Chain of Lakes, Riverfront Ruins & Sculpture Gardens
From the Stone Arch Bridge and Mill City Museum on the Mississippi to the Chain of Lakes, Minnehaha Falls and the Spoonbridge and Cherry at the Walker Art Center: explore the City of Lakes.
Information reviewed October 2026 · Live National Weather Service forecast for Minneapolis, MN.
01 / Getting Here & Around
Minneapolis is bike-friendly and well served by light rail, and skyways connect much of downtown above the street in winter.
MSP is about 10 miles south of downtown. The METRO Blue Line light rail connects both terminals to downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America.
Allow about 25 minutes by train to downtown.
MSP Airport Info ↗METRO Blue and Green lines link downtown, the airport, the University of Minnesota and Saint Paul. Miles of off-street bike trails, including the Grand Rounds, circle the city.
Downtown's skyway system connects many buildings indoors.
Metro Transit Routes ↗Skyways: About eight miles of enclosed, second-story skyways link downtown buildings, so you can walk between hotels, shops and restaurants without going outside in winter. Most are open during business hours.
02 / Interactive Map
Filter by area or type, tap a pin for details, and save places to download as a shareable image.
03 / Iconic Stops
Riverfront history, lakes and world-class art across the city.
Walk the 1883 railroad bridge across the Mississippi for views of St. Anthony Falls, the mill ruins and the downtown skyline.
Riverfront Parks ↗Built in the ruins of a flour mill that was once the world's largest, with an elevator ride through milling history and a rooftop view.
Museum Info ↗Contemporary art indoors and the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden outside, home of the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry.
Plan Your Visit ↗Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet are linked by paths for walking, biking and paddling, with beaches and a bandshell.
Lakes & Trails ↗A 53-foot waterfall in a wooded regional park, with trails down to the Mississippi River.
Park Info ↗A free encyclopedic art museum with collections spanning 5,000 years and every continent.
Exhibitions ↗04 / Twin Cities Eats
Minnesota comfort food meets a lively, diverse dining scene.
Minneapolis is home of the Juicy Lucy, a burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty; two South Minneapolis bars famously both claim to have invented it. Let it cool before biting!
Minneapolis Food Guide ↗Midtown Global Market and Eat Street on Nicollet Avenue showcase the city's Somali, Mexican, Vietnamese and other communities, alongside Scandinavian bakeries.
Neighborhood Dining ↗05 / 3-Day Plan
Riverfront history, lakes and art.
Tour the Mill City Museum, walk the Stone Arch Bridge, and explore St. Anthony Main's historic streets before dinner by the river.
See the Spoonbridge and Cherry and the Walker Art Center, then bike or walk the Chain of Lakes and catch sunset at Bde Maka Ska.
Visit Minnehaha Falls, explore the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and try a Juicy Lucy for dinner.
Winter Cold & Summer Storms
Winters are long and very cold, with wind chills well below zero. Dress in layers, cover exposed skin, use the skyways, and check road conditions before driving.
Summers bring warm days and occasional severe thunderstorms. Wear life jackets when paddling, and head to shore when storms approach.
NWS Twin Cities Office ↗ · Minnesota 511 Road Conditions ↗
06 / Official Resources
Tourism, transit, park and weather links for exploring Minneapolis.
Yes. General admission to Mia is free; some special exhibitions may require tickets.
Downtown Minneapolis has one of the largest connected skyway systems in the world, roughly eight miles of enclosed walkways linking buildings on the second floor.
Late spring through early fall offers the best weather for lakes and trails. Winter is cold but festive, with skating, winter festivals and the skyways for staying warm.
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