Plenty to see and go around in a city which will offer you a variety of tourist attractions. From museums and theatres to beautiful lakes and outdoor activities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has everything to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a prominent food, culture, sports, and shopping hub attracting millions of tourists every year.
You will be amazed by this stark contrast of the city with a mix of good city life and nature’s scenic beauty near the historic Mississippi Riverfront.
Visit Minneapolis and appreciate the Minneapolis skyline and parks or enjoy a live show at Hennepin Avenue, diving on the beaches and indulging yourself in activities like hiking and biking while filling your stomach while exploring restaurants.
The list of things to do in Minneapolis can go on and on. In this article, we are here to provide you with some aid and a list of the 10 best things to do in Minneapolis.
So if you are planning to visit Minneapolis, Minnesota, have your comfort and note these fun things to do in Minneapolis.
1. Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Minneapolis Institute of Art attracts a massive audience for its art collection, which spans over 5,000 years.
Once you visit Minneapolis, MN, this museum has to be on your list of things to do in Minneapolis.
It is even better if you are keen on art pieces because this place homes more than 90,000 works of art which is incredible.
From ancient Egyptian artifacts to European most delicate pieces by artists such as Titian and Monet, this place has it all.
In this art museum, you can explore the works from every corner of the world, be it Contemporary art, Arts from Africa and America, Southeast Asian art, Chinese or Japanese and Korean art.
Diversification is something to look upon. The modern art museum is suitable for all ages. It also provides scavenger hunts for kids to have fun.
Along with its collection, you will also find a museum store and Agra Culture Kitchen & Press eatery.
Minneapolis Institute of Art is located in the south of the downtown Minneapolis area and is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The entry cost to the Minneapolis Institute of Art is free of charge, but some specific special exhibits will cost extra. Spending at least an hour covering the art collection here is advised.
So whenever you touchdown in Minneapolis, Minnesota, make sure you visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and don’t forget to add this place to your list of fun things to do in Minneapolis.
2. Tour the Walker Art Center
Our list of things to do in Minneapolis includes visiting another art museum Walker Art Center. This spacious building consists of paintings, sculptures, and photographs of renowned American and European artists.
Though unlike the Minneapolis Institute of Art, this place may become boring for your young ones due to a lack of activities.
Walker Art Center also holds its annual Rock the Garden summer music festival, which takes place in June every year.
Besides the art collections, you will also find a gift shop with a restaurant, Esker Grove, located on-site.
Walker Art Center is located in downtown Minneapolis and is open for its visitors from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, while 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The entry cost for adults is $15, while students have to pay $10, and children 18 and younger can enter Walker Art Center for free.
An underground parking facility will cost you $6, but you can find parking spaces on surrounding streets.
3. Explore Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is another place to visit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Located in St Paul, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a part of Walker Art Center, considered one of the most extensive urban sculpture gardens in the USA.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was opened in 1988 and renovated in 2017. It draws millions of tourists with its sculptures, some of them being interactive exhibits works with the collaboration between Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board. You may also enjoy chain of lakes regional park right around the corner
In Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Spoonbridge and Cherry, a giant spoon and cherry sculpture in the center of the park is a popular attraction here with the love sculpture of artist Robert Indiana.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a fantastic option in need of family attractions as it suits all ages.
You can admire the surroundings by strolling in this spacious garden or by sitting on dedicated benches which the facility provides, so if you want this experience make sure that Minneapolis Sculpture Garden ticks your list of things to do in Minneapolis.
4. Tour Downtown Minneapolis
When you are in Minneapolis, it is a no-brainer to explore the streets of downtown Minneapolis.
Downtown Minneapolis itself is full of many Minneapolis attractions. Here you will find renowned towers flanked by the famous Mississippi national River.
There is no stoppage limit of entertainment in this district. Hence this has to be on your list of things to do in Minneapolis.
Here are a few tourist attractions you can opt for visiting Downtown Minneapolis-
4.1. Visit City Hall
Located on South 5th Street in Downtown Minneapolis, this place is worthy enough to boast your pics for social media.
This government building giving gothic vibes was built early in the twentieth century. If you see its structure, you will find the City Hall resembling a lot of Big Ben and the houses of parliament in London.
The building has a copper roof and a three-hundred-foot tall clock tower. At midday, you could hear the clock tower’s fifteen bells chime, which is quite a unique experience in these modern times.
Minneapolis Queen River Cruise
Since the district is near the Mississippi River, one must board the Minneapolis Queen River Cruise.
Just outside of downtown, this will be a half-hour cruise experience that takes in Saint Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge before it sails past the downtown Minneapolis skyline.
Downtown Minneapolis offers various other cruise experiences like Happy Hour and Pizza Cruise, the Margarita Monday or Taco Tuesday Cruise etc.
In these, you can explore downtown Minneapolis having fantastic food.
4.2. Bike Day Out
You can pick up a bike from many bike stations throughout downtown Minneapolis and explore the city on these wheels.
You can avail 30-minutes pass for 24 hours or unlimited 60-minutes rides for up to thirty days.
You can avail yourself of the services of Nice Ride Minnesota, a non-profit bike-sharing system that offers a way to explore the city through bike-sharing.
Nice Ride Minnesota is an easy and fun way to navigate through traffic and explore the city, so this is something you don’t want to miss out on.
4.3. Acme Comedy Club
Visiting Acme Comedy Club will not disappoint if you are feeling up for some comedy and want to end your night with laughs.
It is located on North 1st Street and is a renowned comedy club in the US. The club hosts popular out-of-state comics with open mics.
Besides this, there are many more attractions for you to spend quality time without getting bored in downtown Minneapolis.
4.4. Mill City Museum
Located in downtown Saint Paul, the Mill City Museum will give you insight into the dynamic history of Minneapolis.
Once the largest flour mill in the world, you will get an authentic Mill experience here. Mill City Museum has equipment, railroads, demonstrating milling techniques that credit its originality.
With the excellent view of the Minneapolis River from here, you can enjoy the Minneapolis history, which is on display here. An on-site restaurant and museum are also available at Mill City Museum.
Mill City Museum entry costs $12 for adults,$10 for seniors and students, and tickets for children aged 5 to 17 cost $8. Kids 4 or younger can enter the facility for free.
You must buy separate tickets if you want to opt for guided tours. You can reach the museum by using a bus or light rail.
4.5. Mill City Farmers Market
Mill City Farmers Market is an excellent place to buy freshly produced vegetables.
Located on South 2nd Street, you can participate in communal yoga class, live cooking class, watch artists at work, or groove to live music from the market sellers.
Mill City Farmers Market will not disappoint you in having a fun time.
Mill City Farmers Market also offers its visitors over 40 stalls selling handicrafts like hand-woven textiles, greeting cards, or food products.
5. Explore Minnehaha Regional Park
Are you looking for some fresh air in Minneapolis? Want to have some relaxing time at this place?
Well, if these are some of the questions concerning your mind, you need to visit Minnehaha Regional Park.
Situated alongside the riverbanks of Minneapolis River, this 167-acre Minnehaha park attracts many tourists annually.
The most beautiful thing about Minnehaha Regional Park is its 53-foot Minnehaha Falls.
Apart from its natural beauty, the Minnehaha Regional Park offers outdoor fun with recreational activities like cycling, volleyball, gardens, and a playground.
You can also explore the Minnehaha park hiking trails; biking trails and enjoy a picnic there.
If you visit Minnehaha Regional Park in summer, attractions like the Wabun wading pool and the Sea Salt Eatery will be open.
In contrast, visiting in winter, you can watch the frozen fall. Open daily for free, and the Minnehaha Regional Park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. or midnight.
Near Longfellow Gardens, you can find free parking. So if this amazing place catches your eyes, then make sure to add Minnehaha Regional Park to your fun things to do in Minneapolis.
6. Take a tour of the Minnesota Zoo
Another addition to our list of fun things to do in Minneapolis includes visiting Minnesota Zoo.
Minnesota Zoo, located in the suburb of Apple Valley, has an impressive collection of 5,000 animals. This will be a good excursion if you want to see someplace with your kids.
Suppose you are interested to know about the native animals of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Medtronic Minnesota Trail exhibit is a place you need to visit.
On this trail, animals like wolverines, coyotes, and the American black bear. Exploring Minnesota zoo, you will find exotic species in their discovery bay; like in United Healthcare Marine Education Center, you will see the 218,000-gallon Shark Reef exhibit.
Minnesota Zoo Visitors compliment the zoo for its education and conservation efforts and have also given feedback that it is an excellent place to visit for family activities.
Besides this, Minnesota Zoo also offers on-site food options like Call of the Wild Food Court and several other cafes open seasonally.
Visitors can also bring outside food or snacks to have a picnic on their dedicated outdoor picnic tables.
7. Weisman Art Museum
If you want to explore some of America’s best works of contemporary art, then Weisman Art Museum is the right place.
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, In Weisman Art Museum, you will find an art collection by famed artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Roy Lichtenstein, with a spectacular array of ceramics and Korean furniture.
Besides notable exhibits, you can also enjoy the front of the museum with its scenic beauty on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The location of the Weisman Art Museum is tourist-friendly since it is on the University of Minneapolis-Twin Cities campus. You can plan a day out exploring the campus and nearby attractions.
Weisman Art Museum invites visitors from Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., with entry free of cost.
In the list of Minneapolis attractions, this is the place you don’t want to miss out on, so make sure to add this to your list of things to do in Minneapolis.
8. Know the Minneapolis Skyway System
Minneapolis Skyway System plays a very prominent role in Minneapolis as this 9.5-mile system of elevated pathways covers 80 city blocks of downtown Minneapolis.
It is also responsible for connecting offices, bars, theatres, art exhibits, hotels, restaurants, sports arenas, and many other daily places we visit.
For a Minneapolis commoner, this is only a part of commuting through different areas, but it is considered an attraction for tourists.
This enclosed Minneapolis Skyway System allows people to explore the city in much comfort, especially in winters, as this will enable you to move around in warmth against the chilly winters of Minneapolis.
From Monday to Friday, Minneapolis Skyway System is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from noon to 6 p.m.
9. Explore the Museum of Russian Art
It is getting a recurring theme out here with Art museums and Minneapolis because another addition to our list of things to do in Minneapolis includes the Museum of Russian Art.
This museum is dedicated to Russian art and culture, which showcases an Integral part of Russian history.
The Museum of Russian Art showcases art from former Soviet Union countries like Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, and a few more.
They also help immigrants, local artists of Minneapolis, from these countries by showcasing their artworks in this museum.
The entry price in the Museum of Russian Art for adults is $16, for seniors $14, for students and active military $5 for TMROA members.
The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Other Minneapolis Attractions You Can’t Miss Out On
- Como Park Zoo
- Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium
- Paradise Charter Cruises
- St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
- Minnesota History Center
- Children’s Theatre Company
- Target Center
- Mall of America
What Are the Best Months to Visit Minneapolis?
After adding these Minneapolis tourist attractions to your list of things to do in Minneapolis, the next thing you need to be aware of is what are the best months to visit Minneapolis?
Well, the best time to visit Minneapolis is from June to August. Minneapolis tourism is at its peak when it summers since, at this time, many festivals and farmer’s markets are organized.
Top 5 Hotels to Stay in Minneapolis
- Hewing Hotel
- Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel
- JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
- Loews Minneapolis Hotel
- Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown
- Note above list is based on TripAdvisor ratings
Best Dining Options in Minneapolis
The city is known for Juicy Lucys, Tater Tot casserole, wild rice, walleye, and cheese curds. Minneapolis will have enough numbers food options for any foodie.
Butcher & The Boar and trendy Spoon and Stable, among many others, are famous places to eat if you are in the university areas of Northeast and Dinkytown.
If you are in St. Paul, Cossetta and Meritage are the places you need to visit. Besides this, Minneapolis offers several breweries surrounding the metro area in The Twin Cities.
From things to do in Minneapolis to the best hotels and dining sites, it’s safe to say that the city has plenty of things to offer when you get to Minneapolis.
So make sure you list all the attractions in your list of things to do in Minneapolis, and we hope you have a wonderful time in this lovely place.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology