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AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

201 S 18th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103 · St. Louis, MO

Why you should go…

Housed in the magnificently restored Union Station, this two-story aquarium sends you from Missouri's rivers to the open ocean, with touch pools, a shark habitat and playful otters along the way. Step outside and the fun keeps rolling: the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel, mini golf, carousel and the station's famous fire-and-light show over the lake.

  • #aquarium
  • #union station
  • #kids
  • #indoor
  • #ferris wheel

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    St. Louis Central Library

    Free

    Beaux-Arts landmark library in downtown St. Louis, free to explore inside and out.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
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    City Museum

    $25–$50

    A 10-story playground of caves, slides, tunnels and a rooftop Ferris wheel built from salvaged city treasures. Pure magic.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Busch Stadium Tours & Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum

    Under $25

    Walk the warning track, sit in the Cardinals dugout, then dive into 11 World Series titles at the team's Hall of Fame in Ballpark Village.

    0.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

    Free

    The regional Federal Reserve bank's downtown St. Louis headquarters, with public economics exhibits.

    1.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Saint Louis Zoo

    Free

    One of America's top-rated zoos, 14,000 animals in beautiful Forest Park habitats, and admission is always free.

    4.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family favorite

    Grant's Farm

    Free

    The Busch family's 281-acre estate: free admission, a tram through roaming deer and bison, goat-feeding chaos, and the famous Clydesdales.

    9.6 mi awayMore like this