Minneapolis is a spread-out city of lakes, parkways and river bluffs, and the easiest way to understand how the pieces fit together is to sit down and let someone else do the driving. This narrated trolley tour does exactly that. It runs for about an hour and a quarter in a seated trolley, in English, with a guide telling the story of the city as you pass through it: the flour-milling fortunes that built the mansions, the parkway system that links the lakes, the arts institutions that give the city its reputation and the neighbourhoods that have grown up around them. It is a pass-by tour, which means you ride rather than get out at each stop, so it suits anyone who wants an overview, travels with young children or older relatives, or simply does not fancy a long walk in a Minnesota winter. Reviewers mention the grand houses near Lake of the Isles, the Sculpture Garden glimpsed from the trolley and some narration that reaches across the river to Saint Paul. The tour starts and ends at the same meeting point, so there is no need to arrange transport back, and the group is capped at 25 people, which keeps the commentary easy to hear. Because the trolley is enclosed, it works in cold, wet or windy weather when an open-air tour would not.
How it works
You choose a start time when you book and receive a mobile ticket. The meeting point is on East 22nd Street in Minneapolis, the same place the tour returns to at the end, and reviewers advise arriving a little early to be checked in and boarded. The tour is seated, with about an hour and a quarter on the road, although some guests have felt it ran closer to ninety minutes.
Capacity is limited to 25 travellers, so popular times can sell out; the page notes that this tour is typically booked about a week or two ahead, so do not leave it to the last day of a short trip.
Infants ride on laps, service animals are welcome, and the trolley is not wheelchair accessible, so anyone with limited mobility should contact the operator before booking. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed, which is worth remembering if your plans are fluid.
What you will and will not see: the itinerary is a drive-by of Minneapolis, with no scheduled stops, so think of it as a moving introduction rather than a visit to individual sights. That is its strength and its limit. You will get a feel for the geography, hear which neighbourhoods are which and learn the names of the buildings and parks you will want to return to, but you will not step inside a museum or walk the Stone Arch Bridge.
Treat it as a first-day orientation, then use what you learn to plan the rest of the trip. If you want to walk and eat as you go, the North Loop food tour covers that side of the city; if you want to understand the interiors, spend your time at Mia or the Walker instead.
Making the most of it
Sit on the side facing the lakeside homes if you have a choice, bring a camera but expect photographs through glass, and dress in layers, because trolley windows and boarding queues can be chilly in November. Ask your guide for restaurant and neighbourhood tips at the end, since local recommendations are often the most valuable part of a narrated tour. If you are travelling with children, the seated format and the variety of sights tend to hold attention better than a museum visit, and it pairs well with a quieter afternoon at Minnehaha Falls or a warm-up at Mall of America.
What to expect
The experience
A seated, narrated trolley tour in English that drives past the lakeside mansions, the Sculpture Garden and the skyline, with no scheduled stops.
Best time
Early in your trip, as an orientation, and a good choice for cold or wet days.
How long
About an hour and a quarter, returning to the meeting point.
Tips
Arrive a little early, remember that the booking is non-refundable, and note that the trolley is not wheelchair accessible.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors, families and anyone who wants an overview without walking.
- Families
- Seated and enclosed, so it works for children and grandparents, though infants must ride on laps.
- Couples
- A relaxed way to see the lakes and mansions together before choosing where to spend the evening.
- Pair with
- The North Loop food tour or a visit to Mia or the Sculpture Garden afterwards.
- Time needed
- About an hour and a quarter plus a few minutes to board.
Good questions
How long is the Minneapolis trolley tour?+
About an hour and a quarter. Some guests have found it closer to ninety minutes, so allow a little extra.
Does the trolley tour get out at attractions?+
No. It is a pass-by tour with no scheduled stops, so you see sights from the trolley rather than going inside them.
Is the trolley tour wheelchair accessible?+
No, the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed, and guests with mobility needs should contact the operator before booking.
Can I cancel or change the booking?+
No. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed, so choose your date carefully.
How big are the groups?+
The trolley is limited to 25 travellers, which keeps the commentary easy to hear.
