Things to do in St. Louis

29 activities, venues and outings in St. Louis, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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America's Convention Center
Over 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, also featuring formal reception rooms, presentation-style rooms, a theatre, and the Edward Jones Dome next door.
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Arkadin Cinema & Bar
A small theater specializing in showing cult classics and off beat films, next to numerous dining options. Seating is limited, so purchasing tickets online ahead of time is recommended. See website for showtimes and prices.
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Fabulous Fox Theater
Built in 1929 and restored to its glory, this rare gem seats 4,500. A performance at the Fabulous Fox Theater is a "must see." Only two of this design exist, the Detroit Fox Theater built in 1928 has also been restored and seats 5,000. Probably the two most ornate theaters ever built in the US, they were the first to have live sound. They were built for William Fox, the founder of Fox Film Corporation, the forerunner of Twentieth Century-Fox studios. These two original Fox Theaters are still among the largest in the US in terms of total seats and the size of the stage.
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Hi-Pointe Theater
Originally opened in 1922, Hi-Pointe is one of the oldest movie theaters in St. Louis. This one screen theater specializes in showing classic films and new independent releases. See website for showtimes and prices.
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Jazz St. Louis
No visit to the Gateway City is complete without experiencing its rich jazz and blues heritage.
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Laclede's Landing
Just north of the Arch and part of Downtown St Louis, and the second oldest neighborhood after Soulard, "the Landing" is what amounts to St. Louis' old town. You are likely to enjoy the cobblestone streets and the shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and a bizarre wax museum. Next to the Landing is a $400 million casino complex called Lumiere Place, featuring a Four Seasons hotel, nightclubs, 75,000 square feet of casino gaming, and an innovative multi-colored light feature spanning 24 vertical floors on the exterior of the building that lights up St. Louis' skyline. Not many original buildings on the Landing remain, as the area is constantly undergoing new developments and rehabilatation of older buildings. Nightly horse-drawn carriage rides take you around the Landing and much of Downtown.
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Lafayette Square and Park
A fashionable area with tree-lined streets, Victorian and Second Empire townhomes, and shopping and cafés surrounds the city's oldest park, chartered in 1836. In the warmer months, the park features small concerts, picnic locations, art fairs, and a team that recreates old-style baseball, but it is walkable all year round. Twice yearly are walking tours of the area that will take you inside some of the more remarkable Victorian mansions.
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Off Broadway
Boasting excellent acoustics, this comfy concert venue usually has blues, bluegrass, roots, and folk touring acts along with the occasional indie-rock and country performers.
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Powell Symphony Hall
A magnificent performance center, home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
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Riverboat Cruises
Take a cruise down the Mississippi River on the Tom Sawyer riverboat. The boat has paddle-wheels (for display only) and a narrator with guide you around the industrial buildings on the Mississippi waterfront. They also offer cruises with dinner and live music at certain times and also a day trip to historic Kimmswick, Missouri.
$26, $3 discount if purchased with a ticket to the top of the arch
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Saint Louis Billikens
Sports teams of Saint Louis University, competing in NCAA Division I in the Atlantic 10 Conference. With no football team, SLU's main sport is men's basketball, in which it often makes the NCAA tournament. The Billikens also have a rich tradition in men's soccer.
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Sheldon Concert Hall
The Sheldon's perfect acoustics earn it the reputation as the "Carnegie Hall of St. Louis". It features the best in jazz, folk, and classical music, and joins with the Sheldon Art Galleries to promote both music and visual arts.
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Soulard Market
Although strangely named ("un soulard " means "a drunk" in French.), the Soulard neighborhood, covering the waterfront for several miles south of the Arch, is the oldest in St. Louis. The Georgian (or should that be Louis XVI?) style houses surround a central farmer's market which supplies the city's residents, supermarkets, and restaurants with the freshest, and inexpensive, local produce. This is the oldest farmer's market west of the Mississippi, and is open year-round every weekend. There are a number of bars and restaurants in the neighborhood as well, and visitors can celebrate French heritage with the locals during Mardi Gras or on Bastille Day.
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South Grand and Tower Grove Park
By day, visitors enjoy the numerous boutiques and coffeehouses of South Grand Ave., and the shaded walking paths and recreational amenities of Tower Grove Park, including bike paths, playgrounds, a wading pool, several restored Victorian pavilions, and a Farmer's Market (Saturdays, May-Oct.). The park is a frequent home to festivals, including the pan-ethnic Festival of Nations (August) and PrideFest (June). By night, they turn to the numerous bars and restaurants on South Grand: a wide variety of food and drink options, along with one of the best people-watching scenes within the city limits.
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St. Louis Blues Hockey
NHL
2019 Stanley Cup Champions. The Blues play in the Central Division of the Western Conference.
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St. Louis Cardinals Baseball
MLB
St. Louis' Major League Baseball team (and the 2011 World Series champions) has won 11 World Series titles, the most of any National League team, and second only to the New York Yankees. The Cardinals play in the Central Division of the National League. Behind-the-scenes tours of the ballpark are available daily all year (except for days with an afternoon home game) at 11AM and 12:30PM.
Ballpark tours $10 adults, $8 seniors/military, $6 children
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St. Louis City SC
MLS
After more than a decade of trying to secure a MLS team for one of America's historic soccer hotbeds, St. Louis finally got its team for 2023. As noted above, City SC is playing at a brand-new stadium on the edge of downtown.
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The Central West End
An eclectic, cosmopolitan neighborhood home to soaring turn-of-the-century mansions on St. Louis's famous private streets, chic dining, and upscale boutique shopping with a great mix of cafés, independent bookstores (check out Left Bank Books on Euclid and McPherson), art galleries, salons, antique and modern furniture such as a Design Within Reach and Centro, coffee houses, and youthful energy. One of the more lively neighborhoods in St. Louis that borders Forest Park, the CWE is a great destination for a day of walking around or a weekend stay.
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The Delmar Loop
Delmar Blvd. straddles the city limits and University City. This street was named in 2007 by the American Planning Association as one of the 10 Great Streets in America. This is the area known as The Loop to most locals, however, usage of the term outside of the St. Louis area is not as popular due to more famous Chicago loop. Rock and roll legend Chuck Berry performed every month at the historic Blueberry Hill restaurant until late 2014. Although most popular with the 20-something hipster crowd, something can be found for everyone. Boutique shopping, ethnic restaurants (including many Thai establishments), upscale dining, independent movie theatres, record stores, nightlife opportunities, a few music concert venues, and people watching are among the many things to do on the Loop. Many restaurants feature outdoor dining to take in the bustling street scene.
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The Muny
America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater. A popular summer attraction show casing a variety of musicals throughout June, July and August. Tickets range from $6 to $50 or so, but the top several rows are always free. Come early (and bring binoculars) to the top entrance if you want to see a show for free.
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The Pageant
A venue for concerts and national touring acts, the Pageant usually has an extensive schedule of events ranging from rock, pop, soul and comedy.
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The Peabody Opera House
Formerly known as the Kiel Opera House, restored to its former magnificence.
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The Shakespeare Festival
Each year, the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis produces professional Shakespeare theater, outdoors in Forest Park, free and for a diverse audience. Free shows are usually put on in the late spring and early summer. An excellent way to spend a summer evening in St. Louis. In addition it provides education through schools and community outreach.
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World Chess Hall of Fame
WCHOF
St Louis has become the U.S. capital of chess, with many of the U.S.'s top players and university teams in the city. The U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame are at this address. You can see exhibitions about the sport of chess.
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Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration
The entire day is a major event in St. Louis under the Arch with concerts and festivities. Every year a major musical talent headlines the event; acts such as Cyndi Lauper, the Goo Goo Dolls, the Black Eyed Peas, and the Beach Boys have performed in the past. A dazzling fireworks spectacle caps off the night while tens of thousands of St. Louisans watch under the Arch lawn. This event kicks off a weekly concert series called "Live on the Levee", also taking place on the Arch grounds, and features a big-name musical act, food vendors, and games. The Veiled Prophet Parade was an accompanying St. Louis tradition for over 130 years, but was discontinued over connotations of social inequity.
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Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
Arch Madness
The nation's second-oldest Division I athletic conference, the MVC, has all conference members' men's basketball teams square off in a 4-day tournament. The winner automatically qualifies for the NCAA Men's Tournament ("March Madness").
Thu–Sun; ending 1st or 2nd Sun in MarchSingle-game ticket from $23, all-games ticket from $115
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St. Louis City SC 2
Next Pro
A year before City SC started play, its reserve side started play in late March 2022 in the new third-level MLS Next Pro league. City2 played home games at two college stadiums in 2022 before City SC moved all City2 home games to CITYPARK.
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The Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire
Come, travel back in time as you step into the beautifully wooded, 16th century village, we call Petit Lyon! Immerse yourself in the costumes and mannerisms of the era. Thrill to the exploits of Jousting Knights on thundering steeds. Roam the village shops for unique crafts and goods as our artisans demonstrate period skills. Delight in comedy, music and feats of derring do. Feast on delicious food and drink while strolling minstrels entertain. Interact with the colorful villagers, nobles, peasants and personalities of ages past.
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Whitaker Music Festival
Wednesday evenings in summer enjoy music in the beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission is free (after 5PM), and you can pack your own picnic basket and cooler. Genre ranges from jazz to folk-rock to world music. Bring folding chairs or a blanket to spread on the lawn.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to St. Louis (CC BY-SA 4.0).