Sight guide · Minneapolis · United States
Visiting Minneapolis Skyway System
About 13 km of enclosed second-floor footbridges connect around 80 blocks of downtown, so office workers can cross the city in shirt sleeves in January.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BpA9543, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Minneapolis Skyway System is an architectural landmark in Downtown, Minneapolis. Allow as needed; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Architecture
- Area
- Downtown
- Time needed
- As needed
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, rainy day and architecture
- Best months
- April–June
About Minneapolis Skyway System
About 13 km of enclosed second-floor footbridges connect around 80 blocks of downtown, so office workers can cross the city in shirt sleeves in January. It links hotels, food courts, shops, the Target Center and the light rail.
Tip: Use the skyway maps posted at junctions; on cold days it is the quickest way to cross downtown on foot.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: As needed.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Downtown, office towers, theatres on Hennepin Avenue and the enclosed skyway network.
Best time to visit Minneapolis Skyway System
Minneapolis Skyway System 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
Minneapolis Skyway System is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia).
- No. 13 of the 17 sights in our Minneapolis things-to-do list.
- Listed in free things to do in Minneapolis.
- One of the picks in minneapolis on a rainy day.
Near Minneapolis Skyway System
Also in Downtown, so you can walk between them:
- First Avenue — an evening, mid-priced
If you like Minneapolis Skyway System
- Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) — Whittier, 2–3 hours
- Walker Art Center — Loring Park, 2 hours
- Guthrie Theater — Mill District, 30 minutes, or an evening for a show
- American Swedish Institute — Phillips, 1.5 hours
Staying near Minneapolis Skyway System
Stay in Downtown ($$$) to walk here: office towers, theatres on Hennepin Avenue and the enclosed skyway network. All areas to stay in Minneapolis.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Minneapolis Skyway System?
Plan as needed. With First Avenue nearby, it fits a half-day in Downtown.
+Is Minneapolis Skyway System free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Minneapolis Skyway System?
April–June, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Use the skyway maps posted at junctions; on cold days it is the quickest way to cross downtown on foot.
+Do I need to book Minneapolis Skyway System in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.