Looking for the best things to do in St. Louis, Missouri? I found this city a real surprise. lets just say it has much more going for it than its famous arch.
St. Louis mixes big-name attractions with some genuinely unusual places. You can ride to the top of the Gateway Arch, crawl through tunnels and suspended aircraft at City Museum, explore one of the largest urban parks in the country, visit some excellent free museums, and discover neighborhoods shaped by the city’s long history.
It is also an unusually good city if you are travelling on a budget. Several of St. Louis’s major attractions are free, including the art museum and science centre.
Whether you are visiting for a weekend or adding St. Louis to a Midwest road trip, these are 15 of the best places to start.
15 Best Things To Do in St. Louis at a Glance
| Attraction | Best For | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch | First-time visitors, views | Downtown |
| Cathedral Basilica | Architecture, mosaics | Central West End |
| Forest Park | Outdoors, relaxed exploring | Forest Park |
| The Hill | Food, neighbourhood atmosphere | The Hill |
| St. Louis Art Museum | Art, free attractions | Forest Park |
| Missouri History Museum | Local history | Forest Park |
| St. Louis Science Center | Families, interactive exhibits | Forest Park |
| City Museum | Quirky, unusual experiences | Downtown |
| Old Courthouse | American history | Downtown |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | Gardens, slower sightseeing | Shaw |
| Soulard | Historic neighbourhood, food | Soulard |
| Anheuser-Busch Brewery | Brewing history | Soulard |
| Citygarden | Public art, quick stop | Downtown |
| World Chess Hall of Fame | Quirky museums | Central West End |
| Campbell House Museum | Historic homes | Downtown |
15 Best Things To Do in St. Louis From Icons to Unexpected Finds
Planning an early start? Have a look at our guide to the best places for breakfast in St Louis before you head out for the day
Gateway Arch
No trip to St. Louis feels complete without seeing the Gateway Arch, and for first-time visitors, taking the tram to the top is one of the city’s must-do experiences.
Standing 630 feet tall beside the Mississippi River, the Arch was built in the 1960s as a monument to westward expansion. Today it forms the centrepiece of Gateway Arch National Park and remains the most recognisable landmark in the city.
The tram ride takes you inside the Arch itself before bringing you to the observation area at the top, where you get wide views over downtown St. Louis, the Mississippi River and across into Illinois.
Even if you decide not to go up, the surrounding park and riverfront are worth exploring, particularly if you are already visiting the nearby Old Courthouse.
Midwest Explored Tip: If riding to the top is important to you, book your tram ticket in advance, especially at weekends and during busy travel periods.
You can also visit the arch combined with a river tour. If St. Louis is part of a longer trip, our guide to the best Missouri road trips includes routes through the city, Route 66, Forest Park and the wider state.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is one of the city’s most striking buildings and well worth seeing even if you are not especially interested in churches.
Its interior is covered with enormous mosaic installations made from millions of individual pieces of glass and stone. The effect is extraordinary, particularly when the light catches the gold and coloured surfaces across the domes and arches.
You can explore the cathedral quietly on your own, and there is also a small museum explaining how the mosaics were created.
Midwest Explored Tip: Give yourself time to sit and look properly rather than treating this as a quick photo stop.
Forest Park
Forest Park in St. Louis is one of the largest urban parks in the country. It is even bigger than New York City’s Central Park. There are a ton of things to do in the park that will easily keep you entertained for hours.
This scenic park is full of lakes and trees, helping you to escape the big city that noisily surrounds it. Pack a picnic and eat next to one of the many beautiful water features.
You can rent a paddleboat or kayak and drift across the calm and peaceful lakes and streams. Or you can rent a bicycle and ride through the over seven miles of twisting trails. Either way, these are great ways to experience Forest Park.
While in the park, you need to check out some of the famous buildings. Catch a show at the Muny, the largest outdoor musical theatre in the U.S. Vist the Jewel Box, a beautiful Art Deco greenhouse.
In warm weather, you can play a round of golf, enjoy a game of tennis, or practice your aim at the archery range. In the winter, you and the kids will have fun at the ice skating rink.
You definitely need to add this location to your list of things to do in St. Louis. It is certainly one of the best things to do in Missouri!
Take a Forest Park E-bike Guided Tour
Explore The Hill
The Hill is one of St. Louis’s most distinctive neighborhoods and a good place to experience a side of the city beyond its major attractions.
Known for its Italian-American heritage, the neighbourhood is filled with restaurants, bakeries, delis and small independent businesses. It is also closely associated with toasted ravioli, one of the foods St. Louis is best known for.
Give yourself time to walk around the neighborhood and stop somewhere for lunch or dinner.
Midwest Explored Tip: Come hungry. This is one part of St. Louis where the food is as much of the experience as the sightseeing.
St. Louis Art Museum Is One Of The Best Free Things To Do In St Louis
Don’t leave Forest Park without visiting the St. Louis Art Museum. This is another of the best free things to do in St. Louis if you are traveling on a budget or just like to see amazing art.
The collection of work includes over 33,000 pieces that span time and culture. You will love seeing Egyptian, African, Native American, American, and European artworks from ancient time periods through to contemporary work.
Make sure to pick up a souvenir at the Museum Shop, where they have great quality gifts. You can have a meal at the museum’s restaurant or cafe. Take your food to go and eat on Art Hill overlooking the Emerson Grand Basin.
Midwest Explored Tip: If you are combining attractions in Forest Park, pair this with the Missouri History Museum or a walk around the park rather than trying to cram too much into one day.
Missouri History Museum
Another museum in Forest Park is the Missouri History Museum. Make sure to take a photo of the pretty fountain and cool exterior before entering this St Louis attraction.
This museum covers the extensive history of St. Louis from when it was founded in 1764 by French fur traders until the present day. There is just so much to learn about this historic city!
There are exhibits about the city’s baseball history, the 1904 World’s Fair which was held here, and more. Kids will have fun with the interactive experiences.
Midwest Explored Tip: This is a particularly good stop early in your visit, because it gives you context for many of the places you will see elsewhere in St. Louis.
St. Louis Science Center
One last notable place to visit in Forest Park is the St. Louis Science Center. Head here when you are considering what to do in St Louis!
The goal of this attraction in St Louis is to spark an interest in science and technology.
People of all ages will have so much fun getting hands-on with hundreds of cool experiences and exhibits. You will have a great time learning about space travel, mummies, ecology, the planets, and so much more!
Drive a flight simulator through a virtual sky. Catch an outstanding show at the Planetarium. Have a thrill during an awesome VR experience that will take you to places like space and under the sea. No matter what you do, you will leave with great memories!
General admission to the Science Center is free, but some attractions cost extra. This is one of the best budget things to do in St. Louis!
Midwest Explored Tip: Check what is included in general admission before you go, because some of the most popular extras require a separate ticket.
City Museum
If you are looking for really unique things to do in St. Louis, then look no further than the City Museum. This is not your typical museum. It is more like a playground, funhouse, and surreal art piece wrapped into one.
The City Museum is found in an old warehouse. When you see a school bus on the roof and an airplane hanging on the side, you know you have arrived! The cool pieces here were made with found objects and salvaged materials.
There are a ton of epic slides and things to climb on for all ages. There is even a ten-story spiral slide. How cool is that? Up on the roof is a Ferris wheel with awesome views of St. Louis.
Not much can beat this St Louis attraction!
Midwest Explored Tip: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can actually move around in. This is one attraction where you may end up climbing, crawling and squeezing through spaces.
Old Courthouse
The Old Courthouse is one of the most historically significant places to visit in St. Louis.
Built in the 19th century, it is closely associated with the Dred Scott case and with the history of slavery in the city. Enslaved people were also sold on the courthouse steps, which makes this a place with a difficult but important story.
Inside, you can explore exhibits and learn more about the legal and social history connected to the building.
Its location also makes it easy to combine with the Gateway Arch, since the courthouse sits just beside Gateway Arch National Park.
Midwest Explored Tip: Visit this and the Gateway Arch together. Seeing both gives you a much fuller picture of St. Louis.
Missouri Botanical Gardes Is A St Louis Attraction Worth Your Time
The oldest botanical garden in the United States is found in St. Louis and is worth a visit if you are looking for a nature oasis outside of the city. The Missouri Botanical Garden is 79 acres of lush landscaping, art sculptures, museums, historic buildings, and more.
Step into the Climatron greenhouse and find yourself surrounded by tropical plants and birds. This is a great place to go in the winter since the temperature inside can reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Japanese Garden is a beautiful place to take pictures in St. Louis. In the spring, there are a ton of flowers. In the fall, the bridges and lanterns look magical enveloped by the fiery foliage.
Ride the tram to see the botanical garden in style. It is narrated so you can learn all about the garden and the attractions found within it.
Midwest Explored Tip: This is a good one to save for a slower part of your itinerary, especially after a busier morning of museums or downtown sightseeing.
Soulard
Soulard is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in St. Louis and a good place to get away from the city’s bigger attractions.
The area is known for its historic brick buildings, bars, restaurants and lively atmosphere, but it also has a much more local feel than the main downtown sights.
One of the best-known stops is Soulard Farmers Market, which has been part of the neighbourhood for generations and is still a great place to wander, eat and get a feel for the area.
Soulard also works well as somewhere to spend an evening after a day of sightseeing.
Midwest Explored Tip: Come here when you want neighbourhood atmosphere rather than another formal attraction.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
St. Louis is known for its many breweries, but the most famous is the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. This staple, American beverage was founded in St. Louis in 1850.
Tour the pretty brewery and go behind the scenes to see how this drink is made. You’ll even get a chance to meet even more of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Plus, you’ll get to taste some beer right at the source.
If you want to tour more breweries, there are plenty to choose from in STL. If you love to taste test local, craft beers then make a plan to visit this St Louis attraction.
Midwest Explored Tip: Check the different tour options before you book. They vary quite a bit, so it is worth choosing the one that best matches whether you are most interested in the history, the brewing process or the Clydesdales.
Citygarden
Citygarden is a small urban park in downtown St. Louis that combines sculpture, greenery and public space in a way that makes it easy to enjoy without needing hours.
The three-acre park is filled with contemporary art, fountains and winding paths, with several striking pieces scattered throughout the gardens.
Look out for the giant Pinocchio sculpture and Eros Bendato, the enormous head that has become one of the park’s best-known artworks.
Because it is close to the Gateway Arch and other downtown attractions, Citygarden works well as a short stop between larger sights.
Midwest Explored Tip: This is one to enjoy as part of a downtown walk rather than planning a whole trip around it.
World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame is a cool place to visit even if you are not a chess fanatic. This museum is dedicated to the history of this old and beloved game. It is free, but they accept donations.
When you visit you can walk through the exhibits and play a game of chess. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at the gift shop or grab a meal at the Kingside Diner.
Another cool thing about the World Chess Hall of Fame is the giant, mahogany chess piece standing regally outside. This is the largest chess piece in the world at twenty feet tall and almost 11,000 pounds.
Visiting here is one of the most fun things to do in St Louis Missouri.
Midwest Explored Tip: This works best as part of a neighbourhood visit rather than as a standalone half-day attraction.
Campbell House Museum
History buffs will want to add the Campbell House Museum to their things to do in St. Louis Missouri itinerary. Constructed in 1851, this elegant home belonged to Robert Campbell, a fur trader, and entrepreneur.
The building has been perfectly preserved and restored with much of the original furniture, paintings, clothing. Opulence is evident around every corner.
This part of the National Register of Historic Places should be visited by anyone who wants to travel back in time. The home tells the story of an immigrant who was raised to prominence.
Midwest Explored Tip: This one is best for travellers who genuinely enjoy social history and historic houses. If that is not your thing, I would swap it for one of St. Louis’s neighbourhoods instead.
St. Louis is the kind of city that rewards a little curiosity. The Gateway Arch may be its most famous landmark, but there is much more to discover beyond it.
From unusual museums and beautiful historic buildings to leafy parks, neighbourhoods full of character and some excellent free attractions, there are plenty of things to explore.
Whether you are planning a quick weekend break or adding St. Louis to a longer Midwest road trip, these 15 attractions give you a strong starting point for exploring the city.
Packing List Of Useful Things
I never leave home on a trip without a non-disposable water bottle. This collapsible silicone foldable water bottle works well if you need to save space.
This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great for a daily go-pack.
This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry on all my trips. My daughter gifted me this FugeTek selfie stick and tripod setup for my birthday and it perfect if you are a solo traveller.
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