street · The Loop and University City
5.Delmar Loop
This lively stretch of Delmar Boulevard has independent shops, international restaurants and music venues, including Blueberry Hill, where Chuck Berry played monthly into his eighties, and The Pageant. The St. Louis Walk of Fame's brass stars honour natives such as Miles Davis, Tina Turner and Maya Angelou.
Walk the Walk of Fame stars, then have dinner and a show at Blueberry Hill or The Pageant.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
- History
Park · Sunset Hills
6.Laumeier Sculpture Park
In the southwestern suburbs, this free open-air museum spreads around 60 large-scale works across about 40 hectares of lawns and woods, including Alexander Liberman's huge red steel sculpture The Way. Trails link the sculptures through the forest.
Pick up a map at the entrance and follow the woodland trail for the more surprising works.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Outdoors
- Kids
Park · Downtown
7.Citygarden
A free downtown sculpture garden opened in 2009, Citygarden mixes works by artists such as Fernand Léger and Tom Otterness with fountains, a splash plaza and native plantings, on two blocks of the Gateway Mall leading towards the Arch.
In summer, bring swimwear for children to play in the splash fountains.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Outdoors
Architecture · Downtown West
8.St. Louis Union Station
Opened in 1894, this Romanesque railway station was once one of the busiest in the world. Its Grand Hall has a restored barrel-vaulted ceiling with light shows projected on it, and the complex now includes the St. Louis Aquarium, the St. Louis Wheel and a hotel.
Stop in the Grand Hall in the evening for the light show, then visit the aquarium with children.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Grand Center
9.Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Tadao Ando's minimalist concrete building, with a shallow reflecting pool and natural light, hosts changing exhibitions alongside permanent works by Richard Serra and Ellsworth Kelly. Entry is free.
Combine it with the Contemporary Art Museum next door and lunch in the Grand Center arts district.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
10.National Blues Museum
On Washington Avenue downtown, this museum traces the blues from its roots in the Deep South to its influence on rock and soul, with interactive exhibits that let you mix your own track. It reflects St. Louis's own blues history.
Check the calendar for live performances, which bring the exhibits to life.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · North St. Louis
11.Chain of Rocks Bridge
Opened in 1929 and once part of Route 66, this 1.6-km bridge over the Mississippi has an unusual 22-degree bend in the middle. Closed to cars, it is now a walking and cycling route with views of the river and the water intake towers.
Walk or cycle to the bend in the middle of the bridge for photos; go in daylight and with others, as the area is isolated.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | City Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum and Saint Louis Science Center |
| History | Gateway Arch, Missouri History Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Soulard Farmers Market |
| Views | Gateway Arch and Chain of Rocks Bridge |
| Outdoors and nature | Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden and Laumeier Sculpture Park |
| Food and markets | Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Soulard Farmers Market and Delmar Loop |
| After dark | Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village and Delmar Loop |
| With children | Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo and Missouri History Museum |
| On a rainy day | Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and City Museum |
What to book ahead
- Gateway Arch: Tram tickets often sell out on summer weekends and holidays; buy timed tickets online in advance.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in St. Louis?
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.
+What can you do for free in St. Louis?
Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum and Saint Louis Science Center. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in St. Louis when it rains?
Head indoors to Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and City Museum.
+What is there to do in St. Louis at night?
Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village and Delmar Loop are best after dark.