Awards & recognition
About this city
Also known as: Gateway to the West, The Mound City, Lou
St. Louis is a globally renowned, historically magnificent port city situated along the majestic western banks of the Mississippi River, just south of its confluence with the Missouri River, operating as an independent municipality in eastern Missouri. Founded in 1764 by French fur merchants and nicknamed the 'Gateway to the West' due to its monumental role in America's 19th-century westward expansion, it thrives as a major economic, cultural, and scientific powerhouse. St. Louis features an extraordinary architectural fabric dominated by the world-record Gateway Arch and miles of historic red-brick industrial neighborhoods. It balances heavy corporate headquarters with world-class free public cultural museums and universities.
Location & Administrative
Transportation & Accessibility
Weather & Timing
Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–4 days
Ride a custom capsule capsule to the top of the monumental 630-foot steel Gateway Arch for breathtaking panoramic vistas of the Mississippi River abyss. Explore the massive, surreal climbing structures and indoor maze rooms crafted from recycled planes at the unique City Museum. Wander through the world-class botanical greenhouses and geometric geodesic glass domes at the stunning Missouri Botanical Garden. Catch a premier baseball game inside Busch Stadium.
Must-See
Museums & Culture
11Museums7
Museum of Illusions - St. Louis
Museum at the Gateway Arch
Must-SeeCity Museum
Missouri History Museum
National Museum of Transportation
The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
Saint Louis Science Center
Art Galleries2
History & Heritage
2
Religion & Education
1
Architecture & Landmarks
2
Parks & Nature
11State Parks2
Parks & Gardens7
Forest Park
Jefferson Barracks Park
Citygarden Sculpture Park
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Tower Grove Park
Kiener Plaza Park
