Free Attractions in St. Louis (2025)

A Forest Park anchor with free general admission daily and free-ticketed exhibitions on Fridays, this museum spans five millennia—from Beckmann’s modernism to ancient Egypt. Spotlighted by U.S. News Travel and noted in The New York Times’ 36 Hours guide for essential art immersion.

Among the few truly free-admission major zoos in the U.S., the Saint Louis Zoo pairs conservation leadership with charismatic exhibits; rides and shows cost extra. Recognized in USA Today’s 10Best lists and widely recommended by travel editors for a no-fee family day.

Operated by the Missouri Historical Society, this Forest Park museum offers free admission to exhibitions on the 1904 World’s Fair, Lindbergh, and the city’s many communities. Praised by National Geographic and covered by U.S. News Travel for quality, no-cost programming.

Free general admission unlocks hundreds of hands-on exhibits spanning dinosaurs to space; planetarium shows and OMNIMAX films are paid. Frequently highlighted by U.S. News Travel and guided by St. Louis Magazine for current hours and tips.

A serene, free museum in a luminous Tadao Ando building, with rotating exhibitions and outdoor campus spaces like Park-Like and Spring Church. Admired by Architectural Digest and The New Yorker for its architecture-forward, contemplative experience.

A non-collecting museum with free admission, CAM spotlights emerging and established artists and the region’s Great Rivers Biennial. Applauded by the Riverfront Times and a pillar of Grand Center’s First Fridays gallery nights.

Downtown’s open-air gallery blends 25+ sculptures, native plantings, and a seasonal spray plaza—free from dawn to 10 pm. Celebrated by The New York Times for elevating public art and by U.S. News Travel as a top free stop near the Arch.

One of the nation’s earliest large-scale sculpture parks, Laumeier is free daily, pairing woodland trails with monumental works like Alexander Liberman’s The Way. Featured by National Geographic and noted by Atlas Obscura for art-meets-nature exploration.

Beneath the Arch, the museum’s six galleries are always free, tracing Indigenous, colonial, and westward-expansion histories. Cited by Condé Nast Traveler as an essential St. Louis stop; the tram to the top is optional and paid.

Free to enter, this active basilica holds one of the world’s largest mosaic collections—41.5 million pieces across 83,000 square feet. Admired by Lonely Planet and architecture writers; a small-fee mosaic museum is optional.

Cass Gilbert’s Beaux-Arts landmark is free to visit and offers free docent tours. Lauded by Fodor’s as one of America’s most beautiful libraries and praised by the Washington Post for its restoration blending historic grandeur with modern spaces.

In the Central West End, this nonprofit museum offers free admission to rotating exhibits that link chess with art, design, and culture—plus the world’s largest chess piece outside. Regularly covered by St. Louis Magazine for thoughtful programming.