St. Louis

Our city tends to keep a low profile, so newcomers are often surprised by its abundance of character, culture and entertainment. In fact, St. Louis earns accolades from techies, foodies, music-lovers and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide.

A diverse and thriving metropolitan area of 2.8 million people, St. Louis is a place where the fun and culture of a big city are readily available, yet living here is easy and affordable. We encourage you to explore St. Louis and learn more about what our city has to offer.

Culture

In St. Louis, you’ll find charming neighborhoods, vibrant cultural and culinary scenes, and plenty of fun for nature-lovers and urbanites alike – all packed into an incredibly affordable city.

Forest Park

Forest Park, located adjacent to the medical campus, is a haven for students. Home to St. Louis’ Zoo, Science Center and Planetarium, Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum, the park also offers public tennis courts and golf courses, an outdoor ice rink, a 12-kilometer paved trail, picnic areas, athletic fields and a system of scenic lagoons and waterways that one can explore by paddle boat, paddle board, canoe or kayak.

Sports

St. Louis is a sports-minded city that enthusiastically supports Cardinals baseball, Blues hockey and a number of semi-pro teams.  In 2023, St. Louis City SC joined Major League Soccer in a new stadium located a few miles east of the medical campus. If you’d like to get your own game on, the city has plenty to offer, from running and rock climbing to sand volleyball and ultimate frisbee.

Arts

The St. Louis Symphony is among the country’s best, and several first-rate theater companies practice their art here. The Fox Theatre (“the Fabulous Fox”) presents Broadway shows, dance performances and concerts. A diverse music scene, including Blues, jazz and rock bands, are hot attractions in local clubs, and large outdoor venues draw major concerts. The Saint Louis Art Museum was built for the 1904 World’s Fair and its collection of art spans centuries and cultures; admission is free. The Black Rep provides some of its performances on WashU’s Danforth campus. See more on arts and culture from Explore St. Louis–including museums, art galleries, and venues for outdoor art.

Nature

Outdoor activities can be found within and around the metropolitan area. The Missouri Botanical Garden offers beautiful displays year-round. Bike trails line both the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Spanning 240 miles across the state, the Katy Trail State Park (the country’s longest recreational rail trial whose eastern terminus near St. Charles is just outside of St. Louis) takes walkers, runners, cyclists and equestrians past towering bluffs, wineries, river valleys and nature centers. Or, consider paddling these great rivers with expert guides. Beyond the city, the Ozark mountains and river valleys are perfect for backpacking, hiking, camping, fishing and canoeing. Missouri’s state park system contains 92 state parks and historic sites. More than 160,000 acres are publicly accessible.

Food

Annual events & festivals

St. Louisans love a good party! Beyond sporting events, Broadway shows, concerts and exhibitions, the city celebrates a diverse and ever-growing list of signature events year after year.

See Explore St. Louis for more annual events »

Attractions

• Central West End: The Medical Campus’s neighborhood, brimming with dining and entertainment options, high rise apartment buildings, and tree-lined residential streets.
• Citygarden: A serene and stimulating sculpture garden in the heart of downtown.
• City Museum: A must-experience-it-to-believe-it mix of playground, surrealist pavilion and architectural marvel made out of found architectural objects.
• Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
• Grand Center Arts District
• Forest Park: Frequently topping lists as one of the nation’s favorite city parks, home to trails, waterways, and some of the city’s most beloved cultural venues.
• Fox Theatre: Offering a variety of live entertainment since 1929.
• Gateway Arch: More than a famous Midcentury Modern monument (and National Park!), the Arch grounds include riverway pathways and a museum that tells stories of westward expansion from multiple perspectives, including indigenous peoples’.
• The Grove: A popular neighborhood southeast of the Medical Campus offering a diverse collection of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and shops, in addition to a variety of housing options. A favorite stop for LGBTQ+ visitors.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: The nation’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.
• Missouri History Museum
• Muny Theatre: An outdoor musical theatre venue in Forest Park, in operation since 1917.
• Riverboats at the Gateway Arch
• Saint Louis Zoo
• Saint Louis Science Center
• Saint Louis Art Museum
• St. Louis Symphony: Among the nation’s leading symphonies, offering students $15 tickets for select performances.
• St. Louis Union Station: The city’s historic train station, now home to restaurants, light shows, ropes courses, the St. Louis Aquarium, a 200-foot Ferris wheel, and more.
• More St. Louis attractions »

Getting around

WashU helps make getting around St. Louis easy: Full-time students are eligible to receive a free Metro pass that provides unlimited access to the entire transit system, including buses and the MetroLink light rail that serve St. Louis City and County as well as Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois.

St. Louis’ central location makes also exploring nearby cities easy and inexpensive. Cities including Chicago, Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis are all within a five-hour drive. 

Affordable living

New residents and natives alike commend St. Louis for providing the career and cultural opportunities of a big city with the convenience and low cost-of-living often found in smaller sized towns. A 2019 assessment ranked St. Louis among the top U.S. cities where people live the most balanced lifestyles.

St. Louis news & media

• St. Louis American: Recognized as one of the top African-American newspapers in the country, printed weekly and available online
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Founded in 1878 by Joseph Pulitzer, St. Louis’ major daily newspaper
• St. Louis Public Radio: The region’s local National Public Radio affiliate sharing news online and over the air
• Riverfront Times: Weekly print/online newspaper with an urban vibe, heavy on entertainment coverage
• Sauce Magazine: St. Louis’ award-winning metro-area culinary and entertainment magazine and guide
• Central West End Association Griffin (published in March, June, September and November) for the Central West End (neighborhood) Association
• More media in St. Louis »