Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota and although it might not be one of the more major American cities, Minneapolis has something special that you can only really experience once you visit. The city is a bustling and thriving metropolis of art and music as well as entertainment and fun. It’s home to award-winning theaters and clubs and served as the launchpad for major artists of the 20th century like Prince and Bob Dylan. It also has a burgeoning rap and hip-hop scene. Minneapolis is, not to mention, one of the most LGBT-friendly places in the country. Minneapolis is a place with a little something for everyone but if you’re short on time here are a few suggestions on what to do for 36 hours in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Day 1: Afternoon
Grab a slice at Pizza Luce
There’s pizza, and then there’s handmade gourmet pizza made fresh and served straight from the oven. That’s the kind of pizza you’ll get at Pizza Luce. With locations all around Minnesota, Pizza Luce is not your ordinary pizza place–it has that little something extra. It is a spot for people who like their pizzas with a little pizzaz. Offering seasonal delights like butternut squash in the fall as well as collaborations with local beer brewers, Pizza Luce offers something a little tasty and unique for your afternoon meal.
Pizza Luce
Address: 119 N 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Website: Pizza Luce
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 2:30am; Fri: 11am - 3:30pm; Sat: 10am - 3:30pm; Sun: 10am - 2:30pm
Admire the views at Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park
Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park might be a mouthful but it is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. The park is located right on the Mississippi River offering some great views of the city and the water and also has some pretty neat amenities as well. Bike paths, gardens, play areas for kids, and picnic spots are all found here as well as bandstands and an amphitheater so you might be able to catch a free show!
Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park
Address: East and West banks of the Mississippi River between & 35W bridges, Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Website: Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
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Explore historic Mill Ruins Park
Mill Ruins Park is another place in downtown Minneapolis but it is not quite a park in the typical sense. It can be found on the west side of the St. Anthony Falls and it is a historic study of Minneapolis’s milling business in an archaeological sense. Professionals have found various artifacts here throughout the digging process and now guests can come and visit and learn about the historical past of the city and the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.
Mill Ruins Park
Address: 102 Portland Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Website: Mill Ruins Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
Day 1: Evening
Spend an evening admiring art at Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art is an absolute must-see while you’re visiting Minneapolis. The museum is home to over 90,000 pieces of art spanning over 5,000 years of human history. There are a few permanent exhibits here as well as visiting exhibits so make sure to check what is currently there before you visit. The Minneapolis Institute of Art aims to show the diversity of art throughout the world and throughout much of humanity’s recent history. Rembrandt, Matisse, and Miro can all be found at this beautiful museum as well as new media shows and photography.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Address: 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, United States
Website: Minneapolis Institute of Art
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
Delve into Minneapolis' past at Mill City Museum
Mill City Museum is another great option for spending an afternoon in the city. If you’re not into art but still want to see one of the city’s greatest museums, check out Mill City Museum. The institution focuses on the city’s history chronicling the founding and growth of the city through the importance of the lumber and mill industry as well as the importance of the St. Anthony Falls. The building is located in an establishment that was founded in 1879 and has some pretty interesting exhibits.
Mill City Museum
Address: 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Website: Mill City Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 6 - 12 USD
Have a perfectly cooked steak at The Capital Grille
Minneapolis can get pretty cold sometimes so why not warm your soul and come inside The Capital Grille? The welcoming vibe of the restaurant with its dark mahogany paneling and art deco chandeliers will make you feel like you stepped back in time. But you’re here for the food–and The Capital Grille specializes in steak and wine. Enjoy a romantic evening out or bring some friends along for a night of fine dining.
The Capital Grille
Address: 801 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402, United States
Website: The Capital Grille
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri: 11am - 11pm; Sat: 5pm - 11pm; Sun: 5pm - 9pm
Day 1: Night
Play a few games at Up Down - Minneapolis
Up-Down is a franchise of arcade bars with locations all throughout the country. If you’re a gamer who would love a blast from the past, then Up-Down is the perfect place for you. Grab a few drinks and play a few classic 80’s and 90’s arcade games. With over 50 different arcade games and a bunch of classic consoles like Nintendo 64s, pinball machines, and skeeball you can spend the whole night gaming just like you did when you were a kid - now with the added bonus of alcohol. All their games cost 25 cents and they have a wide selection of beer and even homemade pizzas available, too.
Up-Down
Address: 3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408, United States
Website: Up-Down
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 3pm - 2am; Sat - Sun: 11am - 2am
Price: 0.25 - 50 USD
Catch a show at HUGE Improv Theater
Dedicated to improv and making the people of Minneapolis laugh, HUGE Improv Theater was founded in 2005 and has since become a staple in the comedy community of the city. The theater is completely non-profit and instead aims to just provide some laughs and shows for the people of Minneapolis as well as running a few improv festivals that take place throughout different times of the year. The HUGE Improv Theater has shows six nights a week no matter what time you’re visiting the city, you can most likely be able to catch one of their shows. They also host classes for beginners so if that’s more of your thing then come by and learn improv!
HUGE Improv Theater
Address: 3037 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408, United States
Website: HUGE Improv Theater
Opening hours: 8pm - 12am (daily)
Price: 10 - 30 USD
Day 2: Morning
Enjoy some authentic Ukrainian food at Kramarczuk Sausage Company
Posted by Kramarczuk's on Friday, 20 September 2019
Kramarczuk Sausage Company has been a part of the Minneapolis landscape for over 70 years. It was started by two Ukrainian immigrants in the late 1940s. Wasyl and his wife Anna came to the United States to try their hand at the American dream. They worked hard and soon afterward, Kramarczuk Sausage Company was not only a spot for delicious Eastern European food but a cultural landmark for the city. The store offers everything from freshly prepared meals like sausage and pierogies to freshly baked bread and sweets. Pick something up to go or dine inside and feel the history within their four walls.
Kramarczuk Sausage Company
Address: 215 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
Website: Kramarczuk Sausage Company
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 8am - 8pm; Thu - Sat: 8am - 9pm; Sun: 10am - 4pm
Discover local history at Ard Godfrey House
Mr. Ard Godfrey came to Minnesota in the 1800s as a supervisor for one of the first lumbermills in the US. He built this home in 1848 and it’s still standing today. He and his family lived here until 1853 and after they moved out, a series of other families moved in until 1905 when the land was sold the city of Minneapolis. The building has been a museum dedicated to the history of Ard Godfrey and the lumber industry of the city since 1943. The building remains as the oldest wood-frame house in the city and is open to visitors interested in some local history.
Ard Godfrey House
Address: 28 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
Website: Ard Godfrey House
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 1pm - 4pm (closed from Mon - Fri)
Price: Free
Day 2: Afternoon
Enjoy a fresh meal at Highland Grill
Pumpkin Pancakes!! Come enjoy this fall specialty at Highland Grill today ! #nummy #pumpkinloversunite #welovefall #blueplaterestaurants
Posted by Highland Grill on Saturday, 19 October 2019
The story of Highland Grill started in the 90s when two servers working at another location in Minneapolis left their jobs to create something new. That something new was the Highland Grill. Operating on the idea of serving fresh, quality ingredients sourced from local producers, the Highland Grill has everything from amazing fresh French toast to award-winning turkey burgers. Come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and indulge in some tasty home-style cooking.
Highland Grill
Address: 771 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116, United States
Website: Highland Grill
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 7am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 7am - 10pm
Explore one of Minneapolis's oldest outdoor spaces at Minnehaha Regional Park
Minneapolis has some beautiful natural landscapes and parks and Minnehaha Regional Park is another one of the great green spaces found around the city. Minnehaha Regional Park was purchased by the state in 1889, with its unique name coming from the Dakota language that loosely translates to “laughing waters”, hence the “ha ha” part of the name. The space is pretty vast and has a number of amenities available for people coming by like picnic tables, fountains, bike paths, and even a disc golf course. For those looking to exercise a little, there is a volleyball court available. They also host public art installations and a wading pool.
Minnehaha Regional Park
Address: 4801 S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55417, United States
Website: Minnehaha Regional Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
Come face-to-face with the creatures of Longfellow Gardens
A man named Robert “Fish” Jones bought the land here at the edge of downtown Minneapolis in 1886. He then converted the land into a zoo filling it with animals that he had in his personal collection since he arrived in the city about a decade earlier. Originally the zoo held a collection of lions, a jaguar, bears, cattle and even a camel. The zoo then expanded and Mr. Fish himself had to move, then opening the zoo to the public in 1906. Today there is a formal garden here, with some animals roaming the grounds as well as a pergola and some pretty nice views of the Minneapolis skyline.
Longfellow Gardens
Address: 3933 E Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55417, United States
Website: Longfellow Gardens
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
Day 2: Evening
Go for an evening stroll at Gold Medal Park
Gold Medal Park is located in the downtown east part of the city. The park is relatively new, having been opened in 2007 but the people of Minneapolis are happy with more green space in their city, especially in a neighborhood that lacks a little bit of it. The area is 7.5 acres (3 hectares) and is designed by landscape architect Tom Oslund who took inspiration from the Native Americans in its design as there are several native mounds found throughout the space here.
Gold Medal Park
Address: Second Street and 11th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, United States
Website: Gold Medal Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
Watch a show at Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater was founded in 1963 and is one of the most important performance venues in the city. Showing everything from big music shows and concerts, as well as comedy shows and plays, Guthrie Theater is the premier place to catch a live show in the city. The building has several different auditoriums as well as public spaces and even a few places to grab a coffee and a light snack. Many people who graced the stage here went on to become bigger Hollywood actors. Guthrie Theater even received a Tony Award for regional theater.
Guthrie Theater
Address: 818 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415, United States
Website: The Guthrie Theater
Eat some Japanese food at Zen Box Izakaya
Zen Box Izakaya is the story of following your dreams. Two people who were not in the restaurant business met online and soon got married to open Zen Box Izakaya. Now they are one of the best spots in town for some authentic Japanese pub-style food. With a strong focus on ramen, the founder of Zen Box Izakaya is host to festivals involving food both Japanese and of other cuisines, but of course, focusing on the deliciousness that is ramen. Have a couple of beers, some freshly prepared food and spend your evening in a fun and eclectic restaurant.
Zen Box Izakaya
Address: 602 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415, United States
Website: Zen Box Izakaya
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 2pm, 5pm - 10pm; Fri: 11:30am - 2pm, 5pm - 12am; Sat: 5pm - 12am (closed on Sun)
Day 2: Night
Grab an evening pint at The Local - Minneapolis
The Local - West End is hiring! We're seeking a Bartender & Hosts to join our team. If you think you would be a good fit, apply here! http://bit.ly/2mQlBLv
Posted by The Local on Tuesday, 5 November 2019
The Local is a little bit of Ireland in the city of Minneapolis. The pub aims to contrast the modern hustle and bustle of the modern world with a laidback atmosphere of an old-style Irish pub. Hang out in the snug with a couple of friends and some pints or head to the bar and chat up the locals. Of course, some delicious pub food is available to go along with your Guinness and there are also local sports playing on the TV.
The Local - Minneapolis
Address: 931 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402, United States
Website: The Local - Minneapolis
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 2am; Sun: 9am - 2am
Catch local acts at Fine Line Music Cafe
Fine Line Music Cafe is located in a building built in 1907 and it is regarded as one of the best spots for live music in the city. The venue is low-key and a little small but that makes it more intimate and fun. The club took off as a place where musicians can come and play. Since then, big names have to play here including Cheryl Crow and the Indigo Girls. Come by, grab a drink, and maybe you’ll get to watch the next big artist.
Fine Line Music Cafe
Address: 318 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Website: Fine Line Music Cafe
Minnesota beauty
Minneapolis is a great spot especially for people who love the outdoors. Tons of great parks and outdoor spaces can be found throughout the city, not to mention some really fun and unique things to do if you’re not into being outside like ax throwing, arcade bars, and some delicious international food. Keep our list in mind and enjoy your time in Minneapolis, however short.
Test your aim at Bad Axe Throwing (from USD 23.0)
If you’re looking for something fun and unique to do with a group of friends then why not try your hand at some axe throwing? The premise is pretty simple–think of darts but with an axe. No experience necessary to come and try it, just pick an axe and learn to throw, then you’re on your own. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon that’s pretty affordable and certainly a different kind of activity that’s a little more than just sight-seeing.
Bad Axe Throwing Minneapolis
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