10 Top Things to Do in St. Louis

Enjoy the St. Louis Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum is filled with world-class works of art from around the globe including more than 30,000 works in the museum's permanent collection. You'll find works by masters like Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso. The museum is located in the heart of Forest Park, along with other free attractions like the St. Louis Science Center and the Missouri History Museum.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 9 p.m. on Friday)
Cost: Free

Go to the Top of the Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is the most recognizable symbol of St. Louis. The 630-foot steel monument sits on the banks of the Mississippi River, welcoming people from around the world. Visitors can tour the Museum of Westward Expansion under the Arch, see a documentary film, then take a tram ride to the top.

Hours: Daily: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Summer: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cost: The tram ride and documentary movie tickets are priced at: Adults $16 - $20 and Children (3–15) $11 - $15. Each adult tram or documentary movie ticket includes a $3 National Park entrance fee. All federal recreation passes are honored. There are also other combination tickets including a St. Louis Riverfront cruise.

Visit the Animals at the St. Louis Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo is the city's most popular free attraction. Millions of people visit each year to see the elephants, tigers, sea lions, monkeys, and thousands of other animals. The St. Louis Zoo is constantly expanding and adding new exhibits and animal habitats, making it one of the top zoos in the nation.

Hours: Daily: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Summer Weekends: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cost: Free admission. Attractions like seeing the sea lions fed, riding the train, and going to the 4-D theater do have a charge.

Catch a Game at Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Baseball fans can take in a game at the 46,000 seat ballpark. Next door to the stadium is Ballpark Village, an entertainment district filled with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and outdoor events.

Hours: Varies by game

Cost: Game tickets run $22 to $200

Dine Italian on The Hill

The Hill is St. Louis' famous Italian neighborhood. It's a tight-knit community filled with restaurants, bakeries, and Italian stores. The Hill was also the boyhood home of Baseball Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola. The neighborhood welcomes visitors for annual events like the Nativity Walk in December and the Italian Heritage Parade and Festival in October.

For $54 per adult, you can take a walking food tour of the Hill and enjoy tastes and sips at several Italian eateries and landmarks.
Hours: Varies by business

Cost: Also varies by business.

Have Fun at The Magic House

The Magic House is one of the top-ranked children's museums in the country. The Magic House is an interactive experience for kids of all ages with hundreds of hands-on exhibits teaching children about science, motion, history, and the world around them.

Hours: Monday-Saturday during the summer from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Hours during the school year are 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Sundays, with Saturdays open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Mondays).

Cost: ​ $12 a person (ages 1 and up). Some discounts apply.

Stroll the Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden has been attracting visitors from around the country for more than 150 years. It's a great place to enjoy the beauty of nature in the middle of the city. Visitors can tour founder Henry Shaw's historic home. During the warmer months, the Children's Garden is a place for kids of all ages to learn and explore.

Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $14 adults (ages 13 and over) and free for children (ages 12 and under)

Savor a Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

St. Louisans don't eat ice cream, they eat frozen custard. And no place is more famous for frozen custard than Ted Drewes. There are two locations in the city that have been serving up sweet treats for more than 80 years. The Chippewa location is located along historic Route 66 and is open much of the year, while the South Grand Boulevard location is open from mid-May through late August.

Hours: Opens at 11 a.m.

Cost: Most treats are $2 to $5

Tour Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery and see how Budweiser and other AB products are made. The brewery offers free daily tours which include free samples of popular brews.​

Nestled in the historic Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, this brewery is the largest and oldest Anheuser Busch brewery site was selected based on its access to the Mississippi River, the many German immigrants in the 1800s, and the natural cave formations that were used to store beer before artificial refrigeration was available.

There is a charge for specialty tours such as the one where you can visit the Clydesdales.

Hours: Most days, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (until 5 p.m. in summer)

Cost: Free for the basic brewery tour. To guarantee your tour time and spots, you can reserve tickets online for $5.00 each. There is a charge for some special events.

Listen to Music at Blueberry Hill

Blueberry Hill has been a St. Louis landmark for more than 40 years. The popular restaurant and live music venue is open 365 days a year and is decorated with pop culture memorabilia. It features some of the best-known musicians in St. Louis. The legendary Chuck Berry used to play at Blueberry Hill once a month.

Hours: Opens daily at 11 a.m.

Cost: Varies by concert/food