St. Louis Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why St. Louis

St. Louis is an independent city located in Missouri, situated near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper recorded a population of 301,578. Its broader metropolitan region extends into Illinois and houses over 2.8 million inhabitants, making it the largest metropolitan area in Missouri, the second-largest in Illinois, and the 23rd-largest in the United States.

Long before European settlement, the region was an active hub for the indigenous Mississippian culture, whose construction of numerous earthwork structures earned the site the nickname "Mound City." French fur traders Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, Pierre Laclède, and Auguste Chouteau established the settlement in February 1764, naming it in honor of King Louis IX of France. The territory passed from Spanish administration back to France before being acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. Shortly after, in May 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition departed from St. Louis to explore the western territory, returning to the city in September 1806.

During the 19th century, St. Louis grew rapidly into a prominent river port, boosted by the arrival of steamboats in 1817 and waves of Irish and German immigrants in the 1840s. The city officially separated from St. Louis County in 1877 to become an independent municipality. Transportation and trade were further enhanced by the opening of the Eads Bridge in 1874, connecting the city to East St. Louis across the Mississippi River. In 1904, St. Louis achieved international distinction when it hosted both the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as the World's Fair, and the Summer Olympics.

Today, the city maintains a diverse economic landscape spanning aviation, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and services, generating a gross domestic product of $226.6 billion in 2023. It hosts several major federal entities, including the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, as well as prominent educational and medical centers such as Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the Washington University Medical Center.

Visitors to St. Louis can explore a wide variety of cultural and civic landmarks. Prominent attractions include the 630-foot Gateway Arch, the expansive Forest Park, the City Museum, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Saint Louis Science Center. Within Forest Park, visitors can access the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Missouri History Museum. The city is also home to four professional sports franchises, including the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball and the St. Louis Blues in hockey.