Minneapolis is so much more than a mid-sized city in a flyover state. The Midwest charm of this city will leave you wondering why you hadn’t visited sooner! Explore urban parks, eat and drink your way through iconic restaurants and bars, and fall in love with Minnesota lake life. Here’s exactly how to spend one weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota!
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Side Note! This post was written by Stephanie, a once longtime local of Minneapolis! This way, you can ensure you are reading the best and most accurate weekend guide to Minneapolis! Read more about Stephanie at the bottom of this blog post.
Table of Contents
3 Day Minneapolis Itinerary (Quick View)
If you are short on time, here’s a quick look at this 3-day Minneapolis Itinerary! If it looks like your kind of weekend, then be sure to keep reading for all the details!
- Day 1: Breakfast at Isles Bun & Coffee, Canoe Lake of the Isles, lunch at Sea Salt Eatery, rent a bike at Minnehaha Falls, pizza picnic at Lake Harriet North Beach
- Day 2: Breakfast at Cafe Alma, Walk across the Stone Arch Bridge, Mill City Farmers Market (Saturdays) or Mill City Museum, Shopping along North Loop, lunch at Pyres Brewery, climbing at Minneapolis Boulder Project, dinner at Sanjusan, drinks at Hewing Hotel
- Day 3: Brunch at Hazel’s, hike at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Brewery hopping, lunch at Centro, Twins game
How do I get to Minneapolis?
The main airport in Minneapolis is the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, or MSP, which was ranked the top airport in the U.S. in 2024 by Travel and Leisure. MSP is only about 20-30 minutes away from downtown Minneapolis by car, and about an hour on the light rail, which is one of the main forms of public transit in Minneapolis.
It is possible to spend a weekend in Minneapolis without a vehicle, but in order to make the most of the city, it’s best to rent a car from the MSP airport.
Public transportation options include the Metro Transit light rail, which has a few stations downtown, but it doesn’t really go into the neighborhoods. There are also public buses, which are well connected to the many neighborhoods, and serve as the main form of public transit around Minneapolis.
What is the best time to visit Minneapolis?
Minnesota is notorious for being super cold–the nickname Minnes(snow)ta exists for a reason. Even so, winter is still a beautiful time to visit Minnesota if you are looking for a snowy winter getaway! There are plenty of things to do in the winter, especially on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
However, the best time to visit the city of Minneapolis is in the summer or fall. Think rooftop bars, bike paths galore, craft breweries, and lakes on lakes. There are actually more than 10,000 lakes in Minnesota, with 22 lakes in Minneapolis alone.
Where should I stay in Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is all about the neighborhoods, and I would actually recommend staying outside of the downtown area if you really want to experience the heart of the city!
The North Loop
This is the trendiest part of Minneapolis. Situated along the Mississippi River, this area is known for high-end apartments, restaurants, and shopping. If you have money to spend, this is a great area to base yourself! This neighborhood also has the highest concentration of hotels, is close to Target Field (where the MLB Minnesota Twins play), and has easy access to some great walking paths along the river.
Luxury (+dog-friendly) Hotel: The Hewing Hotel – whether you stay at the Hewing Hotel or not, the rooftop bar has one of the most iconic views of the Minneapolis skyline. There is also a gorgeous rooftop hot tub, which is one of the biggest perks of staying at this hotel, as it’s only available for hotel guests.
The Hewing is dog-friendly, has a great restaurant and bar on site, and is in a historic building in the North Loop. It’s close to the river and there is easy access to the light rail. If you want to go car-free for the weekend, this is the best area to base yourself because you can easily reach this neighborhood from the airport via public transit.
Saint Anthony Main
The most European neighborhood in Minneapolis – this area is characterized by old cobblestone streets and the historic Stone Arch Bridge that crosses the Mississippi. There is a historic movie theater, incredible restaurants with big outdoor seating areas, and a bougie new spa.
Luxury/Historic Hotel: The Nicollet Island Inn is a Minneapolis mainstay. The building was originally built in 1893, and the hotel offers boat rides and an incredible brunch.
BONUS: This neighborhood is also close to Northeast Minneapolis, which is another up-and-coming area of the city. Characterized by artist lofts, grungy dive bars, and breweries galore–this area is a great spot to visit when staying in the Saint Anthony Main neighborhood.
South Minneapolis
This area of Minneapolis is all about the LAKES. If you love having access to both nature and city vibes, then this is your spot. The best areas to stay in South Minneapolis are Linden Hills, Minnehaha, or Nokomis.
These neighborhoods are a bit farther out from the main downtown areas, but are great for folks who would rather look for an Airbnb or VRBO home rental and have a bit of space to be closer to some of the beautiful parks that make Minneapolis so great. There aren’t many hotels in this area, but there are plenty of rentals available.
Other hotel options:
- Luxury Option $$$: Hotel Ivy is located in downtown Minneapolis and is known for the on-site luxury spa–Anda Spa.
- Mid-Range $$: Moxy is a modern hotel with colorful decor and is located near the Saint Anthony Main area and the Stone Arch Bridge.
- Budget-Friendly Option $: Holiday Inn Express is a typical chain hotel – this location is in central Minneapolis and has a pool and fitness center. It’s close to Target Field and the Foshay building, which has an iconic rooftop bar.
- Unique Option: Alma is a sweet boutique hotel above a lovely restaurant and bakery. There are only seven rooms, but they are beautifully decorated and in a quieter part of Saint Anthony Main.
Sample 3-Day Minneapolis Weekend Itinerary
Let’s dive into all the details! Below you’ll find exactly how to spend one weekend in Minneapolis!
Day 1: Chain of Lakes
Morning:
Start your weekend in Minneapolis with the best cinnamon rolls in the whole city at Isles Bun & Coffee in the Uptown Minneapolis neighborhood. Their cinnamon rolls have won many awards in Minneapolis and beyond!
They also have something called a puppy dog tail, which is basically a small twist of cinnamon roll made from the scraps of the regular rolls, and incredible scones and other baked goods along with great coffee. In the summer, there is often a line, especially on weekends, so it’s always a good idea to go early!
Next, walk down towards Lake of the Isles and over to Bde Mka Ska Lake towards the Wheel Fun Rentals shack, where you can rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard to spend the day out on the water.
There are several lakes connected together–hence the chain of lakes! Canoe under the bridge into Lake of the Isles, and you can even continue on to one final lake, Cedar Lake, which is often a bit quieter since there aren’t as many walking or biking paths around the lake.
Afternoon:
This day is all about the urban parks in South Minneapolis, so next, make your way over to the Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls area. If you enjoy biking, you can rent a bike at the Wheel Fun Rental shack at Bde Mka Ska to bike over to Minnehaha Falls; otherwise, there are plenty of places to park if you have a rental car.
Grab lunch at Sea Salt Eatery, which has some of the best seafood in Minneapolis. The fish tacos are to die for, and they have great local beers on tap!
After lunch, check out Minnehaha Falls, which is the main attraction of one of the oldest and most popular parks in Minneapolis. There are plenty of walking trails behind the falls and along the river, going all the way down to the beach on the banks of the Mississippi.
There are also bike rentals at Minnehaha Falls if you want to add some more activity to your day. The bike path from Minnehaha Falls over to Lake Nokomis on the Minnehaha Parkway is lovely, and there is a great bike loop around Lake Nokomis.
Evening:
For dinner, grab a pizza from Rosalia Pizza – some of the best wood-fired pizza in town – and dine Minnesotan style with a lakeside picnic at Lake Harriet.
Tucked in behind Lake Harriet, Linden Hills is a great neighborhood to walk around as well, with amazing restaurants like Martina, Le Burger, and Tilia.
Once you grab your pizza, it’s best to drive over to the lake to park again so you don’t have to walk all the way back to the pizza place. You’ll want to park near the Lake Harriet Bandshell, where there is a walk up bar, called Bread and Pickle, with beer and wine for sale.
The Lake Harriet Bandshell is a historic pavilion with decades of history, hosting free concerts, movies, and shows. The concerts range from bluegrass to orchestra music, and you can almost always count on there being some sort of event here in the summer. Check out the event schedule at the Bread and Pickle website.
Set up shop on the Lake Harriet North Beach, or on the grass in front of the bandshell to enjoy your pizza picnic while the sun sets over the water with sailboats dotted around the lake. Grab a beer or wine and enjoy the beauty of this incredible urban park!
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also rent a paddleboard or canoe here as well to spend more time on the water.
Day 2: Saint Anthony Main
Morning:
Start off your second day in Minneapolis by grabbing some of the best coffee and pastries in the city. Head to Cafe Alma for either a sit-down breakfast in the cafe, or a to-go coffee and pastry. My favorite here is their breakfast sandwich.
After breakfast, or with your coffee in hand, spend the rest of the morning exploring the Saint Anthony neighborhood, including a walk across the iconic Stone Arch Bridge! This bridge offers some of the best views of the Minneapolis skyline.
On Saturdays, the Mill City Farmers Market is open from 8 am to 1 pm. This is one of the best summer farmers’ markets in the city–situated on the banks of the Mississippi, there are food stalls for fresh produce and prepared foods alike. If you haven’t gotten your fill for breakfast, you’ll be sure to find something amazing to eat here!
There are also great walking paths along the river in this part of town near Father Hennepin Bluff Park, Mill Ruins Park, and Gold Medal Park.
You could also pop into the Mill City Museum, which has a bit more information about the history of this area, including the Gold Medal Flour factory and the Stone Arch Bridge. There is also a great observation deck inside the museum with a view of the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge.
Afternoon:
From the Stone Arch Bridge area, take the Mississippi Walking Trail north along the river or walk north on Washington Ave to check out some of the shops on this popular street. This part of Minneapolis is called the North Loop and is home to some of the higher-end restaurants and shops. Parc Shop, Mitrebox Framing Studio, Le Labo, Madewell, and Allbirds are all fun stores to pop into.
Next, head up to Pryes Brewing, which has one of the best beer gardens/patios in the summer! Right next to the river and plenty of tables outside, this is the place to be on a weekend afternoon. Their most popular beer is the Pryes Miraculum, which is characterized as a Midwest IPA. They also have wood-fired pizzas and other bar snacks available.
BONUS: Into climbing? The Minneapolis Boulder Project is right next to Pryes Brewing and is a fun way to spend a few hours. It’s $24 for a day pass, which doesn’t include the cost for renting shoes and a harness.
Evening:
Grab dinner reservations at Sanjusan, a Japanese and Italian fusion restaurant. It sounds weird, but trust me once you’ve had their cotton candy cocktail and tuna poke pizza, you won’t think it’s weird anymore. They have great options for dishes to share and a great selection of non alcoholic drinks.
Afterwards, head over to the Hewing Hotel for drinks on their rooftop bar. Time it with sunset for a great golden hour view over the city.
Day 3: Northeast Minneapolis & Baseball Game
Morning:
Start your last day with brunch at Hazel’s in Northeast Minneapolis to get a taste (literally) of classic Midwest diner food that’s actually good. If you are visiting on a weekend morning, a reservation is a good idea! Try their biscuits and gravy or brisket hash.
Roll yourself out of Hazel’s (after filling your bellies to the brim) and offset all that grease with a hike at Theodore Wirth Regional Park.
This park is great for a low-effort hike in the forest. There are several options for trails ranging from 1 mile to 5 miles, with most hikes being rated as moderate because you’re in Minnesota and there are no hills!
Afternoon:
In the afternoon, head back over to northeast Minneapolis for tacos and beer! Quincy Street in northeast Minneapolis is a great area for bar hopping–there are several fun bars in the area, including an iconic Minneapolis brewery, Indeed Brewing. At Indeed, they are known for their pistachio cream ale and Mexican honey lager. They also make THC drinks, which you can buy in a can at the taphouse.
Just next door is one of the best places for tacos, Centro. You can even order the tacos to go and walk across the street to eat them in the beer garden with a beer from Indeed.
Centro’s best tacos are the fried fish tacos and the carnitas tacos. They also have their take on a crunchwrap and excellent margaritas if you’re not a beer person!
One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon with friends is in this corner of the city, eating tacos, drinking beer, and playing cards or chatting.
Evening:
Experience an American classic – summer baseball – in Minnesota! There are actually two teams that you could cheer on. The MLB team is the Minnesota Twins, and there is a Triple-A team in the neighboring city, the Saint Paul Saints.
Check the schedule ahead of time to see if there are home games during your visit!
The Minnesota Twins stadium, Target Field, is a really fun stadium, even if you don’t like baseball! It’s mostly outdoors, with some of the concourses under covered awnings. Standing room only tickets are also kind of fun because you get to do a bit more walking around the stadium to see the game and the city views from multiple angles.
Target Field has some great food options, ranging from classic hot dogs and peanuts to curry bowls and vegan sausages.
The Saint Paul Saints stadium is also a really fun experience. For a more affordable ticket, you can opt to sit in the grassy area next to the seats! The stadium is also in a fun area of downtown Saint Paul with plenty to explore before or after the game.
If the Twins win, they will usually launch fireworks in front of the Minneapolis skyline, which is a super fun sight to experience!
Other things to do in Minneapolis:
If you end up having more than a weekend in Minneapolis, here are some other fun things to do nearby!
- Mall of America: Technically located in Bloomington, the Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States–complete with a full amusement park inside and 32 million annual visitors. This is a great activity with kids as the amusement park is Nickelodeon themed.
- See a show at the Guthrie Theater: If you like theater, this is a really fun place to watch a show! Tickets are usually around $40-$100 depending on the seat, and there is a good mix of well-known shows and lesser-known shows.
- Spa Experience at the Watershed Spa: If you want a relaxing activity, head to the Watershed Spa for an immersive spa experience. At $65 for 2.5 hours of soaking in warm pools and relaxing in a steam room and sauna, it’s a worthy investment for a relaxing afternoon.
- Prohibition Bar at the Foshay Tower Observation Deck: Visit this high-end bar for great cocktails and 360 views of the city. Drinks can be spendy, but if you love a good cocktail, this is a great
- Comedy at Sisyphus Brewing or Acme Comedy Club: One of my favorite activities in Minneapolis is to see a comedy show. Acme Comedy Club is a bigger club that often welcomes headliners who are usually well known, with tickets ranging from $32-$52. Sisyphus Brewing has a back room in their taphouse for comedy. It only seats about 40-50 people, but it’s a great spot for an affordable night of comedy with headliners that are usually also pretty well known. Friday night comedy at Sisyphus is $20 per ticket, and Amateur night on Thursdays is free!
- Nicollet Island Inn Twilight River Cruise: Starting at $145 per person, this is a great activity for a romantic night out on the water or to celebrate a special occasion. There are package options that also include dinner at the historic Inn or a picnic basket to bring on the boat.
- (Summer Thursdays only) River Rats Water Ski Show: This is a FREE iconic summer activity in Minneapolis! The River Rats are an incredible group of waterskiers who go off jumps, stack on top of each other, and do insane tricks in the water that will make you wonder how the heck they learned how to do that.
- Northfield Pizza Farm: A quintessential Minnesota summer activity, but this is about an hour away from the city and is only reachable via car! It is what it sounds like – a farm where the owners have set up a wood-fired pizza oven to make fresh pizzas to order with farm-fresh ingredients.
Keep reading: Best Weekend Trips from Minneapolis (less than 5 hours away)
Where (else) to Eat in Minneapolis
Need some more restaurant recommendations for your weekend getaway? You’re in luck! There are so many tasty restaurants in Minneapolis! Here are some of my favs!
Restaurants in Minneapolis!
- Owamni by the Sioux Chef
- Spoon and Stable
- Bar La Grassa
- Diane’s Place
- Hai Hai
- Martina
- Khaluna
Coffee in Minneapolis!
- Dogwood Coffee
- FRGMT
- Backstory Coffee Roasters
- Spyhouse Coffee
- Five Watt Coffee
Other Tips to Know Before Visiting Minneapolis
June through September are the best months to visit Minneapolis! Despite stereotypes of being super cold, summers in Minnesota can get hot and humid! June is one of my favorite months in Minnesota because Minnesotans are so excited about the warmer weather that everyone is in a great mood and folks are ready to get outside!
If you have more time and enjoy camping and hiking, the North Shore of Lake Superior is the real jewel of Minnesota and well worth spending the extra time!
About the Author!
Stephanie is a Portland, OR-based travel blogger and content creator who grew up in Minnesota and lived in Minneapolis for several years before moving to the Pacific Northwest. Follow her travels at travelinginreallife.com and @travelinginreallife on Instagram.
More Minnesota Travel Resources!
After you spend one weekend in Minneapolis, you’ll surely fall in love with all things Minnesota. So, here are some other fun MN travel ideas!