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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Metropolis
Spend a day in Metropolis for the Super Museum, Harrah's casino and the Superman statue; no need to stay overnight.
Metropolis is a tiny Southern Illinois town (pop. ~6,500) known for a floating riverboat casino and a Superman statue. Attractions are clustered near Front Street, so a single day covers the main sights.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct (check)
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited hours)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$100 excl. bed · Mid $120–$150 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Burger (Fat Edd's Roadhouse) | $8–12 |
| Shrimp (peel‑and‑eat, Fat Edd's) | $10–15 |
| Coffee | $2–3 |
| Taxi (within town) | $10–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- M30 · Metropolis Municipal Airport
- Public airstrip 2 mi NW of town; no control tower, no landing fee, overnight tie‑down fee.
- PAH · Barkley Regional Airport (Paducah, KY)
- Nearest commercial service, ~45 km (28 mi) east.Nearest commercial service, ~28 mi (45 km) east.
Typical fares
- Metropolis Municipal Airport → town center (taxi)
- ≈ $12–18, 5 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; most visitors drive or use local taxis. No regular public transit.
See and do
Known for
- Super Museum (Superman memorabilia)
- Harrah's riverboat casino
- Giant Superman statue
- Fort Massac State Historic Site
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo, Illinois | US‑45 north ~30 min drive | ≈45 min round trip |
| Paducah, Kentucky | I‑24 east ~45 min drive | ≈1 h 30 min round trip |
| Nashville, Tennessee | I‑24 east ~3 h drive | ≈6 h round trip |
Sleep
- Baymont Inn & Suites Metropolis
- 203 E Front St; pool, hot tub, breakfast.
- Harrah's Metropolis
- 100 E Front St; casino hotel.
- Holiday Inn Express Metropolis
- 2179 E 5th St; indoor pool, free breakfast.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / SorryExcuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Casino and museum hours vary seasonally; check ahead.
- Limited dining options; plan meals early.
Metropolis is low‑risk; typical small‑town safety concerns apply – watch your car and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Metropolis yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Super Museum (Superman memorabilia)
- Harrah's riverboat casino
- Giant Superman statue
- Fort Massac State Historic Site
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Metropolis, revision 5116503 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5116503
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Metropolis
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
US 911 emergency; nearest consulates in St. Louis and Nashville.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/metropolis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.