Come for the medical education…
Stay for the affordable living, tight-knit neighborhoods, vibrant music and arts culture, amazing food scene, expansive green spaces and so much more.
Arts & Culture in STL
The St. Louis Symphony and the Fox Theatre are located in the Grand Center Arts District. Area concert venues range from bars and clubs to arenas and outdoor venues – with equally diverse music options. Built for the 1904 World’s Fair, the Saint Louis Art Museum’s collections span centuries and cultures. The Black Rep provides some of its performances on WashU’s Danforth campus.
The STL Food Scene
St. Louis is home to countless restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and bakeries that delight food-lovers of all palates. Dozens of dining options within a mile of campus offer fare ranging from poké bowls and street tacos to gourmet donuts and French pastries. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or full service, your options are covered.
Sports in STL
St. Louis is a sports-minded city that enthusiastically supports Cardinals baseball, Blues hockey, the St. Louis City SC MLS team, and a number of semi-pro teams. 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.
Forest Park
Adjacent to the Medical Campus is Forest Park. The park is home to the city’s Zoo, Science Center and Planetarium, Art Museum, Muny outdoor theatre, the Missouri History Museum as well as public tennis and pickleball courts, golf courses, an outdoor ice rink, athletic fields, picnic areas, trails, and lagoons and waterways explorable by boat or paddle board.
Though I had lived all over the east coast, the Midwest was unfamiliar territory when I decided to attend WashU Med. I have found the people here to be endlessly welcoming and supportive, and I have enjoyed exploring everything St. Louis has to offer, especially Forest Park.
— Ananya, MD Class of 2028
Outdoors & Nature in STL & Missouri
The St. Louis region offers abundant outdoor recreation, from the year-round beauty of the Missouri Botanical Garden to biking along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The 240-mile Katy Trail (the nation’s longest rail-trail) along with Missouri’s rivers, Ozark landscapes, and 93 state parks provide endless opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, fishing, and more.
STL Events & Festivals
Beyond sporting events, Broadway shows, concerts and exhibitions, St. Louis celebrates a unique and ever-growing list of annual signature events.
STL Neighborhoods
Central West End: The Medical Campus’s neighborhood, full of dining and entertainment options, high rise apartment buildings, and tree-lined residential streets.
The Grove: Located southeast of the Medical Campus, full of a diverse collection of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and shops, in addition to a variety of housing options. A favorite stop for LGBTQ+ visitors.
I spent my whole life in Southern California & was nervous about moving across the country far from my friends and family, but my time at WashU Med has been amazing! The people are welcoming and St. Louis has so much to offer, from the delicious food scene to local events and so much more.
–Trevor, MD Class of 2028
Downtown Attractions
St. Louis’ downtown features many attractions, including Citygarden, a sculpture-filled urban oasis; City Museum, a one-of-a-kind artistic playground built from reclaimed architectural pieces; the Gateway Arch, a landmark and National Park with riverfront trails and a museum exploring westward expansion; and St. Louis Union Station, a historic train station now home to dining, entertainment, the St. Louis Aquarium, and a Ferris wheel.
Getting Around STL
Full-time WashU students are eligible to receive a free Metro pass for 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 is within a five-hour drive of Chicago, Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, and Cincinnati.
Affordable Living in STL
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.
Local News & Media
St. Louis’ media outlets include the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the region’s major daily newspaper, and St. Louis Public Radio, the local NPR affiliate. Other sources include the Central West End Association’s Griffin, Sauce Magazine’s, which focuses on dining and entertainment, and the St. Louis American, one of the nation’s leading African American newspapers.
The student perspective
Read what WashU Medicine students think of St. Louis in the Dis-Orientation Guide — written by medical students, for medical students.
Why St. Louis
Some say St. Louis is underrated. Some say it’s a hidden gem. At WashU Medicine, we just know it as “home.”
Visitor guides
See the region’s official visitor information website for itineraries, events, neighborhood guides and more.