A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Saint Louis vs. Minneapolis for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Food

Should you visit Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint Louis and Minneapolis. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a unexpected, fascinating, and under rated city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a dynamic, innovative, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Saint Louis and Minneapolis: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Minneapolis. Although Saint Louis and Minneapolis are roughly the same size, Minneapolis has more sights and attractions for tourists. Minneapolis is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Saint Louis attracts visitors for its museums. Saint Louis is famous for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West. Minneapolis is famous for its professional sports teams, countless outdoor activities, and friendly people. It is also well known for Mall of America.

How is Saint Louis different from Minneapolis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Minneapolis and Saint Louis. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Saint Louis is a world-class destination for its museums and history. Also, Minneapolis is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Saint Louis are world-renowned. There are a surprising number of museums around town. For art museums you should visit the Contemporary Art Museum, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. For history, the Griot Museum of Black History, the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse are all interesting. There are also science, educational, and children's museums. And of course, there's the iconic Gateway Arch.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Minneapolis. There's a wide variety of museums that include art, history, science, and local culture. Some of the favorite museums in the city are the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center, the American Swedish Institute, and the Weisman Art Museum.

Is the Food Better in Saint Louis or Minneapolis? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saint Louis and Minneapolis can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

Saint Louis offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are some local dishes that originated here. Toasted ravioli had its start in St. Louis. There's also a St. Louis style pizza. Diners, cafes, and sandwiches are all part of the food scene and be prepared for cheese, meaty, and satisfying.

Minneapolis has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Dishes in the Midwest are known for being hearty comfort foods, and the food in Minneapolis is no exception. You'll find cheese-stuffed burgers that are known as Juicy Lucys, Tator Tot casseroles, and deep-fried cheese curds. For international food, there's a variety of Scandinavian options around town.

Is Saint Louis or Minneapolis Better for Nightlife?

Minneapolis is well known for nightlife. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Minneapolis is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There are diverse neighborhoods that each have their own personality. You'll find rooftop lounges in Uptown, international venues in Whittier, and trendy bars in the North Loop. But at the heart of the city's nightlife scene is Downtown Minneapolis.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Louis has a few options to choose from. Visitors often hang out in the downtown area, particularly around Washington Avenue, for the nightlife scene. Live music is popular, especially the blues, and there are many local venues worth checking out.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis is an amazing city to visit for shopping. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Minneapolis is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Known for the megamall, Mall of America, this is a shopper's paradise. Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the country and it even has an aquarium and a theme park within it. In addition to this iconic shopping mall, Minneapolis also has many shopping districts including the Minnehaha Mile.

Saint Louis is well-known for its shopping. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Is Saint Louis or Minneapolis Better for Families?

Both Saint Louis and Minneapolis are great family-friendly destinations.

Saint Louis is a very family-friendly place to visit. There's a surprising number of activities for kids around town. There's the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum with many hands-on exhibits for kids. There's also the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and several farms with animals and nature. Forest Park is an impressive urban park as well.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Minneapolis is very family-friendly. Mall of America is at the top of the list for most families, but there's also plenty of kid-friendly museums around town as well as nature centers, parks, and playgrounds. There's the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the Minnesota Zoo, and Afton Apple Orchard. For museums, kids will love the Minnesota Children's Museum or the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Is Saint Louis or Minneapolis Better for Couples?

Saint Louis and Minneapolis both nice destinations for a couple.

Saint Louis is a nice destination for couples. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Minneapolis makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are beautiful parks and outdoor spaces to explore as well as museums and fine dining. Couples will appreciate stopping by the Stone Arch Bridge or wandering through the Lyndale Park Rose Garden.

Is Saint Louis or Minneapolis Better for Students?

Minneapolis is well known for students. However, Saint Louis is not popular with students.

Many students visit Minneapolis. There are a number of colleges and universities in the area including the University of Minnesota. The city is known for its academic and intellectual focus, and students will enjoy being challenged educationally while enjoying a dynamic city.

Saint Louis is not popular with students.

Is Saint Louis or Minneapolis Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Saint Louis is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Minneapolis is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Saint Louis has some very good public transit options. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

You'll find some public transit in Minneapolis, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses, light rail, and commuter trains that stop at many of the major entertainment centers around town.

Is Saint Louis or Minneapolis a more walkable city?

Saint Louis and Minneapolis both are nice when exploring on foot.

Saint Louis is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are walkable, like the downtown area and the sections around the Gateway Arch.

Minneapolis is a somewhat walkable place. There are neighborhoods that are dense enough to be walkable, but the city is still very car-focused.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint Louis Worth Visiting? and Is Minneapolis Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Minneapolis or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

It's fun to spend time in either Saint Louis or Minneapolis. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Minneapolis due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Saint Louis, and 2-4 days is enough time in Minneapolis.

Families should spend more time in Saint Louis than Minneapolis. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Saint Louis, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Minneapolis than Saint Louis if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Minneapolis.

One day in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the unexpected city of Saint Louis. Most people visit for the museums. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the innovative city of Minneapolis. Most people visit for the shopping. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the unexpected destination of Saint Louis. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the diverse destination of Minneapolis. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

The fascinating city of Saint Louis offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

The dynamic city of Minneapolis offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Saint Louis. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the museums. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Minneapolis. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the shopping. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint Louis and Minneapolis, we can see that Minneapolis is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Louis Expensive? and Is Minneapolis Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Minneapolis, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Saint Louis or Minneapolis?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Minneapolis in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Minneapolis. Many visitors come to Saint Louis in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Minneapolis for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Saint Louis is a little warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Louis in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 76°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Minneapolis. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Louis often gets less sunshine than Minneapolis. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 357 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets more rain in July than Minneapolis. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Minneapolis in the Autumn?

Both Minneapolis and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Saint Louis for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Minneapolis because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Saint Louis is generally a little warmer than Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 60°F (16°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives more sunshine than Minneapolis during autumn. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Minneapolis in the Winter?

Both Minneapolis and Saint Louis during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Saint Louis because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Minneapolis this time of year.

It's quite cold in Minneapolis in the winter. The weather in Saint Louis can be very cold. Saint Louis is much warmer than Minneapolis in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 31°F (-1°C) in January, and Minneapolis fluctuates around 15°F (-10°C).

In the winter, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Minneapolis. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 157 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets more rain in January than Minneapolis. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Minneapolis in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Minneapolis. Also, many travelers come to Minneapolis for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Saint Louis is much warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Louis in April average around 58°F (15°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 49°F (10°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Minneapolis this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Minneapolis during spring. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 244 hours of full sun in the spring.

Saint Louis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Minneapolis and Saint Louis