Season guide · Minneapolis · United States
Minneapolis in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Long and very cold, with snow cover, frozen lakes and wind chills below −20°C; the skyway and indoor culture make it manageable. Expect highs up to -3°C (27°F) and lows around -15°C (5°F), with about 25 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -15°C (5°F) to -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 25
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6°C (21°F) | -15°C (5°F) | 9 | 9.1 h | 1/5 |
| February | -3°C (27°F) | -13°C (9°F) | 7 | 10.3 h | 1/5 |
| December | -3°C (27°F) | -11°C (12°F) | 9 | 8.8 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of -4°C (25°F) against a yearly 12°C (54°F), and 25 of the year's roughly 114 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 1/5 and hotel prices 1/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Saint Paul Winter Carnival — ice sculptures and parades in Saint Paul (usually late January to early February)
- February: Saint Paul Winter Carnival (usually ends in early February)
- December: Holiday markets and Nordic Christmas events at the American Swedish Institute (usually December)
Good choices for winter
Gallery · University of Minnesota
Weisman Art Museum
View the building from the Washington Avenue Bridge, where the steel facade catches the light over the river.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Market · Lake Street
Midtown Global Market
Inside the huge former Sears building on Lake Street, now the Midtown Exchange, dozens of small food stalls and shops serve Mexican, Somali, Vietnamese, Moroccan and Scandinavian food.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Historic site · Chanhassen
Paisley Park
Allow about 40 minutes by car from downtown; there is no direct public transport, and phones must be secured during tours.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Gallery · Loring Park
Walker Art Center
One of the leading contemporary art centres in the United States, the Walker shows modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, design and film, with a strong collection including works by Andy Warhol, Chuck Close and Frida Kahlo.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Whittier
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
Pick up a map and head for the Asian galleries and period rooms, which most first-time visitors miss.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Day trips in winter
- Taylors Falls and Interstate State Park (About 1 hour) — The St.
- Red Wing (About 1 hour 10 minutes) — A Mississippi River town known for Red Wing Shoes and stoneware pottery, with a historic downtown, the hike up Barn Bluff for river views and drives along the Great River Road.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Minneapolis?
It is a trade-off: Long and very cold, with snow cover, frozen lakes and wind chills below −20°C; the skyway and indoor culture make it manageable. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Minneapolis in winter?
Highs of up to -3°C (27°F) and lows around -15°C (5°F), with about 25 rainy days over the season.