The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Minneapolis (2024)

Why did Midwest Living crown Minneapolis (along with smaller sibling St. Paul) the Midwest’s best large city in 2023? Let us count the reasons: Unbeatable accessibility to biking trails. A thriving theater scene ranging from intimate improv to Broadway tours. Cuisine from just about every country you could imagine. And lakes. So many lakes, lined with trails. As a Midwest Living editor and Minneapolis resident, I’ve learned you can check off a lot of these categories within a short stroll or bike ride. Here’s my local's guide to the best things to see, do and eat on your next Minneapolis getaway.

Best Things to Do

The iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry makes for a mandatory photo op at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Midwest Living’s Best Public Art Collection winner in 2022. I love taking out-of-town visitors to shows at the world-class Guthrie Theater, home to my favorite intermissions, which take place on a deck overlooking the Stone Arch Bridge and Mississippi River. Next to the Guthrie, the family-favorite Mill City Museum allows you to ride an elevator through scenes depicting the city’s milling history. My favorite free things to do in Minneapolis include the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum. Both offer a colorful, cohesive blend of ancient and contemporary works.On summer nights, you might find me at Target Field with a Kramarczuk’s brat in hand during a Twins baseball game.

Best Restaurants

The culinary scene in Minneapolis has earned numerous Midwest Living Best of the Midwest awards over the years. Ann Kim landed Best Chef in 2021 for her delectable Korean-fusion pizzas at Young Joni and Pizzeria Lola; Sean Sherman won Best Chef in 2023 for revelatory Indigenous cooking at Owamni; and Ann Ahmed’s Gai Noi received recognition from Midwest Living editors in 2024 for fresh, creative takes on Laotian cuisine. Add to that a host of national and James Beard nominations and wins; this year Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai took home the James Beard award for Best Chef Midwest. You also can’t visit Minneapolis without trying the city’s signature Jucy Lucy—a burger with a melty cheese-stuffed patty. Plenty of places serve them, but my faves are at The Blue Door Pub. (They call them Blucys, and chefs are always whipping up new varieties.) What goes well with a burger? A beer from Surly Brewing Company, naturally. In addition to bulgogi burgers and award-winning ales, the cavernous beer hall also serves tacos made with Nixta’s heirloom corn tortillas.

Best Shopping

For specialty shopping, Minneapolis’ North Loop warehouse district contains some of the most upscale apparel and accessories. Browsing the high fashion and cheeky gifts (think sassy greeting cards) at MartinPatrick3 is a favorite hobby of mine. Across the street, D.NOLO showcases numerous apparel brands and a semi-hidden co*cktail bar. (Look for the painted eye.)Many locals steer clear of the Mall of America because of the crowds, but I love visiting on quiet weekdays, especially in winter when natural light flows in and makes Nickelodeon Universe theme park feel like a tropical oasis. In addition to 520 stores, the mall brims with 50-plus dining options, Sea Life Aquarium, the Crayola Experience and two attached hotels, making it a one-stop shop for a family weekend getaway.

Best Nightlife

Midwest Living editors named First Avenue the best live music venue in 2021, a favorite of local artist Prince—who starred in and filmed Purple Rain here. A nearby 100-foot-tall mural honors the artist’s larger-than-life influence in the city. If you’re up for a touring Broadway musical or stand-up comedy, the historic theaters of the Hennepin Theatre District fill the bill. After a show, head to the walkable North Loop district, where three of my go-to bars reside underground. The entrance to Billy After Dark hides in an alley behind Billy Sushi. Pro tip: Order Don’t Sweat the Technique and sparks will literally fly. Beneath Porzana, an Argentinian steakhouse, Flora Room wows with its botanical decor and perfectly balanced drinks like the Alsace made with Gewurztraminer, agave and egg white. For Moulin Rouge vibes to complement your French 75 and oysters, head to the moody Salon Rouge below Maison Margaux restaurant.

Best Outdoor Recreation

The 55-mile Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway traces some of the best outdoor recreation options around Minneapolis. Drive it, or pick a stretch to pedal. The country’s only official urban scenic byway follows the Mississippi River and loops through western and southern portions of the city’s green spaces and lakes. Top stops along the byway include 53-foot-tall Minnehaha Falls and the Chain of Lakes, featuring five bodies of water threaded together with pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians. On Bde Maka Ska, the largest link in the chain, Wheel Fun Rentals can hook you up with kayaks, canoes, SUPs and pedal boats. My favorite hidden gem along the byway is Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, a tucked-away paradise of more than 600 plant species lining a hilly 1-mile loop within Theodore Wirth Regional Park. You can also rent a kayak to paddle the river through Paddle Share, a self-serve sharing system with kiosks along the river.

Best Hotels and Resorts

Midwest Living editors consider Hewing Hotel one of the region’s finest romantic getaways for its artsy Scandinavian-inspired decor and intimate spaces. The rooftop bar serves up one of the best views of the city skyline. Downtown’s Art Deco Rand Tower Hotel also boasts epic skyscraper vistas from on-site French restaurant Blondette and co*cktail bar Miaou Miaou. Before getting cozy in one of the chic, airy rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis, taste the Mediterranean at Gavin Kaysen’s sleek Mara restaurant. I often dream of their hummus, made silky-smooth through the tedious peeling of chickpeas. Also dream-worthy: Anda Spa at Hotel Ivy. I occasionally treat myself to a deep-tissue massage, which includes access to the spa’s steam room, hot tub and dimly lit lounge with weighted blankets.

What to Know

Best Time to Visit

Locals tend to describe the summer in Minneapolis as heavenly, when warm temps feel welcome after a long winter. For a burst of fall color and crisp (but tolerable) temperatures, visit between late September and mid-October, when foliage tends to reach its most fiery shades around Minneapolis. Minnesotans embrace the coldest season like no others though, and your best bet for a winter wonderland of snow occurs between late December and early March. Restaurant weeks (which usually take place in February and July) allow you to taste some of the city’s top dining options at a discount. Barring major events, downtown hotel rates tend to be lower around these times as well.

Calendar

The Minnesota State Fair, dubbed The Great Minnesota Get-Together, takes place during the 12 days leading up to—and including—Labor Day. I like to visit the fair at least three times each year (lots of ground to cover!), but if you only have one day, make sure you get a Pronto Pup, see the 4-H Musical, visit the International Bazaar, take a stroll through the animal barns and fine arts buildings, and order a bucket of Sweet Martha’s chocolate chip cookies for the ride home.

How to Get There and How to Get Around

Located 20 minutes from downtown, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport serves 165 destinations with direct flights. It’s consistently ranked one of the top airports in the country for its cleanliness, local food offerings, on-time departures and “Minnesota Nice” customer service. To get to and from the airport—as well as downtown and the Mall of America—the METRO Blue Line light rail offers affordable and environmentally friendly rides. This is also a great option for avoiding traffic and pricey parking when attending an event at Target Center, Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. (Each of these venues is within a few steps of a light rail station.)