Saint Paul

Understand

Geography Saint Paul is in the Upper Midwest along the Mississippi River, just east and downstream of its sister city Minneapolis. Its location near the head of navigation on the Mississippi River led to its historical development as a transportation hub for freight from the west and to the east and south. The geologically recent Mississippi River is a prominent feature of the landscape, traversing the city from the upscale riverside homes in Highland Park to the undevelopable floodlands near the junction with the Minnesota River, through the historic downtown riverboat landings and railroad infrastructure, the Mississippi River is the defining feature of Saint Paul.

Climate

Winters in Saint Paul can be very cold, summer is often warm to hot and frequently humid, snowfall is common in the winter and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall occur during the spring, summer and autumn. If you are not fond of the cold, May-October would be the best time to visit Saint Paul. Downtown Saint Paul has a skyway system to allow you to escape the elements in bad weather, although it isn't nearly as extensive as the one in downtown Minneapolis.

Visitor information 1 Saint Paul Visitor Information Center, 75 W 5th St (inside the Landmark Center between Washington and Market), ☏ +1 651 292-3225. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM.

Getting there

By plane Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP IATA) is just outside the southwest corner of the city. It is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and also a hub for local discount carrier Sun Country Airlines. Metro Transit provides bus service between the airport (at Terminal 1) and downtown Saint Paul on Route 54, which runs along West 7th Street. The bus comes by every 15 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, every 20 minutes on Sundays, and the trip time from the airport to downtown is roughly 20 minutes. If your flight arrives at Terminal 2, take the light rail (free fare between terminals) one stop north to Terminal 1 and transfer to the bus. Taxi fare from the airport to downtown is around $31-38.

By train

1 Union Depot, 240 E Kellogg Blvd. Station hours: 6AM-11:45PM daily. Ticketing hours: 6:30AM-11:30PM daily. Is the hub for inter-city train and bus services in Saint Paul. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route stopping at Saint Paul: The Empire Builder, operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. This train covers a route similar to the historic Empire Builder of the James J. Hill Great Northern Railway. The Borealis, which operates daily between Chicago and Saint Paul on the same route as the Empire Builder, but on a different schedule.

By bus Bus services operate out of Union Depot (see "By train" above)

Greyhound, 240 E Kellogg Blvd. Limited services from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and some points in between. Jefferson Lines, 240 E Kellogg Blvd (Union Depot). Limited services from Duluth, Des Moines, Kansas City, Green Bay, and points in between. Megabus, 240 E Kellogg Blvd (Union Depot). Service from Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison.

By car Interstate 35E and Interstate 94 travel through Saint Paul. US 52 also is a freeway connecting Saint Paul to the southern suburbs.

Getting around

By public transit Metro Transit, ☏ +1 612 373-3333. Operator of the public transit system in the Twin Cities. Single-ride fares (including unlimited transfers for 2.5 hours) for local and limited-stop services (including the METRO Light Rail) are $2.50 during peak service hours (M-F 6AM-9AM and 3PM-6:30PM, excluding certain holidays) and $2 at all other times. For express services, the fares are $3.25 during peak hours and $2.50 during off-peak hours. Other fare options are described below.

METRO Light Rail. The Green Line runs from downtown Saint Paul to downtown Minneapolis. The line starts at Union Depot and runs down 4th Street and Cedar Street, goes past the State Capitol, and then runs west down University Avenue through the Frogtown and Midway areas before reaching the city of Minneapolis. Trains run every 10 minutes during much of the day, with service being reduced to every 15 minutes later in the evening, and then just hourly during the overnight hours. Bus. Bus service in Saint Paul has improved, even if it doesn't quite match up to services in Minneapolis. The 54 runs fairly often between downtown Saint Paul and the airport via West 7th Street. The A Line runs frequently along Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway. The A Line is also different from the other bus lines in town in that fares are paid before boarding the bus; each stop has a ticket machine (cash and credit cards accepted, no change given) and a Go-To card validator.

Pass options Unlimited ride passes are available in 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day formats. Stored value passes (pay-per-ride) are also available. Day passes are $6 and can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, from a bus driver, or a ticket machine at any light rail station or A Line bus stop. 7-day ($24) and 31-day ($65-120) passes must be loaded on a Go-To card, which can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, or participating Metro Transit sales outlets. Stored value passes can be loaded on a Go-To card in increments of $10 (up to $400). Once in possession of a Go-To card, reloading it with new unlimited ride passes or stored value is easy and can be done online, at Metro Transit stores and outlets, or at light rail ticket machines.

See

1 Minnesota Children's Museum, 10 W 7th St (between Wabasha and St Peter; Light rail: 10th St or Central), ☏ +1 651 225-6001. M 9AM-4PM (Memorial Day to Labor Day), Tu-Th 9AM-4PM, F Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 9AM-5PM. At Minnesota Children's Museum, kids will have a blast discovering an exciting, immersive world that arouses their curiosity, increases their understanding, and ignites an appreciation for learning. Each of the Museum's seven galleries is uniquely designed to provide a hands-on, stimulating environment for children six months to 10 years old. Roving "funstigators" engage kids in fun and interactive smart play as they blow bubbles, toss balls, play with finger puppets, and provide a variety of stimulating play experiences for children of all ages. $8.95, children under 1 are free. Free for everyone on the third Su of the month. 2 Minnesota Museum of American Art, 332 N Robert St (at 4th St, in the Pioneer Building; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 797-4057. Th-F 11AM-6PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4PM. The address above is for the MMAA Project Space, a small gallery in Lowertown with rotating exhibits; the MMAA also hosts temporary exhibitions at other venues around the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. A more permanent location for the museum is in the works. The MMAA is committed to representing the great cultural, racial, socioeconomic and regional diversity of American art and artists – past, present, and emerging. Free. (updated May 2016) 3 Summit Avenue. Noted for its historic mansions. This neighborhood is also remarkable in its connection to the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was born in Saint Paul. 4 James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave (between Nina and Selby, near the Saint Paul Cathedral; Bus: 21), ☏ +1 651 297-2555. The house is open W-Sa 10AM-3:30PM, Su 1PM-3:30PM. The art gallery is open M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Tour the 1891 mansion of the famous railroad tycoon. $10 adults, $8 seniors/students, $6 children 5-17, free for children under 5 years. If you just want to visit the art gallery, admission is only $2. (updated Aug 2018) Grand Avenue. Runs parallel to Summit one block to the south. Noted for its multitudes of shops, although chain stores are increasing their presence at an alarming rate. 5 Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (near University between Park and Cedar; Light rail: Capitol/Rice St; Bus: 3, 62, 67), ☏ +1 651 296-2881, [email protected]. M-F 8:30AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM, Su 1PM-4PM (guided tours M-Sa 10AM-2PM, Su 1PM-3PM; groups of ten or more need to reserve tours two weeks in advance). The headquarters of th

Do

Music and performing arts 1 The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, 408 Saint Peter St, ☏ +1 651 291-1144. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Wabasha Street Caves, 215 S Wabasha St, ☏ +1 651 224-1191. Hosts a swing night every Thursday complete with big band and crowded dance floor. Every Thursday from 7PM-10PM, lessons begin at 6:15PM. $7 at the door, cash only.

Festivals Saint Paul Winter Carnival, ☏ +1 651-223-7400. Takes place in January. Events take place in Downtown and Como Park. Noted for the annual Ice Palace. (updated Feb 2018) Grand Old Day, Grand Avenue. Takes place along Grand Avenue on the first Sunday in June. Free parking is available at the University of St. Thomas north and south lots located on Summit and Cretin or Grand and Cretin. Free shuttle buses are available to event visitors. 3 Irish Fair of Minnesota (Harriet Island, cross over Wabasha Street bridge and you’ll see the park on your right), [email protected]. Takes place in August at Harriet Island, just south of Downtown. 4 Minnesota State Fair, ☏ +1 651 288-4400. Takes place from mid-August through Labor Day and is one of the largest state fairs in the US. The main entrance to the State Fairgrounds is located at 1265 Snelling Avenue N, but you will first have to drive to one of the lots outside of the fairgrounds. As an alternative, you could take a bus. Metro Transit routes 3 and 84 stop near the fairgrounds. They also operate shuttles during the fair that offer non-stop service to the fairgrounds from various park-and-ride lots throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. $9 adults (13-64), $8 seniors (65 & over) and children (5-12), free for children under 5. Parking costs $9.

Sporting events Minnesota Rollergirls, The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., ☏ +1 612 296-4743, [email protected]. Season typically runs from September through April, but off-season bouts and events are common throughout the year. The Minnesota Rollergirls are a nationally ranked flat-track roller derby league and a member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Ticket prices range from $13-$18; ages 9 and under are free with an adult (some areas require a free kids ticket for seating purposes). Tickets available at 14 local ticket outlets, online, and from the Roy Wilkins Box Office. Minnesota Swarm, The team plays on Treasure Island Field at Xcel Energy Center, 175 Kellogg Blvd W. The Minnesota Swarm is a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. Minnesota Wild, Xcel Energy Center, 175 Kellogg Blvd W. The Minnesota Wild are Minnesota's Nation

Buy

1 Cheapo Discs (Cheapo Records), 71 Snelling Ave N (between Ashland and Portland, one block north of Summit; Bus: A Line (at Grand), 84), ☏ +1 651 644-8981. 10AM-10PM daily. Warehouse of used CDs, records, and music-related gifts. (updated Oct 2024) 2 Eclipse Records, 381 N Wabasha St (between 5th and 6th Sts; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 224-2500. M-Sa 11AM-7PM. Independent record store. (updated Nov 2016) 3 First Grand Avenue Liquors, 918 Grand Ave (at Milton, one block west of Victoria; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 227-7039. M-Th 9AM-8PM, F Sa 9AM-10PM. Small family-owned liquor store that has a walk in cooler, tons of great micro/indie brews, over 80 types of scotch, and an excellent wine selection. Good deals as well as hard-to-find liqueurs. 4 Half Price Books, 2041 Ford Pkwy (at Cleveland; Bus: A Line, 23, 46, 70, 74, 84, 87), ☏ +1 651 699-1391. M-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 10AM-8PM. Books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, and collectibles at half price or less. 5 Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 Snelling Ave S (at Grand; Bus: A Line, 63, 84), ☏ +1 651 225-8989. M-Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 10AM-8PM. Independent bookstore. 6 St. Paul Farmers' Market, 290 E 5th St (between Wall and Broadway; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 227-8101. May-Nov: Sa 6AM-1PM, Su 8AM-1PM; Dec-Apr: Sa 9AM-1PM. This farmers' market occupies one city block in Lowertown, and all the produce for sale here is grown within 50 miles of the Twin Cities. 7 Ax-Man Surplus, 1639 University Ave. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Surplus store with an eclectic atmosphere and unique selection of merchandise. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

1 Babani's Kurdish Restaurant, 32 E Fillmore Ave (at Wabasha; Bus: 62, 75), ☏ +1 651 602-9964, [email protected]. M-F 11AM-2:30PM and 5PM-9PM, Sa 4PM-9PM. The first Kurdish restaurant in the US. (updated Feb 2018) 2 Black Sea Restaurant, 737 Snelling Ave N (between Minnehaha and Englewood; Bus: A Line, 67, 84), ☏ +1 651 917-8832. M-Sa 11AM-8PM. Cheap Turkish food. It's about one block south of Hamline University. $6-11. (updated May 2016) 3 Cafe Latte, 850 Grand Ave (at Victoria; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 224-5687. Su-Th 9AM-10PM, F Sa 9AM-11PM. Cafeteria-style restaurant with a great selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches. Don't leave without trying one of their decadent desserts, especially the turtle cake. 4 El Burrito Mercado, 175 Cesar Chavez St (at State; Bus: 68), ☏ +1 651 227-2192. Cafeteria: 7AM-8PM daily. Restaurant: M 10AM-6:30PM, Tu-F 10AM-8PM, Sa Su 8AM-8PM. Mexican supermarket, deli, restaurant, and cafeteria on the West Side. 5 Green Mill, 57 Hamline Ave S (at Grand; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 698-0353. M-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-midnight. There are many locations of this pizzeria chain in the Twin Cities as well as some throughout Minnesota and surrounding states, but it all started here. Order your deep-dish Il Primo with the Walleye Strips and a pitcher of fresh beer right when you sit down because the pizza takes more than 30 minutes to cook. Family-friendly. $7-17. 6 The Nook, 492 Hamline Ave S (at Randolph; Bus: 74), ☏ +1 651 698-4347. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F,Sa 11AM-11PM. One of the Twin Cities' favorite burger joints. 7 On's Thai Kitchen, 1613 University Ave W (between Snelling and Fry; Light rail: Snelling Ave; Bus: A Line, 16, 21, 84), ☏ +1 651 644-1444. M-Sa 9AM-9PM. Cited by many as their favorite Thai restaurant in the state. $7-15. 8 Pizza Lucé, 1183 Selby Ave (between Griggs and Dunlap; Bus: 21, 83), ☏ +1 651 288-0816. 11AM-1AM daily. The famed Minneapolis pizza mini-chain has now come to the capital city. This location boasts an authentic St. Paul neighborhood atmosphere with local color and a friendly staff. 9 Saigon, 704 University Ave W (between Grotto and St Albans; Light rail: Dale St; Bus: 16, 65), ☏ +1 651 225-8751. Tu-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 10AM-7PM. Best Vietnamese food in the Twin Cities, among the best pho and banh mi you'll find outside Vietnam. A favorite destination not just for locals but for Food Network hosts and more. Quick, cheap, and delicious. $5-10; $3 for banh mi (sandwiches). 10 W. A. Frost & Company, 374 Selby Ave (at Western; Bus: 21), ☏ +1 651 224-5715, fax: +1 651 224-2945, [email protected]. Lunch: M-F 11AM-1:3

Drink & nightlife

1 Amsterdam Bar and Hall, 6 W 6th St (at Wabasha; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 222-3990. 11AM-2AM daily. Bar and music venue in downtown. (updated May 2016) 2 Barrio, 235 E 6th St (at Wacouta, near the north side of Mears Park; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 222-3250. Tequila bar that also offers Mexican bar food. 3 The Midway Saloon, 1567 University Ave W (at Snelling; Light rail: Snelling Ave; Bus: A Line, 16, 21, 84), ☏ +1 651-213-9266. Daily 11AM-2AM. The Midway Saloon is a dive bar in the Midway with occasional live music. 4 The Bulldog, 237 E 6th St (at Wacouta, near the north side of Mears Park; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 221-0750. 11AM-2AM daily. The Bulldog offers over 100 kinds of beer and an assortment of food options, including vegetarian entrees. Also features shuffleboard, darts, and a shuttle to the Xcel Center on game nights. (updated May 2016) 5 Summit Brewing Tap Room, 910 Montreal Circle (turn right from Montreal Ave, left from Montreal Way; Bus: 83), ☏ +1 651 265-7800, [email protected]. Th 4PM-8PM, F 4PM-10PM, Sa noon-10PM. Taproom attached to Summit Brewing, serving a rotating schedule of beers from the brewery; there are often food carts outside. The brewery also runs tours during the day, with sampling after the tour (for visitors over 21). (updated May 2016) 6 Turf Club, 1601 University Ave W (at Snelling; Light rail: Snelling Ave; Bus: A Line, 16, 21, 84), ☏ +1 651 647-0486. 5PM-2AM daily. The Turf is one of the better venues in the Twin Cities to see local bands, and sometimes the occasional touring band. Cover charges on live music nights are usually between $5-10. 7 Urban Growler, 2325 Endicott St (at Hersey; Light rail: Raymond; Bus: 87), ☏ +1 651 340-5793. Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-8PM. Woman-owned microbrewery and taproom. Also sells growlers. (updated May 2016)

Sleep

Budget 1 Motel 6, 1739 Old Hudson Rd (at White Bear, off of I-94 exit 245; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 771-5566, toll-free: +1-800-899-9841. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free wireless internet, fitness center, and coin-operated laundry. $48+. (updated May 2016)

Mid-range 2 Best Western Plus Como Park Hotel, 1010 Bandana Blvd W (at Energy Park Dr, midway between Snelling and Lexington; Bus: 3B), ☏ +1 651 647-1637, fax: +1 651 647-0244. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $100+. 3 DoubleTree by Hilton, 411 Minnesota St (at 6th St; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 291-8800, fax: +1 651 605-0263. The DoubleTree hotel offers 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. 4 Drury Plaza St. Paul Downtown, 175 E 10th St (at Jackson; Light rail: 10th St), ☏ +1 651-222-3337. Complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in an open air atrium. Indoor pool, fitness center and whirlpool. 5 Holiday Inn Downtown, 175 W 7th St (at Kellogg; Bus: 21, 54, 61, 63, 64, 70, 74), ☏ +1 651 225-1515, toll-free: +1-888-465-4329. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. (updated Feb 2018) 6 DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul East, 2201 Burns Ave (at McKnight, off of I-94 exit 246B; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 731-2220. (updated May 2018) 7 Hyatt Place St. Paul/Downtown, 180 E Kellogg Blvd (between Jackson and Sibley; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 647-5000. Check-out: noon. 149 spacious guestrooms in Lowertown. The hotel has been transformed from the restored Custom House, built 1933 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (updated Mar 2018) 8 SpringHill Suites by Marriott St. Paul Downtown (SpringHill Suites St. Paul Downtown), 472 Jackson Street, ☏ +1 651 274 2287. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Aug 2020)

Splurge 9 InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront, 11 E Kellogg Blvd (between Wabasha and Cedar; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 292-1900. (updated Feb 2018) 10 Saint Paul Hotel, 350 Market St (at 5th St; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 292-9292, toll-free: +1-800-292-9292. 11 Hotel 340, 340 Cedar St (at 4th St, inside the top three floors (10-12) of the St. Paul Athletic Club; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 280-4120. (updated Feb 2018)