Things to do
From free world-class museums to late-night jazz clubs, St. Louis packs a surprising punch for a city its size — and much of it costs nothing at all.
Free culture that actually delivers
St. Louis runs one of the country's most unusual cultural experiments: four major institutions — the Zoo, Art Museum, Science Center, and History Museum — charge zero general admission, every day, for everyone. Not just residents. Anyone who walks through the door. Saint Louis Science Center
This isn't a temporary promotion or a corporate sponsorship gimmick. It's funded by a dedicated property tax — the Zoo-Museum District — that voters created in 1971. In 2025, the combined rate sat just under 22 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, generating over $86 million annually for its member institutions, which include the Missouri Botanical Garden. ZMD Tax Revenue
The Saint Louis Zoo was voted the #1 Best Free Attraction in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards — its second time taking first place. Saint Louis Zoo The Missouri Botanical Garden, ranked #3 globally among botanical gardens, opens free to city and county residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Mental Floss
The catch: "free" doesn't mean everything is free. Parking at the Science Center runs $12–$15, and Zoo lots charge as well. Special exhibits and OMNIMAX films carry fees. And the Botanical Garden's free hours are for residents only, on specific mornings. SLSC Missouri Botanical Garden Budget for extras, and you'll still come out far ahead of what comparable institutions charge in other cities.
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Nightlife & music
St. Louis has live music in its bones — this is a city where blues, jazz, and rock history run deep, and where a night out can mean anything from a no-cover blues jam in Soulard to a touring act at a 3,000-capacity venue. The Grove, Cherokee Street, and Midtown each have distinct personalities, and the late-night food scene holds its own.
Food & drink
The barbecue is serious, the Italian heritage on The Hill is real, and the craft beer scene has grown into one of the Midwest's strongest. St. Louis eats span from corner taverns serving crispy pork steaks to tasting-menu restaurants earning national attention — often at prices that surprise visitors from larger markets.
Sports
This is a sports town through and through. The Cardinals, once a perennial 3-million-draw team, have seen attendance fall for three straight seasons — to about 2.2 million in 2026 — but Busch Stadium downtown remains a fixture of the city's identity. St. Louis CITY SC's 22,423-seat stadium opened in 2023 and has sold out every match since. The Blues play in a renovated arena downtown. And beyond the pros, the region's amateur soccer culture and extensive public golf options give everyday athletes plenty to work with.
Outdoors
Forest Park, at 1,326 acres, is roughly 500 acres larger than New York's Central Park and houses three free museums plus 30-plus miles of trails. City of St. Louis Beyond the park, the Katy Trail stretches 240 miles across Missouri, the Missouri and Mississippi rivers frame the region, and a growing network of greenways connects neighborhoods to nature. The Botanical Garden's 14-acre Japanese strolling garden is one of the largest in North America. Missouri Botanical Garden