Kansas City: America's most underrated city break?
Set deep in the heart of the American Midwest, there's a reason they call Kansas City the 'Paris of the Plains'.
That's partly due to its grand, wide boulevards and bouncing jazz scene, though you won't find much BBQ in the French capital. Food cooked over the flame is the soul of Kansas City, so much so that it unveiled the world's first dedicated Museum of BBQ in 2025.
But there's more to 'KC', as locals call it, than beef brisket. Throw in some stellar sporting experiences, breezy art trails, quality craft beer and some of America's most unique museums, and it's clear why Kansas City was chosen to be a World Cup host city. Here are the best ways to explore Missouri's biggest and brightest city.
Getting there: book great value flights with Virgin Atlantic and holidays for all budgets with everything taken care of in one easy package.
Sample sublime BBQ
Texas loves its brisket while the Carolinas prefer pork, but here in KC, they'll eat virtually anything that's cooked over a flame. BBQ has been part of this city's DNA since Arthur Bryant's Barbecue opened in 1949, and this classic restaurant is still going strong, with formidable lines to its counter proving its enduring appeal (President Obama ate here once).
Other classic restaurants include Gates BBQ and Rosedale Bar-B-Q, though it's a newer crowd of chefs and joints that really set the standard these days.
Don't miss the likes of Chef J, Q39 and Slaps BBQ, which are scattered around the city's diverse neighbourhoods and make the trip out from downtown worth it. Whether it's fatty brisket, caramelised ribs or the famously delicate burnt ends, sampling BBQ is what this city is all about.
Soak up championship-winning sport
Even if you know nothing about American football, Taylor Swift's romance with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce has probably blipped somewhere on your pop culture radar.
And those Chiefs are no also-rans. They've won the Super Bowl three times in recent years and their Arrowhead Stadium home is consistently rated as one of the loudest in all of American Sports.
Next door to Arrowhead is Kauffman Stadium of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, who provide a more genteel alternative to the Chiefs and will also be playing when Arrowhead hosts World Cup matches.
And speaking of soccer, this city holds much affection for the beautiful game. CPKC Stadium on the banks of the Missouri hosts the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League and is the world's first purpose-built stadium for a women's professional sports team.
Listen to jazz in an iconic neighbourhood
KC's 18th and Vine neighbourhood should be as well known as Beale St or Bourbon St in American music lore. Once Kansas City's jazz Mecca, it's where the art form flourished in the thirties and forties, and where local virtuosos like Charlie Parker got their break. And at the American Jazz Museum, visitors can learn about some of the jazz icons who passed through the city, the styles of jazz and its instruments.
Next door is the Blue Room, a club with an intimate setting for live jazz every week. Other great spots for live jazz across the city include The Phoenix in the Historic Garment District, the nearby Majestic, and the Green Lady Lounge in the Crossroads District.
Visit some truly memorable museums
Few events in history were more consequential than WWI, and in Kansas City the National WWI Museum and Memorial is one of the only museums in the world dedicated entirely to the conflict. And with its place at the summit of a hill within Penn Valley Park, it also offers cinematic views of the Kansas City skyline.
Tucked away inside the nearby Crown Center, there's another, much more local collection: the Museum of BBQ. The world's only museum dedicated to the flame, it's a playful meander through BBQ's regions, wood, sauces and people.
Up in the River Market District, the Arabia Steamboat Museum is quite literally a treasure trove. The Arabia was a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River in 1856, and hundreds of thousands of items of its pre-Civil War load are now on display, forming a fascinating window into America's frontier past.
Follow a curious art trail
Kansas City is unusual for a city in the Midwest in that it not only has a smooth streetcar line, it's also completely free to ride. And the line has just been extended all the way down to the University of Missouri-Kansas City at the southern end of downtown, where the city's art is best showcased.
With its iconic and cartoonishly sized shuttlecocks residing on the lawn, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the grand dame of KC's art scene, showcasing everything from 19th-century European impressionism to Chinese and Indian temple rooms that are works of art themselves.
The free-entry Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on work by newer modern artists who could benefit from exhibitions, while the Kansas City Art Institute showcases the finest work from its talented students.
Together, these museums form the "Arterie", an art-themed walk connecting all of the galleries, starting at the Art Museum streetcar stop.
Find great craft beer & whiskey cocktails
The neighbourhood of 18th and Vine might have been known for its lawless prohibition-era jazz scene, though these days the neighbourhood is home to Vine Street Brewing, Missouri's first black-owned brewery. The hazy pales and fruity sours are sublime, while downstairs, the back terrace hosts live music at weekends throughout the summer.
On the other side of town, the Boulevard Brewing Company is a bigger and brasher operation and their tours are a gregarious insight into the world of brewing.
For a taste of pre-prohibition KC, head over to J. Rieger & Co. Founded by Jacob Rieger in 1887, prohibition put an end to their whiskey operation but it was relaunched in 2014 in the Electric Park District.
Not only are the bourbons and ryes award-winning, the cocktails are equally spectacular. Best of all, when you want to leave their second-floor bar, you can glide down a metallic slide.
Cycle & hike along the mighty Missouri
While the Midwest's plains aren't known for their spectacular elevations, there are plenty of ways to get outdoors here. For cyclists, the 17-mile Gary Haller Trail is mostly flat and passes by open park and wetlands, while the longer 23-mile Indian Creek Bike Trail winds through parks, woods, and along waterways around the popular Overland Park area.
And for those looking to get closer to the mighty Missouri River, the Riverfront Heritage Trail on the Berkley Riverfront is perfect for a stroll or cycle.
Highlights along the way include a bright wall of murals, passing beneath a hulking ASB Bridge, a slightly random goat farm and the laid-back Two Birds One Stone beer garden that's perfect for when the sun sets over the Missouri on summer evenings.
Climate in Kansas City
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  3 |
 6 |
 13 |
 20 |
 25 |
 29 |
 32 |
31 |
 27 |
21 |
12 |
5 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  7 |
7 |
 10 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
The above guide shows the climate in Kansas City. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Missouri.
Heading to Kansas City? Check out the latest offers on flights from Virgin Atlantic and accommodation from Virgin, too.
More about Kansas City
Kansas City by month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Explore holiday destinations
- Beach holidays
- City breaks
- Family holidays
- Half term holidays
- Spring holidays
- Summer holidays
- Autumn holidays
- Winter sun holidays
- Honeymoons
- Coolcations
- Compare places
- Ski resorts
Save with latest deals & discounts
- Holiday offers
- Top travel brands
- Airlines & flights
- Discount hotels
- TUI
- Jet2holidays
- Neilson
- Marella Cruises
- Holiday Extras
- Pierre & Vacances
- Caledonian Travel
- Club Med
Airport parking
- Manchester Airport
- Stansted Airport
- Bristol Airport
- Luton Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- Glasgow Airport
- Newcastle Airport
Airport lounges
- Manchester Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Bristol Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- Glasgow Airport
- Heathrow Airport
- Newcastle Airport
- Stansted Airport
- Gatwick Airport
Be inspired
Get your weekly fix of holiday inspiration from some of the world's best travel writers plus save on your next trip with the latest exclusive offers
We promise not to share your details
