Where to stay

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, pretty green spaces are common, from neighborhoods in the city centers to nearby suburbs and rural areas. Book a hotel in Uptown Minneapolis for kayaking through the Chain of Lakes and walking around Bde Maka Ska, where the city skyline reflects beautifully on the water. Stay in Downtown East Minneapolis and bike through pretty parks along the Mississippi or ride on a river paddlewheeler. The green space of Mears Park in Downtown St. Paul is a popular leafy spot for breaks from shopping and dining. Northwest of the city, Roseville is a great place to stay to be near Como Park Zoo and Conservatory and August's Minnesota State Fair. Find accommodations within a 30-minute drive away in Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Burnsville or Eagan to access some of the region's other beautiful lakes, parks and waterfalls.

Cultural attractions in the Twin Cities include art, architecture, theater and much more. Downtown West Minneapolis is a perfect neighborhood to stay to enjoy art museums, an outdoor sculpture garden and a Swedish institute that keeps local Scandinavian heritage alive. Downtown East Minneapolis hotels are convenient for the varying attractions of the Guthrie Theater and the stadium where the Vikings play NFL ballgames. Arrange accommodations across the river in Dinkytown and view the outside and inside of the Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum. Book a hotel in Downtown St. Paul to enjoy a walking tour that includes two of St. Paul's most famous architectural sights: the Minnesota State Capitol and the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The Science Museum of Minnesota is near here too. Farther afield, Chanhassen hotels are close to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Apple Valley is home to the Minnesota Zoo.

Even during Minnesota's cold winters, shopping in the Twin Cities is a very popular and pleasant pastime. The Central Minneapolis neighborhood is a good place to stay for shopping, where the Nicollet Mall is part of a skyway system offering protected access to 80 city blocks of stores, restaurants and bars. Book a hotel in Bloomington, less than a 30-minute drive from either Twin City, to spend days exploring the Bloomington Mall of America, which features shopping, dining, theme parks and over 400 events annually in a huge indoor space. For a quieter experience, stay in Stillwater and shop at the stores along Historic Main Street. Midtown Minneapolis is the place to stay to experience the region's international scene, with shopping part of the exciting and diverse lineup at Midtown Global Market.