Minneapolis - Getting Around
Airport Transfers
The Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport is located on the south eastern border of the city. Many of the local hotels provide free shuttle services to and from the airport and it is advisable to check with your hotel before travelling to the city. Taxi ranks and car hire can all be found at the airport for independent travel into downtown Minneapolis but for a far cheaper way to travel the light rail transit provided by the public transit authority, Metro Transit is very good. Services run every 7 to 8 minutes during busy periods and 10 to 15 minutes off peak from both airport terminals and take passengers to 15 destinations including downtown and the Mall of America. Metro Transit also run a bus service from terminal 1, however passengers will have to transfer to another service to reach downtown Minneapolis.
top ↑Bike
Minneapolis is a city made for cyclists, with heavy investment by the local government in cycle paths both on and off road. A great way to see the city’s attractions at your own pace there are several shops offering bike hire for visitors. Summer is the best time for cycling but even in the winter the bike tracks are ploughed as a priority to keep cyclists on the road.
top ↑Bus
Metro Transit provides the city’s bus services which are very comprehensive if a little difficult to understand. The bus network covers much of downtown Minneapolis, the Greater Minneapolis area and its twin city St. Paul. It is highly advisable to check your route before travelling because although there are many bus stops throughout the city, most do not advertise which routes service them.
top ↑Light Rail (LRT)
Servicing downtown and the area between it and the Mall of America is the LRT. A far less complicated travel network than the buses, many first time visitors to the city cite the LRT as their preferred method of public transport.
top ↑On Foot
Minneapolis is a great city to explore on foot. The well maintained sidewalks and a government drive to get people out walking, means it is safe and allows visitors to meander through the city and its parks at leisure. As with the bike tracks sidewalks are kept clear of snow and ice throughout the winter ensuring the safety of those on foot.
top ↑Skyway
The Minneapolis Skyway is a fantastic way to get around the city on foot whilst staying indoors, especially in the cold winter months. A network of foot bridges connecting various buildings downtown, the Skyway covers an area of approximately 7 square blocks. The buildings are open most of the day and covering the 8 mile system through the floating glass tunnels is far quicker than walking at street level since there are no roads to cross!
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