Stand at the corner of 18th and Vine and you are standing in the district that gave Kansas City its jazz reputation, with the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum sharing the same address. A few minutes away, Union Station's ceiling rises over a hundred feet above the Amtrak platforms and the visitor centre.
Kansas City suits travellers who like their culture compact and their evenings musical, and who are happy to build a day around museums, markets and a ballgame. This guide covers the sights and experiences the source material supports, ordered roughly by how much of your time they deserve.
Top things to do in Kansas City
1. American Jazz Museum
On East 18th Street in the 18th and Vine Historic District, this museum covers the music the city is internationally recognised for. It is the anchor of a visit to the district and pairs naturally with the museum next door.
A combined ticket with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum costs $8, so plan to see both in one trip. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10AM to 5PM and Sunday from noon to 6PM.
2. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Sharing the address at 1616 E 18th St, this museum is devoted to the history of the Negro Leagues, with memorabilia from teams, stadiums and noted players. It gives context to a subject that predates the racial integration of Major League Baseball.
It is closed on Mondays, and runs Tuesday to Saturday 10AM to 5PM and Sunday noon to 5PM. Buy the combined ticket with the Jazz Museum for $8 rather than paying separately.
3. U.S. National WWI Museum and Memorial
The museum sits at 2 Memorial Drive, with the memorial at 100 W 26th St. It is described as America's leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact.
Wednesdays are the value day, when all tickets cost $8. The memorial tower closes at 4:15PM, so go up before you finish in the galleries.
4. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
On Oak Street near the Plaza, the collection is housed in a 1930s building with a modern wing by Steven Holl, and the site also includes the Kansas City Sculpture Park. Admission is free.
It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Thursday and Friday evenings it stays open until 9PM, which is the quietest time to go.
5. Union Station
At 30 W Pershing Rd, this is the nation's second largest train station, with a ceiling over 100 ft tall. Inside you will find a visitor centre, theatres, restaurants, shops and the Amtrak station.
It is open 6AM to midnight. Three attractions sit inside it — Science City, Gottlieb Planetarium and KC Rail Experience — and a ticket to all three costs $8.95.
6. Historic City Market
This market offers shopping, dining, concerts, events and a farmers' market. It is one of the districts the city is known for, and it works well as a morning stop before the museums open.
Combine it with the rest of Downtown, including the Central Business District and the Power and Light District, which are close enough to walk between.
7. The Money Museum
On the west side of Main Street and south of the Liberty Memorial, this museum covers the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. financial system, and is run by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. It is free.
You must show photo ID to enter, and it is only open on weekdays, 8:30AM to 4:30PM. It fits neatly into a Downtown morning.
8. Crown Center
At 2450 Grand Blvd, Crown Center is home of Hallmark Cards and the Hallmark Visitors Center and Museum. It is a useful base for an afternoon because several attractions sit in or beside it.
Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium is at 2475 Grand Blvd within Crown Center, and Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City is in the Crown Center Shops. Note that adults are not allowed into Legoland without a child.
9. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
On Warwick Blvd, this contemporary art museum is free to enter. It is a short addition to a Plaza-area day rather than a whole afternoon on its own.
It opens Tuesday to Thursday 10AM to 4PM, Friday and Saturday 10AM to 9PM, and Sunday 11AM to 5PM. Pair it with the Nelson-Atkins, which is nearby.
10. Country Club Plaza and Ward Parkway
The Plaza is one of the districts Kansas City is known for, and Ward Parkway is a tree-lined boulevard just south of it that takes you past stately homes in many different styles inspired by European architecture.
Drive or walk Ward Parkway after your Plaza stop. The Visitor Center at 4709 Central is in this area and opens Monday to Saturday 10AM to 6PM and Sunday noon to 5PM.
11. Community Christian Church
At 4601 Main St, this church was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is visible from the Plaza. It is a quick look rather than a scheduled stop.
Work it into the same outing as the Nelson-Atkins and the Kemper Museum, all of which sit in the same part of town.
12. Kansas City Zoo
In Swope Park, the zoo is open daily from 9:30AM to 4PM and parking is free. It is the one item on this list that takes you away from the central districts.
Because it closes in the mid-afternoon, treat it as a morning trip and build the rest of your day elsewhere.
13. Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium
The Royals play at Kauffman Stadium, one of the few remaining examples of 1960s-era modernist stadiums in baseball, with a fountain beyond the right field wall that sends jets of water high into the air.
The stadium is at 1 Royal Way, reached from I-70 at the Blue Ridge exit or I-435 at exit 63B. The Kansas City Chiefs play at 1 Arrowhead Dr on the same exit, so check both schedules before you travel.
14. Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium
The region's National Women's Soccer League team plays at CPKC Stadium, 1460 E Front St, which opened for the 2024 season. It is described as the first stadium in the world built specifically for a women's professional sports team.
Take I-29 to exit 4B and follow the signs. It is a downtown-adjacent venue, so it combines easily with an evening in the Power and Light District.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Historic City Market for the farmers' market and breakfast, then walk into the Central Business District to look at the art deco buildings. If it is a weekday, add The Money Museum on Memorial Drive, remembering your photo ID.
Afternoon. Spend the early afternoon at Union Station, taking in the great hall and the visitor centre, and add Science City, Gottlieb Planetarium and KC Rail Experience if you want the combined ticket. From there, go to the U.S. National WWI Museum and Memorial and go up the tower before 4:15PM.
Evening. Head to 18th and Vine for the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on the combined $8 ticket, then finish in the Power and Light District for restaurants and bars. If a game is on, the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium or the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium can replace the district.
Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to visit the U.S. National WWI Museum and Memorial?
Wednesdays, when all tickets cost $8. The memorial tower closes at 4:15PM, so plan your visit around that.
Can I see the jazz and baseball museums on one ticket?
Yes. Both are at 1616 E 18th St, and a combined ticket costs $8. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is closed on Mondays.
Which museums in Kansas City are free?
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and The Money Museum are all free. The Money Museum requires photo ID and is open weekdays only.
Where can I watch a game in Kansas City?
The Kansas City Royals play at Kauffman Stadium and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Drive, both off the same interstate exits. The Kansas City Current play at CPKC Stadium downtown, and Sporting Kansas City play at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Pick your dates around a Wednesday at the WWI museum or a home fixture, and the rest of the itinerary above will fall into place.