
Photo: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
5. Minneapolis Institute of Art
If you appreciate art and want to go somewhere that’s free, you could check out the Minneapolis Institute of Art which offers free admission. This is a top site to visit if you travel to Minneapolis and will take about an hour or two for you to browse through the area. You can find art here that spans thousands of years, any art lover would appreciate a visit to this institute. It’s well-suited for all ages which makes it a great choice for a family outing or trip with friends.

Photo: Alvintrusty [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
4. Chain of Lakes
Stroll around some of the most popular lakes in the region. There are five different bodies of water that make up the chain of Lakes and you can sometimes find live music during the summer too which makes it an exciting and entertaining event to engage in. Find the bird sanctuary, stroll through the rose gardens, if you are visiting Minneapolis and the weather is great then visiting the Chain of Lakes is a top choice first.
There are family-friendly beaches to be found and so much to see, such a beautiful area, spending time by the different lakes. Go for a picnic or a walk, there are sport events every now and again, sometimes even festivals, and admission is free to the gardens and parks.

Photo: Jon Platek [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
3. Minnehaha Park
This is another free activity to consider if you are looking for things to do in Minneapolis. Why spend a lot of money trying to have fun when you don’t have to? Minneapolis has so many things that you can see and do for free and a visit to Minnehaha Park is definitely one of them. This is a beautiful 193-acre park to explore that sits on the banks of the Mississippi River, not far from central Minneapolis.
It is a popular tourist spot that attracts people to the area all year long. If you want to see a breathtaking waterfall, this is the place to visit, because they have got a 53 foot waterfall known as the Minnehaha Falls that is simply stunning and would make for great photos on your visit to Minneapolis. You can find many tourists coming to see the falls from all over the world, it is the perfect venue if you are looking for an outdoor adventure and admission is free.
If you are traveling on a budget and still looking for fun and exciting things to do, then visiting Minnehaha Park should be at the very top of the list. If you are looking for an area to explore and play, MInnehaha Park is literally a perfect location to visit.

Photo: m01229 from USA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
3. Weisman Art Museum
This is another popular art museum in Minneapolis that offers free admission to anyone who might be interested in paying a visit. That’s perfect for families and individuals who might be traveling without wanting to break the bank and spend too much. Here, you can see a lot for a little, and it’s a museum that many people have had a great time exploring.
It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region and if you are going to check out the Weisman Art Museum then you should make a point to intentionally leave yourself an hour or two here to explore the museum if you want to give yourself enough time to take it all in. You don’t want to be rushing through and miss anything, if you leave yourself a couple of hours then you will have plenty of time to see all that there might be here to explore.
You will find some incredible contemporary art at Weisman Art Museum, there are truly impressive collections of ceramics and you can find some Korean furniture too. They host occasional exhibits that you can tour as well. It isn’t that big of a museum, not the biggest one in the city at least, and the museum certainly won’t take all day to explore and see what they have, but it is an ideal spot if you want to see some history and art, and don’t want to have to pay too much to have a good time.

Photo: McGhiever [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
1. Mall of America
If you want to do some shopping then you need to head on over to the Mall Of America to take a look around. This is another activity that you can do for free and you will be able to browse through the largest shopping mall in the entire country. They have everything here that you could possibly want or be looking for. There are hundreds of stores, more than 500 of them, and you can shop until you are tired and head back to your hotel for some rest.
This is a family-friendly venue that is a perfect spot to head to if you want to make a few purchases, maybe bring gifts home for family or friends from your trip? You can find rides here, stores, restaurants, and even the chance to go to the movies. If you want a vacation spot that is going to have a place that you can take the kids where they will have a lot to see and do, then the Mall of America would make a great choice for top 5 things to do in Minneapolis.

Photo: Ted [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]