St. Louis is the Gateway City with a giant’s welcome: a 630-foot arch over the Mississippi, the biggest urban park in America, barbecue smoke in the air and neighborhoods that guard their stories fiercely. This guide gathers the best of St. Louis, with the places and tours our readers love most.
The Gateway Arch and downtown
Begin under America’s tallest monument: Gateway Arch National Park — America’s Tallest Monument. Landmarks Downtown-East Walking Tour is is pure local joy from start to finish. Landmarks Downtown-West Walking Tour is is one of the experiences our readers love most.
Forest Park and the great outdoors
Bigger than Central Park and loved even more fiercely: Forest Park — 1,300 Acres St. Louis Calls Its Front Yard. Forest Park E-Bike Tour with Optional Saint Louis Zoo Visit is belongs on every first visit. Tower Grove Park — Henry Shaw’s Victorian Jewel.
BBQ, breweries and The Hill
Follow the smoke and the red-sauce perfume: Private Tour of St. Louis’s Iconic BBQ Joints & Breweries is is a reader favorite for good reason. Eat Like A Lou-Natic! STL’s Tastiest History Tour is shows a side of the city most visitors miss. Private Tour of The Hill, The “Little Italy” of Saint Louis is is pure local joy from start to finish. The Hill — St. Louis’s Italian-American Neighborhood.
Landmarks and walking tours
Painted ladies, mosaics and stories on every corner: Private Historical Walking Tour in Saint Louis Old Town Landmarks is is one of the experiences our readers love most. St. Louis Private Walking Tour — Iconic Sites & Stories. Lafayette Square — Victorian Painted Ladies Around the Oldest Park in the West. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis — A Sea of Mosaics.
Ghosts of Lemp and true crime
The Lemp family left mansions, a brewery and many ghosts: The Haunted Lemp Brewery Bottle Works Tour is belongs on every first visit. Spirits with the Spirits Ghost Tour at Lemp Mansion is is a reader favorite for good reason. Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour is shows a side of the city most visitors miss. St. Louis True Crime Tour — Soulard’s Murders, Mafia & Mayhem.
Family fun and games
Hunts, illusions and sculpture under the open sky: St. Louis Locomotion Scavenger Hunt is is pure local joy from start to finish. Museum of Illusions St Louis Admission Ticket is is one of the experiences our readers love most. Laumeier Sculpture Park — Monumental Art Under Open Sky.
Gardens and day trips
Shaw’s garden, an ancient city and Missouri wine country: Missouri Botanical Garden — Shaw’s Garden, America’s Oldest. Cahokia Mounds — The Great Ancient City Across the River. Private Day Trip to Missouri Wine Country is belongs on every first visit.
