2 days in Minneapolis

Day by day

1. Day 1: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Walker Art Center

   Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, Basilica of Saint Mary and Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), then First Avenue in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

      It sits opposite the Walker Art Center, and Katharina Fritsch's giant blue rooster Hahn/Cock is nearby.

   2. Late morning

      Walker Art Center

      Its theatre and cinema programme runs through the year.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Jucy Lucy

      Matt's Bar (spelling it Jucy Lucy) and the 5-8 Club (Juicy Lucy) in south Minneapolis.

   4. Afternoon

      Basilica of Saint Mary

      It faces the Sculpture Garden across the interstate.

   5. Late afternoon

      Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)

      The neoclassical building faces Washburn Fair Oaks Park, south of downtown.

   6. Evening

      First Avenue

      Look for Prince's gold star on the outside wall, and check the calendar for gigs at both the main room and 7th St Entry.

2. Day 2: Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls and Mill City Museum

   Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls, Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater and Mall of America, then Northeast arts and taprooms in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls

      Hill's curving granite and limestone viaduct of 1883 is now a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Mississippi, with views of St. Anthony Falls, the lock and dam and the downtown skyline. Interpretive signs along the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail explain the mill ruins on both banks.

   2. Late morning

      Mill City Museum

      The Flour Tower ride lifts you through eight storeys of mill history in a freight elevator, ending at a rooftop deck over St. Anthony Falls.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Walleye

      Supper clubs, bars and riverfront restaurants; many menus label it as Canadian or Minnesota walleye.

   4. Afternoon

      Guthrie Theater

      The public lobbies and the yellow-tinted Amber Box window are open to non-ticket holders when the building is open.

   5. Late afternoon

      Mall of America

      Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing and shoes, which adds to its appeal for shoppers.

   6. Evening

      Northeast arts and taprooms

      Rent a bike or use a rideshare between taprooms; they are spread out across several neighbourhoods.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in American Swedish Institute (Phillips): Visit in December, when the mansion rooms are decorated for Nordic Christmas traditions.
• Swap in Minneapolis Skyway System (Downtown): Use the skyway maps posted at junctions; on cold days it is the quickest way to cross downtown on foot.
• Swap in Weisman Art Museum (University of Minnesota): View the building from the Washington Avenue Bridge, where the steel facade catches the light over the river.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.8 hours in December to 15.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Tram. The Blue Line runs from Target Field through downtown to the airport and the Mall of America; the Green Line runs from Target Field past the university to downtown Saint Paul.

More or fewer days

• One day in Minneapolis
• 3 days in Minneapolis

Questions travellers ask