United States Minnesota 15 Free Things to Do in Minneapolis and St. Paul By Clara James Clara James Clara James is a St. Paul-based writer with more than 10 years of experience. She covers kid-friendly attractions in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities region. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 05/15/20 Bradley Olson / EyeEm/Getty Images Minneapolis and its neighbor, St. Paul, might not sound exciting to veteran travelers, but these Minnesota cities have more to offer than you might think. The Twin Cities frequently rank as some of the best cities to live in in the United States and provide everything from a thriving art scene, beautiful nature, a flurry of outdoor activities, and more. If you're looking for a great way to spend some time in this metropolis without spending a dime, we've rounded up our 15 favorite free things to do in Minneapolis and St. Paul. 01 of 15 Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art TripSavvy / Kaan Avci View Map Address 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA Get directions Phone +1 888-642-2787 Web Visit website This internationally-renowned museum opened its doors in 1915 and is one of the largest museums in the U.S. The Beaux-Arts building holds nearly 80,000 works of art, including of the country's most comprehensive collections of Chinese art. Admission is always free. 02 of 15 Hang Out at One of Minneapolis's Beautiful Lakes TripSavvy / Kaan Avci A day at the lake is always free—just don't forget a picnic lunch and some sunscreen! Minnesota isn't called the Land of 10,000 Lakes for nothing. Minneapolis has a chain of lakes—Lake Calhoun, Harriet, Isles, and Cedar—for you to visit, each with its own distinct character. Lake Calhoun, also called Bde Maka Ska, is among the most popular for swimming, with water-goers often just setting up their towels on its grassy banks. 03 of 15 Tour Saint Paul's Breweries TripSavvy / Chris Bacarella View Map Address 910 Montreal Cir, St Paul, MN 55102, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-265-7800 Web Visit website Saint Paul's first brewery opened in 1848, and the town hasn't stopped since. Today, more than 10 breweries are operating in town, and many offer free tours. While it's not entirely free, Summit Brewing offers tours for $5 that include a flight of four 7 oz. beers. 04 of 15 Watch a Cross-Country Ski Race Each February (or late January), Minneapolis hosts the Loppet Urban Cross-Country Ski Festival. All events are free, and you can watch everything from skijoring (skiing with a dog running in front of you) to speedskating. The nighttime Luminary Loppet, which includes ice music on frozen instruments, an ice forest, and more, is always among the most popular events. Continue to 5 of 15 below. 05 of 15 Tour the Minnesota State Capitol TripSavvy / Chris Bacarella View Map Address Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard., St Paul, MN 55155, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-296-2881 Web Visit website The Minnesota State Capitol hosts free guided tours seven days a week. Tours cover the entire Cass Gilbert-designed building, which is the second-largest self-supported marble dome in the world. You'll learn about the recent restoration of the original 1905 murals and paintings, and, if the weather's nice, you'll even get to visit the golden horses atop the building's roof. 06 of 15 Visit the Cathedral of St. Paul TripSavvy / Chris Bacarella View Map Address 239 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-228-1766 Web Visit website The Cathedral of St. Paul is a stunning European-style cathedral overlooking downtown St. Paul. The cathedral is the vision of Archbishop John Ireland and architect (and devoted Catholic) Emmanuel Louis Masquery. The design is in the Beaux-Art style and was inspired by Renaissance cathedrals in France. All are welcome to worship, and it's free to visit the cathedral when it's not being used for services. 07 of 15 Visit the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary TripSavvy / Kaan Avci View Map Address 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55405, USA Get directions Phone +1 612-370-4903 Web Visit website Visit the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, a peaceful garden in Minneapolis. Each area of the garden displays a different habitat, and the garden's website keeps visitors abreast of what's blooming when. Visit during spring to see stunning displays of bluebells and trout lilies, or summertime when spectacular sunflowers show off. More than 60,000 visitors tour the garden each year; the garden also offers free, regularly scheduled birding walks and nature hikes at the garden from spring through fall. 08 of 15 Visit St. Paul City Hall TripSavvy / Chris Bacarella View Map Address 15 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-266-8500 Web Visit website Visit St. Paul City Hall to marvel at the glamorous art deco interior and the large marble Vision of Peace statue, a Native American bearing a peace pipe. The building was dedicated in 1932 and while the exterior is distinctly American (built from Indiana limestone and Wisconsin black granite), the interior channels a Parisian-inspired Art Deco style. Architecture buffs will love touring this unique example of a Depression-era building. Continue to 9 of 15 below. 09 of 15 Visit Minneapolis Sculpture Garden TripSavvy / Kaan Avci View Map Address 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403-1195, USA Get directions Phone +1 612-375-7600 Web Visit website The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is free on the first Saturday of the month and Thursdays after 5 p.m. The garden, which opened in 1988, is home to several iconic works from the Walker Art Center, including the gigantic Frank Gehry Standing Glass Fish, and the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture. 10 of 15 See Tropical Flowers in Bloom Bernie Friel/UIG/Getty Images View Map Address 1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103-1022, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-487-8200 Web Visit website See tropical flowers in bloom all year-round at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park, a glass structure that's home to some of the world's most rare tropical plants. The star of the conservatory's collection is a corpse flower, which emits a pungent odor when it's in bloom. In summer, admire the adjacent Japanese Gardens. 11 of 15 Visit a Nature Center Sharon Mollerus/Wikimedia commons View Map Address 13351 Elm Creek Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369-9344, USA Get directions Phone +1 763-694-7700 Web Visit website The Twin Cities is home to a few different nature centers for visitors to enjoy: Eastman Nature Center in Dayton, Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville, Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul, Maplewood Nature Center, and Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes all preserve wild areas for families to enjoy. Nature center buildings offer free admission to their exhibits and activities for children. Many also organize regular family-friendly nature events and hikes. 12 of 15 Gaze at the Stars John Elk/Getty Images View Map Address 116 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0149, USA Get directions Phone +1 612-624-7375 Web Visit website Gaze at the stars during free astronomy night at the University of Minnesota's physics department or one of the department's traveling Universe in the Park summer programs. Public nights are always free, but beware that viewing isn't possible if the sky isn't clear. The university's summer program visits various state parks around the metroplex from June through August. It typically runs Friday or Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. through 11 p.m. Continue to 13 of 15 below. 13 of 15 See a Free Concert at the Ted Mann Concert Hall AlexiusHoratius/Wikimedia Commons View Map Address 2128 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0441, USA Get directions Phone +1 612-625-5000 Web Visit website See a free orchestral, band, choral or jazz concert at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, performed by students from the University of Minnesota's School of Music. These recitals include a variety of instruments, ranging from flute to piano, and are always free and open to the public. Tickets are not necessary. 14 of 15 Take a Day Trip to Taylor Falls Tony Webster/Wikimedia Commons View Map Address 29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-257-6668 Web Visit website Go on a day trip to the town of Taylors Falls, where you can see the Franconia Sculpture Garden, fascinating geological formations at Interstate State Park, and historic buildings in the city's downtown area—it's home to the cutest public library you'll ever see. 15 of 15 Hunt for Fossils at Lilydale Park Susan Chan/Getty Images View Map Address 950 Lilydale Rd, St Paul, MN 55118, USA Get directions Phone +1 651-632-5111 Web Visit website Visit Lilydale Park in St. Paul, which has caves and kilns remaining from its days at St. Paul's brickyards, and even more ancient history—it's a popular fossil-hunting ground. Buying a permit is necessary if you want to remove fossils, but it's free to look for them. Free Things to Do With Kids Was this page helpful? 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