St. Louis earned its “Gateway to the West” nickname honestly, as the historic jumping-off point for westward expansion along the Mississippi River, and the stainless-steel Gateway Arch still frames the downtown skyline as a monument to that era. But the city’s appeal runs deeper than one landmark: Forest Park alone holds a free zoo, an acclaimed art museum, and a science center, and neighborhoods like The Hill keep a genuine Italian-American food culture alive that predates most tourist itineraries. It’s a city built for a generous budget of time and a healthy appetite, with more free attractions than most cities its size can offer.
Related: St Louis Travel Guide: Gateway Arch & Forest Park Museums (2026)
Best Things to Do in St. Louis
Ride the tram to the top of the Gateway Arch
A small tram system carries visitors up through the Arch’s curved legs to an observation deck nearly 630 feet above the Mississippi, with views stretching over the river and downtown. The museum at its base covers the westward expansion story the monument commemorates.
Spend a day in Forest Park
Larger than New York’s Central Park, Forest Park holds the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Saint Louis Science Center, all with free general admission, alongside walking paths, lakes, and the leftover grandeur of hosting the 1904 World’s Fair.
Climb through the City Museum
Built inside a former shoe factory, this is less a traditional museum than an architectural playground, with repurposed industrial materials turned into slides, tunnels, a rooftop Ferris wheel, and caves to crawl through. It’s genuinely unlike anything else in the country and appeals as much to adults as kids.
Tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery
The historic brewery complex offers tours through its 19th-century buildings, including the ornate Clydesdale stables, with a tasting included for visitors of legal drinking age at the end. The brick architecture alone is worth the visit, some of it dating back to the 1800s.
Eat your way through The Hill
This tight-knit Italian-American neighborhood, home to baseball legends Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola, is dense with family-run red-sauce restaurants and delis that have operated for generations, offering a genuinely local food experience away from downtown.
Top-Rated St. Louis Tours & Experiences
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures; St. Louis summers run hot and humid, which is worth factoring in if your plans include a lot of walking around Forest Park or downtown.
How to Get There
St. Louis Lambert International Airport connects to downtown via the MetroLink light rail system, making a rental car optional if you’re mostly sticking to downtown and Forest Park.
Good to Know
Book Gateway Arch tram tickets in advance, since entry is timed and popular slots sell out on busy days. Most of Forest Park’s major attractions are free, which makes it easy to spend a full, budget-friendly day there. The City Museum is very physical and involves genuine climbing and crawling, so dress for movement.
St. Louis doesn’t demand a rigid itinerary so much as a willingness to spend real time in Forest Park and a curiosity about neighborhoods beyond downtown. Between the Arch, the free museums, and The Hill’s food scene, it’s a city that rewards a longer visit than most travelers initially plan, and one that tends to surprise first-time visitors expecting only a quick Arch photo stop.
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