Twin Cities, Minnesota
The Twin Cities are our second home — we keep coming back to Minneapolis and St. Paul more than anywhere else on earth.
Our experience
We've been back 33 times since 2021. Over dozens of trips, we've settled into Uptown around the Lakes, downtown high-rises like the Millennium and DoubleTree, and quiet St. Paul streets near the universities.
We love the rhythm of the place: lakes you can bike around in summer, the Mississippi cutting between the two cities, a serious theater and music scene, and a food culture that runs from Scandinavian comfort to Hmong markets to Juicy Lucys.
Every season gives us a different version of the cities, and after this many visits, we still find new corners.
Minneapolis has an extraordinary amount of shoreline thanks to its lakes, and downtown's famous skyway system makes it possible to move between many buildings without stepping outside — something we especially appreciate during a Minnesota winter.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Chain of Lakes — We bike Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles every warm-weather visit from our Uptown base.
- Guthrie Theater — We caught A Christmas Carol here on our November 2023 holiday trip. Even if you aren't seeing a show, the building and its Mississippi River views are worth experiencing.
- U.S. Bank Stadium — We saw the Vikings host the Chargers in fall 2023. The stadium also offers guided behind-the-scenes tours, including access to areas visitors normally don't see.
- Walker Art Center & Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — The iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry is the photo everyone takes, and we did too.
- Mississippi Riverfront & Stone Arch Bridge — Our go-to evening walk between downtown and the old mill district. The Stone Arch Bridge fully reopened in July 2025 following its major rehabilitation project.
- Minnehaha Falls — A genuine waterfall inside the city and one of our favorite outdoor stops, especially when the water is flowing strongly.
Our pro tip
We've learned that the Twin Cities reward picking a neighborhood over a hotel strip. Uptown puts you close to the Lakes; downtown puts you near the skyways and many of the city's major attractions.
Summers are glorious but can be humid, while late November through December means real Minnesota cold. Layer up and lean into the indoor theater-and-museum season. Renting a car can also be worthwhile if you plan to explore beyond downtown, particularly the lakes and suburbs.
If a hotel makes more sense for your trip, compare Minneapolis hotels on Klook before booking.