Minneapolis
United States · Country profile

Minneapolis is the energetic, lake-studded city of the upper Midwest of the United States, the larger partner of the Twin Cities that spreads across the banks of the Mississippi river in the state of the Minnesota. It is a city of the extraordinary green life, the chain of the lakes that line its western neighbourhoods, the miles of the parkland and the bike trails that follow the river and the creeks, and the bold modern skyline that rises from the flat plain of the prairies. The theatres of the city, the famous music scene, the art museums and the great indoor shopping quarter of the downtown give it its strong cultural character, while the Scandinavian, the Hmong and the Somali communities layer the city with its rich immigrant life. Cool, creative and astonishingly liveable, Minneapolis is the cultured heart of the upper Midwest.
About Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 430,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.
The Lakes of the Chain and the Trails of the River
Minneapolis is a city of the outdoors and the arts, with the chain of the lakes, the riverfront trails of the Mississippi and the vast park system defining the easy rhythm of the city, and the downtown district holding the museums, the theatres and the restaurants. The historic flour-milling district of the river, the sculpture garden of the great museum with its famous spoon and cherry, and the lakes of the centre anchor the classic days, and the championship sports arenas and the music venues of the city carry the evening energy. The neighbour city of the St Paul, the state capital across the river, doubles the cultural reach of the Twin Cities, and the whole metropolitan world runs on the bikes, the water and the arts of the north.
The Sculpture Garden and the Mill District of the Waterfalls
The climate of the city is famously continental, with crisp, snowy winters that freeze the lakes and warm, humid summers, while the spring and the autumn bring the changing colours of the parks and the river. The dollar is the currency and the English the language, with a strong multi-ethnic mix across the suburbs. The lakes, the riverfront and the museums of the downtown make the core circuit, and the bike trails of the city ring the chain of the lakes in an easy loop. Layered clothing for the changing seasons and comfortable walking shoes for the parks complete the simple preparation for the northern city.
The Hmong and the Somali Markets of the City
The famous spoon and the cherry of the sculpture garden, the giant aluminium garnish that crowns the garden of the Walker Art Center, is the beloved monument of the city, and the gardens and the museum around it rank among the finest of the modern art of the country. The mill district of the riverfront, where the great flour mills of the century once ground the majority of the country meals, has been reborn as a walkable museum district with the celebrated ruins of the falls at its centre. The lakes of the city, from the busy lake of the Isles to the quieter swimming lakes of the chain, and the winter ice festivals and the summer sailing of their waters, give the whole city its free, watery, endlessly pleasant outdoor culture.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 430,000
- Coordinates
- 44.8848, -93.2223
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Minneapolis
Airports we list for Minneapolis:
Other airports in the area:
- Chicago O'Hare International AirportORD≈ 537 km from Minneapolis
- Detroit Metropolitan AirportDTW≈ 848 km from Minneapolis
- Denver International AirportDEN≈ 1,093 km from Minneapolis
- Dallas/Fort Worth International AirportDFW≈ 1,373 km from Minneapolis
- Washington Dulles International AirportIAD≈ 1,458 km from Minneapolis
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Minneapolis the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Minneapolis?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Minneapolis?
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is the airport we list for Minneapolis.
How far is Minneapolis from the nearest airport?
Minneapolis is about 537 km from Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Minneapolis? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.