Best Attractions in Kansas City (2025)

A free, encyclopedic art museum with a beloved sculpture park and those iconic Shuttlecocks. Frequently highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet, it anchors KC’s cultural core while rolling out ambitious campus plans announced in 2025.

The nation’s official World War I museum pairs riveting galleries with a skyline-topping memorial tower. Consistently recommended by major travel editors and updated with timely 2025 exhibitions and extended summer hours.

A moving, independent museum devoted to Black baseball history, led by master storyteller Bob Kendrick. Regularly cited by national outlets and supported by city institutions; hours and new programming remained robust in 2025.

This working jazz club doubles as a living exhibit, with Friday and Saturday night sets and free community programs. Visit KC and national culture writers frequently point here for an authentic 18th & Vine night out.

Where after-hours jam sessions have raged since the 1930s. In 2025, the historic union hall expanded daytime museum hours and still hosts legendary 1:30–5 a.m. weekend sessions, noted by local and national media.

A Crossroads institution with red-lit glamour and nightly live jazz, praised by Condé Nast Traveler and profiled by national journalists. No TVs, strong cocktails, and Kansas City musicians at the center of it all.

Reborn from an 1887 heritage, this East Bottoms distillery offers immersive tours, multiple bars, a history exhibit, and even a slide. Featured by local critics and hospitality guides as a uniquely KC experience.

KC’s year-round weekend market expanded hours in 2025 and remains a local-food hub. Frequently recommended by travel editors and KCUR, it’s a lively snapshot of the region’s growers, makers, and global eats.

Free contemporary art with ambitious programming and a refreshed museum restaurant led by a noted local chef. Often paired with Nelson-Atkins in national roundups, it adds a modern counterpoint to KC’s art scene.

A lovingly reconstructed 1930s lounge in the West Bottoms with strong drinks, a from-scratch menu, and frequent live shows. Lauded by local critics and cultural press for atmosphere and community spirit.

Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery pours inventive beers in a two-level taproom inside 18th & Vine. Covered by NPR’s KCUR and nominated in national lists, it blends craft beer with the district’s music heritage.

A restored 1910 mansion turned city history museum, now free and open with expanded 2025 programming. Local media praise its thoughtful exhibits, soda fountain, and neighborhood storytelling in the Historic Northeast.