Minneapolis, Minnesota is a northern Midwest city that is famous for it’s abundance of green space, lakes galore, a hopping brewery scene, and more.
Really, you can’t talk about Minneapolis without mentioning St Paul, which together are commonly referred to as the Twin Cities. I would say that this post mostly focuses around Minneapolis, the bigger of the two, but there is definitely some cross over, and exploring both simultaneously is pretty easy to do.
The Mississippi River snakes its way between the two cities, and is what gave rise to the industry that built these cities. It’s pretty crazy to realize that you can take a boat from here all the way down to New Orleans and into the oceans beyond.
So let’s get into the 10 things to do in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure policy.
Helpful Map Of Minneapolis
We’ve pinned all our favorite places on this map to make planning your Minneapolis adventure easier.
Minneapolis Chain Of Lakes
What better to do in the land of 10,000 lakes than explore some gorgeous lakes. Just 15 minutes southwest of downtown, you will find the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park.
This string of connected lakes forms one giant park that’s popular for walking, biking, boating, kayaking, swimming, and more. The four biggest lakes are Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake Harriet. Within this area, there are nearly 15 miles of scenic walking and biking trails.
We rented bikes at the north end of Lake Harriet with Wheels & Fun. (They also rent kayaks, SUPs, and paddleboats). And enjoyed a half day riding all around these lakes. The scenery is constantly changing, from city skyline views, to gorgeous mansions, and enough beautiful nature that it’s easy to forget you are still in a city.
One thing that jammed us up a little, is that most of the bike paths are one-way, so you can’t exactly choose your own route. But it is nice not to worry about any oncoming traffic.
And there are various parks, playgrounds, and beaches around the lakes to enjoy. Generally, the best beaches for swimming are on Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Cedar Lake. And Lake Harriet has free summer concerts at its lakefront amphitheater. And food at a popular restaurant, Bread & Pickle.
Brewery Hopping
The Twin Cities have a booming craft beer scene. Like I think they could compete for best beer city in the nation. We had a blast bouncing around to tons of different breweries and finding our favorites.
And something we love is when there are tight clusters of breweries, so you can safely brewery hop all on foot without a designated driver, or paying for rides all over. The two best clusters of breweries are the Northloop neighborhood (aka NOLO) and the Arts District. But as a quick note, my gut tells me that I wouldn’t want to be walking around either of these neighborhoods after dark, especially alone.
In the North Loop just on the edge of downtown you can find Fulton Beer Company, Inbound, Bricksworth, and Modist. Our favorite of which were Inbound and Fulton.
And the Art’s District near Logan Park is an industrial area about 15 minutes north of downtown. In this area you can visit Bauhaus, Padraigs, Headflyer, and Indeed. It’s hard to pick a favorite here. The beer at Indeed and Headflyer were our favorites. But the atmosphere at Indeed and Bauhaus are just awesome. Bauhaus is a like a transformed industrial hangar that is a lively spot, even on a weekday. And Indeeds outdoor patio just nails the ambiance.
There are also distilleries and cideries in the vicinity if that’s your style. One interesting one that we checked out was Buch Fermentary. They serve boozy kombuchas that come in a variety of unique flavors that blend sweet with tart and other floral notes. Our favorites were the Strawberry Rhubarb and Grapefruit Ginger.
And there are plenty of other breweries outside these areas too. A couple of notable ones to add to your list are Pryes Brewing Company and Surly Brewing Co.
Or another cool option to consider for brewery hopping is the Pub Pass. It’s a $25 beer passport that gets you one free beer at dozens of breweries in the Twin Cities. We haven’t done it here, but had a blast using our pub passes when we lived in Denver.
Stone Arch Bridge
The stone arch bridge has been an iconic landmark of Minneapolis since 1883. Formerly a vital railroad bridge spanning the Mississippi, it’s the second oldest bridge across the river. Today, it serves as one of the best pedestrian connections across the river. Since, there are no vehicles allowed, you can walk or bike across the bridge without worrying about cars or excessive vehicle noise.
From the bridge, you get great views of the Minneapolis skyline, the old mill district buildings, and Saint Anthony Falls.
Minnehaha Falls and Park
Probably the most picturesque natural feature near the Twin Cities is Minnehaha Falls. The free falling torrent plunges 53 feet over the edge into the limestone basin below.
It’s located within Minnehaha Park, which has 170 acres of beautiful nature trails, biking paths, picnic areas, disc golf, and more. And the Sea Salt restaurant is open seasonally, and is known for delicious seafood and craft beers.
The scenery at the park changes with the seasons, each bringing a new experience.
Springtime brings greenery back to the park and also the strongest flow in the waterfall. The greenery peaks in the summer, and hot temperatures lure visitors to cool off by the river and in the wading pool. Autumn brings an explosion of fall colors. And winter temperatures can freeze the waterfall into a dramatic display of icicles.
Try A Jucy Lucy Burger
One culinary creation with roots in the Twin Cities is the Jucy Lucy. A hamburger with cheese stuffed inside the burger patty. A unique spin on an American Classic, that you have to try at least once.
Matt’s Bar & Grill claims to be the originator of the Jucy Lucy. But many places around the Twin Cities serve their own versions of the Jucy Lucy.
But at the recommendation of a friend, we visited The Nook in St Paul. This local no-frills spot serves up a delicious burger and other pub food. We tried two of their Jucy Lucy burgers, and they were sure tasty. And ultimately, it doesn’t matter where you put the cheese if the other ingredients aren’t on point! But I don’t know if we are completely sold on the Jucy Lucy concept or if it’s just kind of gimmicky.
But the biggest tip for eating a Jucy Lucy is to let the burger sit for a few minutes before digging in. Otherwise all the cheese just flows out like a molten lava. But waiting for the burger does make it hard not to fill up on fries while you wait.
Ohh and their honey bacon glazed cheese curds were just pure decadence.
The Nook also has a bowling ally downstairs. So if you want to have a diabolical burger while having a little fun, The Nook is a great spot.
Explore The Art Scene
Minneapolis has a thriving art scene, from the formal museums and installations to smaller galleries and street art.
One of the most popular spots is the Open Air Sculpture Garden. This outdoor park is dotted with a variety of sculptures, that make for an entertaining walk in the park. The Spoonbridge and Cherry is probably the most iconic sculpture, but it was undergoing a glow-up while we were there.
My favorite part was the path of wind chimes that form a kind of sound art installation.
And just across the pedestrian bridge is the beautiful Loring Park, if you feel like you want to walk some more.
The Sculpture Garden is located outside the Walker Art Center, an impressive paid museum with a diverse collection. The museum costs $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $12 for students. Active military and their families, EBT cardholders, Ages 18 & under, Members and citizens of Tribal Nations, Walker members–join today, all can access the museum for free.
Two other free art museums in Minneapolis are the Weisman Art Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. We visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art and enjoyed wandering through their exhibits. It would probably take days to see everything they have on display, from ancient artifacts to the most modern creations. And with free admission and free lockers, it was easy to pop in for a couple of hours between other activities.
The Mall Of America
If you are looking for an indoor activity with endless entertainment, check out the Mall of America. This colossal 4-story mall is home to 520 shops, 50 restaurants, an indoor theme park, an aquarium, mini golf, an escape room, and so much more!
It’s just south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. They also have lockers of all sizes, so it can be a good place to kill some time before or after a flight.
The entire mall is centered around the indoor theme park Nickelodeon Universe. It has some of the most impressive indoor rides and roller coasters I’ve ever seen.
The entertainment here is admittedly a little more geared towards kids. But the biggest rides will still give adults plenty of thrill. You can purchase tickets for unlimited rides or individual points to spend on rides.
The other biggest attraction here is the Sea Life Aquarium. We didn’t pay for this one, but it seems like people are quite impressed with what it offers.
And when it comes to shopping, there is practically an overwhelming number of stores. As you wander the mall, it won’t be long before you are drawn into some stores.
Isles Bun & Coffee
This no-frills bakery just pumps out absolutely dynamite baked goods. They are especially known for their Cinnamon Buns, with layers of sugary cinnamon on fluffy dough, and just piled high with frosting.
Other popular choices are the caramel pecan bun and the so-called puppy dog tail. And the coffee was delicious as well. Don’t worry too much if there’s a line out the door; it really only fits like 3 people inside the door. And the menu is pretty simple, so things move quickly. Most of the baked goods are served to you before you even finish paying.
And then you can enjoy them inside, or outside on the sidewalk patio.
And this spot is close to the Chain of Lakes, so a walk or bike around the lakes is a good way to burn off some of those indulgent calories.
Minneapolis Queen Boat Tour
The Mississippi Queen is a scenic boat ride that takes you up and down the Mississippi River on a historic paddleboat. Cruises offer intermittent narration about the Twin Cities’ history, geology, and wildlife. They have a bar and small snacks available on board.
Tours depart from Bohemian Flats Park, and the first leg takes you downstream. You’re quickly enveloped by the limestone canyon walls and dense tree canopy on either side. If it weren’t for the bridges, you might completely forget that you are in a city.
And the second leg of the trip takes you upstream into downtown Minneapolis and the historic Mill District. It’s really interesting to travel through the St Anthony’s Lock and Dam, one of the many of its kind on the Mississippi. These mechanisms allow vessels of all sizes to travel up and down the Mississippi River. And the accompanying dams provided the hydroelectric power, which helped give rise to industry in cities like Minneapolis.
Foshay Tower & Observation Deck
For an epic view of the city, head to the iconic Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis. Built in 1929 and inspired by the Washington Monument. It was once the tallest building in the Midwest and remains a historic landmark, now home to the W Minneapolis Hotel.
One of the coolest things to do here is visit the open-air observation deck, which offers panoramic views of the city skyline.
After getting a legendary view of the city from the observation deck, grab a drink at the vintage-inspired Prohibition Bar on the 27th floor, cozy up at The Living Room lounge, or grab a juicy steak from Manny’s Steakhouse.
Where To Stay In Minneapolis, Minnesota
Finding where to stay can depend on what attractions you want to see. We stayed in the city near the convention center, which allowed us to walk to some nearby attractions or grab a ride share for cheap. If you plan to get a rental car, then you might choose a spot a little outside the city.
Here are a couple suggested hotels located downtown:
Use this map below to find a hotel that best suites you and your stay demands.
Check out our Video on Minneapolis!
Save This Post For Later
