Minneapolis surprises from the Stone Arch bridge to the falls. The city has delicious craft beers at Surly Brewing Co, and several restaurant options serving typical food at Eat Street.
Be it for nature, for the culture exposed in museums, galleries and monuments, or simply for its welcoming people, you will fall in love with Minneapolis from the moment you land.
5 reasons to visit Minneapolis
- Art and culture
One of the world’s premier collections of contemporary art can be found at the Walker Art Center, but Minneapolis art is not limited to this museum. There is also the Soap Factory, All My Relations, theatres, cultural centres and shows by local artists.
- Natural beauties
Minneapolis is considered one of the most forested cities in the United States. Located just a short drive from downtown, you’ll find the Mississippi River and Lakes Calhoun, Cedar, and Nokomis.
- Sports Diversity
Minnesota is home to a wide variety of sports, including track and field and national competitions in football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Take the opportunity to see up close matches of sports that are not very popular, such as baseball, and you can even learn a little about the sport at the Target Field stadium.
- Bike ride
If you arrive in Minneapolis without a travel plan in place, don’t worry. In the center, it is possible to rent a bicycle and tour the nearby sights. This way, you can get a good view of the local landscape and discover the address of other places to visit, such as parks, museums or theatres. By the way, we are recommended to check Terminals map Minneapolis Airport in order to have complete information upon arrival or departure and not get lost there.
- Discover the history of the Mississippi River on a segway
On the banks of the Mississippi River, you will find the company Mobile Entertainment, which has tours called Magical History Tour. On this tour aboard a segway, a guide explains the importance of the history of the Mississippi River to North Americans and still provides a unique experience of walking through parks for approximately three hours.
What to do in Minneapolis
- Teatro Guthrie
If you love drama, the Guthrie Theater is the place to visit. The building dates back to 1963 and has already presented acclaimed plays, such as Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, A Christmas Carol, by Dickens, and An Enemy of the People, by Ibsen. Plan to enjoy at least one of the theater’s performances, which feature contemporary and classic shows.
- Minneapolis Institute of the Arts
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has more than eighty thousand works of art, ranging from paintings to various sculptures. All this vast collection is spread over just over thirty thousand square meters. Among his works, find the modern art of Fernand Leger and a huge collection of Asian art. Best of all, admission to this institute is completely free.
- Minnehaha Park
Throughout the Park, there are several trails for walking and cycling, as well as beautiful gardens, a waterfall and a train station built in the 19th century. The park is easily accessed as it sits on the banks of the Mississippi River.
- American Swedish Institute
The museum tells the story of Swedish immigration to the United States. Find photos, objects, stories and historical artefacts that explain the great influence of the Swedes in the local culture, including in gastronomy. During festive seasons, such as Christmas, there are exhibitions that show how Swedes celebrate special dates.
- Mall of America
From the name, it seems to be just a shopping centre, but it is much more than that. The Mall of America has several stores, but it is also home to the largest indoor park in the United States: Nickelodeon Universe, which has more than 30 rides, including a roller coaster. At the Mall of America, there is also the Marine Aquarium and a lego store to leave many adults with their jaws dropped, as there are giant sculptures made only with the small parts of the toy.
What to Eat in Minneapolis
Find diverse restaurants in the city centre, such as Quang, which serves Vietnamese cuisine, and Black Forest Inn, which serves German food. Typical food and fast food are found at Matt’s Bar and Juicy Lucy. Meals in most restaurants cost between USD 10 and USD 15. Gourmet establishments charge an average of USD 30 per dish.
How to get to Minneapolis
Plane
Eight airlines operate the route from Brazil to Minneapolis. Among the companies are Gol, Azul, United Airlines and LATAM Airlines. Trips are usually made in one or two stops. Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport is 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis. Transport to the center can be done using the metro, accessed from terminals 1 and 2 of the airport; by bus and by taxi. Travel time is between ten and thirty minutes.
Train
Use the trains to travel from other cities such as Portland, Seattle and Chicago to Minneapolis. Ticket prices vary from one destination to another, but on average you’ll pay USD 200.
Car
There are many routes to take when driving to Minneapolis from other cities. Among the main destinations, use I-94 when coming from Boise, Seattle, Chicago or Portland. If coming from another state, like California, take I-80 or I-75 and I-35.
Bus
Find buses from Greyhound, Jefferson Lines and Megabus companies to travel from other cities to Minneapolis. A trip from Chicago to Minneapolis takes about nine hours and costs around USD 50.