Image Caption
View the scenic Minneapolis skyline along the Mississippi River
Welcome to Minnesota
Minnesota, an incredibly diverse state in the Great Lakes region of the United States, is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Minnesota offers activities and adventures of every kind, on water or on land: from the hustle and bustle of cities to pristine wilderness, pine forests and hillsides, from historical landmarks to modern attractions.
This page will give you an introduction to the best Minnesota has to offer, as well as information to help you plan your trip. At the bottom of this page you will find links to Minnesota travel resources available in your language. You can use a browser plugin for translation such as Google Translate or Translator for Microsoft Edge to view the rest of this website in your language.
Unspoiled Nature and Dynamic Cities
Unique outdoor experiences await you in the state of Minnesota, from the vast northern forests and shores of Lake Superior to the beautiful slopes of southern Minnesota and the winding trails of the Mississippi. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, the largest urban area between Denver, Colorado, to the west and Chicago, Illinois, to the east, is a vibrant and diverse cultural center filled with music, nightlife, sports, art and shopping.
See Things to Do
A Tour of Minnesota
Getting Here
Time Zone
- Central Standard Time (GMT-6) mid-November to early March
- Central Daylight Time (GMT-5) mid-March to early November
Flights and Transportation
Flights
The main international airport is MSP (Minneapolis/Saint Paul). Additional international, regional and municipal airports are located throughout the state.
- Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands: Delta Air Lines/KLM
- Dublin (DUB), Ireland: Aer Lingus and Delta Air Lines
- Frankfurt (FRA), Germany: Lufthansa and Condor Airlines
- London (LHR), England: Delta Air Lines
- Mexico City (MEX): Delta Air Lines
- Paris (CDG), France: Air France/Delta Air Lines
- Reykjavik (KEF), Iceland: Icelandair
- Seoul (ICN), South Korea: Delta Air Lines
- Tokyo (HND), Japan: Delta Air Lines
*Additional international nonstop flights from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
City Railway
At MSP Airport: Getting around the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area is easy with the Metro Transit Light Rail System. The Blue Line connects the Mall of America and MSP Terminals 1 and 2 to downtown Minneapolis, and the Green Line connects downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul. A ticket costs between $2.25 and $3.50 (£1.83 and £2.85).
Train Connections
Amtrak currently provides passenger rail service in Minnesota on the Empire Builder Route from Chicago, Illinois to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.
The Empire Builder runs once daily in each direction in Minnesota, stopping at Winona, Red Wing, Saint Paul and St. Cloud, Staples and Detroit Lakes stations. For more information, visit the Amtrak website.
Car Rental
Available at the MSP airport upon arrival in Terminals 1 and 2, browse car rental companies conveniently located at MSP and nearby.
Outdoor Adventures by Season
With more than 10,000 lakes, vast forests and rugged hillsides, Minnesota is an exciting destination for outdoor enthusiasts at any time of year. Kayak on Lake Superior or canoe in the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area, hike to breathtaking overlooks and bike one of over 10,240 kilometers of paved trails. Explore more than 35,000 kilometers of snowmobile trails in winter or take your own dog sled for an unforgettable adventure.
Outdoor Adventures
Spring and Summer
Relax in one of Minnesota’s beautiful lakefront cabins or resorts. Take advantage of this season’s long sunny days and warm summer evenings to relax with boating, fishing, water sports and golf.
Outdoor Adventures
Autumn
Enjoy the spectacular colors of the fall season on a scenic forest hike or cruise the river through the autumn foliage.
Outdoor Adventures
Winter
Experience the untouched beauty of snow-covered landscapes and beautiful days full of sunshine and fresh air. Your unique Minnesota winter adventure includes ice fishing, fat tire biking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and snowshoeing.
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Most Popular Attractions in Minnesota
North Shore of Lake Superior
Ships from all over the world dock in the port of Duluth.Arrival times and origin countries can be found at theLake Superior Maritime Visitor CenterinCanal Park.
Drive theNorth Shore Scenic BywayfromDuluthon the western shore ofLake Superiorto the Canadian border.Hike one of the sections of theSuperior Hiking Trailto breathtaking viewpoints.Stop at one of several state parks toview spectacular waterfalls atGooseberry Falls State ParkandCascade River State Park, or visitSplit Rock Lighthouse State Parkto learn more about the lighthouse's structure and operations.
Just a short drive from the northern shore takes you to theBoundary Waters Canoe AreaWilderness, a protected wilderness preserve with 1,175 lakes.At theInternational Wolf Centerand theNorth American Bear Center, both inEly, you can see wolves and bears in their natural habitat.
The Mighty Mississippi
Follow theGreat River Roadand discover the source of America's largest and most legendary river inItasca State Park.Continue south through charming riverside towns likeRed Wing, home ofRed Wing Shoesand the historicSt. James Hotel.The Mississippi River serves as the main migration route for theAmerican bald eagle, and you will see many eagles and bird species there.Stop inWabashato learn about the river's importance to natureat theNational Eagle Center.Winonalies between the slopes of the Mississippi River in the geologically importantDriftless Area.TheMinnesota Marine Arts Museum's entire art collection is dedicated to the theme of water and includes works by Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso.
Sports in Minnesota
There's plenty of sports to see in Minneapolis: the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL) atU.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball League (NBA) and the four-time WNBA world champion Minnesota Lynx atTarget Center, and in the spring /summer Major League Baseball (MLB) games with the Minnesota Twins atTarget Fieldare a tradition.
In Saint Paul, Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) plays atAllianz Fieldand the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL) plays atXcel Energy Center.
Attractions in Minneapolis-St. Paul
The two largest cities in Minnesota are located on theMississippi Riverand are known for their unique combination of city and nature.Beautiful parks surround many urban lakes and natural wonders likeMinnehaha FallsandSt. Anthony Falls, the only waterfall on the Mississippi River.
In Minneapolis, theMill City Museumtells the city's history, while landmarks like the Frank Gehry-designedWeisman Art Museum,Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Gardenshowcaseiconic works of art like theSpoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.
Minnesota music legendsBob DylanandPrinceare commemorated by a mural in downtown Minneapolis depicting the life of Bob Dylan andPaisley Park, Prince's former home and studio, now a museum.
Minnesota hosts numerousfestivals and eventsthroughout the year, but theMinnesota State Fairin August is one of the largest fairs in the country.This popular festival of food (mostly hand-held treats), culture, and music also features quirky attractions like sculptures made from blocks of butter and works of art made entirely from plant seeds.
And at the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States, theMall of America in Bloomington, you'll find more than 520 stores and attractions - and the state of Minnesota doesn’t charge sales taxon shoes and clothing!
