Minneapolis walking tour & city guide

The riverfront and St. Anthony Falls

The Mill District on the Mississippi is where the city began. The ruins of the Washburn A Mill now house the Mill City Museum, and the Guthrie Theater next door has a cantilevered Endless Bridge with views over the river.

The curved Stone Arch Bridge, built for trains in 1883, is now a path for walkers and cyclists, with views of St. Anthony Falls and the downtown skyline.

Lakes and parks

The Chain of Lakes, including Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles, is ringed by paths used all year by joggers, cyclists and, in winter, skaters. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, with its famous giant spoon and cherry, sits beside the Walker Art Center.

A classic riverfront loop

Start at the Guthrie Theater and walk to the Mill City Museum ruins, then cross the Stone Arch Bridge to the east bank. Here the cobblestoned Main Street in the old St. Anthony neighborhood has restaurants in historic buildings and a park on Nicollet Island.

Walk back across the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and along the riverfront West River Parkway to the start. The loop is about 4 kilometers. In downtown, the Skyway System lets you walk between buildings indoors, a lifesaver in winter.

Visiting tips

Summer and early autumn are lovely, with festivals and lake life. Winters are very cold, but the city embraces them with ice festivals. St. Paul, the twin city and state capital, is just across the river, and the Mall of America is near the airport.