Go to the Arch. Seriously. Everyone tells you it’s a tourist trap, but standing at the base of that 630-foot stainless steel catenary curve makes you feel small in a way that’s actually kinda grounding. But here's the thing. If you only see the Arch, you haven’t actually seen St. Louis. Most people looking for things to do STL end up on a loop of the same three downtown blocks, and frankly, that’s how you end up thinking our city is just a giant shiny monument and some empty parking lots.
St. Louis is a city of neighborhoods. It’s gritty, it’s remarkably green, and it has a food scene that punches way above its weight class. You’ve got the Hill with its red-white-and-green fire hydrants and the best toasted ravioli of your life. You’ve got the Central West End where the houses look like European palaces. And you’ve got the weird stuff. The stuff that makes St. Louis feel like a fever dream.
The City Museum is Not a Museum
Let’s get the big one out of the way. If you ask a local for things to do STL, the City Museum is always the first answer. Calling it a "museum" is basically a lie. It’s a 10-story architectural playground built inside an old shoe warehouse using repurposed industrial junk.
Bob Cassilly, the sculptor who started this madness, had a vision that involved a lot of rebar and very few "watch your head" signs. You will get bruised. You will probably get lost in a chimney pipe. You might find yourself squeezed into a crawlspace between floors that leads to a secret bar serving local Schlafly beer. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. There’s a school bus hanging off the roof and a circus troupe performing on the third floor.
Pro tip: Wear long pants and sneakers. If you show up in a sundress or flip-flops, you’re going to have a bad time sliding down a three-story spiral slide made of cold steel.
Forest Park is Larger Than Central Park
People in New York get really defensive when you point this out, but it’s true. Forest Park is about 1,300 acres, which is roughly 500 acres bigger than its Manhattan cousin. This was the site of the 1904 World’s Fair, and the ghosts of that era are everywhere.
The best part? Most of the heavy hitters here are free.
The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) sits on Art Hill, which is the premier spot for sledding in the winter and sunset-watching in the summer. Inside, you’ll find one of the best collections of Max Beckmann paintings in the world. Why? Because Beckmann fled Nazi Germany and ended up teaching at Washington University in St. Louis. It’s those little historical zig-zags that make the city's culture so dense.
Just down the road is the Saint Louis Zoo. Again, free entry. You’ll pay for parking and the "Adventure Pass" if you want to see the sea lions do tricks, but just walking through the 1904 Flight Cage—a massive walk-through aviary—is a top-tier experience that costs zero dollars.
Things to do STL for Food Obsessives
If you leave St. Louis without eating something that makes your cardiologist nervous, you failed.
We need to talk about Toasted Ravioli. It’s not toasted. It’s deep-fried. Legend has it a chef at Oldani’s (now Mama’s on the Hill) accidentally dropped a meat ravioli into the fryer instead of a pot of water. Instead of throwing it away, they dusted it with parmesan and served it. A star was born. Get them at Charlie Gitto’s or Anthonino’s Taverna.
Then there’s the St. Louis Style Pizza. Look, I’ll be honest. It’s divisive. It’s a thin, cracker-like crust with no yeast, topped with Provel cheese. Provel is a processed blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone that has a very low melting point and a slightly "sticky" texture. You either love it or you think it tastes like plastic. Try Imo's for the classic experience, but if you want the gourmet version, go to Pizza a Go-Go or Corner Pub and Grill.
Don't forget the Gooey Butter Cake. It’s basically a flat, dense cake with a layer of cream cheese-based sugar-sludge on top. It’s incredible. Park Brasserie or Russell’s on Macklind do versions that will ruin all other desserts for you.
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The South City Vibe
South St. Louis is where the soul of the city hides. Tower Grove Park is a Victorian-era "walking park" filled with ornate pavilions that look like they belong in a Wes Anderson movie. Right next to it is Missouri Botanical Garden.
Founded by Henry Shaw in 1859, it’s one of the oldest botanical institutions in the U.S. The Climatron—a massive geodesic dome conservatory—was the first of its kind. Walking through the Japanese Garden (Seiwa-en) is the closest you’ll get to total silence in the middle of a major city. It’s 14 acres of meticulously pruned pines and koi ponds. Honestly, it’s the best place to go if the chaos of the City Museum gave you a headache.
Cherokee Street and the Underworld
Cherokee Street is where the punk rockers, artists, and the best taco trucks live. It’s also where the beer caves are. Back in the 1800s, before mechanical refrigeration, St. Louis brewers (who were mostly German immigrants) used the natural limestone caves beneath the city to lagger their beer.
You can tour some of these at Lemp Mansion. The Lemp family history is dark—four suicides and a lost fortune. It’s supposedly one of the most haunted places in America. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the architecture is stunning and the history of the Lemp Brewery (which was once larger than Anheuser-Busch) is a fascinating look at how the city was built on hops and barley.
The Sports Obsession
You can't discuss things to do STL without mentioning the Cardinals. Baseball isn't just a sport here; it's a civic religion. Even if you don't like baseball, a game at Busch Stadium is worth it for the view of the Arch over the center-field wall.
But lately, the energy has shifted toward St. Louis CITY SC. The new soccer stadium, CITYPARK, is right in the heart of Downtown West. The atmosphere is electric, the food in the stadium is curated by local James Beard-nominated chefs, and the "Louligans" (the supporters' group) make enough noise to shake the surrounding blocks.
Real Talk: The Safety Question
I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention the "is it safe?" question that always pops up. St. Louis has a high crime stat, but like any city, it’s hyper-localized. Most of the places tourists and locals hang out—Central West End, Soulard, the Loop, Tower Grove—are perfectly fine as long as you use basic city street smarts. Don’t leave a bag visible in your car. Keep your head up. The city is worth the visit, just don't wander aimlessly into industrial zones at 2 a.m.
Hidden Gems You’ll Actually Like
- The Venice Cafe: A bar covered in mosaics, recycled toys, and strange art. It feels like a tiki bar in a junkyard. Cash only.
- The Loop: Technically in University City. Go to Blueberry Hill to see where Chuck Berry played every month for years.
- The Chess Hall of Fame: Right across from the World Chess Hall of Fame is the world’s largest chess piece. It’s a 14-foot tall king. Great photo op.
- Cahokia Mounds: Just across the river in Illinois. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and the remains of the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. Climbing Monks Mound gives you a view of the St. Louis skyline that’s unparalleled.
How to Do St. Louis Right
To actually experience the city, you need a car. Our public transit exists (MetroLink), but it’s mostly a straight line. To get from the Italian neighborhood of the Hill to the blues clubs of Soulard, you're going to want wheels.
Start your morning at Mud House on Cherokee Street for breakfast. Spend your midday getting lost in the Missouri Botanical Garden. For dinner, head to the Hill for heavy pasta. End your night with a glass of wine at Sasha’s or a cheap beer at a dive bar like The Silver Ballroom, which is packed with vintage pinball machines.
St. Louis is a city that rewards curiosity. It’s not a polished, corporate theme park. It’s a bit rough around the edges, occasionally smells like hops, and has a weird obsession with a specific kind of processed cheese. But that’s exactly why people love it.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Muny Schedule: If you’re visiting in the summer, the Muny in Forest Park offers free seats in the back rows for every performance. It’s a 100-plus-year-old outdoor musical theater tradition.
- Download the "ParkMobile" App: You’ll need it for street parking in the Central West End and Downtown.
- Book City Museum Tickets Online: Especially on weekends. The line gets brutal by noon.
- Visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday: Places like the Zoo and Art Museum are significantly quieter, and you won't be fighting field trip crowds.