What should first-time visitors do in St Louis?

The best free and budget-friendly activities in St. Louis, MO — from free museums and parks to affordable food and entertainment.

How many days do you need in St Louis?

Most first-time visitors should plan 2-4 days in St Louis to see the highlights without rushing. This gives you time to explore neighborhoods, try local restaurants, and experience the culture.

Is St Louis worth visiting?

Yes, St Louis is absolutely worth visiting. The best free and budget-friendly activities in St. Louis, MO — from free museums and parks to affordable food and entertainment.

St. Louis on a Budget: Free and Cheap Things to Do

Last updated March 17, 2026 by the Recommended.app research team.

Gateway Arch and Grounds (Free (grounds) / $16 tram ride)

The Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in America at 630 feet, and the newly redesigned Arch grounds — a $380 million renovation completed in 2018 — transformed the surrounding park into a beautiful green space connecting downtown to the riverfront. Walking the grounds, reading the historical markers, and admiring the Arch from below are completely free. The tram ride to the top costs $16 and offers views of up to 30 miles in each direction.

Pro tip: The Arch grounds at sunrise or sunset are spectacular and uncrowded. If you ride to the top, early morning offers the clearest views and shortest lines.

Forest Park (Free)

Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in America — larger than Central Park — and many of its attractions are completely free: the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Zoo. The park also features walking and biking trails, lakes, and the beautiful Jewel Box greenhouse. You could spend an entire weekend in Forest Park without spending a dime.

Pro tip: Start at the Art Museum on Art Hill for the best park views, then walk to the Zoo. The Jewel Box greenhouse is a hidden gem for plant lovers.

The Hill (Free to walk / $5-15 for food)

St. Louis's Italian neighborhood — The Hill — is a walkable enclave of Italian restaurants, bakeries, delis, and bocce courts that has been the heart of the city's Italian-American community for over a century. Walking the neighborhood is free and charming (look for the fire hydrants painted in Italian flag colors), and a sandwich from Gioia's or a cannoli from Missouri Baking Company costs under $10.

Pro tip: Get a hot salami sandwich at Gioia's, then walk off the calories browsing the neighborhood. The bocce courts in the park are public and free to use.

Soulard Farmers Market (Free to browse)

Operating since 1838, Soulard Market is one of the oldest public markets in America. The covered market hall and surrounding outdoor stalls sell fresh produce, meats, spices, baked goods, and flowers at prices well below grocery store rates. The Saturday morning market is a beloved St. Louis tradition, drawing a diverse crowd of shoppers, chefs, and food lovers.

Pro tip: Saturday morning is the main event — arrive by 8 AM for the best produce selection. The spice vendors have excellent prices. Bring cash for the best deals.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour (Free)

The free tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery — the world's largest — takes you through the historic brick brewhouse, the Clydesdale stables (yes, the actual horses are there), and the packaging facility. The tour includes two free beers at the end. The brewery campus itself is a National Historic Landmark, and the architecture — Romanesque Revival brick buildings from the 1870s-1900s — is remarkable.

Pro tip: The free Day Fresh Tour runs multiple times daily. The Clydesdale stable is the highlight for most visitors. Take the upgraded tour ($25) for deeper history and more beer.

Budget Travel Tips for St. Louis

Traveling on a budget in St. Louis doesn't mean sacrificing quality — it means being strategic about where you spend. The activities above prove that some of the best experiences in the city are free or nearly so. Beyond these specific recommendations, here are some general principles: eat where locals eat (not where tourists eat), walk whenever possible (you'll see more and spend less), visit museums on their free days, explore parks and public spaces that cost nothing, and remember that the most memorable travel experiences are rarely the most expensive ones. St. Louis is a city that rewards the resourceful traveler — the one who packs a water bottle, downloads offline maps, and approaches each day with more curiosity than credit card swipes. The goal isn't to be cheap; it's to be intentional about spending money on the things that truly enhance your experience and skipping the overpriced tourist traps that add nothing to your trip.