Minneapolis

About

Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 census, it is the state's most populous city. Located in the state's center near the eastern border, it occupies both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area with 3.69 million residents. Minneapolis is built on an artesian aquifer on relatively flat terrain and is known for cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Nicknamed the "City of Lakes", Minneapolis is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks, and waterfalls. The city's public park system is connected by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.

Summary excerpted from the Wikipedia article Minneapolis, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be clipped or paraphrased to fit this page.

Why visit

Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles, and Bde Maka Ska form the Chain of Lakes; walk, run, or rent a paddleboard. Walker Art Center pairs Frank Gehry-designed buildings with the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture in the adjacent Sculpture Garden. The Mill City Museum tells the flour-milling story inside an actual ruined mill on the riverbank. First Avenue, the club Prince made famous in Purple Rain, still hosts gigs nightly. Minnesota State Fair (late August) is among the biggest in the US.

When to avoid

Winter is brutal; January lows of -15 to -25°C with wind chill far worse. Don't attempt without serious cold-weather gear. Summer brings mosquitoes (the unofficial state bird) at dawn and dusk; use repellent. Don't walk alone in industrial areas late at night. The 2020 unrest after George Floyd's murder centered here; some neighborhoods are still rebuilding.

The next week in Minneapolis

7-day forecast from Open-Meteo. UV badges flag days when sun protection matters (3 and above is moderate; 8 and above is risk territory for unprotected fair skin within 30 minutes).

Year-round climate

Monthly highs, lows, and rainfall (long-term averages, NASA POWER).

Airports near Minneapolis

2 commercial airports within 100 km. Closest is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP) at 12 km.

Getting around Minneapolis

Public-transit operators within 8 km of the city center. Click through to each operator’s site for routes, fares, and tickets.