Sight guide · Minneapolis · United States
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BpA9543, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is a museum in Whittier, Minneapolis. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Whittier
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, art, history and rainy day
- Best months
- April–June
About 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. The neoclassical building faces Washburn Fair Oaks Park, south of downtown.
Tip: Pick up a map and head for the Asian galleries and period rooms, which most first-time visitors miss.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Whittier.
Best time to visit Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- May: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- June: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, busy crowds.
- April: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Minneapolis has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Minneapolis itinerary visits Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) on day 2, together with Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls, Mall of America and Guthrie Theater.
- No. 2 of the 17 sights in our Minneapolis things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Minneapolis.
- One of the picks in museums in Minneapolis.
- One of the picks in minneapolis on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Minneapolis.
If you like Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — Loring Park, 1 hour
- Stone Arch Bridge and St. Anthony Falls — Mill District, 1 hour
- Paisley Park — Chanhassen, 2 hours
- Walker Art Center — Loring Park, 2 hours
Staying near Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
Where to stay in Minneapolis compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)?
April–June, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Pick up a map and head for the Asian galleries and period rooms, which most first-time visitors miss.
+Do I need to book Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.