7 Days in St. Louis: Gateway Arch Icons, Forest Park Culture, and Flavor-Packed Eats
St. Louis is where the Mississippi bends and American history surges back to the surface. Founded in 1764 by French traders, “The Lou” became the springboard for westward expansion—celebrated today by the shimmering Gateway Arch and the beaux-arts grandeur of Forest Park, built for the 1904 World’s Fair.
The city’s personality is equal parts inventive and neighborly. You’ll slide through the surreal art-playground of City Museum, sip at world-class breweries, and wander Soulard’s red-brick streets where jazz, markets, and lively taverns hum. Food traditions run deep—try toasted ravioli on The Hill, St. Louis–style thin-crust pizza, buttery gooey butter cake, and nationally loved BBQ.
Practical notes: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is 20–25 minutes from downtown. The MetroLink light rail and rideshare make getting around easy; driving is straightforward. Many museums offer free general admission (a St. Louis superpower). For the Arch tram, reserve timed tickets in advance.
St. Louis
St. Louis rewards curiosity. Stand 630 feet above the river at the Gateway Arch, then pop into a neighborhood deli for a legendary hot salami sandwich. Spend a day in Forest Park, home to the free St. Louis Art Museum and Zoo, and cap it off with cocktails in the Central West End.
- Top sights: Gateway Arch & museum, Forest Park (Art Museum, Zoo, History Museum), Missouri Botanical Garden, City Museum, Union Station (Aquarium & the St. Louis Wheel), Cathedral Basilica mosaics, National Blues Museum, Delmar Loop, Tower Grove Park, Soulard Farmers Market (Wed–Sat; busiest Sat).
- What to eat: Toasted ravioli on The Hill (Anthonino’s Taverna, Mama’s on The Hill), smoked meats (Pappy’s Smokehouse, Salt + Smoke), hot salami at Gioia’s Deli, gooey butter cake at Park Avenue Coffee or Gooey Louie, custard at Ted Drewes on Route 66.
- Breweries: 4 Hands, Schlafly Tap Room, Urban Chestnut, Perennial, Side Project (Maplewood).
- Neighborhoods to explore: Downtown/Arch, Central West End, The Grove/Botanical Heights, Soulard, Cherokee Street, The Hill, Delmar Loop.
Where to stay: For easy sightseeing, base downtown near the Arch or City Museum; for dining/nightlife, try Central West End or The Grove; for a quieter residential feel, look to Clayton or DeMun.
Getting to St. Louis: Nonstops are common from major hubs. Example times/fares (round-trip, typical advance purchase): New York (2.5 hrs; ~$150–$300), Chicago (1 hr; ~$100–$200), Dallas (1.5 hrs; ~$120–$250), Denver (2 hrs; ~$150–$280). Compare on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. MetroLink from STL to downtown takes ~30 minutes.
Day 1: Arrive and Meet the Arch
Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off travel with a gentle stroll through the Gateway Arch National Park; the lawn and riverwalk are beautiful near sunset, and the Arch’s stainless steel changes color with the sky.
Evening: Dinner downtown. For St. Louis BBQ with creative sides, try Salt + Smoke (order brisket, smoked wings, and “Magic Dust” fries) or walk to Pappy’s Smokehouse earlier if you arrive before they sell out. For cocktails, Planter’s House in Lafayette Square crafts classics with precision—don’t miss the namesake Planter’s Punch.
Day 2: Downtown Overview, Arch, and Soulard Stories
Morning: Start with gooey butter cake and a cappuccino at Park Avenue Coffee (they bake multiple flavors daily). Then get your bearings on the St. Louis Narrated Trolley Tour (90 minutes, covers 23 miles of highlights).
Afternoon: Visit the Gateway Arch Museum (free, interactive exhibits on westward expansion). Ride the tram to the top with timed tickets; on clear days you can spot Illinois farm fields and river traffic far below. Lunch downtown at Gioia’s Deli (the hot salami sandwich is an STL icon) or Sugarfire Smoke House for brisket and burnt ends.
Evening: Head to Soulard, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Dine at Frazer’s (seasonal New American dishes, excellent wine) or tuck into Cajun classics at Broadway Oyster Bar (live music most nights). Then dive into the neighborhood’s colorful past on the St. Louis True Crime Tour: Soulard’s Murders, Mafia & Mayhem—a spirited walk through duels, Prohibition tales, and notorious characters.
Day 3: Forest Park Masterclass
Morning: Coffee at Blueprint Coffee on Delmar, then plunge into Forest Park, larger than Central Park and host of the 1904 World’s Fair. Begin at the free St. Louis Art Museum (don’t miss the panorama from “Art Hill”); if you love science, the St. Louis Science Center is also free for general admission.
Afternoon: The St. Louis Zoo (free entry) is a national standout—see the River’s Edge habitats and Sea Lion Sound. Lunch lakeside at The Boathouse (casual fare; rent a paddleboat in good weather) or grab excellent sandwiches at Nathaniel Reid Bakery (a short drive, pastry heaven).
Evening: Central West End date night. Brasserie by Niche is a local favorite for steak frites, onion soup, and an impeccable burger. For a nightcap, drift to Brennan’s for a thoughtful whiskey list and cigars upstairs, or Yellowbelly for tropical-leaning cocktails.
Day 4: Gardens, The Hill, and a Private BBQ + Brews Deep-Dive
Morning: Begin at the Missouri Botanical Garden—America’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. Wander the Climatron’s tropical dome, the Japanese Garden’s koi ponds, and the seasonal flower shows. Coffee nearby at Sump Coffee (meticulous pour-overs in a minimalist space).
Afternoon: Lunch on The Hill, the city’s historic Italian neighborhood. For toasted ravioli and handmade pastas, Anthonino’s Taverna nails the classics; for deli-style excellence, Adriana’s serves hot roast beef with provel cheese that locals swear by. Then meet your guide for the Private Tour of St. Louis's Iconic BBQ Joints & Breweries—a personalized crawl through beloved smokehouses and craft taprooms with stories behind each stop.
Evening: If you still have room, grab frozen custard at Ted Drewes on Chippewa (Route 66 legend; thick “concretes” flipped upside down). Prefer a sit-down dinner? Sidney Street Cafe in Benton Park turns out refined, seasonal plates in a historic brick storefront.
Day 5: Union Station Fun and City Museum Adventure
Morning: Breakfast crêpes at Rooster (downtown), then head to Union Station. Visit the St. Louis Aquarium (river otters are crowd-pleasers) and ride the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel for river and skyline views. The Grand Hall’s light show runs regularly inside the former train station.
Afternoon: Lunch at City Foundry STL’s food hall—mix-and-match global eats like Argentine empanadas, ramen, and Middle Eastern bowls. Then devote the afternoon to City Museum, a 10-story art-playground of salvaged architectural pieces, tunnels, slides, and climbing structures. Wear sneakers; embrace your inner kid.
Evening: Explore The Grove for nightlife and casual bites. The Gramophone builds creative sandwiches late, Urban Chestnut’s Grove Bierhall pours Bavarian-style lagers, and HandleBar keeps the music and dance floor buzzing.
Day 6: Old Stones and River Roads (Cahokia or St. Charles)
Morning: Choose your day trip. Option A: Cross to Illinois and walk the grounds at Cahokia Mounds, the largest pre-Columbian archaeological site north of Mexico—a UNESCO site with immense earthen mounds and big-sky views from Monks Mound. Option B: Drive ~30 minutes to Historic St. Charles for cobblestone Main Street browsing and Missouri River views.
Afternoon: At Cahokia, grab lunch back in Benton Park: Blues City Deli layers standout po’boys and pastrami; expect a line—and live music some days. In St. Charles, lunch at Prasino (modern American) or bakery treats at Piccione Pastry (if you loop back toward the city). On your return, stop at Laumeier Sculpture Park for a stroll among monumental outdoor art.
Evening: Catch a game or a show. If it’s baseball season, head to Busch Stadium for a Cardinals game and walk through Ballpark Village pre- or postgame. Soccer fan? St. Louis CITY SC’s CITYPARK has an electric atmosphere. Otherwise, listen to world-class sets at Jazz St. Louis (Jazz at the Bistro) in Grand Center.
Day 7: Mosaic Masterpiece, Last Bites, and Departure
Morning: Coffee at Coma Coffee or Kaldi’s, then step inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis to see one of the world’s largest mosaic collections—83,000 square feet of glittering tiles. Detour through Tower Grove Park for Victorian pavilions and tree-lined paths.
Afternoon: Early lunch downtown before you go: try Hi-Pointe Drive-In for smashburgers or Pastaria Deli & Wine for fresh pasta to-go. Pick up a box of gooey butter cake squares for the road. Depart in the afternoon—MetroLink or rideshare to STL (~30 minutes) keeps things simple.
Practical Tips
- Local transport: MetroLink connects STL Airport–Downtown–Central West End–Clayton; rideshares are plentiful. A Day Pass is typically budget-friendly for multi-stop days.
- Reservations: Book Gateway Arch tram times, popular restaurants (Brasserie, Sidney Street, Vicia, Indo), and pro sports tickets ahead—weekends fill up.
- Seasonal notes: Winter can be crisp; summers humid—plan midday museum breaks. Soulard Farmers Market is best on Saturdays.
Book travel and stays: Compare airfares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com, then choose your base via Hotels.com or spread out in a neighborhood rental on VRBO.
One week in St. Louis balances iconic sights and hidden corners: ride to the top of the Gateway Arch, wander Forest Park, and taste the city’s story through delis, BBQ pits, and bakeries. You’ll leave with mosaic memories, trolley tales, and a new respect for a Midwestern city that plays big.