Things to do Minneapolis & St Paul

Two cities so alike yet uniquely different, each with a fascinating history and a thriving present.

The Twin Cities are more fraternal than identical, which makes our tours so interesting. Learn why it is said you date Minneapolis and marry St Paul. Or why Mark Twin allegedly said, “St Paul is the last great city of the east and Minneapolis is the first great city of the west”. Situated along the mighty Mississippi River, with downtowns only seven miles apart, Minneapolis and St Paul each began as tiny immigrant towns and grew up together, eventually forming a cohesive metropolis that’s part bustling city, part sleepy suburbs, part natural beauty, and all uniquely Minnesota.

Minneapolis was recently named the Happiest City in the United States by Travel + Leisure based on factors like:

• It’s home to 180 parks with 55 miles of biking and walking paths
• There are 22 lakes, 12 gardens, and 7 golf courses
• A robust public transportation system with buses, light rail, and commuter train
• It’s relatively affordable to live here, ranking 6^th in Livability’s 2022 Best Places to Live
• Last but not least are restaurants, microbreweries, murals, music, and art

St Paul, meanwhile, is known for:

• It’s hip, diverse, and friendly
• The arts are prized here – music, museums, cultural centers, festivals
• Mouthwatering restaurants with ties to their multicultural history
• Livability consistently ranks it as one of the Best Places to Live
• Activities include bookstores, shopping, a free zoo, kayaking, bike riding, bird watching

We consistently rank #1 or #2 as the best city for biking, with paths and trails meandering throughout the metro area.

And through it all flows the Mississippi River, along whose riverfront two bustling towns grew together to create this culturally fertile economic center of the Upper Midwest. We love living here and are excited to share the Twin Cities with you!

Iconic Landmarks and Places to Visit

• IDS Center – the tallest building in the state featuring the beautiful Crystal Court, it’s the crossroads of Minneapolis’s downtown and the center of business
• Foshay Tower – obelisk shaped and with the only observatory deck in downtown Minneapolis, this Art Deco gem has a history as wild as its architecture
• Guthrie Theater – a repertory theater with resident artists performing the classics since 1963; also renowned for its Endless Bridge overlooking the Mississippi River in Minneapolis
• Stone Arch Bridge – instantly recognizable for its graceful arches, this railroad bridge turned pedestrian walkway is the crown jewel of downtown Minneapolis
• First Avenue – home of the ‘Minneapolis sound’ and favored local venue for Prince who filmed several scenes of Purple Rain here, it remains a favorite music venue
• Spoonbridge and Cherry – the unofficial symbol of Minneapolis is a central piece in one of the largest urban sculpture gardens in the world
• Minnesota State Capitol – this seat of government is one of St Paul’s architectural gems inside and out with paintings, murals, sculptures, monuments, and memorials
• Cathedral of Saint Paul – this distinctive cathedral is the third-largest Catholic cathedral in the US with a beauty comparative to the glorious churches of Europe
• Landmark Center – St Paul’s cultural center with former lives as US Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House with a tie to the city’s gangster past
• Summit Avenue - home to the longest stretch of Victorian-era homes in the US; 373 of the original 440 homes / mansions still line the picturesque street in St Paul
• Minnehaha Falls - one of two city waterfalls, this picturesque showpiece stands in one of the metro's oldest parks resplendent with greenery, flora, fauna, and statues

See these sights by bus on: Minneapolis Landmark Sightseeing Tour, St Paul Sightseeing Tour (coming soon), A Tale of Twin Cities

See these sights by foot on: Minneapolis Riverwalk Food Tour, Heart of Minneapolis Food Tour, Minneapolis Skyway Food Tour (coming soon), Heart of St Paul Food Tour, St Paul Skyway Food Tour, Cathedral Hill Food Tour (coming soon)

Delicious Food & Drink

• Our rich immigrant past and present provides Minneapolis-St Paul with a wide array of international cuisine from Mexican to African, Indian to Eastern European, and Southeast Asia to pure Minnesotan…and beyond
• In 2025 alone, ten Twin Cities restaurants were semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, including six restaurants in national categories
• Food halls are the newest go-to spots where you’re not restricted to one eatery, instead indulging in myriad taste sensations
• Twin Cities water has the perfect pH to make great tasting beer, something we’ve been doing here since the mid-1800s
• If alcohol is what you desire, we have breweries, microbreweries, brewpubs, wineries, cideries, and distilleries aplenty
• Food halls are the newest go-to spots where you’re not restricted to one eatery, instead indulging in myriad taste sensations

Sample food and / or drink on these bus tours: Brews ‘n Bites, Craft Brew Hop, Twin Cities Winery Tours, Brews ‘n Bulbs, Brewery Distillery Cidery, Sippin’ Spirits, Crushin’ It Cider Tour, Slice of Minneapolis Food Tour

Sample food and / or drink on these walking tours: Minneapolis Riverwalk Food Tour, Trendy North Loop Food Tour, Heart of Minneapolis Food Tour, Minneapolis Skyway Food Tour (coming soon), Heart of St Paul Food Tour, St Paul Skyway Food Tour, Cathedral Hill Food Tour (coming soon)