St. Louis Missouri, well known for the iconic Gateway Arch that overlooks the city. Full of history, great eats and culture, St. Louis is the perfect weekend getaway. Recently updated with new spots to explore for your upcoming visit.
This guide includes over 30 of our recommendations, including:
- Where to Stay
- Where to Eat
- Gateway Arch National Park Info
- Things to Do & See
- Plus a list of great alternative options to extend your weekend trip
For those flying into the area, both the St. Louis Lambert International Airport and the St. Louis Downtown Airport offer daily flights from across the country. Once you land, both public ride share and renting a car are options. For those only staying for a quick trip, using public transportation or rideshare apps are the better options depending on your exact plans.
A smaller and more regional airport serving limited flights daily. It is located closer to downtown St. Louis for easy access. Officially located across state lines in IL.
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Electric scooters are alternative options located around the city as well to rent by the minute. For those driving to St. Louis, on street parking is available around the city. Be sure to pay for all parking to avoid getting a ticket.Â
A very simple place to stay located at the edge of downtown St. Louis. Right across the street is the Soccer Stadium. Makes for an easy walk. Located just over a mile from the Gateway Arch. Hotel rooms were clean, and they offer a daily happy hour snacks. Bar and restaurant connected to the hotel is great as well.
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We stayed about 1 mile from the central downtown which was perfect to avoid the daily traffic but still close enough to get to everywhere easily. It was about a 1 mile walk to reach the Gateway Arch park.
Simple, clean and good service from staff members. Would recommend for a short and convenient stay. Perfect for a nice place to sleep, especially if you're planning to spend most of your day out and about.
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This is another great option to stay at that is much closer to the Gateway arch and National Park space. Gateway Arch is a short 2 block walk away.Â
A good spot for a quick brunch. Limited menu but decent food and good service. On street parking only.
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One of the most unique St. Louis experiences you can have is to visit the City Museum. This place is unlike anywhere else. Full of twists, turns, slides and even a school bus dangling from the roof tops, this museum is interactive and perfect no matter your age. We spent 3.5 hours exploring all the museum had to offer. We did the full ticket package which was about $35 a person but included access to all the floors and special exhibits which was a pinball arcade while we visited.Â
For families, kids, young adults or just those who love to have fun. This interactive museum experience was unique and had us exploring for hours. There are slides, things to climb, fish tanks, good food and pinball games. There is something fun for all to enjoy. We spent just over 3 hours here as a group of young 20-somethings. Be sure to explore all of the floors.
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Located in downtown, the St. Louis Union Station is a great place to explore. Inside is the aquarium, stores, a hotel and more. It is a great place to spend a few hours checking out.Â
For an evening of fun and a great spot to grab dinner, head to the Armory STL just outside of central downtown. Mainly designed for guests 21+, inside is a massive beer garden with a bar, places to eat at and tons of games. From soccer billiards to giant ping pong, it is a great place to enjoy with groups of friends.Â
A giant indoor beer garden experience. So many fun and free games to play with friends, places to grab food and good drinks too. There is a fun slide on the 2nd floor to try out. Great for groups or special events. They often host music guests as well.
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Day 2
Kick off your morning with a great brunch at Rooster downtown. We walked here from our hotel and were greeted by friendly staff members. They had a great menu with various options to choose from.Â
Visited here and had a fantastic brunch! Great food options and good variety of drinks as well.
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From Rooster, head a few blocks away to visit the Gateway Arch National Park. With acres of green space and vast sidewalks to enjoy, this national park is free to enjoy the grounds and museum located below ground. For a unique perspective of town, you can ride UP in the arch. These tickets are available for purchase in person at the Arch (discounted tickets are available for NP pass holders). This is not recommended for people who are claustrophobic as the pods are quite small.
If you're stopping by, the free museum underground is worth a walk through, featuring interesting history about the construction of the arch.Â
Officially a U.S. National Park, but admission to the general grounds and museum are free. You can ride up into the arch but this is a paid experience. National Park Pass Annual Holders can do this at a discount.
After checking out the arch, spend a few minutes walking along the river front. Great spot to sit and enjoy being outdoors.
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Finish your day by attending a professional soccer game at Citypark. Relatively new to downtown St. Louis, the fans are loyal and make for a fun evening in town.Â
A very nice and pretty much brand new soccer stadium for the professional team. Great atmosphere for a fun evening!
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If you're not a huge sports fan the Saint Louis Zoo is a great, family friendly, alternative. Admission is free to this zoo and has lots of exhibits to enjoy in their expansive park.Â
Dedicated to art and free for all to enjoy. The perfect rainy day place to wander amongst the artistic master pieces. Admission to special exhibits may be extra.
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Finish your evening by visiting a speakeasy cocktail spot located in the city foundry. Highly recommended to us by local friends.
For hockey fans, you must visit the Enterprise Center, home to the St. Louis Blues. They will often host concerts and other special events as well. Check out their online schedule to see what is taking place while visiting St. Louis!
Massive hockey arena home to the NHL team, Saint Louis Blues. Makes for a great friends or family outing.
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Baseball fans unite and head over to Busch stadium to catch a game (and maybe even a ball if you're lucky). Well known for the fun game atmosphere, these games are enjoyed by all. They are also known to host a few concerts and special events here as well.Â
Located in downtown St. Louis and home to the professional baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. Games are a fun experience for all to enjoy! Be sure to pack your hat to avoid getting a sunburn.
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A beautiful park space located in St. Louis and will host special events. Coming up i the Balloon Glow taking place September 20-21, 2024.Â
Beautiful park full of nature, some wildlife, ponds, small lakes and more. Check out everything they can offer online.
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Located within Forest Park, The Muny is an outdoor theater that puts on wonderful shows and performances. Purchase tickets online ahead of time for a one of a kind theater experience.Â
Outdoor theater located in Forest Park. Buy tickets online ahead of time. Tickets can get pricey for some events. We recommend to purchase well in advance to get the best deals.
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Located at St. Louis University just west of central Midtown, Chaifetz Arena hosts both college and other great local events.Â
Check out local sporting events and other special events that are passing through. Great for a night of fun not far away. Be sure to see the full schedule of events online.
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Home to special events and smaller concerts of all kinds, be sure to stop by for an evening of music and fun!
Jam out to the concerts featuring great music and perfect for a night out.
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Honorable Mentions - Great Alternative options
St. Louis is somewhere you have to visit multiple times to really enjoy everything it can offer. Check out our options below for other great recommendations to enjoy while in the area if you're visiting for longer than a week or need alternative options. Many of these are highly recommended by locals who live in the area. We love local recommendations to break away from the super touristy areas and see a small glimpse into the local culture.Â
When the weather is nice, head to the Missouri Botanical Garden to spend some time in nature. Free admission for guests 12 and under and a chance to see some unusual plants and flowers not native to St. Louis.Â
A great space to get out and see nature. They often host special events all year round. Tickets for anyone ages 13 and up are $16 but there is a discount rate of $6 for local STL residents. And even better, all guests 12 and under are free.
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For a mid-day pick me up, head over to MoKaBe's Coffeehouse for delicious drinks.Â
With great drinks and food, MoKaBe's Coffeehouse is the place to be to spend an afternoon or just stop in for a quick bite to eat with their fresh food.
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St. Louis is rooted in black history. The Griot Museum of Black History is a must see to learn more about local culture that helped to shape St. Louis into the town we all know.Â
Wonderful museum featuring tons of information on black history and is often considered a hidden gem. Museum tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
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If you're looking for a nice spot that has shopping, food, bars and more all in one location, the City Foundry is the place to check out.
With a little bit of everything here, it is a great spot to check out for an indoor afternoon.
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For those of legal drinking age, the Anheiser Busch Brewery tour gives cool insight to how their beer is produced. A unique experience while in the city.
They offer local brewery tours to see parts of the factory and how beer is produced
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If you visit in the late spring through early fall and have good weather, the Boathouse at Forest Park is a great stop to add. It is a great way to spend sometime in the nature just outside the main downtown city area. They have everything from great eats to fun activities to enjoy. You can spend hours here.
Cute outdoor seating to enjoy fresh eats in the park. They also have kayaks and paddle boats nearby to rent and take out on the small lakes in the park.
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Looking for fresh food and hand crafted artisan items, the Tower Grove Farmers Market is a great spot to check out.
Be sure to check out their online schedule for a complete list of all market locations year round!
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St. Louis is well known for art and what better way to enjoy art, than walking through free art museums. The Contemporary art museum offers a fun look inside less traditional pieces.Â
The best Chinese in town. Fresh, handmade noodles, and bolba tea. Oof this place is so good. If you find yourself a bit tired of all the BBQ, this place is amazing!!
More of a causal and fun dog park bar, but if you're a huge dog lover, its the place to be.
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Located a bit outside of downtown is Grant's Farm. It was recommended to us to check out but we didn't get the chance to head over there during our visit. They will sometimes have live music and goats to feed.Â
Recommended to us by multiple people, this unique farm experience is free BUT the parking fee on site is $19. Be prepared going in. Average time spent here is about 1-2 hours.
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Be sure to let us know which of these recommendations are your favorite by tagging us on Instagram. We hope hope you have the best visit in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
Not sure where to travel next, check out our other guides for great trip recommendations.Â
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Michigander at heart but currently traveling the world one week at a time for work. When not on the road and living out of my suitcase, I am down to spend the day exploring the local city scene or out hiking in nature. I am an adventurous spirit and try to maximize my free time exploring the hidden corners of whatever city I am in. I've been traveling all over the U.S. and Europe for nine years and crave authentic experiences at local hot spots (and sometimes the touristy faves). As a young and avid traveler (16 Countries, 45 U.S. States, 24 U.S. National Parks & numerous cities) my goal is to help you reach your travel goals - no matter the destination.
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