St. Louis Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
St. Louis, a vibrant city in the state of Missouri, United States, beckons with its dynamic history, cultural richness, and iconic landmarks. Known as the "Gateway to the West," this city is a tapestry of American history and modern urban charm.
The Gateway Arch, a 630-foot monument, is the centerpiece of St. Louis and a symbol of the city's role in the westward expansion of the United States. Visitors can ascend to the top for a panoramic view of the city and the Mississippi River. The surrounding Gateway Arch National Park provides a serene environment for leisure and reflection.
Forest Park, another gem of St. Louis, is one of the largest urban parks in the country, surpassing even New York's Central Park in size. It is home to the city's principal cultural institutions, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Zoo, which is renowned for its commitment to conservation and offers free admission.
The city's historical significance is further highlighted in the Old Courthouse, where the landmark Dred Scott case unfolded, challenging the legalities of slavery and moving the nation closer to civil war. This site remains a poignant reminder of America's journey towards equality and justice.
Music enthusiasts will find a rich blues heritage in St. Louis, with live music venues dotting the city, particularly in the Soulard neighborhood. The National Blues Museum downtown celebrates this genre and the city's contribution to its evolution.
For sports fans, St. Louis is a city with a storied baseball legacy. Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, offers an electric atmosphere for enjoying America's pastime. The team's deep roots and consistent success have fostered a dedicated fan base and a spirited community.
Culinary explorers can delight in St. Louis-style barbecue, known for its distinctive use of sweet and tangy sauces. The city's Italian neighborhood, The Hill, is famous for its toasted ravioli, a local invention. Additionally, no visit to St. Louis would be complete without sampling the gooey butter cake, a dessert staple of the region.
St. Louis Attractions - What to See and Explore
St. Louis offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Gateway Arch, The Magic House, Museum of Westward Expansion, Museum of Transportation. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in St. Louis by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in St. Louis.
Culture
Saint Louis Art Museum
St. LouisWide-ranging art exhibits
Museum Art museum Forest Park 
Peabody Opera House
St. LouisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown St. Louis 
The Muny
St. LouisTheater Concerts and shows Concert hall Forest Park 
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Art gallery Grand Center 
Powell Hall
St. LouisTheater Concerts and shows Concert hall Grand Center
Shopping
Saint Louis Galleria
St. LouisShopping Shopping centre Richmond Heights 
Plaza Frontenac
St. LouisShopping Shopping centre 
Soulard Farmers Market
St. LouisShopping Flea market Market 
Westport Plaza
St. LouisShopping Shopping centre 
South County Center
St. LouisShopping Shopping centre Oakville
Entertainment
Delmar Loop
St. LouisStreet Nightlife Dancing University City 
Lumière Place
St. LouisHotel casino Nightlife Casino Downtown St. Louis 
Grand Center
St. LouisNightlife Dancing Entertainment district Grand Center 
Steinberg Skating Rink
St. LouisIce skating Game and entertainment center Ice rink Forest Park 
River City Casino
St. LouisNightlife Gambling Casino Lemay
Active
Busch Stadium
St. LouisBallpark for the St. Louis Cardinals
Sport venue Sport Downtown St. Louis 
Scottrade Center
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown St. Louis 
The Dome at America's Center
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown St. Louis 
Chaifetz Arena
St. LouisSport venue Sport Sport complex Midtown 
GCS Ballpark
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums
Museum
The Magic House
St. LouisMuseum Children's museum Science museum 
Museum of Transportation
St. LouisMuseum History museum Saint Louis Art Museum
St. LouisWide-ranging art exhibits
Museum Art museum Forest Park 
Old Courthouse
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Downtown St. Louis 
City Museum
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Specialty museum Downtown St. Louis
Park
Forest Park
St. LouisSprawling historic public space
Park Forest Park 
Saint Louis Zoo
St. LouisFree zoo with large mammals and penguins
Zoo Outdoor activities Forest Park 
Citygarden
St. LouisPark Sculpture Downtown St. Louis 
Laumeier Sculpture Park
St. LouisMuseum Park Sculpture 
Tower Grove Park
St. LouisSerene green spot with historic features
Park Tower Grove Park
Church
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
St. LouisOpulent church with gilded mosaic art
Church 
Old Cathedral
St. LouisChurch Greek Revival architecture Downtown St. Louis 
Shrine of St. Joseph
St. LouisChurch Sacred and religious sites Neo-baroque architecture Columbus Square 
St. Mary of Victories Church
St. LouisChurch Sacred and religious sites Downtown St. Louis 
Christ Church Cathedral
St. LouisChurch Gothic Revival architecture Sacred and religious sites Downtown St. Louis
History museum
Museum of Transportation
St. LouisMuseum History museum Old Courthouse
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Downtown St. Louis 
Missouri History Museum
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Forest Park 
Soldiers' Memorial
St. LouisMuseum Military museum History museum Downtown St. Louis 
Eugene Field House
St. LouisMuseum History museum Downtown St. Louis
Specialty museum
City Museum
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Specialty museum Downtown St. Louis 
Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
Maryland Heights, St. LouisMuseum Specialty museum 
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
St. LouisMuseum Specialty museum Downtown St. Louis 
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum
St. LouisMuseum History museum Specialty museum Downtown St. Louis 
World Chess Hall of Fame
St. LouisMuseum Specialty museum
Art museum
Saint Louis Art Museum
St. LouisWide-ranging art exhibits
Museum Art museum Forest Park City Museum
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Specialty museum Downtown St. Louis 
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
St. LouisWashington University fine-arts center
Museum Art museum Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Art gallery Grand Center 
Samuel Cupples House
St. LouisMuseum History museum Art museum Midtown
Theater
Peabody Opera House
St. LouisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown St. Louis The Muny
St. LouisTheater Concerts and shows Concert hall Forest Park Powell Hall
St. LouisTheater Concerts and shows Concert hall Grand Center The Repertory Theatre
St. LouisTheater Concerts and shows Webster Groves 
Moolah Cinema and Lounge
St. LouisNightlife Cinema Theater Grand Center
Bridge
Eads Bridge
St. LouisHistoric 19th-century steel-truss bridge
Bridge 
Martin Luther King Bridge
St. LouisBridge Downtown St. Louis 
Poplar Street Bridge
St. LouisBridge 
MacArthur Bridge
St. LouisBridge 
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge
St. LouisBridge
Sacred and religious sites
Shrine of St. Joseph
St. LouisChurch Sacred and religious sites Neo-baroque architecture Columbus Square St. Mary of Victories Church
St. LouisChurch Sacred and religious sites Downtown St. Louis Christ Church Cathedral
St. LouisChurch Gothic Revival architecture Sacred and religious sites Downtown St. Louis 
St. Francis Xavier College Church
St. LouisChurch Gothic Revival architecture Sacred and religious sites Midtown 
Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church
St. LouisChurch Gothic Revival architecture Sacred and religious sites Downtown St. Louis
Historical place
Gateway Arch
St. LouisMemorial Monuments and statues Observation decks and towers Downtown St. Louis Old Courthouse
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Downtown St. Louis Missouri History Museum
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Forest Park 
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Grantwood Village 
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
St. LouisMuseum History museum Historical place Midtown
Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo
St. LouisFree zoo with large mammals and penguins
Zoo Outdoor activities Forest Park 
Bayer Insectarium
St. LouisZoo Forest Park 
Grant's Farm
St. LouisFarm Zoo Grantwood Village 
World Aquarium
St. LouisMuseum Aquarium Zoo Downtown St. Louis 
Butterfly House
Chesterfield, St. LouisTranquil butterfly conservatory and garden
Zoo
Sport venue
Busch Stadium
St. LouisBallpark for the St. Louis Cardinals
Sport venue Sport Downtown St. Louis Scottrade Center
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown St. Louis The Dome at America's Center
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown St. Louis Chaifetz Arena
St. LouisSport venue Sport Sport complex Midtown GCS Ballpark
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums
Memorial
Gateway Arch
St. LouisMemorial Monuments and statues Observation decks and towers Downtown St. Louis 
Museum of Westward Expansion
St. LouisMemorial park with an iconic landmark
Memorial Downtown St. Louis 
Wainwright Tomb
St. LouisMemorial Art Nouveau architecture North Riverfront 
Transgender Memorial Garden
St. LouisMemorial
Art gallery
Saint Louis Art Museum
St. LouisWide-ranging art exhibits
Museum Art museum Forest Park Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Art gallery Grand Center 
Saint Louis University Museum of Art
St. LouisMuseum Art museum Art gallery Grand Center 
Third Degree Glass Factory
St. LouisMuseum Classes and workshops Art gallery
Music venue
Scottrade Center
St. LouisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown St. Louis Peabody Opera House
St. LouisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown St. Louis 
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Maryland Heights, St. LouisNightlife Music and shows Theater 
Palladium
St. LouisNightlife Music and shows Music venue Grand Center 
Lucas School House
St. LouisMusic venue Nightlife
Cemetery
Bellefontaine Cemetery
St. LouisCemetery North Riverfront 
New Mount Sinai Cemetery
St. LouisCemetery Neoclassical architecture Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery
St. LouisCemetery University City 
Calvary Cemetery
St. LouisCemetery North Riverfront Quinette Cemetery
St. LouisCemetery
Other categories
AreaNeighbourhoodConcerts and showsCityNightlifeConcert hallArenas and stadiumsSportUniversities and schoolsLibrarySkyscraperSt. Louis – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of St. Louis, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Gateway Motorsports Park (East St. Louis), Fairmount Park Racetrack (Collinsville), Louis Bolduc House (Ste. Genevieve).
Best Time To Visit St. Louis
Learn when is the best time to travel to St. Louis weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience the City
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Lox
Lox is a type of brined salmon typically enjoyed on a bagel with cream cheese. It is often accompanied by toppings such as tomato, sliced onion, cucumbers, and capers. The word "lox" originates from the Yiddish "laks" which itself comes from the Germanic word for...
St. Louis-style pizza
St. Louis-style pizza is a distinctive type of pie originating from St. Louis, Missouri, and its surrounding areas. What sets it apart is its ultra-thin, cracker-like crust, made without yeast. Rather than the traditional wedge slices, these pizzas are cut into squares...
Cornbread
Cornbread is a cherished quick bread made from cornmeal, typically leavened with baking powder. It has deep roots in Native American cuisine, where corn has been a staple for millennia. When European settlers arrived in the New World, they learned to prepare corn-based...
Poutine
Poutine, a cherished Canadian dish, is a delightful amalgamation of crispy french fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s and, despite initial ridicule, has grown into a celebrated emblem of Quebecois cultural pride.
Dish
Slinger
A "slinger" is a hearty dish originating from the American Midwest, particularly St. Louis, and it's a favorite at diners. The classic version features two eggs (cooked to your preference), hash browns, and a hamburger patty, all smothered in chili con carne and topped...
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
Apotheosis of St. Louis
The "Apotheosis of St. Louis" is an impressive statue of King Louis IX of France, majestically positioned in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. This iconic statue has been an integral part of the city since 1906, serving as a...
Monument in St. Louis, Missouri
Le Rêve Transformé
"Le Rêve Transformé" a 1913 painting by Italian metaphysical artist Giorgio De Chirico, presents a captivating fusion of the surreal and the classical. De Chirico, renowned for his haunting, vacant urban landscapes, depicts a late evening scene where a spectral train...
Painting by Giorgio de Chirico
Missouri