Downtown / Garment DistrictEditor's pick
The Last Hotel
4.4(1,820)$$
Restored 1909 shoe factory a 10-minute walk from the Arch, with a rooftop pool and an industrial-chic bar scene downstairs.
from $179 / nightCheck rates
MO · Metro pop. 2.8M
St. Louis
The Gateway to the Midwest, where the rails converge and the arch rises.
A postcard from the city
The Art Museum on its Forest Park hill, a plate of sticky ribs in Soulard, a red-brick storefront in a historic block, a downtown street in autumn light — St. Louis reveals itself in neighborhoods, not as a single downtown skyline.
Rails Midwest · City Guide
St. Louis sits on the Mississippi just downstream of its confluence with the Missouri — a geographical intersection that shaped its role as America's nineteenth-century railroad capital. The 1894 Union Station no longer handles Amtrak trains (the railroads consolidated at Gateway Transportation Center in 1978) but the restored Grand Hall remains one of the most spectacular public rooms in the country and is worth a visit on its own. The city's eclectic neighborhoods — from the bohemian energy of Cherokee Street to the Italian heritage of The Hill — reward slow exploration, and the Gateway Arch dominates the skyline not just architecturally but philosophically: a monument to westward movement, to the spirit of transit itself.
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Orient yourself
St. Louis at a glance
The station, airport, and places worth walking to — tap a pin.
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Our picks
Our Recommendations
Where to stay · 4 hand-picked hotels
Hotels
Downtown West
St. Louis Union Station Hotel
4.5(3,410)$$
Inside the original 1894 Grand Hall — sleeping inside the city's rail cathedral, steps from the Amtrak platforms.
from $199 / nightCheck rates
The Delmar Loop
Moonrise Hotel
4.3(980)$$
Quirky, space-themed boutique on Delmar Boulevard. Puts you on the Loop — six walkable blocks of music venues, restaurants, and Walk of Fame stars.
from $169 / nightCheck rates
DowntownTop rated
Hotel Saint Louis, Autograph Collection
4.6(1,240)$$$
Art-deco Union Trust Building reworked as a Marriott Autograph property. Good for a splashy first night in town.
from $259 / nightCheck rates
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What to do · book ahead, skip the line
Experiences
Landmark
Food & Drink
OutdoorsAffiliate notice — Tour links are affiliate links. Booking through them may earn us a small commission.
Getting here
Getting to St. Louis
Flying in from abroad, connecting from elsewhere in the US, arriving by Amtrak, or driving in — here’s how each works.
By Air
St. Louis Lambert (STL) is the direct entry — 2 European direct routes plus major US domestic service. No need to route through Chicago.
Fly direct to St. Louis from Europe
STL · MOSTL has two direct European links: British Airways to London Heathrow, plus Lufthansa's Frankfurt run — together they put both oneworld and Star Alliance networks one stop away from the Arch.
London → STL
LHRBritish Airways
4× weekly (daily in summer peak) — Resumed in 2022 after a long hiatus; the only nonstop between the UK and Missouri. Check BA's schedule close to booking — frequency flexes with the season.
Search fares on Kiwi.com →
Frankfurt → STL
FRALufthansa
Summer seasonal (typically May–Oct) — Launched in 2024 as a seasonal summer route. Confirm on Lufthansa's schedule before planning a winter trip — it doesn't run year-round.
Search fares on Kiwi.com →
Airport to train station
MetroLink Red Line runs from both STL terminals directly to downtown and to the Civic Center station next to Union Station (Amtrak) in ~35 minutes for $4.
By Train — Amtrak
Amtrak's Texas Eagle, Lincoln Service, and Missouri River Runner all serve St. Louis at the modern Gateway Transportation Center downtown (not the 1894 Union Station, which has been a hotel and shopping complex since the trains left in 1978). Frequent service to Chicago (about 5h 30m), daily service to Kansas City (about 5h 40m), and the Texas Eagle runs through to Little Rock, Dallas, and San Antonio.
Connecting on Amtrak: The Lincoln Service feeds in from Chicago (4 daily, ~5h 30m), the Missouri River Runner runs west to Kansas City via Hermann (twice daily), and the Texas Eagle calls at STL on its Chicago → San Antonio run. All deliver to Gateway Transportation Center downtown.
Lincoln Service
From Chicago
5h 20m · 4 daily departures
By Car
Surface lots near Gateway Transportation Center run $10–15 a day, and several downtown hotels include parking with the room rate. Major interstates (I-70, I-44, I-55, I-64) all converge downtown.
Rail stop · 1 h 40 m west by Missouri River Runner
Hermann, Missouri
Hermann was founded in 1837 by German settlers who wanted to preserve their culture in the New World. They planted vineyards on the slopes above the Missouri River and built a town that still reads like a Rhineland village translated into Missouri bluffs.
Stone Hill Winery — established 1847, one of the oldest in the US — runs cellar tours and tastings in vaulted brick tunnels beneath the hilltop. The Missouri River curves just below. There's not much else happening here, which is most of the point.
The Missouri River Runner stops once daily in each direction. One night is the right amount: arrive late afternoon, walk up to Stone Hill, eat dinner on Market Street, and board the eastbound train back to St. Louis the next morning.
Good to know
Questions travelers ask
How do I get to St. Louis by train?
Fly direct into St. Louis Lambert (STL) — 2 nonstop European routes, plus extensive non-stop US domestic service — or connect through Chicago O'Hare (ORD) if your preferred carrier isn't available on the direct service. See the "Fly direct to St. Louis" block for the current carriers and schedules.
How many days do I need in St. Louis?
Two to three days suits most travelers — enough to explore architecture, history, culture, and to hit the main neighborhoods without feeling rushed. Add a day if you want to take a day trip out (Chicago are close by rail).
Can I visit St. Louis without a car?
Yes — every destination we cover is walkable from its Amtrak station or well-served by local transit. St. Louis's downtown is large and transit-connected, and ride-share fills the gaps.