Minneapolis Institute of Art is free and excellent and humongous
Weisman Art Museum is also free and while you're in the vicinity, you can look around UMN campus too
Como Conservatory in St. Paul is free and elite. If you need a place to chill and decompress, wear your noise cancelling headphones and bring your journal/book to the sunken garden. My favorite exhibit is the edible plants one.
For olde timey vibes, go watch a movie at a Mann theater. I am partial to the Edina location that is right on the BRT E-line.
Non low-cost activities:
Spa day for yourself! Saunas are huge here because of the cold so you can make a whole day out of it. When I traveled here the first time alone to check out Minneapolis, I paid for a facial massage and it was awesome.
Rent a fat bike from a local shop and bike the chain of lakes (isles, bde maka ska, and lake Harriet), WEAR A HELMET
https://www.auroraspaonline.com I really enjoyed this place. Once I get over my foot sprain and am fully mobile, I'm booking it here. I believe it's also local.
13th Ave NE recently got a ton of fantastic restaurants, all with bars that have full menus and are first come first serve. Being solo gives you a good shot at getting a seat without a reservation.
My recommendation would be to start at Diane's Place. If that's full, walk down to Vinai, Minari, Oro, and/or Mestizzo. While you're there, grab a cocktail at Stargazer, then check out Dusty's (a dive bar).
I really recommend the Main Cinema in St. Anthony main neighborhood! It’s my favorite local theater, their tickets are affordable, they have 4 theaters, it’s right in the neighborhood on the river, it’s usually not overcrowded and a relaxing solo movie vibe. They show a better variety than most small theaters too
There are plenty of parks, rivers, and lakes. February may not be the most beautiful time of the year to enjoy them, but if you’re an outdoors person, you can’t go wrong with any of the lakes, and it’s easy to visit between the chain of lakes in Minneapolis as they’re right next to each other.
Bouldering at Minneapolis Bouldering Project, eat at Lynette or Bungalow Club, if it isn't too cold then walking down to Minnehaha Falls, a whiskey at Merlin's Rest or a cider at Urban Forage. Late night movie at Riverview Theater. Almost all of this is in one area of MPLS ( except bouldering) so you could pretty much make a day of just this stuff. Toss in breakfast food at Savory Bakehouse and Lunch at Darling, Hymies for some music shopping, Time Bomb Vintage for some perusing and you are at a full days worth of fun.
Dreamer's Vault. That's THE place to go for Magic the Gathering tournament play.
Harriet and Alice. This shop in Edina always has a nice selection of high quality yarn.
On Valentines Day, there's the Golden Garters burlesque show at Amsterdam Bar in St. Paul. They'll have a live band, Rebel Queens, doing rock and punk covers and possibly some originals.
PURRniture in St. Paul has the most durable cat trees and cat furniture I've seen.
Not a lot of “must dos” but a few things like MIA, Walker, Russian History - good museums
Theaters are everywhere if that’s your thing, Guthrie being the biggest, can catch a show there.
Music venues like First Ave, Fine Line, Turf Club, good medium sized venues to see music.
Food depends on what you’re into I suppose, Pizza Luce is the classic twin cities spot but overall it isn’t incredible or anything. I like India House, Nico’s, Yumi
i prefer donating my services to somali organizations.. they are under a lot of pressure bc some of their fraud has been discovered and they need help like the trans kids
Dining alone is one of my favorite things. I prefer restaurants with bars. Italian Eatery in South mpls might be a good option.
I met my husband by chance at the bar at IE, so I highly endorse this rec! (Met many other people over the years there too, for a nice chat)
Seconding IE. great pastas and great drinks
Is it still good? I know it closed and then reopened, I think under new management.
Better I think. Loved it before but the menu needed a refresh.
Sweet! I definitely will go there one of the nights! Thank you!
Oooooh, there are some great spots in the cities for solo adventurers. I'll leave the food recommendations to others and r/TwinCitiesFood
For fun and low-cost activities:
Non low-cost activities:
Where are some decent spas for a sauna in the TCs?
https://www.auroraspaonline.com I really enjoyed this place. Once I get over my foot sprain and am fully mobile, I'm booking it here. I believe it's also local.
I'm going to second the Como Conservatory and add a late lunch at the Tea Room.
13th Ave NE recently got a ton of fantastic restaurants, all with bars that have full menus and are first come first serve. Being solo gives you a good shot at getting a seat without a reservation.
My recommendation would be to start at Diane's Place. If that's full, walk down to Vinai, Minari, Oro, and/or Mestizzo. While you're there, grab a cocktail at Stargazer, then check out Dusty's (a dive bar).
I really recommend the Main Cinema in St. Anthony main neighborhood! It’s my favorite local theater, their tickets are affordable, they have 4 theaters, it’s right in the neighborhood on the river, it’s usually not overcrowded and a relaxing solo movie vibe. They show a better variety than most small theaters too
Sampling of things going on around Jan/Feb (but certainly not limited to!):
https://artshantyprojects.org/
https://www.uspondhockey.com/
https://loppet.org/event/luminary-loppet/
https://www.wintercarnival.com/
https://thegreatnorthernfestival.com/
https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities-events/events/lake_harriet_winter_kite_festival/
https://beerdabbler.com/winter-beer-dabbler/
https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/blog/ice-castles/
https://www.threeriversparks.org/WinterPlayDay
https://www.minneapolisparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MPRB-Outdoor-Ice-Rinks-2025-2026_12-17-2025.pdf
Sports Calendars:
https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/min/seasontype/2
https://www.thepwhl.com/en/stats/schedule/2/8/all-months/homeaway?league=1
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/schedule
https://www.mnrollerderby.com/events-tickets/
https://stpaulcurlingclub.org/
And find all the live music you can! Maybe there will be a show you’d be interested in at the legendary First Avenue.
You can also search the sub with keywords like a specific food item/dish/cuisine, or “coffee,” or “visiting” etc.
Kado No Mise has a phenomenal Japanese tasting menu. Or Demi does a French inspired one. Both are divine.
There are plenty of parks, rivers, and lakes. February may not be the most beautiful time of the year to enjoy them, but if you’re an outdoors person, you can’t go wrong with any of the lakes, and it’s easy to visit between the chain of lakes in Minneapolis as they’re right next to each other.
Go for a walk downtown, start around the Guthrie and work your way inwards
Bouldering at Minneapolis Bouldering Project, eat at Lynette or Bungalow Club, if it isn't too cold then walking down to Minnehaha Falls, a whiskey at Merlin's Rest or a cider at Urban Forage. Late night movie at Riverview Theater. Almost all of this is in one area of MPLS ( except bouldering) so you could pretty much make a day of just this stuff. Toss in breakfast food at Savory Bakehouse and Lunch at Darling, Hymies for some music shopping, Time Bomb Vintage for some perusing and you are at a full days worth of fun.
Dreamer's Vault. That's THE place to go for Magic the Gathering tournament play.
Harriet and Alice. This shop in Edina always has a nice selection of high quality yarn.
On Valentines Day, there's the Golden Garters burlesque show at Amsterdam Bar in St. Paul. They'll have a live band, Rebel Queens, doing rock and punk covers and possibly some originals.
PURRniture in St. Paul has the most durable cat trees and cat furniture I've seen.
Not a lot of “must dos” but a few things like MIA, Walker, Russian History - good museums
Theaters are everywhere if that’s your thing, Guthrie being the biggest, can catch a show there.
Music venues like First Ave, Fine Line, Turf Club, good medium sized venues to see music.
Food depends on what you’re into I suppose, Pizza Luce is the classic twin cities spot but overall it isn’t incredible or anything. I like India House, Nico’s, Yumi
Sweet, thank you! I've always wanted to check out the museums, so ill for sure have to do that. It would be cool to see music in First Ave!
i prefer donating my services to somali organizations.. they are under a lot of pressure bc some of their fraud has been discovered and they need help like the trans kids
Litt pinball bar. Then walk down the block to rinata for dinner