Preserve Minneapolis Summer Tours

Explore Minneapolis’s historic neighborhoods and notable architecture with local experts on historic preservation and urban design. From the stately Lowry Hill homes owned by Minneapolis’s brewery magnates to the city’s oldest existing cemetery (Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery), these tours will give you a totally new perspective on Minneapolis history.

Tours are offered throughout the week at varying times through the summer months, and cost $14 per person. Check the online calendar to register.

Self-Guided Stroll Through Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Take in more than 600 native plant species in this 15-acre public garden and bird sanctuary with this self-guided tour from garden curator Susan Wilkins. With 20 stops featuring highlights throughout the garden, this tour is an excellent way to enjoy the garden's boardwalks, forest paths, upland garden, and more.

The Garden is open Tuesdays through Sundays 7:30am-6pm, Thursdays until 8pm, and closed on Mondays. Have questions as you explore? Garden guides are available during open hours to help out!

Minnesota Historical Society Tours

Who better to reveal the history of Minneapolis than the local history experts themselves? The affordable Minnesota Historical Society tours explore landmarks like the Minneapolis Riverfront, Historic St. Anthony Falls, and the Summit Avenue Neighborhood—featuring Gilded Age mansions.

Many tours are available daily from Wednesday through Sunday. Tours are $18-$20, Minnesota Historical Society members save 20%.

Self Guided Minneapolis Public Art Collection Tour

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and City of Minneapolis recently redesigned interactive online map tours that make it easy and fun to explore hundreds of artworks located all around the city of Minneapolis. These tours have been updated with new artworks completed over the last five years and redesigned for a more intuitive and enjoyable experience! There are now seven curated tours and geographic guides of public art in Minneapolis are available and free for anyone to use. Each option includes artwork details, artist information, photos, maps, and directions.

You Betcha Tours

Choose between a city walking tour of downtown Minneapolis or a city of lakes bike tour and hear about the people and events that made Minneapolis a leader in business, transportation, arts, parks, and quality of life. All of the profits from You Betcha Tours will be donated to The Loppet Foundation.

Walking tour is 2 hours and costs $75 per person,. The Biking tour is 2-3 hours and costs $90, also includes the bike and helmet.

American Swedish Institute Neighborhood Tours

Explore the area of Minneapolis once known as “The Golden Mile” on this guided walking tour of the blocks surrounding ASI. Discover the architecture, stories, and cultures of the neighborhood—past and present—and learn how this vibrant neighborhood has changed over time.

Advance registration required; $15 ($10 ASI member) Door price $18. Select dates throughout the summer.

Minneapolis City & Skyway Tours

Take a curated walking tour with local resident, Jessica Schugel. Her tours of Minneapolis will show you the heart of downtown, from the city's founding along the mighty Mississippi River banks and St. Anthony Falls, to it's modern-day skyscrapers and extensive skyway system. Jessica has been leading tours for over 13 years all over the world, but has a special place in her heart for Minneapolis. Book a tour to see all of her favorites parts of the city.

Tours includes Light Rail Pass. $75 for one person, $150 for two people.

SoundAround Tours

Explore Minneapolis’s rich music history with SoundAround's self-guided, GPS-led, audio tours taking in the sounds and stories of Prince, Bob Dylan, Janet Jackson, The Replacements, and many more. A SoundAround tour is it allows you to move to your own beat – there is no schedule, no waiting around for the rest of your tour group to arrive, no weather cancellations. Their in-depth stories immerse you into Minneapolis in a unique way.

Tours are available 24/7 and cost from $9.99 to download. Available on Apple or Android - search for "SoundAround Music Tours"

Minneapolis Trolley Tours

Minneapolis Trolley Tours provide a variety of tours to choose from, including Minneapolis landmarks, a spooky Candlelight Ghost Tour, and a Minneapolis mansion tour. The Trolley travels all throughout the city, making it the easiest way to get around to some of Minneapolis' popular spots. On each tour, riders are given complementary materials including historical photos, custom music, newspaper articles, or infographics.

Minneapolis Landmark Bus Tour

See Minneapolis on an open-air tour bus for an unforgettable journey through the heart of the city. This small-group adventure blends iconic landmarks, hidden gems, history, and beautiful views into one memorable ride. You'll be able to hop off at two scenic places to explore, snap photos and take in the view. (Enclosed bus may be used if weather is not favorable).

$48 per person, Public Tour: 9am-10:30am & 10:45am-12:15pm Saturdays (May - Aug), 2:45pm-4:15pm & 4:30pm-6pm Fridays (Jun - Aug)

Gray Line Bus Tour

See Minneapolis & St. Paul’s historic beauty aboard a luxury air-conditioned coach. Gray Line’s buses take you through the cities oldest, most exclusive neighborhoods to discover some of the coolest sites all over the Twin Cities. All tours are hosted by a knowledgeable step-on-guide and a professional driver.

Prices from $40, Tour Duration is 3 to 3.5 hours

Target Field Tour

Love baseball? Take a 90-minute tour of the Warehouse District, home of the Minnesota Twins! You’ll explore parts of the LEED-certified ballpark that aren’t open to most guests on gameday, from the press box to suite levels and the many works of art and memorabilia that call Target Field home.

Adults $20, students (15+) $15, children 6-14 $10, children 5 and under free. Seniors (55+) and military personnel $15. Public Tours are limited to a maximum of 25 guests per group and up to four groups per time slot. The tour is ADA accessible and complimentary wheelchairs are available.

Lakewood Cemetery Tours

Lakewood is filled with history, art and architecture and we offer a variety of public tours throughout the spring, summer and fall each year. Find a complete tour schedule, along with a downloadable walking tour here.

Self-Guided Tour of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Walker Art Center has put together a fun, kid-friendly tour sheet that reveals some behind-the-scenes stories of a few popular sculptures at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and gives kids of all ages the chance to imaginatively interact with the public works of art.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is free, requires no tickets for admission, and is open from 6 am to midnight 365 days a year.

Wilderness Inquiry Mississippi River Canoe Adventures

Explore the watery wilderness in the heart of the city on a guided trip in a 24-foot cedar strip canoe. Trips are designed for paddling beginners and seasoned boaters, and will take you from Hidden Falls Regional Park to Harriet Island in 2-3 hours.

Paddle trips are $55 ($35 Youth), and are available for small groups of 3-12 friends and family members.

Paradise Charter Cruises and Minneapolis Queen

Set sail from Bohemian Flats Park for a narrated sightseeing cruise along the southern route of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway—past the UMN campus, St Anthony Falls, and great views of downtown Minneapolis—aboard a historic paddleboat. Dinner and lunch cruises are also available.

Public cruises are available daily from Mother’s Day through the 3rd Weekend of October, and cost $24-$50 per person.

Paddle Bridge Guide Collective Kayak Tours

From the Heart of Minneapolis tour (where you’ll see the Great Blue Heron rookery and the old Port of Minneapolis) to the Mississippi River Gorge tour, Paddle Bridge’s seasoned kayak guides are passionate about making the beauty of Minneapolis and the sport of kayaking available to everyone.

Tours cost $50-$95 for single paddlers and $100-$190 for tandem kayaks for two. Tours are available seven days a week.

Minneapolis Water Taxi

Hop aboard Captain Greg Hoseth’s solar-powered 6-person boat to explore the Mississippi up close, from Boom Island Park to the Upper Lock of St. Anthony Falls.

Cruises are offered daily. A 1-hour private day cruise is $100, which includes up to 6 passengers per boat. Evening—Sunset or City Lights—cruises are $120. Children under 10 are required to wear life jackets.

UffDa Adventures PaddleTap Boat Tours

Paddle a boat around Lake Minnetonka or White Bear Lake as you peddle your feet to turn a paddlewheel and enjoy local beers or BYOB. Here’s a helpful video if you’re curious about the mechanics of the operation. (Don’t feel like powering the boat yourself? They also offer “LazyTap” no-paddling tours on a large, double-deck party pontoon.)

PaddleTap tour prices vary depending on capacity: 1-6 guests $50/seat, 7-10 guests $45/seat, 11-13 guests $40/seat, 14-18 guests $35/seat. LazyTap Boat is $5/higher per person.

Minneapolis Riverwalk Food Tour

Experience The Twin Cities offers a variety of walking tours exploring different parts of the city. In their Riverwalk tour learn about the trendy and historic neighborhoods of the Mill District and St Anthony on Main as you walk between delicious samplings of a variety of foods with ties to Minneapolis' multi-cultural communities.

Most walking tours are available April through October. Public and private tours available and include food and drink samplings; prices vary.