Twin Cities
Around Twin Cities
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Minnesota · 3.8M people
Twin Cities
“Twin Cities”, “The Cities”
Minneapolis · St. Paul · Bloomington · Burnsville · Eagan · Eden Prairie · Edina · Minnetonka · and around
Where the lakes never end and the welcome never stops.
Vikings goldVikings purpleTwins navy
Welcome to the Twin Cities, where the lakes are big and the winters are bold. Whether you're here for a game, a show, or a hotdish, you'll find a friendly 'hi' and a coffee shop on every corner. Get out and explore the skyways, the trails, and the river—there's always something happening.
Clubs for Twin Cities
No clubs for Twin Cities yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Twin Cities. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Twin Cities. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Mall of America One of the largest malls in the US, with an indoor theme park
- Minnehaha Falls Scenic 53-foot waterfall in Minneapolis
- Chain of Lakes Series of urban lakes for swimming, boating, and walking
- Guthrie Theater Iconic theater with the Endless Bridge overlooking the Mississippi
- Walker Art Center & Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Modern art museum with the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry
- U.S. Bank Stadium Home of the Vikings, with a distinctive translucent roof
- Outdoors Biking the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway
- Outdoors Kayaking or paddleboarding on the Chain of Lakes
- With kids Minnesota Zoo
- With kids Science Museum of Minnesota
- Evenings Live music at First Avenue
- Evenings Comedy at Acme Comedy Club
- Locals love Lakeside beaches and swimming spots
- Locals love Brewery taprooms and beer gardens
Through the year
- Minnesota State Fair August-September The Great Minnesota Get-Together, late August through Labor Day
- Saint Paul Winter Carnival January Ice sculptures, parades, and winter games in downtown St. Paul
- Twin Cities Marathon October A scenic 26.2-mile race through Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Northern Spark June All-night art festival with installations and performances across the cities
- Art-A-Whirl May Open studio tour in Northeast Minneapolis, the largest in the country
Cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Late spring (May–June) and early fall (Sept–Oct) are mild and pleasant.
Talk like a local
- “Uff da”
- An expression of surprise, relief, or exhaustion
- “Hotdish”
- A casserole, often with tater tots or noodles
- “Duck, duck, gray duck”
- The local version of duck duck goose
- “The Cities”
- Shorthand for Minneapolis-St. Paul
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Minnesota Vikings NFL
- Minnesota Timberwolves NBA
- Minnesota Twins MLB
- Minnesota Wild NHL
- Minnesota United FC MLS
- Minnesota Lynx WNBA
- Minnesota Frost PWHL
Eat and drink
- Juicy Lucy A burger with cheese inside the patty
- Tater tot hotdish A casserole with ground beef, green beans, and tater tots
- Walleye The state fish, often fried or grilled
- Wild rice soup Creamy soup made with Minnesota wild rice
- Lefse Norwegian flatbread, often served with butter and sugar
Where people go
- Lakes Thousands of lakes for swimming, boating, and ice fishing
- Skyways Indoor pedestrian bridges connecting downtown buildings
- Breweries Craft breweries throughout the metro
- State parks Nearby parks with trails and scenic views
- Theatre district Hennepin Theatre District with many venues
Heritage and traditions
The Twin Cities are proud of their thriving arts and music scene, their deep Scandinavian and Nordic heritage, and the unique blend of urban sophistication with easy access to lakes and nature.
This time of year in Twin Cities
- Apple picking Fall Orchards in the nearby countryside open for picking in the fall.
Say it like a local: “Oh, for cute” — An expression of delight or approval.
Festivals
- May Day Parade May A community arts parade with giant puppets, music, and a celebration of spring in Powderhorn Park.
- Twin Cities Jazz Festival June A multi-venue jazz festival featuring local and national artists in Saint Paul.
- Basilica Block Party July A two-day music festival held on the grounds of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.
- Irish Fair of Minnesota August A celebration of Irish culture with music, dance, food, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
- Festival of Nations April/May A multicultural festival in Saint Paul with food, dance, and crafts from dozens of ethnic groups.
- Hmong New Year November/December The largest Hmong New Year celebration in the US, with traditional clothing, food, and music.
Landmarks with a story
- Basilica of Saint Mary The first basilica in the United States, a stunning Beaux-Arts church in Minneapolis.
- Cathedral of Saint Paul A historic Catholic cathedral with a copper dome, modeled after St. Peter's in Rome.
- Minnesota State Capitol A grand building with a marble dome, housing the state government and public art.
- Fort Snelling A restored 19th-century military fort at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, now a state historic site.
- Mill City Museum Built inside the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, telling the story of Minneapolis's flour milling industry.
- James J. Hill House The opulent mansion of the railroad magnate, now a museum in Saint Paul.
Food traditions
- Lutefisk dinners Scandinavian churches and community groups host lutefisk dinners, especially around Christmas, serving dried fish treated with lye alongside lefse, butter, and peas.
- Hmong sausage and papaya salad Brought by the Hmong community, these dishes are now local favorites, often found at Hmong markets and restaurants, reflecting the area's large Hmong population.
- Somali sambusas and tea The Somali community has introduced savory sambusas (fried pastries) and spiced tea, now common in many neighborhoods.
- Friday night fish fry During Lent, many Catholic churches and community centers host fish fries, a tradition from the Midwest that brings neighbors together.
Music and arts
- Minneapolis Sound A funk and R&B style popularized by Prince in the 1980s, characterized by synthesizers and danceable grooves.
- Indie rock scene Bands like The Replacements and Hüsker Dü emerged from the Twin Cities in the 1980s, influencing alternative rock.
- Hip-hop scene A vibrant hip-hop community with artists like Atmosphere and Brother Ali, known for their socially conscious lyrics.
- Hmong folk art Traditional needlework and story cloths that depict Hmong history and culture, often sold at local markets.
A little history
- 1819 Fort Snelling established
- 1850s Minneapolis and Saint Paul grow as milling towns, powered by St. Anthony Falls
- 1880s Large influx of Scandinavian immigrants shapes the culture
- 1934 Minneapolis truckers' strike, a significant labor event
- 1960s Development of the Minneapolis skyway system
Rivalries
- Vikings vs Packers NFC North football rivalry with Wisconsin
- Gophers vs Badgers Border battle in college football and hockey
- Wild vs Blackhawks Central Division hockey rivalry
- Game day The 'Skol' chant at Vikings games
- Game day The 'Let's Play Hockey' call at Wild games
- Outdoors Canoeing the Mississippi River
- Outdoors Ice skating on the lakes
- With kids Minnesota Children's Museum
- With kids Bell Museum of Natural History
People speak with a North Central American English accent, often called the 'Minnesota accent,' characterized by a flat 'a' (e.g., 'bag' sounds like 'beg') and the 'Minnesota Nice' politeness. The dialect includes Norwegian and Swedish loanwords and a tendency to use 'ya' for 'you'.
Only here
- The Minneapolis Skyway System is the longest continuous skyway in the world, connecting 80 blocks downtown.
- The 'Juicy Lucy' burger was invented in Minneapolis, with two bars claiming to be the original.
- Prince's Paisley Park is in Chanhassen, a suburb, and is now a museum.
- The Minnesota State Fair is the largest state fair in the US by average daily attendance.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the winter: invest in good winter gear and learn to love outdoor activities like ice skating and cross-country skiing.
- Try the local foods: a Juicy Lucy burger, tater tot hotdish, and wild rice soup are musts.
- Use the skyway system in downtown Minneapolis to navigate the city comfortably in winter.
- Be prepared for 'Minnesota Nice' – people are polite and friendly, but may be reserved at first.
- Learn to say 'Minnesota' with a long 'o' and don't be surprised by phrases like 'you betcha' and 'uff da'.
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Part of Twin Cities
Nearby
Every areaRed WingMinnesotaRiver town pride, bluff country soul.FaribaultMinnesotaRiver towns, college spirit, and prairie calm.Polk CountyWisconsinWhere the northwoods meet the river.HutchinsonMinnesotaPrairie roots, lake life, and warm welcomes.St. CloudMinnesotaWhere the river meets the rockOwatonnaMinnesotaWhere the prairie meets the river.MenomonieWisconsinLakeside charm, midwestern heart.MankatoMinnesotaWhere the river bends and the bluffs hold you close.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.