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Capital · United States

Saint Paul

Give Saint Paul 2 nights: one for downtown (Capitol, Landmark Center, Science Museum), one for Summit Avenue and Como Park. Skip it as a base if you want nightlife — sleep in Minneapolis and ride the Green Line over.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (deep cold, −15 °C nights), late Aug if you want to avoid State Fair crowds
Airport
MSP
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Saint Paul is Minnesota's capital and the quieter half of the Twin Cities, built along a bend of the Mississippi 15 km downstream of Minneapolis. It is a compact downtown of early-1900s stone buildings, a free state Capitol, a free zoo and conservatory, and Summit Avenue's mansion row. Two nights covers it; the Green Line light rail links both downtowns in about 40 minutes, so most travellers sleep in one city and visit the other.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Saint Paul, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, mainAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax.$18–35
  • Street or quick mealLunch sandwich or bowl$12–18
  • BeerDraught beer$6–9
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi or rideshare$12–20
  • Metro or bus rideMetro Transit single ride$2–2.50
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Science Museum, History Center)$13–25
  • Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$165 · High US$300

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Minnesota State CapitolSummit Avenue mansionsComo Park Zoo and ConservatoryScience Museum of MinnesotaSaint Paul Winter CarnivalMinnesota State Fair
Airports
MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (Metro Transit Route 54 to downtown Saint Paul, about 20 min; taxi about $31–38)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Saint Paul: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−5°C

−14°C

8 rd

Feb

−2°C

−11°C

7 rd

Mar

5°C

−4°C

9 rd

Apr

14°C

3°C

10 rd

May

21°C

9°C

11 rd

Jun

26°C

15°C

11 rd

Jul

28°C

18°C

10 rd

Aug

27°C

17°C

10 rd

Sep

22°C

12°C

9 rd

Oct

14°C

5°C

8 rd

Nov

6°C

−2°C

8 rd

Dec

−2°C

−10°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Metro Transit runs the Green Line light rail between downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis (about 40 min end to end), plus local buses; the A Line runs along Snelling Avenue. Single ride $2 off-peak / $2.50 peak with 2.5 h transfers; a day pass is $6. Downtown is walkable and has a skyway network, smaller than Minneapolis's. A car helps for Como Park, the State Fairgrounds and day trips.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Minneapolis

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Green Line light rail from Union Depot or Central station

Same-day pairing: Saint Paul daytime, Minneapolis dinner and evening.

Bloomington, Minnesota

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Green Line to Minneapolis then Blue Line south, or Route 54 to MSP and onward

Mall of America and the airport; useful on a layover day.

Afton

go

Door to door: About 35–45 min

Car via I-94 east and MN-95, about 30 km

St Croix River valley; best in summer and fall colour.

Excelsior

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Car via US-169 and MN-7, about 35 km

Lake Minnetonka town; slow without a car.

Apple Valley, Minnesota

skip

Door to door: About 30 min

Car via I-35E south, about 25 km

Suburban; only worth it for a specific event.

Hopkins, Minnesota

skip

Door to door: About 30 min

Car via I-394 and MN-7, about 20 km

Small main-street district; not a standalone trip.

Roseville, Minnesota

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus 3 or 84 north from downtown, about 10 km

Shopping and the State Fairgrounds; go only in fair season.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Lowertown

Walk to Landmark Center, Rice Park, Science Museum and Union Depot; skyways cover several blocks in bad weather. Best for a short stay without a car.

Summit Hill / Cathedral Hill

Quiet streets, the Cathedral and Summit Avenue mansions; 10–15 min by bus or car from downtown. Best for a slower stay.

Midway / University Avenue

Green Line stops, cheaper rooms, more parking; 15–20 min by train to either downtown. Best for budget and car-based trips.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$130–200 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$165US$660
Metro Transit day pass, one day2 × US$6US$12
Airport taxi to downtown, one way1 × US$35US$35
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$111
Trip total≈ US$305 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,218

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Lunch sandwich or bowl$12–18
Sit-down dinner, mainAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax.$18–35
Draught beer$6–9
Metro Transit single ride$2–2.50
5 km taxi or rideshare$12–20
Museum entry (Science Museum, History Center)$13–25
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Downtown Saint Paul is calm and walkable by day; the real risks are winter cold, unlit riverfront paths after dark and petty theft near transit stops at night. 911 for anything urgent.
  • Winter is genuinely dangerous cold: −20 °C or lower with wind chill is normal in January. Cover skin, and keep a car kit if driving.
  • Downtown empties after about 21:00 on weeknights; the busier evening blocks are in Lowertown and along West 7th.
  • Some downtown blocks around the bus depot and light-rail stops see petty theft and panhandling at night; keep bags zipped.
  • Sales tax is added at the till, and sit-down restaurants expect 18–22% tip on the pre-tax total.
  • The State Fair (mid-Aug to Labor Day) and Winter Carnival (January) fill hotels: book weeks ahead.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Saint PaulSaint Paul

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Saint Paul; consulates sit in Minneapolis and Chicago, embassies in Washington, DC. Check your own country's list.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MSP airport → downtown Saint Paul, Route 54: about $2–2.50, about 20 min
  • MSP airport → downtown, taxi: $31–38
  • Green Line, Saint Paul → Minneapolis: $2–2.50, about 40 min

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the light rail station? — Where is the light rail station?
  • The check, please — The check, please
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?

English is the working language; Spanish is understood in many service jobs.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Saint Paul. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (deep cold, −15 °C nights), late Aug if you want to avoid State Fair crowds · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MSP: Route 54 last departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Rice Park and Landmark Center, Lowertown and Union Depot, Capitol and Summit, Como Park.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (Capitol, James J. Hill House, Science Museum, Como Zoo) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and State Fair fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources