There are many things to do in Minneapolis. Some of them are free, some are cheap, and some are simply the best. But all are fun, exciting, and entertaining.
Fun Things To Do in Minneapolis
Do you love sports? Minneapolis has some of the top venues in professional sports.
How about watching a baseball game at beautiful Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. A magnificent open-air stadium with stunning views of the Minneapolis skyline, food options that are varied and delicious, and the light rail system make it easily accessible.
Will you be in Minneapolis during the colder months? Plan to see a basketball game at Target Center, located right next to Target Field. Home to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx, the stadium also serves as a music concert venue.
No football lover should miss the newest sports venue in Minneapolis. Considered by some to be the best stadium in the NFL, U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, is quite magnificent. If you are in Minneapolis during the off-season and cannot see a game, schedule a tour of this beautiful facility. You will be glad you did.
Family Activities in Downtown Minneapolis
There are lots of things to do in Minneapolis with kids. Whether you have toddlers, teenagers, or other adults in your family, there is something for everyone.
Downtown Minneapolis has an extensive skyway system that connects hotels, businesses, retail stores, and restaurants. It also connects to the three sporting venues mentioned earlier. The skyway system is a beautiful way to see what the downtown area offers while being comfortable in a climate-controlled environment.
If shopping appeals to the family, do not miss walking along the Nicollet Mall. There are many retailers, large and small, to satisfy everyone's shopping urge in the family.
Music lovers shouldn’t miss Bob Dylan’s Mural. Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1941. The muralist Eduardo Kobra has beautifully depicted the three stages of the Nobel prize-winning singer’s career. Are you a Prince fan? Don’t miss his mural located in the Uptown area of Minneapolis on 26th Street and Hennepin Avenue. Minnesota artist Rock Martinez painted it in April 2016 as a gift to the City of Minneapolis.
Orchestra Hall will interest music lovers of a different style. The acoustics are perfect, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Arrive early and have a drink while enjoying the ambiance of this beautiful venue. Home of the Minnesota Orchestra, experiencing a concert in this venue, is truly a memorable experience that the entire family can enjoy.
Kids of all ages will enjoy the Children’s Theatre Company. With professional acting and incredible set designs, this is the largest theatre in the nation for multigenerational audiences. The Children’s Theatre Company won a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 2003.
You can’t visit Minnesota without going to the Mall of America. Since 1992, the Mall of America has revolutionized retail shopping. The nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex hosts more than 400 events each year. MOA has entertained guests and visitors with celebrity appearances, musical performances, charitable events, movie premieres, book signings, and product launches.
Adult Fun
A relatively new craze in many cities, the Riddle Room and the Mission Manor Escape Rooms offer a live escape game experience and challenging puzzle rooms. Players need to solve a series of challenges and make their way through the mission in 60 minutes. There is an escape mission for every level of experience.
First Avenue and 7th Street Entry was born in 1970, housed in the old Greyhound bus depot. Providing a unique and innovative cultural environment, First Avenue is independently owned and operated and is one of the longest-running venues in the country. First Avenue’s dedication to promoting old and young artistic expression offers artists a stage and microphone and provides music lovers a place to gather.
The Orpheum Theatre is one of four restored theaters in downtown Minneapolis, along with the Pantages Theater, State Theater, and the Shubert Theater. Originally named the Hennepin Theater, it opened on October 16, 1921. The completely renovated building seats 1,500 on the main floor and 1,100 on the three-level balcony. Once a venue for movies, it now features live performances. In 1988, Bob Dylan sold the building to the City of Minneapolis.
Free or Cheap Things to Do in Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Institute of Art relies on individuals' and organizations' generous support to keep it free and accessible to everyone. There are many ways to enjoy MIA with tours, classes, films, and family days. Their collection includes over 85,000 pieces of art from around the world, covering over 5,000 years.
The Foshay Tower 30th Floor Observation Deck will ignite your senses with 360-degree views of the city. Just a glimpse of the beautiful sight of the city before you makes this an inexpensive activity you will enjoy and remember for years to come. Once an office building, now a newly renovated hotel, The Foshay Tower combines art deco with modern urban chic. Both the museum and the observation deck can be enjoyed 365 days a year. Will you be traveling with your four-legged best friend? Consider staying at the Foshay. Pets are not only welcome, but they also get pampered.
The Mill City Museum is a National Historic Landmark nestled on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Housed in once was the largest flour mill worldwide, the museum recreates an authentic milling experience using equipment, railroad cars, and family-friendly hands-on exhibits. Minnesota’s wealth of history is on display here, as well as a beautiful view of the river from the museum. In the museum’s train shed is a farmer's market, open both summer and winter.
Things to Do in Downtown Minneapolis
Take a traditional steamboat-style cruise on the Mississippi River, located near the Bohemian Flats Park. The one-and-a-half-hour cruises sail past St. Anthony Falls, the Stone Arch, and the beautiful Downtown Minneapolis skyline. They offer a Happy Hour and Pizza Cruise, the Margarita Monday Cruise, Taco Tuesday Cruise, the Friday Night Dinner Cruise, or the Sunday Brunch Cruise. Any of these would be a fantastic way to enjoy the beauty of Minneapolis.
1970s television received honors at the corner of Nicollet Avenue and 7th Street. The Mary Tyler Moore statue commemorated each episode's beginning when she throws her hat in the air. Filmed in Minneapolis, The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a sitcom ahead of its time. The show aired for seven years, with more than 160 episodes broadcast during that time.
Take a sightseeing tour of Downtown Minneapolis on a Segway! After having a quick briefing on how to ride, you will put on a helmet and take in all of Downtown’s most popular places. The tour covers a total of six miles, and you will find out interesting facts about Downtown Minneapolis history, all without any leg strain.
Things to Do in Minneapolis At Night or During the Day
There are many pubs on the Nicollet Mall in Downtown Minneapolis. Try the Dakota bar for dinner, followed by a live show. The venue has a varied menu with imaginative touches added to traditional dishes. Nightly performances from live bands cover various genres of music for all musical tastes.
Enjoy an evening of endless laughs at the Acme Comedy Club on North First Street in Downtown Minneapolis. As one of the country's best comedy clubs, the Acme Comedy Club has performances six nights a week. There is top local and out of state comics, as well as an open mic night. Dinner show packages are available.
Enjoy the 1920s atmosphere of the Prohibition Bar on the 27th floor of the Foshay Tower. Reminiscent of a gentleman’s club of days gone by, the fabulous lighting and the plush leather furniture make it the perfect place for relaxing with a drink while watching the Minneapolis skyline come alive.
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is an impressionist painting come to life. In the heart of the city, there are 15 acres of flowers and plants, besides 130 different types of birds. Stop in the visitor center prior to taking a walk on the 2/3rd mile trail where you can view the beautiful gardens. Afterward, stop at the nearby Wirth Lake Chalet for tasty treats!
Regardless of the weather, people in Minneapolis love to bike! The city consistently ranks as one of the top for biking in the United States. It boasts multiple trails and bike paths, and whether you are biking to and from work, wanting some exercise, or enjoying the river views or cityscapes, biking in Minneapolis is a beautiful adventure.
Twenty-five minutes from Minneapolis is the Minnesota Zoo. It opened in 1978 and its mission has been to connect people and animals. Their exhibits introduce guests to species from around the world. Their programs protect endangered species while preserving critical ecosystems. Visit the Zoo Shop where there is an abundance of things to purchase. Kids and adults will love the Minnesota Zoo experience.
Romantic Things to do in Minneapolis
One of the most romantic places in the Minneapolis area is Minnehaha Falls. The 100-foot cascade is beautiful year-round, but especially in the winter when it’s frozen. Visitors can view the falls from the top of the park or the bottom. Bring your camera, so you are prepared to take photographs. It is truly a beautiful spot where couples can enjoy a romantic walk or just enjoy the falls.
After viewing the frozen Minnehaha Falls, try ice skating with a skyline view at Loring Park. They offer free skate rentals, a warming house, and a groomed skating rink. If you own skates, you can go to one of the many city lakes that turn into rinks during the winter months.
Take your date to an arcade bar! The Up-Down bar in the Uptown area of Minneapolis offers adult beverages and house-made mac and cheese pizza. The Up-Down charges a quarter for arcade games from the '80s and '90s, along with life-size Jenga and Connect Four.
Unique Things to Do in Minneapolis
If you’re into whimsy, don’t miss the cool spoon and cherry, which is the Sculpture Garden's centerpiece at the Walker Art Center—created in 1985 by an artist known for making oversized versions of everyday things. The sculpture was vandalized in 2012 as part of a protest but got cleaned up and remains an unforgettable Minneapolis icon.
Twenty-eight years ago, a local sculptor established the House of Balls. Located in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, it originated from the sculptor’s belief that objects acquire a life force when they contact living beings. The House of Balls has an open-door policy that allows visitors any time if the artist is in-house.
If you are looking for a unique place to visit in Minneapolis, try the Northwestern Casket Company, now the Casket Arts Building. The Casket Company occupied the building from 1882 until 2006. They manufactured a variety of funeral items such as caskets, vaults, burial garments, and more. Today artists occupy the building after undergoing beautiful renovations, thereby preserving its old-time industrial charm. And a whiff of the building’s former creepiness is intact!
More Indoor Things to do in Minneapolis
Do you enjoy cocktails? Try the Minneapolis Distillery Tour. As an all-inclusive three-hour visit to three distilleries, the tours provide one cocktail at each location and Royal Foundry Craft Spirits. It includes transportation on a bus with a fun tour guide/driver, snacks, and bottled water.
The Northrup King Building has everything to offer for those who love art. Over 350 artists' work is displayed, including paintings, drawings, apparel, furniture, jewelry, and much more. With many types of art on display, the artists are there to answer your questions.
If you are an opera lover, don’t leave Minneapolis without seeing a performance of the Minnesota Opera. Lives get transformed when artists, audiences, and the public come together to advance the art of opera for today and into the future.
So, if you are planning a vacation, consider visiting Minneapolis. In addition to all the attractions mentioned above, there are many more. You will add Minneapolis to your list of favorite places to vacation.