No matter your age, interests or budget, you’ll find something fun to do in St. Louis this weekend.
The best things in life are free – laughing with friends, reuniting with family, dancing to your favorite song, sleeping late on the weekend and visiting these St. Louis attractions!
We know that travel can get expensive, but a trip to the Gateway City won’t cost a fortune. From world-renowned museums to all-ages activities, St. Louis has endless options for free fun all year long.
Here are our top picks. Where will you go first?
With more than 175 years of history, Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum is not only a tranquil burial site; it’s also a beloved local landmark and a shining example of environmental stewardship. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, the cemetery consists of 314 acres, containing more than 9,500 trees that represent 560 species. As you wander among the mature trees, take note of familiar names on some of the headstones, monuments and mausoleums. American explorer William Clark, writer and artist William S. Burroughs and co-founder of Anheuser-Busch Adolphus Busch are among the most notable people buried here.
More than a Roman Catholic Church, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is a distinguished work of art. With its lofty vaults and radiant mosaics, the sheer scale of the building’s beauty is awe-inspiring. In its creation, more than a dozen architects’ and artisans’ concepts coalesced into a magnificently well-integrated and harmonious whole, and in 2023, a transformative lighting design project illuminated the interior, brightening the mosaics made of more than 30 million tesserae, artworks and architecture that visitors couldn’t previously see in such detail.
Occupying an entire city block, the Central Library is a beloved monument to the past and a cultural beacon for the future. The historic structure contains some of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture in the U.S., and we recommend making time for a tour.
An artsy stretch of the Gateway Mall, Citygarden encompasses conversation-starting sculptures, lush plant life, rain gardens, dancing fountains and a 180-foot-long shallow pool with a six-foot-tall waterfall where you can cool off in the summer.
The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) aims to create meaningful engagement with today’s most relevant and innovative art. Not having a permanent collection allows the museum to adapt and respond to the global art world as well as the local community. Free for all, CAM is also a safe gathering place, where you can reflect on the world around you and connect to the most salient issues of our time.
Show me the money! Offering free admission, the Economy Museum inside the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in downtown teaches visitors about scarcity, market equilibrium, global trade, the function of the Federal Reserve and more in unexpected ways. Learn to identify the security features of cash. Try to lift a 28-pound gold bar. Buy stocks on the International Stock Exchange. And when it’s time to leave, walk out with a small bag of shredded bills as a souvenir.
Admired for its exquisite design, the Grand Hall at St. Louis Union Station transforms on the hour from 5 to 10 p.m. thanks to a stunning 3D light show. The show differs depending on the hour, but you can expect to see flowers bloom, whales breach and fireworks burst on the 65-foot-high ceiling.
Families with kids flock to Grant’s Farm – and for good reason. The St. Louis treasure boasts more than 900 animals, and those 21 and older can snag two free beers from Anheuser-Busch at the Bauernhof.
Across the 105 acres of this open-air museum, you can get a close-up view of some 60 sculptures – think a pile of massive, crumpled cylinders, a full-scale cement mixer that functions as a sundial and a mosaic cat that doubles as a seat.
It’s a deer. It’s a bison. It’s a wild turkey! Lone Elk Park, a 546-acre wildlife management area, offers frequent wildlife sightings whether you drive or walk. If your caravan can handle it, follow the White Bison Trail – a three-mile loop with twists and climbs – for more animal encounters.
As you step onto the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, you can’t miss the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum surrounded by the Florence Steinberg Weil Sculpture Garden. Established in 1881 as the St. Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts, it continues its legacy of acquiring significant modern and contemporary art that represents major international aesthetics today. Spanning three floors, the permanent collection ranges from the late 19th century to global contemporary art, and the museum boasts a pioneering program of temporary exhibitions that make every visit feel special.
At the Missouri History Museum, you can explore the storied history of St. Louis, from its founding in 1764 to the 1904 World’s Fair to the present-day metropolis. In a revamped exhibit about the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World’s Fair, the Missouri Historical Society digs into the tension between the wonderful and the complex, giving visitors a more complete picture of the 1904 World’s Fair thanks to some 200 artifacts. Don’t miss it!
The Gateway Arch offers sights above – and below! With six interactive and accessible museum galleries, you’ll hear untold stories of the city’s founding, examine westward expansion from multiple perspectives and see artifacts commemorating America’s pioneering spirit.
Housed in a chapel built in 1954 on the campus of Saint Louis University, the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) is the first museum in the U.S. to bring an interfaith focus to contemporary art. “Religion can cause division as well as exclusion and confrontation,” director David Brinker says, “but St. Louis has a rich history of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. We hope to contribute constructively to those conversations. We’re one voice among many, but I believe we’re an essential one.”
Without a permanent collection, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation is constantly evolving, providing dynamic art experiences in a unique environment designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando. Meant to encourage contemplation, the building is as much a part of the experience of visiting the Pulitzer as the art it houses.
Life is better with a pet, and Purina Farms teaches visitors how to connect with theirs on a deeper level. At the Purina Farms Visitor Center, you and your brood can while away the day with incredibly skilled dogs, adorable adoptable cats and domestic farm animals.
Nestled within 112 acres of oak-hickory forest in a quiet corner of Kirkwood, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center introduces people of all ages to the wonders of the natural world. One of the three trails through the park features interpretive signage, and inside the nature center, you’ll find interesting exhibits, including an aquarium and a bee hive, which offer something for every season.
Batter up! The Rawlings Experience at Westport Plaza features everything from commemorative baseballs to batting cages and player memorabilia to Gold Glove Awards. “A lot of people don’t know that Rawlings’ world headquarters have been in St. Louis since its inception in 1887,” senior director of brand marketing Lindsey Naber says. “This is a unique way to put us on the map and carve out a special place for baseball fans from near and far. Whether you’re here to see your first or 40th St. Louis Cardinals game, it just makes sense to stop by the Rawlings Experience during your stay.”
Are you drawn to art? The Saint Louis Art Museum has one of the country’s leading comprehensive collections, in which exalted artists illustrate times, places and cultures that differ from our own.
Fantastic, fun and free, the Saint Louis Science Center specializes in “aha!” moments. With scientific wonders around every corner, your kids will be able to ask and answer questions about our world and beyond.
Can you believe that one of the best university art museums in the U.S. remains virtually undiscovered by both residents and visitors of St. Louis? “It’s true!” Petruta Lipan, executive director of museums and galleries at Saint Louis University, says. “Everyone calls the Saint Louis University Museum of Art a hidden gem – that’s all the more reason to pay us a visit. You’ll be surprised by the diversity of our collections and exhibitions.”
See bears splashing in plunge pools, monkeys swinging through the trees, penguins squawking for more fish and giraffes strutting their stuff – all at the world-renowned Saint Louis Zoo.
Framed by four iconic Walker Hancock sculptures, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum honors local military service members, veterans and their families. With every exhibition, curator Mikall Venso aims to put artifacts into context, illuminating their deeper meanings for visitors.
Immersed in the natural setting of Forest Park, you can experience productions from the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. The performances are “free forever to everyone always,” and no reservations are required.
The Muny has filled Forest Park with the sounds of Broadway for more than 100 years. The best part? There are approximately 1,500 free seats at the back of the outdoor theater, so everyone can experience the magic on stage.
The Walls Off Washington is an inspirational backdrop for the Grand Center Arts District. You can enter The Walls through Sophie’s Artist Lounge at 3333 Washington Ave. and tour the outdoor murals, beginning with Lift As You Climb, a vibrant mural by Derrick Adams that depicts eye-catching figures helping each other climb colorful ladders to the top of the building.
Who is the only U.S. president to journey to the top of the Gateway Arch? In what country did the first Starbucks open outside of North America? Originally, Amazon only sold what kind of product? Test your general knowledge at trivia nights across St. Louis, from Rockwell Beer Co. in Botanical Heights (Mondays at 7:30 p.m.), Schlafly Tap Room in downtown (Tuesdays at 7 p.m.) and Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. in Midtown (Thursdays at 7 p.m.). As you play, you can sip your way through our unparalleled craft beer scene.
Make the right move and visit the World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End. The world’s largest chess piece marks the spot, and inside, you’ll find first-rate exhibitions that explore the history of the game as well as its impact on arts and culture.
