Minneapolis

Minneapolis and St. Paul form the “Twin Cities” of Minnesota. Home to landmarks such as the Spoonbridge and Cherry, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and the Mall of America, Minneapolis is a beautiful and vibrant city that never fails to amaze.

Overview Attractions / Activities Adventurous Activities Food Final Comments

Abundantly rich in bodies of water, Minneapolis and St. Paul are bisected by the stunning Mississippi River. And, despite being a major metropolis and commercial hub, Minneapolis’s population is one of the lowest of major cities in the United States, making the city feel far less crowded.

Nature here is also unique, stunning, and terribly underrated. Overall, Minneapolis surprised me immensely, and I never thought I would enjoy my visit so much. From the cathedrals to the Mall of American, the city has so many surprises. Browse a few of the many attractions in this guide and maybe it will surprise you too.

When you visit, make sure to follow this Minneapolis Adventure Guide to maximize your time here.

Recommended Duration of Visit

4 days (ideal), 3 days (doable), 2 days (difficult)

Click for some interesting facts about Minneapolis

Even though the Mall of America is in the United States, it is actually owned by Canadians.
Minneapolis was the launching pad for legendary musicians such as Bob Dylan (born in Duluth) and Prince (born in Minneapolis).
Minneapolis is one of the United States’ most literate cities.
Fortune 500 companies such as Target and Best Buy are headquartered in Minneapolis.
F. Scott Fitzgerald of Great Gatsby fame was born in the nearby city of St. Paul.

Before You Go

Flights / Getting There: Flying directly into Minneapolis/St. Paul is the most efficient strategy.

Overview

Climate: Minneapolis’s climate intuitively follows the normal pattern of North America. There is one distinction: winters (December, January, February) are very cold. Summers (June, July, August), on the other hand, are very pleasant. Being a Midwest state, Minnesota experiences a wide variety of weather.

Communication: English is the official language.

Navigation: Traveling by car is, by far, the best way to explore most of what Minneapolis has to offer. There are rentable bicycles scattered throughout the city as well, and those are a fun alternative.

Lodging: Lodging, in general, is moderately expensive in a metropolis such as Minneapolis. It would be cheaper to stay outside the city.

Activities Planning: Most attractions are free to visit, but they are far enough apart to necessitate driving.

Indoor attractions such as the Weisman Museum, Cathedral of Saint Paul, Basilica of Saint Mary, and Mall of America should be reserved for rainy days. Unless you know your trip will have good weather throughout, it would be wise to save indoor attractions for bad weather days.

Special Considerations

For those who are unfamiliar, George Floyd was shot in Minneapolis, so the city may still have remnants of social unrest. For example, I visited during the week when the police officer was sentenced to prison. There were military vehicles throughout the city, and many stores were boarded up.
Outside of the attractions listed, pay close attention to where you are going and generally avoid troublesome scenarios.

General: N/A

Peak Seasons: Summer is the peak season (for the lakes and weather).

Currency: United States Dollars (USD). Currency Converter.

Things to Do: Attractions and Activities

Attractions are paired up based on similarity and/or proximity. All the names provided are easily searchable on Google Maps.

Mall of America: With over 500 stores and over a dozen attractions, this massive shopping mall claims the title of the largest mall in the United States. At 4,870,000 feet² (452,000 meter²), it boasts over 40 million visitors every year and is the most visited attraction in the entire state of Minnesota.

The mall has 4 levels on the East and South wings and 3 levels on the North and West wings. Throughout the mall, visitors can find iconic places such as Nickelodeon Universe, Crayola Experience, Sea Life, Lego World, and even Mark Wahlburg’s Restaurant (Wahlburgers).

Cost: Variable depending on activity. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 8 hours.

Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store: While driving down Highway 169, one just can’t miss the bright yellow barn exterior (and very weird advertising signs) from one of Minnesota’s most unique attractions.

Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store features an absurd number of candy, pies, popcorn, and, get this, over 1200 flavors of soda (the largest soda collection in the world). The place is an absolute delight (not for your teeth though).

Cost: Variable. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

I cannot understate how much there is in this mall, so plan your day accordingly. It is entirely possible to spend an entire day here. And you can have a great time simply just walking around.

This place is the furthest attraction from central Minneapolis. So, visit if you have plenty of time. Naturally, check ahead of time to make sure it’s actually open.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: This sculpture garden is one of Minneapolis’s most iconic attractions for one reason: The Spoonbridge and Cherry—Minneapolis’s equivalent to Chicago’s Cloud Gate.

As the largest urban sculpture garden in the United States, it is well-populated with other impressive sculptures and set against the backdrop of a beautiful Minneapolis skyline.

The sculpture garden is pet-friendly, gorgeous, and generally one of the best places in the city for a casual hangout.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

Western Sculpture Park: While less impressive than its more popular cousin, the Western Sculpture Park offers a nice relaxing stroll alongside some unique sculptures far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The best part is no one is usually around to stop you from climbing on and around the sculptures. It’s honestly fair game.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 15 – 30 minutes.

There arestreet/public parking nearby. The street parking is free, but the inexpensive public garage offers shade.

The Western Sculpture Park is near the Cathedral of Saint Paul, so visiting one after the other would be a great plan.

Stone Arch Bridge: The Stone Arch Bridge overlooks the Mississippi River, offering vast and gorgeous panoramic views on both sides. It is, without a doubt, the best place to view the Minneapolis skyline. The entire area is stunning, serene, and spectacular.

Nearby, the ruins of an old mill (i.e. Mill Ruins Park) decorate the landscape. And, since it’s closed off to motor vehicles, visitors can bike, walk, or even ride a horse-drawn carriage while traversing thoroughly.

If you could pick just one place to visit, let it be the Stone Arch Bridge. It is easily one of the best attractions in Minneapolis and my personal favorite.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.

Weisman Art Museum: Due to its unique design, this stainless steel and brick building is one of the most widely recognized (yet rarely understood) landmarks in Minneapolis. The most common reaction when seeing it for the first time is, “What the fuck is that thing?!”

It features an art collection with over 25,000 art pieces.

Cost: For more information, refer to the official Weisman Art Museum website. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours.

The bridge often has high foot traffic, but that’s pretty much unavoidable unless you visit early in the mornings on a weekday. Ideally, visit 1 hour before sunset or early in the morning.

The museum has its own dedicated parking lot. The museum actually belongs to the University of Minnesota, so the official website is the University of Minnesota's website.

Minnehaha Regional Park: Home to the 53-foot (16.2-meter) Minnehaha Falls, this waterfront park bordering the Mississippi River is one of the most impressive nature destinations in the Minneapolis region. At the heart of the park lies the waterfall and the Sea Salt—a restaurant specializing in tasty seafood.

Visitors can spend hours simply walking along the perimeter of this 170-acre park. Naturally, there is plenty of seating in and out of the shade scattered throughout the park.

Cost: Free to visit or a small fee if you need to park a vehicle. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 3 hours.

Lake Harriet Bandshell Park: Named after the concave bandstand shell that defines the park, Lake Harriet Bandshell Park offers paved biking and walking trails alongside a lovely lake.

The area near Lake Harriet is often very underrated as well. It features the largest collection of lakes and scenic aquatic views within a short distance of Minneapolis.

Throughout the park, there are plenty of waterside picnic tables, making it a great place for a scenic lunch. There is also a restaurant right next to the water (Bread & Pickle).

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

There are multiple inexpensive parking spots throughout the park and near the falls. You can also walk down the stairs to get closer to the waterfall.

There is a very inexpensive parking lot nearby. Bde Maka Ska Lake and Lyndale Park Gardens are also just a short walk from Lake Harriet Bandshell Park.

Tower Hill Park: Tower Hill Park is most recognized for the Witch’s Hat water tower (i.e. Prospect Tower Water Tank) eerily overlooking the nearby woods.

Over 100 years old, this historic tower occupies the highest natural land area in all of Minneapolis. Naturally, it comes with some lovely skyline views.

Cost: Free to Visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 15 – 30 minutes.

Boom Island Park: This park features a playground, walking/hiking paths, a dock, and a gorgeous view of a lighthouse on the Mississippi River.

Cost: Free to Visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 60 minutes.

You can park alongside the nearby roads. There are two main ways to reach the tower—via a short hike through the mysterious woods or via a paved and less-exciting path.

You can’t actually access the island via the walking path anymore. The path has been removed, so the island can only be accessed via boat. The best view is from the bridge.

Cathedral of Saint Paul: Recognized for its grand scale and copper-clad dome, this Roman Catholic cathedral is one of the most surprising sites in Minneapolis. Normally, such cathedrals are often found only in Europe.

This iconic building’s beautiful architecture is complemented by its richly detailed and awe-inspiring interior.

Cost: Free to Visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 45 minutes.

Basilica of Saint Mary: As the first basilica in the United States, the Basilica of Saint Mary is “a place worship. A place of refuge. A place of peace.” It is “a center for the arts, and a place of refuge for the poor.”

Stained-glass windows, shrines, and an art gallery decorate the grand interior of this magnificent structure.

Cost: Free to Visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 – 45 minutes.

The cathedral is one of the furthest attractions on the list, so make sure to check dates and times before visiting.

From the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge, you can take an excellent photo of the basilica.

Bob Dylan Mural: Painted by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, the Bob Dylan Mural is one of the most magnificent public art pieces in Minneapolis (and in the United States).

Finished in 2015, this towering kaleidoscopic depiction of the great musician features Dylan through the years.

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 5 – 10 minutes.

Music Wall: This iconic 5-story mural is a well-known historical landmark in Minneapolis. It’s existed since the 1970s when Schmitt Music attempted to “make the wall sing.”

The music is Gaspard de la Nuit (a very difficult piano piece).

Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 5 – 10 minutes.

The mural is a great place to visit if you’re strolling through the area or have suitable parking elsewhere. The parking is pricy and a real pain to deal with.

Similar to the Bob Dylan Mural, the Music Wall is a great place to visit when you’re strolling through the area. The parking is pricy and a real pain to deal with.