Discover Minnesota
Welcome to Minnesota
Minnesota, an incredibly diverse state in the Great Lakes region of the United States, is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Minnesota offers activities and adventures of every kind, on water or on land: from the hustle and bustle of cities to pristine wilderness, pine forests and hillsides, from historical landmarks to modern attractions.
This page will give you an introduction to the best Minnesota has to offer, as well as information to help you plan your trip. At the bottom of this page you will find links to Minnesota travel resources available in your language. You can use a browser plugin for translation such as Google Translate or Translator for Microsoft Edge to view the rest of this website in your language.
Unspoiled Nature and Dynamic Cities
Unique outdoor experiences await you in the state of Minnesota, from the vast northern forests and shores of Lake Superior to the beautiful slopes of southern Minnesota and the winding trails of the Mississippi. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, the largest urban area between Denver, Colorado, to the west and Chicago, Illinois, to the east, is a vibrant and diverse cultural center filled with music, nightlife, sports, art and shopping.
Bob Dylan mural in downtown Minneapolis / Bill Hickey, courtesy Meet Minneapolis
Ride the Great Big Wheel at the annual Minnesota State Fair / MN State Fair
Get an up-close view of the middle falls at Gooseberry Falls State Park / Justin Pruden
Getting Here
Time Zone
- Central Standard Time (GMT-6) mid-November to early March
- Central Daylight Time (GMT-5) mid-March to early November
Flights and Transportation
Flights
The main international airport is MSP (Minneapolis/Saint Paul). Additional international, regional and municipal airports are located throughout the state.
- Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands: Delta Air Lines/KLM
- Dublin (DUB), Ireland: Aer Lingus and Delta Air Lines
- Frankfurt (FRA), Germany: Lufthansa and Condor Airlines
- London (LHR), England: Delta Air Lines
- Mexico City (MEX): Delta Air Lines
- Paris (CDG), France: Air France/Delta Air Lines
- Reykjavik (KEF), Iceland: Icelandair
- Seoul (ICN), South Korea: Delta Air Lines
- Tokyo (HND), Japan: Delta Air Lines
*Additional international nonstop flights from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
City Railway
At MSP Airport: Getting around the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area is easy with the Metro Transit Light Rail System. The Blue Line connects the Mall of America and MSP Terminals 1 and 2 to downtown Minneapolis, and the Green Line connects downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul. A ticket costs between $2.25 and $3.50 (£1.83 and £2.85).
Train Connections
Amtrak currently provides passenger rail service in Minnesota on the Empire Builder Route from Chicago, Illinois to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.
The Empire Builder runs once daily in each direction in Minnesota, stopping at Winona, Red Wing, Saint Paul and St. Cloud, Staples and Detroit Lakes stations. For more information, visit the Amtrak website.
Car Rental
Available at the MSP airport upon arrival in Terminals 1 and 2, browse car rental companies conveniently located at MSP and nearby.
Outdoor Adventures by Season
With more than 10,000 lakes, vast forests and rugged hillsides, Minnesota is an exciting destination for outdoor enthusiasts at any time of year. Kayak on Lake Superior or canoe in the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area, hike to breathtaking overlooks and bike one of over 10,240 kilometers of paved trails. Explore more than 35,000 kilometers of snowmobile trails in winter or take your own dog sled for an unforgettable adventure.
Kayak the picturesque Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis / Paul Vincent
Enjoy hiking at Frontenac State Park with beautiful fall colors / Paul Vincent
Experience something unique to Minnesota when dog sledding at Poplar Lake / Ryan Taylor
Most Popular Attractions in Minnesota
Split Rock Lighthouse (top left), North Shore Scenic Byway (top right), Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth (bottom)
North Shore of Lake Superior
Ships from all over the world dock in the port of Duluth. Arrival times and origin countries can be found at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Canal Park .
Drive the North Shore Scenic Byway from Duluth on the western shore of Lake Superior to the Canadian border. Hike one of the sections of the Superior Hiking Trail to breathtaking viewpoints. Stop at one of several state parks to view spectacular waterfalls at Gooseberry Falls State Park and Cascade River State Park, or visit Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to learn more about the lighthouse's structure and operations.
Just a short drive from the northern shore takes you to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a protected wilderness preserve with 1,175 lakes. At the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center, both in Ely, you can see wolves and bears in their natural habitat.
Lake Itasca (top left), Great River Road in Winona (top right), National Eagle Center in Wabasha (bottom)
The Mighty Mississippi
Follow the Great River Road and discover the source of America's largest and most legendary river in Itasca State Park. Continue south through charming riverside towns like Red Wing, home of Red Wing Shoes and the historic St. James Hotel. The Mississippi River serves as the main migration route for the American bald eagle, and you will see many eagles and bird species there. Stop in Wabasha to learn about the river's importance to nature at the National Eagle Center. Winona lies between the slopes of the Mississippi River in the geologically important Driftless Area. The Minnesota Marine Arts Museum's entire art collection is dedicated to the theme of water and includes works by Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso.
U.S. Bank Stadium (top left), Allianz Field (top right), Target Field (bottom left), Xcel Energy Center (bottom right)
Sports in Minnesota
There's plenty of sports to see in Minneapolis: the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL) at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball League (NBA) and the four-time WNBA world champion Minnesota Lynx at Target Center, and in the spring /summer Major League Baseball (MLB) games with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field are a tradition.
In Saint Paul, Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) plays at Allianz Field and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL) plays at Xcel Energy Center.
Minnehaha Falls (top left), Weisman Art Museum (top right), Purple Rain Exhibit in Paisley Park (bottom)
Attractions in Minneapolis-St. Paul
The two largest cities in Minnesota are located on the Mississippi River and are known for their unique combination of city and nature. Beautiful parks surround many urban lakes and natural wonders like Minnehaha Falls and St. Anthony Falls, the only waterfall on the Mississippi River.
In Minneapolis, the Mill City Museum tells the city's history, while landmarks like the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum, Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden showcase iconic works of art like the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.
Minnesota music legends Bob Dylan and Prince are commemorated by a mural in downtown Minneapolis depicting the life of Bob Dylan and Paisley Park, Prince's former home and studio, now a museum.
Minnesota hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year, but the Minnesota State Fair in August is one of the largest fairs in the country. This popular festival of food (mostly hand-held treats), culture, and music also features quirky attractions like sculptures made from blocks of butter and works of art made entirely from plant seeds.
And at the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States, the Mall of America in Bloomington, you'll find more than 520 stores and attractions - and the state of Minnesota doesn’t charge sales tax on shoes and clothing!
