Explore St. Louis on a budget at one or all of its free attractions!
Other than Washington, D.C., St. Louis has more free attractions than any other city. Most of them are family friendly and a great time!
Home of the Art Museum, History Museum and St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park is a great place to spend the day. As well as these attractions, the park offers walking and biking trails as well as beautiful picnic spots and other paying attractions.
Visit the animals at the St. Louis Zoo. Chill out at the penguin house, hang around at the Jungle of the Apes or visit one of the other 18,000 animals. The zoo is a family-friendly place and a great place to take the kids. Admission to the zoo is free but it offers several attractions inside that cost such as the cafes and Zooline Railroad.
The St. Louis Art Museum is a great attraction for anyone visiting St. Louis. With more than 30,000 works of art, this multi-level museum will captivate anyone's attention for several hours. From paintings to sculptures to temporary exhibits and historical, cultural artifacts, everyone is sure to find something that connects to them.
The St. Louis History Museum is for those wanting to learn more about the history of Missouri and the U.S. They offer exciting exhibits as well as educational resources such as lectures and tours. There is also a cafe and Louisiana Purchase gift shop.
Not too far from Forest Park is the St. Louis Science Center. Famiies can have a ton of fun exploring the floors of exhibits at the Science Center. Build a model of the Gateway Arch, test your brain at the scenses exhibit and look down on I-40 in the glass walkway. Spend a few hours or a whole day having fun while you learn about tons of different things.
Grant's Farm is also a great family attraction in St. Louis. Located south of downtown, Grant's Farm is home to over 1,000 animals from six continents. Operated by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Grant's Farm has been a St. Louis tradition for over five decades and more than 24 million guests have visited this popular family attraction.
For the older crowd, while you are in St. Louis, take a free tour of the famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The tour last about one hour and is a seven block, downhill, outdoor walk. Visit the historic Budweiser Clydesdale Stable, Lager Cellar, historic Brew House, and the Bevo Packaging Facility. The tour will conclude with a trolley ride back to the Tour Center where you will visit the Hospitality Room.
There are other free attractions in St. Louis such as the Contemporary Art Museum, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Citygarden and The Old Courthouse. So if you are on a budget add these attractions to your St. Louis itenerary.