Minneapolis travel guide

About Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 census, it is the state's most populous city. Located in the state's center near the eastern border, it occupies both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area with 3.69 million residents. Minneapolis is built on an artesian aquifer on relatively flat terrain and is known for cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Nicknamed the "City of Lakes", Minneapolis is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks, and waterfalls. The city's public park system is connected by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.

Cheap flights to Minneapolis

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $679 from Dublin, travelling 11 Nov – 18 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

• LON London to Minneapolis13 Dec – 1 Feb · MSP from$998
• DUB Dublin to Minneapolis11 Nov – 18 Nov · MSP from$679
• CPH Copenhagen to Minneapolis16 Jun – 14 Aug · MSP from$767
• MAN Manchester to Minneapolis29 Oct – 11 Nov · MSP from$1,253
• EDI Edinburgh to Minneapolis12 Nov – 16 Nov · MSP from$1,371
• HEL Helsinki to Minneapolis22 Nov – 6 Dec · MSP from$1,302
• PRG Prague to Minneapolis17 Jun – 20 Jul · MSP from$1,208
• GLA Glasgow to Minneapolis6 Nov – 21 Nov · MSP from$1,376

Cheapest month to fly

Airlines travellers compared most often: Aer Lingus, Finnair.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

Places to visit in Minneapolis

1. 

   Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

   Park · 1 mi from centre

   An outdoor sculpture park next to the Walker Art Center, famous for the Spoonbridge and Cherry. Free and open daily, it is a classic stop for photos.

2. 

   Walker Art Center

   Museum · 1 mi from centre

   A contemporary art center beside the Sculpture Garden with exhibitions, film screenings and performances. Its collection features modern and contemporary works by international artists, and the building has a well-regarded restaurant.

3. 

   Minneapolis Institute of Art

   Museum · 2 mi from centre

   A large art museum with a broad collection spanning thousands of years and many cultures, from ancient artifacts to contemporary art. General admission is free.

4. 

   Stone Arch Bridge

   Landmark

   A former railroad bridge of granite and limestone arches crossing the Mississippi, now a pedestrian and bike path with views of St. Anthony Falls and the skyline.

5. 

   Mill City Museum

   Museum

   Built into the ruins of a flour mill, this museum explains how Minneapolis became the flour milling capital of the world. Its observation deck overlooks the river.

6. 

   Minnehaha Falls

   Nature · 5 mi from centre

   A waterfall in Minnehaha Regional Park, with trails along the creek to the Mississippi. A popular spot for picnics, hikes and the park's seafood restaurant.

7. 

   Bde Maka Ska

   Nature · 3 mi from centre

   The largest lake in the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, circled by paths for walking and cycling, with sandy beaches, a pavilion and boat rentals. A favorite summer gathering place for locals.

8. 

   Guthrie Theater

   Entertainment

   A riverfront theater known for its cantilevered Endless Bridge, which offers free views over the Mississippi and St. Anthony Falls. It stages a mix of classic and contemporary plays throughout the year.

Things to do in Minneapolis by type

4 tours, tickets and experiences across 1 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.

• Shows, sports and special events 3 experiences Major League Baseball: Minnesota Twins at Target Field - Ticket

Top experiences in Minneapolis

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 4 available.

Shows, sports and special events

NBA Game: Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center - Ticket

• 3 hours

From $146 per adult

Where to stay in Minneapolis

Popular hotels in Minneapolis, out of 307 properties you can book.

Radisson Blu Mall of America

• Mall of America

From $148 per night

The Marquette Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton

• Downtown

From $151 per night

Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West by IHG

• Plymouth

From $102 per night

Hotel Indigo Minneapolis Downtown By IHG

• Downtown

From $124 per night

DoubleTree by Hilton Roseville Minneapolis

• Roseville

From $108 per night

The Westin Minneapolis

• Downtown

From $133 per night

Envision Hotel St. Paul South

• St. Paul

From $73 per night

Hilton Minneapolis

• Downtown

From $172 per night

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront

• St. Paul

From $123 per night

Cambria Hotel Bloomington Mall of America Min Airp

• Mall of America

From $113 per night

Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Downtown

• Downtown

From $127 per night

Drury Plaza Hotel St. Paul Downtown

• St. Paul

From $153 per night

Best time to visit Minneapolis

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Minneapolis is July to September, when average daytime highs are around 77–83°F and rain falls on about 9 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Minneapolis weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 70° 43° 3%
• Thu 22 Oct 74° 56° 0%
• Fri 23 Oct 72° 58° 6%
• Sat 24 Oct 67° 59° 29%
• Sun 25 Oct 59° 49° 29%
• Mon 26 Oct 50° 43° 13%

Know before you go

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English

Calling code

+1

Driving

On the right

Time zone

America/ChicagoUTC−5

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

• Wed 11 NovVeterans Day
• Thu 26 NovThanksgiving Day
• Fri 25 DecChristmas Day
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day
• Mon 18 JanMartin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mon 15 FebPresidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Minneapolis

These are the airports closest to central Minneapolis. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• MIC Crystal Airport7 mi (11 km) from the city centre
• MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport7 mi (12 km) from the city centre
• FCM Flying Cloud Airport14 mi (23 km) from the city centre

Getting around Minneapolis

The city streets have a grid system that's helpful if you learn it. Minneapolis is divided into quadrants: North, South, Northeast and Southeast. Hennepin Avenue forms the divider between streets labeled N and S near downtown. This division continues through the smaller portion of Minneapolis east of the Mississippi, dividing it into Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE). Further west of downtown, this division lies along Linden Avenue, just north of the I-394 freeway.

By public transit

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Pass options

Unlimited ride passes are available in 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day formats. Stored value passes (pay-per-ride) are also available. Day passes are $6 and can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, from a bus driver, or a ticket machine at any light rail station. 7-day ($24) and 31-day ($65-120) passes must be loaded on a Go-To card, which can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, or participating Metro Transit sales outlets.

The public transit system

The northern head of the LRT is a station at 5th Street and 3rd Avenue North, next to the Minnesota Twins' (baseball) new home of Target Field. The Target Field station is also the southern terminus of the Northstar Line. Along Hennepin next to the LRT station are bus stops for Route 6, connecting Uptown, Downtown, Dinkytown/University of Minnesota.

Minneapolis travel FAQ