Guided Tours
Let the Experts Show You Around Town
The best guided tours provide aha moments, when you discover something new about a place and it changes your entire perspective.
If you’re looking for those monumental moments in the Gateway City, consider these St Louis sightseeing tours, which are led by exuberant experts and offered in a variety of styles.
Want to know more about the region’s history, architecture, music, public art, outdoor recreation or culinary scene? These jaw-dropping experiences await you.
4theVille
Originally home to German and Irish immigrants, The Ville became one of the few areas of St. Louis where African Americans could own property in the early 1900s. As a result, the neighborhood became a cradle of Black culture by the 1920s and 1930s, attracting businesspeople and entertainers alike. Due to the long period of development in The Ville, visitors can see a wide variety of architectural styles and building types, which is partly why it was designated as a local historic district in 1987. Want to uncover more history and culture in the neighborhood? 4theVille, a cultural heritage development organization dedicated to championing the legacy of the neighborhood, offers public tours led by trained storytellers. Journey through the heart of The Ville as you learn the stories of Black St. Louis, which focus on music, education and healthcare.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Founded in the 1850s as a small neighborhood brewery, Anheuser-Busch quickly transformed from a local fixture into a national presence. Today, it serves as a hub for brewing innovation, using the highest-quality ingredients grown by American farmers to produce umpteen brands of beer. St. Louis is home to the titan’s flagship brewery, which operates out of elaborate, red-brick buildings. Hop on a tour for a glimpse inside them. Each tour explains the life of an Anheuser-Busch beer from seed to glass – the Finisher Tour will even give you a taste of beer straight from the finishing tanks – and they end at the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten where you can enjoy a cold one on the house!
Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum
With more than 170 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. Throughout the year, the Level III Arboretum hosts more than 300 events, covering a range of topics from history to horticulture. Fall walks and sunset strolls are among the most popular, along with various editions of Sips, Souls and Strolls, which brings the stories of historical figures to life over beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres. “Every journey that you take through Bellefontaine reveals something new,” president and CEO Sherry Smith says. “We’re always uncovering new pieces of history, and we get to share that information with residents and visitors alike on tours and at events so that they can better understand how St. Louis culture evolved.”
Big Muddy Adventures
Paradise is a paddle away, and Big Muddy Adventures can prove it. The world-class St. Louis-based adventure company provides access to the wild wonders of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers with its full fleet of canoes and kayaks. Whether you want to do a microadventure in downtown St. Louis, embark on a full moon float to an uninhabited river island or add a bike ride along the Katy Trail to your aquatic adventure, river trips with Big Muddy Adventures are always memorable. The professional outfitter also guides multi-day journeys, which give you a greater sense of the changing scenery along the big rivers. “St. Louis is a funner city when you enjoy recreational activities on its rivers,” general manager Roo Yawitz says. “The rivers are our greatest assets, and I just want to see more people use them.”
Discover St. Louis
For candid commentary about the Gateway City, Missouri native and Washington University in St. Louis alumnus Dea Hoover is your girl. Join her on a leisurely, one-mile walk in Forest Park, where you’ll learn about the past and present uses of the green space. Discover the hidden gems of the Central West End through a literary lens. Or eat your way through The Hill in the company of LynnMarie Alexander, author of The Hill: St. Louis’s Italian American Neighborhood. Traveling with a crowd? Discover St. Louis offers group and motorcoach tours that accommodate a variety of interests.
Eat St. Louis Food Tours
Take a bite out of St. Louis. Spotlighting the culinary delights of The Hill, Eat St. Louis Food Tours visit various restaurants and food purveyors, which serve some of the best St. Louis-style Italian food in the city. Enjoy toasted ravioli, St. Louis-style pizza, gelato and more as you traverse approximately two miles of the neighborhood with its quaint, red-brick buildings. Along the way, your guide will regale you with a colorful account of the area’s history.
Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours
Did you know that the Wainwright Building, designed by Louis Sullivan in downtown St. Louis, is widely considered the prototype of the skyscraper? Learn more about the iconic structure and other historic architecture with Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours. The company’s tours cover either the east side of the city – from the Eads Bridge to the Gateway Arch to the Old Courthouse – or the west side of the city – from St. Louis Union Station to Soldiers Memorial Military Museum to the St. Louis Public Library – Central Library. Your spirited guides will share astounding facts about famous landmarks as well as hidden gems, and they’ll also discuss the art of historic preservation.
Riverboats at the Gateway Arch
All aboard! The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch provide unparalleled views of St. Louis’ working riverfront from the waters of the Mighty Mississippi. The replica 19th-century paddle steamers transport riders back to a time when steamboats ruled the river. Themed adventures include the one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise, which highlights the important role of the Mississippi River in our past, present and future; the two-hour Skyline Dinner Cruise, which features a chef-driven menu, live music and illuminated views of the St. Louis skyline; and the Blues Cruise, which welcomes the region’s best blues artists on board for toe-tapping fun.
See STL
Infectious enthusiasm defines See STL tours. Operated by the Missouri Historical Society, its lineup of walking and bus tours combine unmatched historical knowledge with engaging storytelling, giving residents and visitors alike the opportunity to interact with the Gateway City in innovative and unexpected ways. The two-hour tours are offered in various neighborhoods, including Cherokee Street, the Delmar Loop, Downtown St. Louis, Dutchtown, Grand Center, Kirkwood, Laclede’s Landing, Soulard, The Ville and Webster Groves. Public tours take place seven days a week. Sign up today for a new view of an old city.
St. Louis Fun Tours
Hop on an authentic trolley – complete with brass rails and zesty bells – for a fully narrated, 75-minute tour of the Gateway City. Get acquainted with popular attractions and local haunts as you tool around town, spotting Busch Stadium, Forest Park, Blueberry Hill and more out the window. Picking up at Horseshoe St. Louis, a casino on Laclede’s Landing, St. Louis Fun Tours cover 23 miles from start to finish. For the holidays, the trolleys also bounce along Candy Cane Lane, a street in St. Louis Hills where every house decks the halls.
St. Louis Public Library – Central Library
Besides the glorious collection of books that it holds, the St. Louis Public Library – Central Library offers unparalleled beauty through a masterful blend of classical and modern architectural styles. Built in 1912, the flagship spans an entire city block, standing proudly as a monument to the past and a cultural beacon for the future. Throughout the year, the library hosts art exhibitions and other events, and on Mondays (11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) and Saturdays (11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.), it leads architectural tours that focus on exquisite examples of both Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture at the library. Outside, look to the arched second-floor windows – beneath each, decorative shields bearing the marks of history’s most famous printers have been carved in high relief on the creamy granite.
TourCWE
As St. Louis prepared for the 1904 World’s Fair, development began in the Central West End, located on the eastern edge of Forest Park. Many of the city’s wealthy residents gravitated toward the neighborhood, building stunning single-family homes that add a welcoming feel to the bustling mixed-use district today. Over the years, the neighborhood has maintained its elegant feel and eclectic attitude, and modern-day visitors are invited to explore its twists and turns on a two-mile walking route led by TourCWE. “I’m a local armchair historian and natural storyteller who has spent years researching the eclectic places, characters and events of the Central West End,” founder Mike Nichols says. “[It’s these ingredients] that make this storied neighborhood such a unique place and a great lens through which to talk about the history of [St. Louis].” Along the tour route, you’ll stop for nibbles at five or six neighborhood mainstays.
Trailnet
Explore St. Louis on two wheels with Trailnet. The local nonprofit aims to make walking and biking in St. Louis better for everyone, and its community rides are a must-do for residents and visitors alike. The guided group bike rides proceed at a leisurely pace and dig into the history and culture of the Gateway City. Rides last approximately three hours, covering topics such as Juneteenth, Jewish history, community gardens and public art.
Un(Heard)Of STL
This free, interactive map explores St. Louis’ diverse history through cinematic audio stories. You can stand where history happened and hear from the people at the center of the action. Virginia Minor, who sued for her right to vote in Missouri in the same year that Susan B. Anthony was arrested for trying to vote; John Berry Meachum, who found ways around Missouri law in order to educate Black students; and an Osage family, who has to sort through the good and bad of encroaching settlers are all featured on the audio map. The best part? You can listen to the stories anywhere with an internet connection – in case you don’t have time to visit every spot during your trip to St. Louis or you want to go back to your favorite recordings at home.
