Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the Twin Cities, sit side by side on the banks of the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. Minneapolis grew up around Saint Anthony Falls, the only major natural waterfall on the Mississippi, which powered the flour mills that made it the flour capital of the world in the late 19th century. Saint Paul, the state capital, features a marble-domed Capitol and an avenue of Victorian mansions.

Minnesota markets itself as the land of 10,000 lakes, and Minneapolis has several lakes within the city, linked by walking and biking trails in the Chain of Lakes. The Walker Art Center, with the spoon-and-cherry sculpture garden, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art form the cultural axis, and the Stone Arch Bridge, a former stone railroad bridge, crosses the river in front of the falls.

To the south, in Bloomington near the airport, the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the country, houses Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor amusement park, and the SEA LIFE aquarium. Winters are long and cold, and downtown Minneapolis has a network of enclosed walkways, the Skyway, that connect buildings at the second-floor level.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Minneapolis and Saint Paul is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Minneapolis and Saint Paul

✈ Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) · 16 km to Minneapolis

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) lies between the two cities, about 16 km from downtown Minneapolis and about 6 km from the Mall of America. The Blue Line light rail links the airport with downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America, and the Green Line connects the two downtowns. Long-distance trains stop at Union Depot in Saint Paul.

Suggested arrival point: Minneapolis

Minnesota · Minneapolis and Saint Paul Suggested arrival point

Minneapolis

The largest city in Minnesota, on the banks of the Mississippi, beside the Saint Anthony Falls. It has the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mill City Museum in the ruins of the flour mills, the Walker Art Center with its sculpture garden, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Chain of Lakes inside the city and Minnehaha Falls. Downtown features the Skyway, a network of covered walkways between buildings.

Minnesota · Minneapolis and Saint Paul Capital

Saint Paul

Capital of Minnesota, on the banks of the Mississippi, neighboring Minneapolis. Quieter than its twin city, it has a marble-domed Capitol designed by Cass Gilbert, the cathedral on the hill, Summit Avenue with Victorian mansions and the James J. Hill House, the Science Museum of Minnesota by the river, and Como Park, with a zoo and glasshouse.

Minnesota · Minneapolis and Saint Paul

Bloomington

City south of Minneapolis, beside MSP airport, known for the Mall of America, the largest shopping center in the United States, which houses the indoor Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and the SEA LIFE Minnesota aquarium. To the south, the Minnesota River valley has a wildlife refuge with trails.

The local experience

Things to do in Minneapolis and Saint Paul

Saint Paul · Minnesota · Historic building

Minnesota State Capitol

Seat of Minnesota government, dating from 1905, designed by Cass Gilbert, with a marble dome and a gilded quadriga above the entrance.

Bloomington · Minnesota · Amusement park

Nickelodeon Universe

An indoor amusement park of about 3 hectares at the center of the Mall of America, with roller coasters and Nickelodeon characters.

Minneapolis · Minnesota · Museum and sculpture garden

Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Contemporary art museum and sculpture garden featuring Spoonbridge and Cherry, the giant spoon with a cherry.

Saint Paul · Minnesota · Church

Cathedral of Saint Paul

Catholic cathedral from 1915 atop Cathedral Hill, with a copper dome and interior of granite and marble.

See 9 more places in Minneapolis and Saint Paul

Bloomington · Minnesota · Aquarium

SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium

Aquarium in the lower level of the Mall of America with a glass tunnel where sharks, rays and turtles pass overhead.

Minneapolis · Minnesota · Bridge and falls

Stone Arch Bridge and Saint Anthony Falls

Historic stone railroad bridge from 1883, now for pedestrians and bicycles only, in front of Saint Anthony Falls.

Minneapolis · Minnesota · Museum

Mill City Museum

Museum inside the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, once the world’s largest flour mill, with a panoramic elevator and a riverside lookout.

Saint Paul · Minnesota · Historic avenue and house

Summit Avenue and James J. Hill House

A roughly 7 km avenue of Victorian mansions and the stone house of railroad magnate James J. Hill, open to visitors.

Minneapolis · Minnesota · Lakes and park

Chain of Lakes

A group of lakes within Minneapolis, such as Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet, connected by walking and biking trails.

Saint Paul · Minnesota · Science museum

Science Museum of Minnesota

Science museum on the banks of the Mississippi, with dinosaurs, a dome theater and exhibits about the human body and the river.

Minneapolis · Minnesota · Waterfall and park

Minnehaha Falls

A waterfall of about 16 meters in an urban park beside the Mississippi, celebrated in the poem The Song of Hiawatha.

Saint Paul · Minnesota · Zoo and conservatory

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Zoo and Victorian glass conservatory at Como Park, with a Japanese garden and free admission.

Minneapolis · Minnesota · Art museum

Minneapolis Institute of Art

An art museum with about 90,000 works spanning five thousand years, with free general admission to the collection.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September, when the lakes, trails and outdoor festivals are active; the Minnesota State Fair at the end of August is the state’s big fair. Winter is long and very cold, from December to March, with snow and frozen lakes; museums, the Skyway and the Mall of America operate year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days: two in Minneapolis, for the river, lakes and museums, and one in Saint Paul; add half a day for the Mall of America.

Which city to stay in

Downtown Minneapolis, near the river, the Skyway and the light-rail lines. The North Loop, an old warehouse district, has restaurants and cafés. In Saint Paul, the downtown and Grand Avenue are close to the Capitol and the cathedral. In Bloomington there are many lodgings near the airport and the Mall of America, linked by the Blue Line.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Minneapolis and Saint Paul

How many days should you allow for Minneapolis and Saint Paul?

Three days: two in Minneapolis and one in Saint Paul, with an extra half day for the Mall of America.

What is the distance between Minneapolis and Saint Paul?

About 16 km between the downtowns, connected by the Green Line light rail in around 45 minutes.

Do you need a car in Minneapolis and Saint Paul?

Not for the essentials: the Blue and Green light-rail lines connect the airport, both downtowns and the Mall of America. For the lakes and Minnehaha Falls, use bus, bike or a ride-hailing app. In the United States you drive on the right.

What is the best time to visit Minneapolis?

From May to September, when the lakes and trails are in use. Winter is very cold, but the Skyway, museums and the Mall of America operate normally.

Do I need a visa to visit the United States?

Entry requirements for the United States depend on your nationality and travel document: some countries participate in the visa waiver program, with prior electronic authorization, and others require a visa. Requirements can change: confirm before you travel.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip