Getting There

By Plane -- Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, located between the cities, is 16 and 12 miles south of each downtown, respectively, and is a hub for Northwest Airlines. The Metropolitan Transit Commission runs buses to both cities (tel. 612/373-3333), and light rail service to Minneapolis for $2 in off-peak hours and $2.75 during rush hour. SuperShuttle (tel. 612/827-7777) vans run to downtown Minneapolis hotels for $14, downtown St. Paul for $13; other metro areas vary in price. Taxi fares to downtown Minneapolis begin at $28; the trip to downtown St. Paul begins at $22.

By Train -- Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) provides service from Chicago (trip time: 8 hr.), Milwaukee (6 1/2 hr.), and Seattle (36 hr.) to its station at 730 Transfer Rd., St. Paul (tel. 651/644-6012).

By Car -- Major routes into the Twin Cities are I-94 from the east (Milwaukee and Chicago) and west (Fargo), and I-35 from the south (Des Moines) and north (Duluth).

Visitor Information

The Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau is at 250 Marquette Ave. S., Suite 1300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 (tel. 888/676-MPLS). The St. Paul Convention & Visitors Bureau is at 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 502, St. Paul, MN 55102 (tel. 800/627-6101).

Getting Around

The Metropolitan Transit Commission (tel. 612/373-3333) operates buses between the Twin Cities. The Hiawatha Light Rail runs along Hiawatha Avenue from Minneapolis's Warehouse District to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and the Mall of America with a dozen stops in between. Fares for the bus or train system are the same: Rush-hour fare is $2.75; off-peak fare is $2. A day pass good for both buses and trains costs $6.

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have an extensive skyway system (a godsend during below-zero winters) that makes it easy to explore downtown areas on foot. But you'll need a car to reach many attractions outside downtown and in the suburbs.