Travel guide · United States
Minneapolis travel guide
Lakes, free art museums and a Mississippi riverfront built on flour mills
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BpA9543, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Minneapolis grew up around St. Anthony Falls, the only major waterfall on the Mississippi, where flour mills once made it the milling capital of the world. Today the old mill district holds the Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater and the Stone Arch Bridge, while a chain of lakes and parkways loops through the south and west of the city. With free museums such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a strong theatre and music scene, and light rail from the airport, it is an easy city break — warm and green in summer, seriously cold in winter, when an 8-mile skyway network keeps downtown connected indoors. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are June–September.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- June–September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- MSP
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$320 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Chain of Lakes, Spoonbridge and Cherry, Mississippi riverfront and Prince
Why visit Minneapolis
- The Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home of Spoonbridge and Cherry, are free to visit.
- Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet and Lake of the Isles are linked by paved paths for walking, cycling and summer swimming within 15 minutes of downtown.
- The riverfront around St. Anthony Falls packs the Stone Arch Bridge, Mill City Museum and the Guthrie Theater into one walk.
- Prince's Minneapolis — First Avenue, the Purple Rain landmarks and Paisley Park in Chanhassen — draws music fans from around the world.
- The Blue Line light rail links the airport, downtown and the Mall of America, so a car is optional.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Park · Loring Park
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's Spoonbridge and Cherry, a 15-metre spoon holding a cherry over a pond, is the city's best-known image and the centrepiece of this free 4.5-hectare garden of around 60 works.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Whittier
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
Mia's free collection of around 90,000 objects spans 5,000 years, from Chinese jade and a reconstructed Japanese teahouse to Rembrandt's Lucretia, Van Gogh's Olive Trees and period rooms from Europe and America.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Landmark · Mill District
Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls
Railroad baron James J.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Experience · Bloomington
Mall of America
The largest shopping mall in the United States has around 500 shops plus Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor theme park with roller coasters under a skylit roof, the SEA LIFE Minnesota aquarium and mini golf.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Experience · Downtown
First Avenue
Prince filmed and performed Purple Rain at this former bus depot, which remains one of the most important independent music venues in the country.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Iconic
- History
Historic site · Chanhassen
Paisley Park
Prince's home, studio complex and private estate, about 30 km southwest of downtown, is open for guided tours of his recording studios, sound stage and memorabilia including stage costumes and instruments.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Downtown is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Downtown
Office towers, theatres on Hennepin Avenue and the enclosed skyway network
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples, shopping and nightlife
North Loop
Converted brick warehouses with restaurants, boutiques and Target Field next door
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and families
Mill District
Riverfront mill ruins, the Guthrie and the Stone Arch Bridge
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and culture
Northeast
Taprooms, artists' studios and old Eastern European parishes across the river
What to eat
- Jucy Lucy — A burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty, served so hot that the first bite needs care.
- Walleye — Minnesota's state fish is a mild, flaky freshwater fish, usually served pan-fried or beer-battered, in sandwiches or with wild rice.
- Wild rice soup — A creamy soup of nutty wild rice, a grain harvested by Ojibwe communities on Minnesota's lakes, usually with chicken, carrots and celery.
- Tater tot hotdish — Minnesota's version of a casserole: ground beef and vegetables in cream of mushroom soup, topped with a layer of crisp tater tots.
- Cheese curds — Fresh nuggets of young cheddar, battered and deep-fried until they stretch, served with ranch or marinara.
- Somali food — Minneapolis has the largest Somali community in the United States.
When to go
The best time to visit Minneapolis is June to September, when temperatures sit around 20–28°C, the lakes are open for swimming and paddling, and festivals fill the calendar. May and October are pleasant shoulder months. Winter is very cold, but it is cheap and the city is set up for it with skyways, theatres and free museums.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | A slow, muddy thaw in March gives way to green, mild May days; weather is changeable and late snow is possible in April. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm, sometimes humid days, long evenings and the lakes at their best, with the State Fair in late August and frequent thunderstorms. |
| Autumn | September–November | Crisp, colourful September and October days with fewer crowds, turning cold and grey in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Long and very cold, with snow cover, frozen lakes and wind chills below −20°C; the skyway and indoor culture make it manageable. |
Getting there and around
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is about 16 km south of downtown. The Blue Line light rail runs from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to downtown in about 25 minutes. Taxis and rideshares take about 20–25 minutes outside rush hour.
Metro Transit's Blue and Green light rail lines connect the airport, the Mall of America, downtown, the University of Minnesota and Saint Paul, and buses fill the gaps. The city has an extensive network of bike paths and is easy to cycle in summer.
Plan your days
Two days covers the riverfront, the sculpture garden and Walker, Mia and an afternoon on the lakes. A third day adds Minnehaha Falls, Northeast's breweries and a show, or a trip to Saint Paul or Paisley Park.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Most visitor areas are safe with normal precautions; downtown can feel empty late at night, so use rideshares after dark. Car break-ins happen, so keep valuables out of sight. In winter, frostbite and icy pavements are real risks: dress in layers and wear boots with grip.
Flights to Minneapolis
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Minneapolis?
Two days covers the riverfront, the sculpture garden and Walker, Mia and an afternoon on the lakes. A third day adds Minnehaha Falls, Northeast's breweries and a show, or a trip to Saint Paul or Paisley Park. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Minneapolis?
The best time to visit Minneapolis is June to September, when temperatures sit around 20–28°C, the lakes are open for swimming and paddling, and festivals fill the calendar. May and October are pleasant shoulder months. Winter is very cold, but it is cheap and the city is set up for it with skyways, theatres and free museums.
+What is Minneapolis known for?
Chain of Lakes, Spoonbridge and Cherry, Mississippi riverfront, Prince, Theatre, Mall of America, Cold winters and Jucy Lucy burgers. The Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home of Spoonbridge and Cherry, are free to visit.
+Is Minneapolis expensive?
Minneapolis is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$320 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Minneapolis?
No, if you stay downtown or near the light rail; transit, bikes and rideshares cover the main sights. A car is useful for Paisley Park, Stillwater and the North Shore.