St Louis Must Do: The Complete Guide to Free Attractions and Local Favorites
St Louis must do experiences include riding the tram to the top of the Gateway Arch, sliding down City Museum’s 10-story spiral slide, and touring the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. With a genuinely surprising number of these top attractions costing nothing at all, the real challenge is fitting everything into one trip rather than worrying about the budget.
Is the Gateway Arch Worth Visiting?
Yes, and it remains the single most iconic must do St Louis experience for a reason. Standing 630 feet tall along the Mississippi River and overlooking the Old Courthouse, the Gateway Arch holds the title of the world’s largest man-made monument. A small five-person pod carries visitors to the top in about four minutes, with the trip back down taking three, and the panoramic view from the thin rectangular windows stretches up to 30 miles on a clear day. A common mistake first timers make is assuming the tram ride itself is the main event, when the small pod’s futuristic, slightly cramped design is honestly part of the fun rather than something to rush through.
What Are Free Things to Do in St. Louis?
| Free Attraction | What to Expect |
| Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour | Free tour with samples, Budweiser Clydesdales |
| Moto Museum | Century-spanning vintage motorcycle collection |
| Citygarden | Two urban blocks of sculptures and fountains |
| World Chess Hall of Fame | Free exhibits, giant outdoor chessboard |
The Anheuser-Busch Brewery offers a free tour covering the beer-making process, the company’s history, and a chance to meet one of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, with samples included at no extra cost. Moto Museum houses a genuinely impressive collection of vintage motorcycles gathered from private owners across more than 20 countries, spanning roughly a century of design from a 1925 Swedish Husqvarna to a modern Ducati. Citygarden, tucked into two blocks of downtown, mixes ornamental fountains and water playgrounds with sculptures from a variety of artists, all free to wander through. The World Chess Hall of Fame rounds out the list with free exhibits across three levels, plus a chance to play an actual game at the giant chessboard out front.
What Is Toasted Ravioli and Where Should You Eat It?
Toasted ravioli is a St. Louis original, taking traditional cheese or meat stuffed pasta and deep frying it until crunchy, then finishing it with parmesan and a side of marinara. Exactly where it was invented remains genuinely disputed, but The Hill, St. Louis’s renowned Italian neighborhood marked by flag colored fire hydrants, is the most commonly cited birthplace and the best place to actually try it. Zia’s, Guido’s, and Mama’s on the Hill all rank among the top spots for the dish, and travelers with limited time should know that nearly every restaurant in the neighborhood serves its own version, so a single stop won’t leave you without options.
Is the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Worth It?
Yes, and it’s one of the better free experiences on any must do St Louis list. Beyond the brewing process itself, the tour walks through the complex’s history and heritage, giving genuine context to how the brand became what it is today. Meeting one of the famous Clydesdale horses in person adds a memorable, photo-worthy moment to the visit, and the included beer samples at the end make it a rare free tour that also delivers a proper reward.
What Is There to Do in Forest Park?
| Attraction | Best For |
| St. Louis Science Center | Dinosaurs, planetarium, IMAX |
| St. Louis Art Museum | Fine art including Picasso and Van Gogh |
| Missouri History Museum | St. Louis founding history |
| St. Louis Zoo | Polar bears, sea lions, kids |
| The Jewel Box | Art deco greenhouse, pond reflection |
Forest Park spans 1,300 acres, genuinely larger than New York’s Central Park, and packs enough museums and attractions inside to fill an entire day on its own. The St. Louis Science Center, connected by a bridge, delivers dinosaurs, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater across three floors. The St. Louis Art Museum, housed in a beaux-arts palace, holds work from famous names including Picasso and Van Gogh, while the Missouri History Museum tells the story of how the city came to be. Families should prioritize the St. Louis Zoo for a chance to unwind with kids around polar bears and sea lions, and The Jewel Box, a historic art deco greenhouse, rewards a well timed visit with a striking reflection on the pond out front.
What Should You Know Before Visiting Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis?
Check Mass times before you go. The Cathedral Basilica’s green-tiled dome and bell towers are hard to miss, and the Byzantine interior, covered in roughly 83,000 square feet of intricate mosaic artwork, ranks among the city’s most striking religious sites. Visitors are welcome to attend Mass, but anyone hoping to simply tour the interior should confirm their visit doesn’t overlap with a scheduled service, since the church won’t be open for general touring during Mass times.
What Is City Museum?
City Museum is a genuinely one-of-a-kind attraction built inside a century-old warehouse downtown, instantly recognizable by the bus hanging off its exterior and a plane visible from the rooftop. The space repurposes architectural and industrial relics into unexpected bridges, tunnels, and climbing structures, and the highlight is a 10-story spiral slide that rewards a genuinely long climb up the staircase with a thrilling ride down. It works well for both kids and adults, though anyone with mobility concerns should know the museum’s whole appeal centers on climbing and physical exploration rather than a standard walk-through experience.
What Is There to Do on The Delmar Loop?
The Delmar Loop has earned recognition as one of the ten greatest streets in America, packing more than 140 stores, restaurants, cafes, and art galleries into one walkable stretch. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard’s original Route 66 location sits nearby, and the Lemon Crumb flavor consistently earns strong praise from first time visitors. Fitz’s Rootbeer, serving from the Loop since the late 1940s with a recipe revived in 1993 after the original restaurant closed, still bottles its root beer on site using a vintage machine visible from the bar, and ordering a proper root beer float here remains a local tradition worth the mess. The St. Louis Walk of Fame runs along the same stretch, and when walking gets tiring, the Loop Trolley offers an easy way to keep exploring. As evening sets in, the Moonrise Hotel anchors the neighborhood with the world’s largest man-made rotating moon perched on its roof.
Is St. Charles Worth a Day Trip from St. Louis?
Yes, for travelers with an extra half day to spare. St. Charles Historic District sits about a 30 minute drive from the city center along the Missouri River, and its historic buildings, boutiques, and old-world charm offer a genuinely different pace from downtown St. Louis. Starting at the Lewis & Clark Boat House and continuing along South Main Street past more than 100 shops, plus a stop at the state’s modest first capitol building, fills a satisfying half day, and a barbecue lunch break at a local restaurant rounds things out nicely before heading back to the city.
What Is the Best Way to Get Around St. Louis?
Renting a car works best for travelers wanting to explore both the city and its surrounding day trip destinations like St. Charles. For those without a car, the MetroLink connects easily to most top attractions, and Bird Scooters offer a fun, flexible option for shorter distances around downtown. Taxis, Lyft, and Uber remain widely available as backups, and the One-Day Adventure Pass, running $7.50, bundles unlimited rides on the bus, MetroLink, Downtown Trolley, and Forest Park Explorer into a single transit card, a smart pickup for anyone planning a full day of sightseeing without a car.
What Are Fun Things to Do in St. Louis for Couples?
Candle Fusion offers a genuinely memorable date activity, letting couples work together choosing scents from a wall of options and blending up to four into a custom candle over about two hours, doubling as a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Venice Cafe delivers a quirkier evening option, its eccentric decor of hanging Barbie doll heads and mosaic walls making for a memorable drink stop, though it’s worth knowing the bar is cash only, with an ATM conveniently placed at the front door. A slow wander through Missouri Botanical Garden, particularly the Japanese Garden or the Climatron’s more than 2,800 exotic plants, rounds out a relaxed, romantic afternoon option for couples wanting something quieter than the city’s louder attractions.
Final Thoughts
Checking off the real st louis must do list comes together easily once you realize how many of the city’s best experiences cost nothing at all. Ride the Gateway Arch tram for the view, save room in your budget for toasted ravioli and frozen custard instead of paying for every attraction, and check Mass times before planning around Cathedral Basilica. Whether it’s a free brewery tour with a Clydesdale meet and greet or a couples’ candle-making afternoon, the best st louis must do experiences reward travelers who mix the iconic landmarks with the city’s quirkier, more local finds.
FAQs
What is St. Louis known for?
St. Louis is known for the Gateway Arch, its brewing heritage tied to Anheuser-Busch, toasted ravioli, and a genuine blend of big-city energy with old traditions, all set along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Where should you stay in St. Louis?
Staying near the city center or close to public transportation makes the most sense for most visitors, with downtown hotels offering the easiest access to the Gateway Arch and surrounding attractions.
What is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard known for?
Ted Drewes is a family-owned frozen custard shop on Route 66 known for its creamy texture and standout flavors, with the Lemon Crumb consistently singled out as a must-try by first time visitors.
Is Venice Cafe cash only?
Yes, this quirky bar accepts cash only, though there’s an ATM conveniently located right at the front door for anyone who shows up without any on hand.
