Sights Overview

Downtown Minneapolis is easily walkable in any season. The area is home to many fine stores, more than 20 theaters, two world-class art museums, and three professional sports teams. Much of Downtown, including the Nicollet Mall, a mile-long pedestrian mall, is connected by a system of covered second-story skyways, which helps keep the city running even on the coldest days. With an average temperature of 18°F in December, 12°F in January, and 18°F again in February in these parts, the opportunity to stay indoors can be a definite plus. (In general, skyways remain open during the business hours of the buildings they connect.) Many sights you'll want to visit are beyond downtown Minneapolis, however, so wheels are necessary.

Downtown St. Paul, like its twin 11 mi west, is also easily explored on foot thanks to its all-weather, climate-controlled skyway system. The city's architectural landmarks include bridges that span the Mississippi River, grand mansions from the fur-trading days, and the majestic Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul.

Both cities are laid out on a grid, with streets running north-south and east-west. However, many downtown Minneapolis streets parallel the Mississippi and run on a diagonal, and not all streets cross the river.