Minneapolis grew up around the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River, and that river still defines the city.

AT A GLANCE

Best time

Late May to early October for lakes, patios and festivals; September for mild weather and fall color.

How long

Three to four days to cover the riverfront, museums, lakes and a neighborhood or two.

Getting there

Fly into Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and ride the Blue Line light rail downtown.

Why visit Minneapolis

In the late nineteenth century, Minneapolis was the flour milling capital of the world, powered by St. Anthony Falls. That industrial heritage gives the riverfront its character today, with ruins, restored mills and bridges turned into parks and trails.

Minneapolis punches well above its size in the arts. The Guthrie Theater, the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are institutions of national stature, and the city has more theater seats per person than almost anywhere outside New York.

The riverfront and St. Anthony Falls

Stone Arch Bridge

Built in 1883 for the Great Northern Railway, the Stone Arch Bridge curves across the Mississippi just below St. Anthony Falls. Today it is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, and it reopened in 2025 after a major rehabilitation.

The granite and limestone arches of the Stone Arch Bridge beside St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Stone Arch Bridge was built as a railroad bridge in 1883 and now carries walkers and cyclists.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Mill City Museum

On the west bank, the Mill City Museum is built inside the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, once the largest flour mill in the world, which was gutted by fire in 1991.

The ruined walls of the Washburn A Mill housing the Mill City Museum with the Gold Medal Flour sign, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mill City Museum is built inside the ruins of the Washburn A Mill on the Mississippi riverfront.Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Guthrie Theater and Mill Ruins Park

Next door, the Guthrie Theater is one of the country's leading regional theaters, housed in a dark blue building with a long cantilevered walkway, the Endless Bridge, that juts toward the river. You can walk out onto it for views even if you are not seeing a show.

The blue Guthrie Theater with its long cantilevered bridge reaching toward the river, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Guthrie Theater's Endless Bridge extends out toward the Mississippi River.Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

St. Anthony Main and Nicollet Island

Across the river, St. Anthony Main has cobblestone streets, restored brick buildings and riverside patios. A short walk away, Nicollet Island is a quiet island of Victorian houses in the middle of the river, with paths and views back toward downtown.

Art and museums

Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Walker Art Center is one of the leading contemporary art museums in the United States, with galleries, performance spaces and an excellent film program.

The giant spoon and red cherry sculpture in a pond at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minnesota
Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen is the icon of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.Photo: Lorie Shaull, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Known as Mia, the Minneapolis Institute of Art in the Whittier neighborhood holds a vast collection that spans thousands of years and every continent, from ancient Chinese bronzes and period rooms to European masterpieces and contemporary photography. Allow at least half a day.

The neoclassical facade of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota
The Minneapolis Institute of Art holds an encyclopedic collection spanning thousands of years.Photo: McGhiever, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Weisman Art Museum

On the University of Minnesota campus, the Weisman Art Museum is housed in a striking stainless steel building designed by Frank Gehry, perched on a bluff above the Mississippi. Its collection focuses on American art and ceramics.

The stainless steel facade of the Weisman Art Museum above the Mississippi River, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Weisman Art Museum on the University of Minnesota campus was designed by Frank Gehry.Photo: Jimmy Selix, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

American Swedish Institute

South of downtown, the American Swedish Institute occupies the turreted Turnblad Mansion, an ornate early twentieth century home with carved woodwork and tile stoves, connected to a modern wing used for exhibitions and a cafe serving Nordic food.

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Lakes, falls and parks

Minnehaha Falls

In the southeast of the city, Minnehaha Falls drops over a limestone ledge into a wooded glen inside Minnehaha Regional Park. The falls were made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem The Song of Hiawatha.

Minnehaha Falls pouring over a limestone ledge into a wooded glen, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnehaha Falls drops over a limestone ledge in Minnehaha Regional Park.Photo: Original uploader was The Statue With The Dictionary at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bde Maka Ska and the Chain of Lakes

The Chain of Lakes is a string of city lakes in southwest Minneapolis linked by paved walking and biking paths. Bde Maka Ska, the largest, has beaches, boat rentals and busy lakeside paths.

Sailboats on Bde Maka Ska with the Minneapolis skyline in the distance, Minnesota
Bde Maka Ska is the largest lake in the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.Photo: Tyler Vigen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lake Harriet

South of Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet is ringed by a walking path and has a castle-like bandshell that hosts free outdoor concerts on summer evenings. Nearby are the Lyndale Park Rose Garden, one of the oldest public rose gardens in the country, and a heritage streetcar line that runs short rides in season.

The castle-like Lake Harriet Bandshell on the shore of Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Lake Harriet Bandshell hosts free outdoor concerts in summer.Photo: Schwerdf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Food and local flavors

The city's most famous dish is the Jucy Lucy, a burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty.

Minnesota comfort food includes hotdish, a casserole usually topped with tater tots, wild rice soup made with native wild rice, and walleye served fried or in sandwiches.

Minneapolis also has one of the largest Somali communities in the country, and a significant Hmong, Mexican, Ecuadorian and Vietnamese presence.

Popular dishes to try in Minneapolis

Jucy Lucy in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jucy Lucy Food and local flavorsThe city's most famous dish is the Jucy Lucy, a burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty.Photo: Ugryz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hotdish in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hotdish Minnesota comfort food includes hotdish, a casserole usually topped with tater tots, wild rice soup made with native wild rice, and walleye served fried or in sandwiches.Photo: SEWilco, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Walleye in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Walleye Minnesota comfort food includes hotdish, a casserole usually topped with tater tots, wild rice soup made with native wild rice, and walleye served fried or in sandwiches.Photo: stu_spivack, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wild rice soup in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wild rice soup Minnesota comfort food includes hotdish, a casserole usually topped with tater tots, wild rice soup made with native wild rice, and walleye served fried or in sandwiches.Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Where to stay

Downtown is the most convenient base for first-time visitors, close to theaters, sports venues, light rail and the riverfront.

North Loop is a trendy warehouse district of restaurants, boutiques and cocktail bars near Target Field, ideal for food lovers and couples.

Mill District and St. Anthony Main put you on the riverfront, steps from the Stone Arch Bridge and Guthrie Theater.

Northeast is a good pick for travelers interested in art studios, breweries and live music.

Where to stay in Minneapolis

Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Stone Arch Bridge Anthony Main put you on the riverfront, steps from the Stone Arch Bridge and Guthrie Theater.Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Guthrie Theater Anthony Main put you on the riverfront, steps from the Stone Arch Bridge and Guthrie Theater.Photo: Paul2520, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lakes, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Lakes Uptown and the Lakes area suit visitors who want to run, bike and paddle around the Chain of Lakes, with a more residential feel.Photo: Streetfilms, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Chain of Lakes Uptown and the Lakes area suit visitors who want to run, bike and paddle around the Chain of Lakes, with a more residential feel.Photo: DanTD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Best time to visit

Summer, from June to August, is the city's favorite season. Days are long and warm, the lakes are full of boats and swimmers, and outdoor concerts and festivals fill the calendar.

September and early October bring crisp air, fall color along the river and lakes, and smaller crowds. Spring arrives late, often not until May, and can be muddy and changeable.

Winter is long and very cold, with frequent subzero temperatures in January and February.

Getting there and getting around

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is a major hub with direct flights across North America and to Europe and Asia.

Downtown and the riverfront are easy to explore on foot.

A car is useful for exploring beyond the city, but parking downtown can be expensive and busy during events.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start at Mill City Museum and ride the Flour Tower. Walk out onto the Guthrie's Endless Bridge, then cross the Stone Arch Bridge to St. Anthony Main and Nicollet Island.

Second day

Spend the morning at the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Third day

Explore Mia in the morning, then have lunch along Eat Street or at Midtown Global Market.

Fourth day

Visit the Weisman Art Museum and the University of Minnesota riverfront, then spend the afternoon in Northeast browsing studios and breweries.

Before you go

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Practical tips

  • In winter, pack insulated boots, a heavy coat, hat and gloves, and use the downtown skyways.
  • Book Guthrie Theater tickets ahead, especially for weekend evenings and holiday productions.
  • Use the Blue Line from the airport to avoid parking and traffic downtown.
  • Rent a bike to explore the riverfront and lakes; trails are well marked and connected.
  • Book lodging early during the State Fair and major sports or convention weekends.
  • Bring insect repellent for summer evenings by the lakes and creeks.

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From coffee shops near the riverfront to bike rentals by the lakes and service providers across the city, you can browse local businesses in Minneapolis to plan your visit.

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