Minneapolis Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Minneapolis, nestled in the heart of the Midwest in the state of Minnesota, United States, is a city that boasts a dynamic blend of urban charm and natural beauty. Known for its vibrant arts scene, extensive park systems, and innovative culinary offerings, Minneapolis is a city that invites visitors to explore its many facets.
The cityscape of Minneapolis is dominated by modern skyscrapers and the iconic Stone Arch Bridge, a testament to the city's industrial past. The Minneapolis skyline, set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River, creates a picturesque urban panorama that is both distinctive and inspiring.
Cultural enthusiasts will find Minneapolis a treasure trove of artistic expression. The Walker Art Center and the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, featuring the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture, offer contemporary visual and performing arts that captivate audiences. The Minneapolis Institute of Art, home to over 90,000 works of art, showcases pieces that span 5,000 years of world history.
Minneapolis is also known for its commitment to green spaces. The city's park system has been called one of the best in America, with the Chain of Lakes and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway providing residents and visitors alike with miles of trails for biking, walking, and outdoor recreation. The Minnehaha Falls, located within Minnehaha Park, offers a stunning natural oasis within the urban environment.
For theater buffs, the city's thriving theater scene is second only to New York City in terms of live theater per capita. The Guthrie Theater stands as a beacon for the performing arts, known for its avant-garde productions and stunning architecture overlooking the Mississippi River.
Foodies will revel in Minneapolis's culinary scene, which is as diverse as it is innovative. The city is home to a burgeoning farm-to-table movement, with local chefs emphasizing fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. From cozy cafes to high-end dining establishments, the flavors of the city cater to all palates. The North Loop neighborhood, in particular, has emerged as a foodie destination, with an array of restaurants and breweries that reflect the city's creative and entrepreneurial spirit.
Sports fans can catch a game at one of the city's state-of-the-art stadiums. Minneapolis is home to teams from all major American sports, including the Minnesota Twins (MLB), the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA).
Minneapolis Attractions - What to See and Explore
Minneapolis offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Huntington Bank Stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium, Mariucci Arena, Weisman Art Museum. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Minneapolis by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Minneapolis.
Culture
U.S. Bank Stadium
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Downtown East 
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Powderhorn, MinneapolisBroad collection from a mummy to Monet
Museum Art museum Whittier 
Guthrie Theater
Central MinneapolisIconic venue with 3 stages, food and bars
Theater Concerts and shows Downtown East 
Walker Art Center
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisWell-known contemporary art museum
Museum Art museum Lowry Hill 
Riverview Theater
Longfellow, MinneapolisNightlife Cinema Theater Howe
Shopping
Nicollet Mall
Central MinneapolisShopping Shopping district Downtown West 
Midtown Global Market
Phillips, MinneapolisShopping Department store Art Deco architecture Midtown Phillips 
Saint Anthony Main
University, MinneapolisShopping Shopping centre Marcy - Holmes 
Mayo Clinic Square
Central MinneapolisShopping Shopping centre Warehouse District 
Gaviidae Common
Central MinneapolisShopping Shopping centre Downtown West
Active
Target Field
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport North Loop 
Target Center
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Warehouse District 
Huntington Bank Stadium
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Prospect Park U.S. Bank Stadium
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Downtown East 
Mariucci Arena
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums
Park
Saint Anthony Falls
Central MinneapolisCity falls with lock and dam tours
Natural attraction Waterfall Downtown East 
Minnehaha Park
Longfellow, MinneapolisPark Vernacular architecture Hiawatha 
Lyndale Park
Southwest MinneapolisPark Garden East Harriet 
Victory Memorial Parkway
Camden, MinneapolisPark Victory 
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNotable modern sculptures and landscaping
Museum Art museum Lowry Hill
Museum
Weisman Art Museum
University, MinneapolisModern space with paintings and ceramics
Museum Art museum Minneapolis Institute of Art
Powderhorn, MinneapolisBroad collection from a mummy to Monet
Museum Art museum Whittier 
Mill City Museum
Central MinneapolisInnovative look at the flour industry
Museum Specialty museum Downtown East Walker Art Center
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisWell-known contemporary art museum
Museum Art museum Lowry Hill 
The Bakken Museum
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisMuseum Science museum West Calhoun
Bridge
Stone Arch Bridge
University, MinneapolisLandmark span for pedestrians and bicycles
Bridge Nature and wildlife tours Marcy - Holmes 
Washington Avenue Bridge
University, MinneapolisBridge Cedar-Riverside 
10th Avenue Bridge
University, MinneapolisBridge Cedar-Riverside 
Intercity Bridge
MinneapolisBridge Vernacular architecture Highland 
Minneapolis Skyway System
Central MinneapolisBridge Downtown West
Concerts and shows
U.S. Bank Stadium
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Downtown East Guthrie Theater
Central MinneapolisIconic venue with 3 stages, food and bars
Theater Concerts and shows Downtown East Riverview Theater
Longfellow, MinneapolisNightlife Cinema Theater Howe 
Northrop Auditorium
University, MinneapolisConcerts and shows Theater Performing arts 
Orchestra Hall
Central MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown West
Theater
Guthrie Theater
Central MinneapolisIconic venue with 3 stages, food and bars
Theater Concerts and shows Downtown East Riverview Theater
Longfellow, MinneapolisNightlife Cinema Theater Howe Northrop Auditorium
University, MinneapolisConcerts and shows Theater Performing arts Orchestra Hall
Central MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown West 
The Cedar Cultural Center
University, MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Theater Cedar-Riverside
Lake
Lake Calhoun
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisLake bordered by parks and trails
Nature Natural attraction West Calhoun 
Brownie Lake
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisLake Bryn Mawr 
Lake of the Isles
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Kenwood 
Lake Harriet
Southwest MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Linden Hills 
Cedar Lake
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Bryn Mawr
Natural attraction
Saint Anthony Falls
Central MinneapolisCity falls with lock and dam tours
Natural attraction Waterfall Downtown East Lake Calhoun
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisLake bordered by parks and trails
Nature Natural attraction West Calhoun Lake of the Isles
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Kenwood Lake Harriet
Southwest MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Linden Hills Cedar Lake
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Bryn Mawr
Historical place
Mill City Museum
Central MinneapolisInnovative look at the flour industry
Museum Specialty museum Downtown East 
Mill Ruins Park
Central MinneapolisPark Hiking trail Bike trail Downtown East 
Longfellow House
Longfellow, MinneapolisMuseum Historical place Garden Hiawatha 
Edna S. Purcell House
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisMuseum Art museum History museum East Isles 
Hennepin Center for the Arts
Central MinneapolisTheater Romanesque architecture Historical place Warehouse District
Nature
Lake Calhoun
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisLake bordered by parks and trails
Nature Natural attraction West Calhoun Lake of the Isles
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Kenwood Lake Harriet
Southwest MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Linden Hills Cedar Lake
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Bryn Mawr 
Lake Nokomis
Nokomis, MinneapolisNature Natural attraction Lake Keewaydin
Specialty museum
Mill City Museum
Central MinneapolisInnovative look at the flour industry
Museum Specialty museum Downtown East 
Wells Fargo Center
Central MinneapolisMuseum Specialty museum History museum Downtown West 
American Swedish Institute
Phillips, MinneapolisHistoric Swedish museum and arts center
Museum Vernacular architecture Phillips West 
Somali Museum of Minnesota
Phillips, MinneapolisMuseum Art museum Specialty museum Midtown Phillips 
The Soap Factory
University, MinneapolisMuseum Specialty museum Art museum Marcy - Holmes
Art gallery
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Powderhorn, MinneapolisBroad collection from a mummy to Monet
Museum Art museum Whittier Walker Art Center
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisWell-known contemporary art museum
Museum Art museum Lowry Hill 
Three Rivers Park District - Silverwood Park
MinneapolisPark Body of water Hiking trail St. Anthony The Soap Factory
University, MinneapolisMuseum Specialty museum Art museum Marcy - Holmes 
Midway Contemporary Art
University, MinneapolisMuseum Art gallery Marcy - Holmes
Arenas and stadiums
Huntington Bank Stadium
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Prospect Park U.S. Bank Stadium
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Downtown East Mariucci Arena
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums 
Williams Arena
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums
Sport venue
Target Field
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport North Loop Target Center
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Warehouse District Huntington Bank Stadium
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Prospect Park U.S. Bank Stadium
Central MinneapolisSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Downtown East Mariucci Arena
University, MinneapolisSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums
Music venue
Guthrie Theater
Central MinneapolisIconic venue with 3 stages, food and bars
Theater Concerts and shows Downtown East Orchestra Hall
Central MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown West The Cedar Cultural Center
University, MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Theater Cedar-Riverside 
Mill City Nights
Central MinneapolisMusic venue Warehouse District 
Jay's Longhorn Bar
Central MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Music venue Downtown West
Garden
Lyndale Park
Southwest MinneapolisPark Garden East Harriet Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisNotable modern sculptures and landscaping
Museum Art museum Lowry Hill Longfellow House
Longfellow, MinneapolisMuseum Historical place Garden Hiawatha 
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Calhoun Isles, MinneapolisPark Garden Bryn Mawr
Outdoor activities
Stone Arch Bridge
University, MinneapolisLandmark span for pedestrians and bicycles
Bridge Nature and wildlife tours Marcy - Holmes Mill Ruins Park
Central MinneapolisPark Hiking trail Bike trail Downtown East Three Rivers Park District - Silverwood Park
MinneapolisPark Body of water Hiking trail St. Anthony 
Loring Park
Central MinneapolisPark Jogging paths and tracks Bike trail Loring Park 
The Salt Cave Minnesota
Southwest MinneapolisCave Natural attraction Yoga and pilates Tangletown
Concert hall
Northrop Auditorium
University, MinneapolisConcerts and shows Theater Performing arts Orchestra Hall
Central MinneapolisNightlife Music and shows Theater Downtown West 
State Theatre
Central MinneapolisTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts Downtown West 
Ted Mann Concert Hall
University, MinneapolisConcerts and shows Theater Concert hall
Other categories
LibraryChurchArt museumPerforming artsHistory museumNeighbourhoodSportNightlifeEvent spaceSkyscraperTowerMinneapolis – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Minneapolis, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Water Park of America (Bloomington), Buck Hill (Burnsville), Canterbury Park (Shakopee).
Best Time To Visit Minneapolis
Learn when is the best time to travel to Minneapolis weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience the City
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Hot chicken
Hot chicken, also known as Nashville hot chicken, is a tantalizing dish that originates from Nashville, Tennessee. This Southern delicacy features fried chicken that is marinated, breaded, fried, and then coated in a fiery paste or sauce made predominantly with cayenne...
Food
Lox
Lox is a type of brined salmon typically enjoyed on a bagel with cream cheese. It is often accompanied by toppings such as tomato, sliced onion, cucumbers, and capers. The word "lox" originates from the Yiddish "laks" which itself comes from the Germanic word for...
Cornbread
Cornbread is a cherished quick bread made from cornmeal, typically leavened with baking powder. It has deep roots in Native American cuisine, where corn has been a staple for millennia. When European settlers arrived in the New World, they learned to prepare corn-based...
Poutine
Poutine, a cherished Canadian dish, is a delightful amalgamation of crispy french fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s and, despite initial ridicule, has grown into a celebrated emblem of Quebecois cultural pride.
Dish
Cupcake
A cupcake is a delightful, single-serving cake typically baked in a small, thin paper or aluminum cup. These tasty treats have a rich history dating back to the late 18th century, with the term "cupcake" first appearing in the early 19th century.
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
The Madonna of the Pinks
The "Madonna of the Pinks" is a beautiful and intimate painting attributed to the Italian Renaissance master Raphael. This oil painting on fruitwood can be admired at the National Gallery in London. It captures a tender moment where a young Virgin Mary interacts with...
Painting by Raphael
Peace Concluded, 1856
"Peace Concluded, 1856" by John Everett Millais is a captivating painting that tells a poignant story. It features a wounded British officer reading a newspaper about the end of the Crimean War. What began as a satirical piece transformed into a heartfelt scene of...
Painting by John Everett Millais
Blue Horses
"Blue Horses" (or "Die grossen blauen Pferde") is a 1911 masterpiece by the German artist Franz Marc, a seminal figure in German Expressionism and a founding member of the Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) group. This captivating painting features three blue horses set...
Painting by Franz Marc
Artist's Studio Look Mickey
"Artist's Studio—Look Mickey" is a captivating painting created in 1973 by Roy Lichtenstein. This work is part of a series of five large-scale studio interior paintings where Lichtenstein draws inspiration from Henri Matisse's oeuvre, particularly "L'Atelier Rouge."...
Painting by Roy Lichtenstein
Self-portrait with Dr Arrieta
"Self-portrait with Dr. Arrieta" is a poignant painting by the renowned Spanish artist Francisco Goya, completed in 1820. This oil on canvas masterpiece is part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and captures a significant moment in Goya's life when...
Painting by Francisco Goya
Minnesota