St. Louis, MO

Travel Guide

Gateway Arch which includes a monument, a sunset and a city
The Muny Theater showing a pond and a garden
Kiener Plaza showing a park
Gateway Arch which includes a city and landscape views
Gateway Arch featuring a monument, night scenes and a park

St. Louis Travel Guide Video

Stroll under the Gateway Arch, explore a plethora of museums and enjoy an outstanding music scene initiated by natives Chuck Berry and Miles Davis.

St. Louis lives up to its nickname, the Gateway to the West. Centrally located in Missouri along the Mississippi River, the city is a confluence of Southern cuisine, fascinating culture and Midwestern charm. Explore its historic cobblestone streets, pulsing Downtown and multitude of cultural institutions.

The Gateway Arch is impossible to miss. The city’s famous monument rises 630 feet (190 meters) high and is visible from across the city. Take an enclosed tram to the top to see miles in every direction. Try to spot the Busch Stadium to the west and the mighty Mississippi River to the east. Afterward, explore the surrounding Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park, which includes the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse, where in 1847 Dred Scott and his wife famously sued for their freedom from slavery but ultimately lost.

As the hometown of rock-and-roll legend Chuck Berry and jazz pioneer Miles Davis, it’s not surprising that St. Louis has a thriving music scene. Enjoy evenings in Laclede’s Landing or the Delmar Loop, which are home to popular bars and lively restaurants.

See the latest modern art in the unique Pulitzer Arts Foundation, which presents new exhibits every six months. Nearby, relax among the trees and dozens of eye-catching sculptures in Laumeier Sculpture Park. Spend more time outside in the scenic Missouri Botanical Gardens and Arboretum, which is among the oldest botanical gardens in the United States. Explore the award-winning Climatron dome conservatory, which houses a remarkable tropical rain forest.

St. Louis has a fascinating history as a hub of trade and host of the 1904 Summer Olympics and World’s Fair. Learn about its past at the Missouri History Museum. Discover fun for all ages at the quirky City Museum and kids-oriented Magic House. Check out old trains and vintage cars at the Museum of Transportation.

Visit St. Louis any time of year. From children to adults, art lovers to history buffs, music fans to sports aficionados, this city has something for everyone.

Where to stay in St. Louis

Meeting of the Waters Fountain showing a statue or sculpture and a fountain

Downtown St. Louis

4/5(4,004 area reviews)

Ample dining options, fascinating museums, and great live music are just a few top things to explore in Downtown St. Louis. A visit to Busch Stadium or Gateway Arch National Park might round out your trip, and you can jump aboard the metro at 8th and Pine Station or Stadium Station to get around town.

Downtown St. Louis
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Clayton

Visitors often come to Clayton for its abundant dining options, but many stay to explore sights like Chapel of St. Timothy And St. Titus, Concordia Seminary and Shaw Park Tennis Center. Getting around the area on the metro is easy if you catch a ride at Clayton Station.

Clayton
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Berkeley

Visitors highly recommend Berkeley for its abundant dining options, and you can make a stop by James S. McDonnell Prologue Room while you're in town.

Berkeley
"The first St. Charles Borromeo Church, like this one, was constructed of vertical, hewn logs placed directly in the ground: an architectural style unique to the French in the New World during the 17th and 18th centuries. The church has been rebuilt on its original location. Jesse Francis, a local preservationist with 20 years experience restoring 18th French log buildings, directed the reconstruction. The work was done completely by with period tools in the manner of the 18th century. The church is part of an on-going historical interpretive program based on a re-creation of daily activities in this old French village."

St. Charles Historic District

Discover a national historic district featuring over 100 buildings, including the First Missouri State Capitol and St. Charles Odd Fellows Hall, showcasing architectural styles like Greek Revival and Italianate.

St. Charles Historic District
The Arc
St. Louis, Missouri

Creve Coeur

Creve Coeur is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Creve Coeur Golf Club and Saint Louis Abbey while you're in town.

Creve Coeur
St. Louis which includes interior views

Downtown West

If you're spending some time in Downtown West, St. Louis Union Station and St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station are top sights worth seeing.

Downtown West
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch

4 out of 5
315 Chestnut St St. Louis MO
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$99 nightly
The price is $117 total per night from Dec 30 to Dec 31
$117 total
Dec 30 - Dec 31
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in St. Louis. Enjoy free WiFi, 3 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (4,031 reviews)
Walk in distance to restaurants, downtown and the gateway arch

Reviewed on Dec 22, 2025

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch)

Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch)

2.5 out of 5
333 Washington Ave St. Louis MO
$98 nightly
The price is $114 total per night from Jan 1 to Jan 2
$114 total
Jan 1 - Jan 2, 2026
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in St. Louis. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,181 reviews)
Breakfast area was small and crowded - did not help to have children and some teenagers on their own and not exactly being quiet.

Reviewed on Dec 19, 2025

Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch)
Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

4 out of 5
421 N 8th St St. Louis MO
$89 nightly
The price is $106 total per night from Dec 28 to Dec 29
$106 total
Dec 28 - Dec 29
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in St. Louis. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,155 reviews)
All went well.

Reviewed on Dec 19, 2025

Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
 White House at Grand Central

White House at Grand Central

4 out of 5
3805 Lindell Blvd St. Louis MO
Stay at this apartment in St. Louis. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and a garden. Popular attractions St. Louis Union Station and Gateway Arch are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (124 reviews)
The property was wonderful, perfect, beautiful. We loved it

Reviewed on Nov 25, 2025

White House at Grand Central
Cozy Studio Cottage on "The Hill," walkably close to everything! The Zoo, Park!!

Cozy Studio Cottage on "The Hill," walkably close to everything! The Zoo, Park!!

St. Louis MO
Stay at this vacation home in St. Louis. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a water park. Popular attractions St. Louis Union Station and Gateway Arch are ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (160 reviews)
The host was very friendly. The property is in a great area of the neighborhood, clean, and equipped with everything you need.

Reviewed on Dec 7, 2025

Cozy Studio Cottage on "The Hill," walkably close to everything! The Zoo, Park!!
Luxury 2BEDROOM LOFT near Bush Stadium

Luxury 2BEDROOM LOFT near Bush Stadium

St. Louis MO
Stay at this apartment in St. Louis. Enjoy laundry facilities, in-room jetted tubs, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Busch Stadium and Gateway Arch ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
Excellent

Reviewed on Dec 15, 2025

Luxury 2BEDROOM LOFT near Bush Stadium
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around St. Louis

The downtown area and historic neighborhoods of St. Louis are best explored on foot. Get around more quickly by rental car, which you can pick up at the airport or in the city. Or, take advantage of the taxis available throughout the city. Alternatively, use the public transportation system, consisting of the MetroLink light railway and the MetroBus bus network, as well as trolley services. Visit the Metro TransitOpens in a new window website.Browse St. Louis rental cars.

Best time to visit

Spring and fall are fairly fleeting seasons in St. Louis. However, if you can get the timing just right, visiting at one of these times of year will mean you will have a great trip. April and October are particularly good months to pick. Come then for daytime temperatures in the high 60s (18-20 C). The city is lively throughout the long summer too, but you will have to deal with sweltering heat and big crowds.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of St. Louis

4.2
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
1851
5 - Excellent 38%
4 - Good
2326
4 - Good 48%
3 - Okay
615
3 - Okay 13%
2 - Disappointing
75
2 - Disappointing 2%
1 - Terrible
28
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I grew up on the Illinois side of St. Louis. I have always enjoyed going to St. Louis to see the Arch, Bush Gardens, Stadium and Brewery. I have been to the Science Museum multiple times and would go again. I love the Magic House.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

was nice was down there during the rioting that we had to avoid but was nice

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

St Louis is a great place to visit!

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Words can't express how I feel about town because I don't know what to feel

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Didn't really get to do much due to Covid 19 so a lot of places were closed

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Great town.

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