Outdoors
MN · Metro pop. 3.7M
Minneapolis–St. Paul
Minneapolis–St. Paul, two personalities — a Beaux-Arts capital and a creative river town, stitched together by one light-rail line.
A postcard from the city
Downtown Minneapolis from the air, a kayak out on the Lake of the Isles, the Cathedral of Saint Paul's stained glass, the Stone Arch Bridge curving over the falls, and a river sunset at the Ford Dam — Minneapolis–St. Paul as one set of bones.
Rails Midwest · City Guide
Minneapolis–St. Paul share a metro, an airport, and a river, but almost nothing else. St. Paul is the quieter, older, more architecturally interesting twin — the Cathedral of Saint Paul looks down on a downtown of brownstones and Art Deco towers, and Summit Avenue runs four miles of Gilded Age mansions that F. Scott Fitzgerald walked to school past. Minneapolis, fifteen minutes west on the Green Line, is the louder, younger one: the Midwest's most cosmopolitan food scene, a sophisticated music and theater culture, and a Chain of Lakes threaded into the city grid. Amtrak's Empire Builder terminates at the beautifully restored Union Depot in Lowertown, making St. Paul the natural base — but you can (and should) treat both halves as one city.
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Orient yourself
Minneapolis–St. Paul at a glance
The station, airport, and places worth walking to — tap a pin.
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Our picks
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Where to stay · near St. Paul Union Depot
Hotels
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What to do · book ahead, skip the line
Experiences
Outdoors
Architecture
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Getting here & around
Getting to & around Minneapolis–St. Paul
Flying in from abroad, connecting from elsewhere in the US, arriving by Amtrak — and then getting around once you’re here, without renting anything.
By Air
Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) is the direct entry — 7 European direct routes plus major US domestic service. No need to route through Chicago.
Fly direct to Minneapolis–St. Paul from Europe
MSP · MNDelta's northern hub quietly runs a strong European schedule — direct to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome, plus a summer run to Copenhagen.
London → MSP
LHRDelta · Virgin Atlantic
Daily
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Paris → MSP
CDGDelta · Air France
Daily
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Amsterdam → MSP
AMSDelta · KLM
Daily
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Dublin → MSP
DUBDelta · Aer Lingus
Daily (seasonal peak)
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Rome → MSP
FCODelta
Seasonal (typically late spring through autumn) — Check Delta's current schedule — this has been running on a summer-weighted pattern, not year-round.
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Reykjavík → MSP
KEFIcelandair
Seasonal (May–Oct)
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Copenhagen → MSP
CPHDelta
Seasonal (May–Oct)
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Airport to train station
METRO Green Line light rail runs from MSP Terminal 1 direct to St. Paul Union Depot (Amtrak) in about 50 minutes for $2.50; the Blue Line covers downtown Minneapolis in about 30 minutes — one $2.50 ticket connects both cities.
By Train — Amtrak
Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at the restored Union Depot in Lowertown — a 1923 Beaux-Arts landmark on the Chicago–Seattle/Portland route, about 8 hours west of Chicago or around 36 hours east of Seattle. From MSP airport, the METRO Green Line light rail runs direct to downtown St. Paul in about 40 minutes for $2.50, and continues on to downtown Minneapolis — the same $2.50 ticket gets you across both cities.
Connecting on Amtrak: The Borealis and Empire Builder both originate or terminate at St. Paul Union Depot, running south to Chicago via Milwaukee. The Empire Builder continues west to Seattle and Portland on its full route — boardable here for the western half of the line.
Borealis
From Chicago
8h 10m · 1 daily departure
Public Transportation
This is the best rail-to-rail handoff in the Midwest: the Green Line light rail terminates in front of St. Paul Union Depot and runs the eleven miles to downtown Minneapolis via the university, and the Blue Line carries on to MSP airport. Between the two you can land, reach either downtown, and catch an Amtrak train without ever touching a car. Buses cover the rest of both cities.
Green LineBlue LineBuses
Rail stop · 3 h south by Borealis
Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells sits on the Borealis between St. Paul and Chicago — a sandstone river gorge town that somehow became the Waterpark Capital of the World. The gorge itself is the original attraction: the Wisconsin River cut through 150-foot bluffs, and the Original Wisconsin Ducks amphibious tours have run since 1946.
The waterparks are enormous, relentlessly cheerful, and impressive in their scale. Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge, and several others cluster around the river. It's one of the more effective family add-ons in the Midwest, and it falls directly on the Borealis line.
Stop for a night southbound from St. Paul, then continue to Chicago — or add it northbound on your way up.
Good to know
Questions travelers ask
How do I get to Minneapolis–St. Paul by train?
Fly direct into Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) — 7 nonstop European routes, plus extensive non-stop US domestic service — or connect through Chicago O'Hare (ORD) if your preferred carrier isn't available on the direct service. See the "Fly direct to Minneapolis–St. Paul" block for the current carriers and schedules.
How many days do I need in Minneapolis–St. Paul?
Two to three days suits most travelers — enough to explore architecture, history, food & drink, and to hit the main neighborhoods without feeling rushed. Add a day if you want to take a day trip out (Chicago are close by rail).
Can I visit Minneapolis–St. Paul without a car?
Yes — every destination we cover is walkable from its Amtrak station or well-served by local transit. Minneapolis–St. Paul's downtown is large and transit-connected, and ride-share fills the gaps.