Region
Twin Cities
Sleep in one downtown; Minneapolis and Saint Paul are 20 minutes apart by light rail. Two nights covers the core.
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Key facts · United States
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
The Twin Cities are two downtowns 15 km apart, joined by one light-rail line. Minneapolis holds the museums, the lakes and the riverfront; Saint Paul holds the Capitol, Union Depot and a denser skyway grid. Pick one as your base and ride the Green Line between them rather than changing hotels. Most visitors need two to three nights; a car only pays off for the outer suburbs and the St. Croix valley.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- MinneapolisCity guide
Museums, Chain of Lakes, riverfront, most hotel beds.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND - Saint PaulCity guide
Capitol, Union Depot, Grand Avenue, quieter evenings.
Best May–Jul, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- BloomingtonCity guide
Mall of America and MSP airport; on the Blue Line.
Best Mar, May–Oct, Dec
JFMAMJJASOND - Apple ValleyCity guide
Minnesota Zoo; car or rideshare from the Blue Line.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Minneapolis 2; Saint Paul as a half-day on the Green Line
- 3 nights
- Minneapolis 2 + Saint Paul 1, or Minneapolis 3 with a Bloomington/Mall of America stop
- 4 nights
- Minneapolis 3 + Saint Paul 1, plus one lake or St. Croix day
- Minneapolis + Saint Paul + Mall of America + a lake in two days is mostly transit.
- Bus service thins after the evening peak and is very limited after about 1AM outside a few night routes.
- Winter cold snaps reach −20 °C (−4 °F) and below; skyways and tunnels are the practical way to move downtown.Winter cold snaps reach −4 °F (−20 °C) and below; skyways and tunnels are the practical way to move downtown.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul | Minneapolis | 40 min | check | Green Line runs all day; last trains are late evening — check the current timetable. |
| Bloomington (Mall of America) | Minneapolis | 45 min | unknown | Blue Line from downtown; also the airport stop. Mall hours vary by season. |
| Apple Valley (Minnesota Zoo) | Minneapolis | 50 min | unknown | Car or rideshare from the Blue Line; zoo closes mid-afternoon to early evening by season. |
| Excelsior / Lake Minnetonka | Minneapolis | 45 min | unknown | Car is the practical option; summer weekends fill the waterfront. |
| Afton / St. Croix valley | Saint Paul | 45 min | unknown | Car needed; state park vehicle pass required for park entry. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding between Minneapolis and Saint Paul is not a standard service; use the Green Line or a rideshare to move bags directly.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | × | × | go | go | ok | ok |
| Saint Paul | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
| Bloomington | ok | ok | go | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Apple Valley | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | × | × | go | go | ok | ok |
| Excelsior | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
| Afton | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Hopkins | × | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | × | × |
| Roseville | × | × | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × |
| Richfield | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok |
| Minnetonka | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × |
| United States (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Cities metroMinneapolis, Saint Paul and inner suburbs | cool | cool | cool | ok | best | best | best | best | best | best | cool | cool |
- Twin Cities metro
- Hard winters with −15 °C (5 °F) cold snaps and snow; warm, sometimes humid summers. Late May to early October is the walking season; January–February is indoor-and-skyway weather.Hard winters with 5 °F (−15 °C) cold snaps and snow; warm, sometimes humid summers. Late May to early October is the walking season; January–February is indoor-and-skyway weather.
Summer weekends and the State Fair period (late August to early September) are the local peaks; hotel rates rise around big downtown events.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP (Minneapolis–Saint Paul International) | Downtown Minneapolis | Metro Blue Line light rail | ~25 min to downtown | Blue Line serves both terminals and continues to the Mall of America; travel between terminals is free. |
| MSP (Minneapolis–Saint Paul International) | Downtown Saint Paul | Blue Line + Green Line transfer | ~50–60 min | One easy change; a taxi or rideshare is faster with bags. |
| Chicago | Saint Paul Union Depot | Amtrak Empire Builder | ~8 h | Overnight-ish; arrives at Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul. |
| Chicago / Milwaukee / Madison | Minneapolis or Saint Paul | Intercity coach (Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Megabus) | varies by route | Minneapolis coaches stop at the Hawthorne Transportation Center; some services use Union Depot in Saint Paul. |
| Regional by car | Twin Cities | I-94 (east–west) and I-35 (north–south) | varies | I-35 splits into I-35W through Minneapolis and I-35E through Saint Paul. |
Regional passes
Metro Transit single ride
buyLocal bus, light rail and BRT cost $2 with a free 2.5-hour transfer; buy in the app or at a ticket machine.
Metro Transit day pass
buy$4 for unlimited rides — pays off after two rides in a day.
7-day and 31-day passes
skipLoaded on a Go-To card or in the app; only worth it if you ride most days during a longer stay.
Rental car
checkSkip it for the two downtowns; take it only for the outer suburbs, Lake Minnetonka or the St. Croix valley.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Juicy Lucy (cheese-stuffed burger) | Minneapolis and Saint Paul bars | Order it and wait — the molten centre burns if you bite straight in. |
| Walleye | Supper clubs and riverfront restaurants | A local lake fish; often fried or grilled. |
| Hot dish and church-basement staples | Diners and State Fair stands | Minnesotan comfort food; the State Fair (late August) is where the local versions peak. |
| Hmong and Somali cooking | Saint Paul (University Avenue) and Minneapolis | One of the region's strongest food stories; University Avenue is on the Green Line. |
| Craft beer and taprooms | Northeast Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Hopkins | Taprooms often allow outside food; check individual hours. |
Go next
Minnesota
plannedStatewide guide
Lakes country, Duluth and the North Shore start here.
Chicago
Amtrak Empire Builder from Saint Paul Union Depot, ~8 h
The natural next city east; also reachable by coach.
Midwest
Region guide
For routing the rest of the Upper Midwest.
United States
Country guide
Best time, itineraries and entry basics.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 5, 40 min to 50 min
- Nights suggested
- 2–4 nights
- Ways in
- 5 listed
- Best months
- May–Oct
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Twin Cities
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