Minneapolis Skyway Walking Tour
Description
A great tour year-round, especially if you're visiting in the winter months! Minneapolis is home to the largest, contiguous skyway system in the world! Originally designed to counter the 1950s post war suburban boom by revitalizing the city's retail core, today the second story walkways connect 80 city blocks and meander more than 9 miles. This is a great way to see the city - inside and out - during cool weather, hot weather, rainy days and the brutally long Minnesota winter, so pretty much year-round! There are so many treasures within downtown's unique architectural landscape, and the skyway system is sometimes the only way to see them. AFTERNOON TOUR ends at the historic Minneapolis Club, not typically open to the public. Choosing Mpls City & Skyway Tours, you are supporting a local, woman-owned small business with a big heart. (Please note, this is a walking tour. We will walk up to two miles, with breaks. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.)
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll ascend into the second-story walkway from the Foshay Tower to begin the tour. We come full circle, returning to the Foshay Tower at the end of the tour where you can take advantage of the opportunity to check out the city from the 31st floor of the only outdoor observation deck in the city!
Walk into one of the original skyways, where it all began.
Artwork by light sculptor, Jason Krugman, and glasswork by Chihuly.
Large public art collection
This extraordinary City Hall took nearly 20 years to build and while not connected to the skyway system, it is connected to an underground tunnel which we will use to visit the Federal Courthouse. Inside the rotunda you'll have the chance to rub the big toe of the Father of Waters statue for good luck.
Historical bank building turned modern hotel. Elements of the original lobby are still in place.
This mile-long transit mall (street) running through the center of downtown, and historically the city's shopping district, is now home to an impressive public art collection and lined by bars and restaurants overflowing onto the sidewalks during the summer months.
Toss your hat with Mary. Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Rebranded Dayton's
Crystal Court in the IDS Center is the heart of the Minneapolis skyway system. The IDS still holds the title of tallest, since 1972!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(54)
We enjoyed this tour very much. We were impressed with Jessica's knowledge and found the skyway system to be very interesting. Beautiful buildings too!
Thank you, Janet! It was a pleasure to meet all of you and I so enjoyed our conversations in the skyway. I hope you enjoyed the last bit of your visit and are returning home with fond memories of Mpls! :)
Using the Skyway was intimidating to me before this tour! But Jessica made it totally doable for this senior woman! She used lovely old photos to place each stop on the tour in its historical context. She really does make a tour feel like you’re hanging out with a friend who just happens to be very knowledgeable about the city she loves!
It was so lovely to meet you and to be a part of the connections you are making in the city! I'm so glad you are taking the time to really get to know Minneapolis and I hope you will get to call it home in the near future! Thank you!
Jessica is a very friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. She knows and loves the city and that shows in how she runs the tour. It is a relaxed walk through the skyways with Jessica giving so much context and history on all that you see. I highly recommend this tour!
Thank you, Lori! I so enjoyed meeting you and appreciate that you seek out women-owned businessess (I do, too!). You created a great itinerary for your visit - I hope you enjoy every minute!
Jessica did a wonderful job of keeping an easily distracted group of women focused on stories about the history of the skywalk system in Minneapolis. She provided great stories of the system, as well as information about the architecture and stories of the buildings that connect them. we walked about 2 1/2 miles through the system and took a short tram ride to the rest of the skywalk before ending back where we started. I wish we had been able to do this walk at the beginning of our visit instead of the finish. But we had to do the walk when it was available. FYI, she provides a discount card for the Foshay observation deck, and museum which unfortunately we paid full price for the day we got there.
It was a wonderfully chatty group! I loved all the interesting questions and conversation along the way. :) Thank you both for making my tour a part of your visit! I hope all went well on your return home to WA!
We were in town on business and decided to take this tour on our day off, which was our last day in town. We should have done it the first day. So much great information that we would have used while exploring in between meetings. It was well worth it. Jessica is engaging and knowledgeable, and she loves her city. We now have some insider knowledge for our next trip out there.
Thank you for choosing to spend your day off with me! :) I know the conference kept you busy but it sounded like you got to see quite a bit of what Mpls has to offer over the course of the week. I wish you well in Durham!
Jessica gave us a terrific tour of the Minneapolis Sky. It was our first introduction to Minneapolis and she gave us a wonderful overview of the downtown area and history of the city. She is very personable and curious and geared the tour to our interests and background. She has created a unique experience for visitors to a city she knows and loves and shares her remarkable background in history, architecture, art and city planning. Highly recommended!
Thank you Jessica and Eric! I loved your reason for choosing Mpls and thoroughly enjoyed all of the conversation we had along the way. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your visit to the city!
Very interesting tour and unique way to see Minneapolis. Jessica is so knowledgeable and personable. Mostly inside so great to do in any weather.
Thank you, Colleen! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your visit to Minnesota and that you found your way up to Voyageurs and that is sparked your National Parks sisters adventure! Smooth travels.
Jessica is a very good tour guide, she is very knowledgeable and provides so many insights and details about the history of Minneapolis. Highly recommended!
Thank you, Nadja! I hope you enjoyed Cinderella and the rest of Julia's visit. I always appreciate when a local chooses my tour (you're local now :)).
She point out that Minnesota is leading states in wild rice producing. Jessica was very knowledgeable. Although I Failed my history class in school with a F grade. Jessica help bring life back in history for me. Thank you.
It was a pleasure to show you around during your visit to Minneapolis! I always like to hear what people learned along the way. I wish you smooth travels wherever you go next!
My daughters and I had a great time. We wanted something to do before our flight left later that day. And, the tour was informative, fun, and right two (2) hours. The tour guide even texted us to make sure that we made our flight. :-)
Thank you, Dwight! It was my pleasure to meet you and your daughters. I think you did a great job of planning your time in Minneapolis and thank you for including my skyway tour! I was happy to hear you made it safe and sound, and on time to the gate! :) Smooth travels.
