Minnesota : Safety by City
- Bemidji
- Brainerd
- Brooklyn Park
- Detroit Lakes
- Duluth
- Ely
- Fergus Falls
- Grand Marais
- Grand Portage
- International Falls
- Lanesboro
- Mankato
- Maple Grove
- Minneapolis
- New Ulm
- Pipestone
- Red Wing
- Shakopee
- St. Cloud
- St. Paul
- Two Harbors
- Winona
- Woodbury
Minneapolis, Minnesota, is part of a much larger Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.
The two are twin cities, much like Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas.
Just don’t use the names of any of those cities interchangeably.
They are all unique cities with their own energy and attractions.
The city made global headlines and spurred nationwide protests against systemic racism and civil rights violations when Minneapolis Police Officer Derick Chauven was caught on video pressing his knee into the neck of George Floyd.
Floyd had been accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill, but cameras rolled as Chauven held his knee to Floyd’s neck as the victim repeatedly shouted, “I can’t breathe!” Minutes later, Floyd died.
As much as that tragic moment caused such an outspread of protests, violence, and community discussions on how to stop system racism in America, it’s also not reflective of the Minneapolis community as a whole.
Minneapolis is split by the Mississippi River and is a nice mix of urban amenities and more than a dozen lakes.
It’s also an economic powerhouse, with Target, General Mills, and Pillsbury having headquarters here.
Many of you might have heard about the brutal winters in Minnesota, and it’s likely not an exaggeration.
From December through February, the average high doesn’t get above freezing.
The city is smartly designed to have climate-controlled skyway bridges covering 80 square blocks of downtown, making it easy to get around every season – but it comes in especially handy during winter.
NOTE:
For travelers coming from outside the United States, you should be aware that during election cycles, there can be a lot of rhetoric about crime statistics and perception as candidates face off for major offices.
I am running into this a lot as I research 2022.
It will likely be more intense in 2024, during the Presidential election.
Even numbered years are the main election events, and the closer you get to the first Tuesday in November, the more political slant you might see.
This is where it’s important to use unbiased news sources and crime information from law enforcement agencies instead of always trusting a news article.
Warnings & Dangers in Minneapolis
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
There's a strong medium risk in Minneapolis, with crime rates surging and a violent crime rate in 2021 that is three times higher than the national average. 2022 is showing more crime. You'll likely not be exposed to much of this during a trip because crime is largely in the disenfranchised minority communities, where a lack of trust in the police, ongoing poverty, gangs, and drug use fuel the growing violent crime trend in America.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
There's an extensive public transportation system in Minneapolis through fixed-bus routes, light rail, and commuter rail. Taxis and rideshares are easy to find. Rental cars are available, but if you're not comfortable driving in snow or ice, I'd suggest using other forms of transportation to get around in the winter. As long as you avoid the more dangerous neighborhoods and keep good situational awareness, you should have a low risk.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Purse snatchings are far more common in Minneapolis than pickpockets, according to 2021 data. 205 purses were stolen, while just two pockets were picked. Avoid carrying a large purse - especially if it's a name-brand, expensive purse. Using a crossbody purse placed under your jacket is a great way to keep your purse out of sight. Limit what you bring to your ID, one credit card, and your mobile device, which you'll keep tucked away when you don't need to use it.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Minneapolis has a medium risk all year long. Winters can bring intense snow storms, blizzards, and ice storms. While the people who live here would scoff at that being a risk, many travelers aren't used to such extreme winter weather. Spring brings severe thunderstorms and tornado potential. With the Mississippi River running through the region, there's also a risk of flooding. You can learn more about all the risks through the Minneapolis Office of Emergency Management.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The robbery rate is a staggering six and a half times higher than the national average. The more positive side of that statistic is that while 72% of robberies happen in public places, only 19% of crimes happen against strangers. You should still treat this as a medium risk. If you are the victim of a robbery, don't fight back. Follow instructions and remember as much detail as possible to help police catch the criminal. If you are in a business being robbed, the same rules apply. Don't try to be a hero.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
This is a massive metro area and one of the largest in the country, so that's going to come with a medium risk but also with a high level of protection from Homeland Security. Not only will law enforcement protect against attacks, but they'll also work to catch homegrown terrorists well ahead of time.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has a scam awareness page where you can also report attempted scams. While there aren't tourist-specific scams, you'll likely encounter panhandlers, people offering a "great deal" with "urgency," or phishing phone calls. It's important when you research any city, you don't give personal information to non-official websites. This could be sending your personal information to scammers.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
The sexual assault rate is twice the national average, yet women are slightly less likely to be a victim of violent crime overall. You'll need to use an abundance of safety and avoid walking around at night alone. If you are renting a car, make sure you have basic supplies, at least half a tank of gas at all times, and a phone number to call if your car breaks down.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The 2021 Water Quality Report from Minneapolis Public Works proudly proclaims, "We are happy to report that no contaminants were detected at levels that violated federal drinking water standards during 2021." You can read the report to see where the water comes from and how it's treated.
Safest Places to Visit in Minneapolis
Minneapolis.org is the official website for tourism in the region.
If you also want to get information about nearby St. Paul, that official website is visitsaintpaul.com.
For the state of Minnesota, you’ll use exploreminnesota.com.
Most tourism sites for each city will include neighboring city attractions as well.
The Minneapolis tourism site has a great breakdown of all the neighborhoods in Minneapolis.
Please explore that because there are far too many to mention here.
The general regional breakdown is as follows:
- Downtown Core
- East of Downtown
- South of Downtown
- Northeast of Downtown
- Northwest of Downtown
We’ll talk about which section of town is the most dangerous in the next section.
For now, let’s dive into some safe attractions for tourists.
A great way to start visiting any city is by taking a tour specific to your interests.
Fans of Prince will want to start on the Purple Paisley tour, where you can visit the place where Prince recorded some of his biggest hits and stand on the stage where he held private concerts.
You can upgrade a tour here to a VIP tour or the Ultimate Experience Tour.
You’ll spend at least $50 on each ticket.
You can take tours through various methods of transportation, from riverboat tours to seaway tours to walking tours to food and drink tours on a roving pedal bar.
Historical tours, distillery tours, a tour of Target Field where the Minnesota Twins play, and even ghost tours during fall.
One bonus of Minnesota’s brutal winter is the introduction of ice castles and playgrounds.
Just 15 minutes from Minneapolis, you can visit Ice Castles, with massive sculptures, caverns, and a slide made of ice.
On the flip side, you can visit a water park in the winter, too, as Tropics Indoor Waterpark is warm and inviting even in the dead of winter.
To pay tribute or as a sign of solidarity, you can visit George Floyd Memorial Square at 38th Street E and Chicago Avenue S.
Look for the GeorgeFloydGlobalMemorial.org website to get information about this site, what to see, and a preview of the artwork you don’t want to miss.
Visitors here are encouraged to share in the spirit of preserving peace and justice for all.
With more than 50 museums to visit, you have a wide selection of options tailored to your tastes.
We recommend the Mill City Museum, which shows the beginning of this city with flour production and the power of the mighty Mississippi River.
The Hennepin History Museum shows the diverse cultures that settled here and grew the region into a multicultural destination.
The Weisman Art Museum is hard to miss, with an elaborate exterior that draws you in to see permanent and rotating exhibits.
This is located on the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus.
Admission is free, making a nice escape from the cold or humid weather.
The North Loop/Warehouse District is the place for the “cool kids” with high-energy day and night.
This is a good spot for those seeking a nightlife activity, but also good for lunch and shopping in a neighborhood designed around warehouses.
Target Field and Target Center are also in this neighborhood, making it really busy before and after games.
Here’s a Minneapolis fun fact – the city was intentionally designed so that no residents lived more than six blocks from the closest park, so you’ll have plenty of green spaces to explore, even in an urban enclave.
West of downtown is a series of lakes, starting with Cedar Lake just south of I-394.
You’ll find activities for every season, from fishing, snowshoeing, hiking, beach, ice rink, and so much more.
Places to Avoid in Minneapolis
West of the river and north of Highway 55, you’ll find many of the more dangerous areas.
South and southwest of downtown, there are higher-crime neighborhoods too.
The city is laid out pretty well so that you won’t end up in a dangerous neighborhood when visiting entertainment districts or tourist attractions.
Important: Just north of downtown, there’s an intersection at W. Broadway and N. Lyndale Avenue that has been dubbed “murder station.” The violent crime, overt drug dealings, and sense of lawlessness make this a place you just want to avoid altogether. Looking at a map, it seems perfectly nice – there’s a grocery store, pharmacy, and gas station.
George Floyd Memorial Square is in one of the safer neighborhoods if that brings any concerns.
With any attractions, we recommended visiting during the daytime.
Please be respectful of the people who are there, as there are a lot of emotions flowing.
You might see people crying, chanting, protesting, or gathering in prayer.
Please avoid coming here unprepared for the winter, no matter how tough you think you are in the winter cold.
Unless you are from Northern Alakasa, you’ll need to bring all your winter amenities.
Dress in layers, keep hydrated, and if you plan on spending a lot of time ice skating, snowshoeing, or otherwise, buy some handwarmer packets at a local store.
I like to put them in my boots, too, to keep my feet and ankles warm.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Minneapolis
- You can view year-to-date crime statistics on the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) website. This is a great way to see updated crime trends, as we only report the official numbers from the year before for consistency and accuracy. You can also narrow down a search to a certain police precinct if you want more specific data.
- You can search for your hotel’s address on the “Precinct Finder” of MPD’s website. This will get you contact information for that precinct if you want to reach out and ask more specific questions.
- The George Floyd murder brought a lot of additional tension between the residents and law enforcement. If this makes you reconsider visiting Minneapolis, read the Police Reform Work section of MPD’s website to see what’s being done to plan for a better future with more justice and accountability.
- At MetroTransit.org, you can buy a ticket for the bus or rail lines ahead of time, so you won’t have to pull out money for each stop. You can buy a week-long unlimited ride pass for $24.
- The Minnesota Licensing Department oversees all licenses and permits for hunting and fishing activities. Non-residents over 15 need a license, and those under 15 can only fish if they are with an adult who is licensed.
- Don’t swim in the Mississippi River. It has a fast current, lots of debris, and potentially dangerous levels of bacteria. There are too many great lakes in this city to risk getting into that nasty river.
- Anyone visiting from late fall through early spring should download the Snow Emergency app to get information about parking restrictions, snow plow routes, and other changes due to snowfall. You can also call the snow emergency hotline at (612)348-7669(SNOW).
- The 311 mobile app for the city is another great resource. You’ll have a direct line of contact with the city to ask questions about parking, safety regulations, and any other topic that isn’t related to law enforcement. If you prefer to call, just dial 311 when you’re in the city. You can also email through the city’s website.
- Using the Skyway is a great way to get around, but be prepared for certain sections to be closed at different times. Not all the businesses that are connected to Skyway have the same hours, so it’s really more of an issue during opening and closing hours. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for help if you get lost. Look for someone in seasonally inappropriate clothing. They live in the Skyway world, so they know the system well.
- Use the MLPS Parking app to reserve spots ahead of time and pay through your mobile device. How wonderful to avoid driving around looking for a spot! This also gives you information about carpooling options and locating EV charging stations.
So... How Safe Is Minneapolis Really?
Minneapolis had the nickname “Murderaplois” in the mid-90s, and now homicide rates are creeping up to that 1995 historic high.
We could go through the decades of crime data, but let’s focus on 2020 and beyond.
The George Floyd murder was a boiling point for a city and country fed up with systemic racism and underprivileged communities facing higher drug, crime, and poverty rates.
The fuse was lit with “Defund the Police” cries.
More than 1/3 of the Minneapolis Police Officers quit or retired.
The lack of trust in police led to criminals, including an influx of juveniles, taking retaliation matters into their own hands.
Minority neighborhoods have people crying for help as they feel police don’t give as much attention to crimes as they would in affluent or Caucasian communities.
That is a very broad stroke of the issues in Minneapolis, and if you’re considering staying in St. Paul – the crime rates are only slightly lower there.
The best advice for a tourist is to use all the common safety steps as you would in any big city.
Lock your car – consistently.
Don’t leave it to warm up unattended – no matter how cold it is.
Stay out of neighborhoods where you have no business, and always be aware of your surroundings.
Don’t walk around with headphones on.
Is Minneapolis safe for tourists?
Some of that depends on what you can stomach based on what you are used to – but there’s not a rush on tourists being involved in violent crimes.
At worst, most likely, you’ll face a petty crime, and it probably would be due to a crime of opportunity.
There’s too much to see here in this great city to spend too much time worrying about statistical data, but you’re now better prepared to explore the city safely with all the resources you need to get vetted information from officials.
How Does Minneapolis Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 51 |
| Honolulu | 65 |
| Chicago | 65 |
| Dallas | 64 |
| Memphis | 54 |
| Orlando | 64 |
| Las Vegas | 62 |
| Sydney (Australia) | 80 |
| Santiago de Chile (Chile) | 71 |
| Vienna (Austria) | 88 |
| Hong Kong (China) | 70 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Tianjin (China) | 67 |
Useful Information
Visas
Those arriving from outside the U.S. need a Visa or Visa Waiver and a passport to get through Customs. You'll be asked a few questions at Customs to verify your identity and why you are here. Answer directly and without any jokes. If you are unsure what Visa you need, the U.S. State Department has a Visa Wizard module on its website that can easily answer your question.
Currency
You can exchange currency at the airport or at many locations around town, but don't use public ATMs just as a matter of extreme caution. You'll need the U.S. Dollar (USD) currency. One credit card should cover all purchases here, and it's smart to buy tickets online before your trip to avoid pulling a wallet out in public.
Weather
Please bring fully insulated winter attire, including coverage for the face, ears, fingers, and toes. During winter, temperatures can get so cold you can get frostbite very easily. Summers are going to be the opposite, but bring a jacket or sweatshirt for cooler mornings and nights. You'll also want bug spray because the humidity breeds some of the biggest mosquitoes you'll ever see. Spring and fall are going to have fluctuating temperatures, so bring a mix of clothing that allows you to dress in layers.
Airports
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is less than 13 miles from downtown, but it can take a half hour or more to get there, especially during high-traffic times. This airport is consistently rated one of the best and most efficient airports in the country.
Travel Insurance
We always recommend travel insurance for those traveling abroad. Winter weather delays and spring storm delays can mess up travel plans, cause you to miss a hotel check-in, or get your baggage lost in transit. You also want to have some kind of health protection here because there is no free healthcare in the United States.
Minneapolis Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | -5 | -3 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 7 | -3 |
| Low °C | -14 | -13 | -5 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 4 | -3 | -10 |
| High °F | 23 | 27 | 43 | 55 | 68 | 77 | 82 | 79 | 72 | 59 | 45 | 27 |
| Low °F | 7 | 9 | 23 | 37 | 48 | 59 | 64 | 61 | 52 | 39 | 27 | 14 |
Minnesota - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bemidji | 78 |
| Brainerd | 72 |
| Brooklyn Park | 57 |
| Detroit Lakes | 82 |
| Duluth | 78 |
| Ely | 84 |
| Fergus Falls | 78 |
| Grand Marais | 80 |
| Grand Portage | 80 |
| International Falls | 77 |
| Lanesboro | 82 |
| Mankato | 82 |
| Maple Grove | 84 |
| Minneapolis | 51 |
| New Ulm | 83 |
| Pipestone | 81 |
| Red Wing | 78 |
| Shakopee | 81 |
| St. Cloud | 52 |
| St. Paul | 64 |
| Two Harbors | 83 |
| Winona | 86 |
| Woodbury | 83 |
What
Ok who said we have tsunamis and hurricanes in Minnesota? Literally MN is landlocked
Mighty Mississippi
Uhh, do you live in Minnesota? Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes allow Minnesota to be an important shipping port in the Midwest for farmers and bringing manufactured goods to Duluth, MN and Superior, WI
And this supposed “land locked” state has 11,000 + lakes and of course the Grand Daddy the Mighty Mississippi River draws its first trickle in Northern Minnesota.
Summers are Beautiful
I have lived in Minneapolis for 15 years and after having grown up in Dallas, I much prefer it over D/FW. Covid19 and recent racial tensions have taken a toll on businesses. Minneapolis is a very progressive “blue” city and the “riots” of last summer were over-hyped by the media. In the days that followed, I took my 9 and 11 year old daughters to assist our church in the cleanup and was overwhelmed by sheer number of people doing the same. There are no tsunamis, earthquakes and I suspect the volcanoes were last active 200,000 years ago.
It has an extensive park system which dates back to the late 19th century as does some of it’s downtown architecture. It also has one of the best urban biking networks in the nation. It’s a clean city contrary to what others have stated in this forum. Winters are cold but there are a number of winter festivals and summers are mostly cool and pleasant w/ very warn days. The days are long in summer due to it’s relatively high northern latitude. Outdoor and rooftop dining is very popular. Duluth and Lake Superior’s Northshore are a 2-3 hour drive but well worth a daytrip.
I wouldn’t go to Minneapolis if you paid me. Crime is underreported because the media is scared to do its job. Police officers are leaving/retiring and there is no one to fill their spots. Minneapolis will be like Chicago. If you value your safety, stay away.
Yes indeed we ARE experiencing a bit of a rough patch ; throughout the city , on 38th and Chicago of course and also here on South Lyndale. The local politicians don’t listen and refuse to have meetings where the tax paying public can voice their frustration , down town is on life support to say the least and the car jacking situation is not good. However, all that negativity is perhaps over or (under depending on who you ask) reported most of the time. Our beautiful parks are open to all , the art museum is breath taking and the restaurant scene is still one of the best in the nation. Please visit and see for yourself before you judge.
So quite obviously Tom doesn’t live in Minneapolis and is commenting from afar with little knowledge of daily conditions. I live in South Minneapolis in the Kingfield neighborhood. My family spends the majority of every day working, walking, using public transportation and enjoying the many amenities in the city. I’ve hosted many out of town guests who have also thoroughly enjoyed all Minneapolis has to offer with nary a problem. The same nationalized political tensions that characterize how some media consider “red” or “blue” areas is the same that describes Minneapolis: look at the source of the info and it explains a lot. Generally, we’re good here with more people moving here than we can house, so housing is in very short supply.
Minnesota is great
Did you skip elementary school Sami? We are landlocked in that we are not next to an ocean, which is why we cannot have hurricanes or tsunamis. Hell, we haven’t had an earthquake here in centuries. Even though we Lake Superior, we are still considered landlocked. Brush up on your geometry.
Earthquake?
And there are no landslides or earthquakes. But why anyone would spend a vacation here is unfathomable. Nice place to live, but vacation destination- come on.
Of Course It’s a Great Place to Vacation!
I lived in MN the first 50 years of life. That, IMHO, is credibility to determine the State’s appeal.
MN offers great scenic drives – in all directions. Water activities (swimming, boating, water skiing, jet skiing) in the summer. Snow/ice (ice fishing, snowmobiling, downhill/cross country skiing) in the winter.
Fishing/hunting abounds: fish, fowl, deer, et al
Dining, performing arts. History, art…the list doesn’t end! Who can want for more?
Yes, MN is a great place to visit.
It’s been at least three days since it rained cats and dogs. At least a month since the last nuclear leak, and it has been longer than I remember since the last oil spill. That in addition to what somebody else already mentioned ZERO Tsunami’s, and centuries since the last earthquake! There are bi-daily tornadoes though, but there usually small and don’t get more’n handful of people; usually women and children. Very very isolated, ya know localized; I mean really your chances are pretty good 5-10 people a day out of like LOTS, …. . WHOLE LOTS of peoples PLUS at least ten’s of tourists probably maybe hundreds during the curling festival
I live in Minneapolis. For the first time in my life I carry a gun.
/went to visit relatives in Minneapolis two weeks ago and hardly recognized the city. Some parts are dirty and like the third world. Obviously, the protest areas are threatening and potentially dangerous. My family relatives are in the process of leaving what was once a thriving upper Midwest city but now a third world and radical hellhole.
Yes, I live in Minneapolis in Uptown and will be moving to AZ. Carjackings and armed robberies now occur during the day time too. Someone in my building was beat up in an attempted carjacking. Businesses are leaving the city too.
Minneapolis resident
you are very correct 2021 in Minneapolis where I live north east end all around the suburbs have went to shit!!! I grew up here. areas all around Minnesota that have big cities are kind a dumpy.😕
I live 10 minutes from downtown and it is clean, so safe, and beautiful. I would never live in the heat of the south
UP Nord Ain't What It Used To Be!
Yeah, you stay up there in the crime infested, third world. I too lived there until it just got to be too much. Oh, how’s about the winter weather and then there are the taxes, not to mention that the fishing and outdoor life has totally gone to pot. Please stay up North.
STOP IT
Stop it, Minnesota is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Every state has it’s own problems but third world is a crazy statement.
No hell holes in this state. I’ve lived here for 40 years with no worries and no problems none.
I’ve also traveled the country and for the most part can’t wait to get home after a week. I’ve been to 23 states and Minnesota in my opinion is the safest place to visit, vacation and live.
Minnesota, yes.,,, but MInneapolis a big “No”
Minnesota indeed a nice place with nice people…. but that is outside the city of MInneapolis.
Minneapolis itself is crime-ridden and increasingly lawless, with St. Paul not far behind. It’s not a coincidence that these cities are represented by Democratic hack congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Betty McCollum. The Mayor (Frey) and the city council are laughed at.
But get outside the city of MInneapolis, and you’ll find a very nice state. As a matter of fact, many of us would like Minnesota to be annexed by South Dakota, so that we would have Kristi Noem as our governor.
In the city of MInneapolis, not only is the so-called George Floyd Square a no go area for law-abiding citizens and police, but now the Lake Street/Hennepin area is just as bad.
Years ago, it was primarily the north side of Minneapolis that was dangerous. Now it’s a much bigger chunk of the city, including the once-pleasant downtown.
Seek medical help now.
LAMO.
“Many of us would like Minnesota to be annexed by South Dakota so that we have Kristi Noem as our govenor.”
You lost all credibility with that statement and proved just how delusional you truly are.
LOL
You sound like a tRumpian afraid of the big bad Antifa, LMAO.
Are you implying Antifa ( who ARE fascists) is a myth?
Kristi Noem?
Well, at least you didn’t get political. Love Minneapolis.
Interdimensioal Traveler
Lol, what universe do you live in?
This review is a joke, right?
Has the person who wrote this nonsense ever been to Minneapolis? Or even looked at its location on a flippin’ MAP?
As someone else mentioned, the town is landlocked, literally thousands of miles from the nearest ocean, and yet hurricanes, and even more laughably TSUNAMIS are mentioned as possible threats. Nor are there earthquakes or volcanoes in Minnesota, or mountains of any height large enough to cause an avalanche or a landslide, and the nearest forests, which tend to be necessary for forest fires, are literally hours away by car. You’re far more likely to be hit by lightning while indoors… in a rubber room. Which is where you belong if you’re worried about a tsunami or volcano in Minnesota of all places.
Mugging is also not common. And it’s certainly not common in a place like Dinkytown, which is the neighborhood right around the University of Minnesota, unless college students are taking up crime as a way to pay for their tuition. (Not that I’d blame them.)
The scams risk is almost as hilarious as the warnings about natural disasters, though. I mean, honestly, the shell game? No, you almost certainly won’t see that, or three-card monte, or any other short cons that everyone knew were scams a hundred years ago, anymore than you’ll see a guy selling snake-oil from the back of a covered wagon or an organ grinder with a monkey.
Honestly I could go on, but why bother?
Muggings are really common in mpls, every week it happens in dinkytown but its far from the worst, Try Living in south or mpls not only muggins are common but homicides are also
I second James
This is, hands down, the best review I have ever read!!!
To second what James says, Minneapolis is highly misrepresented in this review. Great place to live if you can fathom the cold winters.
Skip the Twin Cities
I live in Minneapolis. In the last 5 years Minneapolis has become a shell of it self. Especially after BLM & Antifa used Minneapolis as the powder keg of violence in the Summer of 2020.
Shootings of people being “mugged,” or the people trying to help them have increased with people who have no criminal or gang affiliation. Over a 3rd of business buildings in South Minneapolis are burned, damaged or looted and the owners plan on NOT rebuilding.
If you are coming to Minnesota, skip Minneapolis. The author is right. You can find the same violence in Chytcago, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Deer Born, MI, Los Angeles.
Instead, head north to one of the lakes that is known for great fishing. If that is your thing. There is great hiking around Lake Superior. Heading outside the Twin Cities, especially Minneapolis, you will still find the people who created the saying “Minnesota Nice”. In Minneapolis especially you will find Crazy, revolutionary people. As a person who grew up and lived in the City, even I am worried in good neighborhoods to walk my dog anymore. The areas of North Minneapolis and Downtown should be considered No Go Zones. Uptown has always been young hipsters and a pick pocketed here and there. Recently (2020) people are being robbed, beaten (very common), shot and murdered in broad daylight. Another area that is becoming No Go unless you like drama and blood. South Minneapolis/Lake Street is burned out and it will be a couple generations before it comes back but many are just taking their money and moving out of the City. Same with businesses.
Then of course, our Police Force has been defunded. 1/3 of the force has taken retirement, early or partial and full. Some just never showed up again after the 2nd round of riots. So if you do get mugged at gun point and you are not shot or bleeding profusely. Don’t bother waiting around for a police officer to take a report. You honestly will be waiting a long time. Get in your car and leave to a safer area.
Sorry to shed such a poor light on this once vibrant and beautiful city. Someone else said it looks like a 3rd world country. It does. Garbage, druggies, needles. So far we don’t have a ton of feces and urine on the sidewalks like San Fran but since those things are no longer “illegal” or ticketed, it’s just a matter of time. So many other great places to visit. Honestly take 494/694 around the city if your driving toward the Twin Cities and take 94E or 35W south.
From a Resident
This is stupid and wrong. I live in South Minneapolis a mile from the precinct that got burned down in May 2020. I was scared and sad and freaked out all summer with anxiety like I’ve never experienced before. I still I walk several miles to work and back multiple times a week and have never had a single bad thing happen to me. Some businesses were destroyed. Many more remain, and many have already rebuilt and reopened. The biggest threat to the quality of life here is fearful overreactions like yours. Have some resilience. Bad things happen sometimes. This is still my home.
And what color are you. Or are you BLM ring leader
EVERY LIFE MATTERS.
Minneapolis is basically safe
“And what color are you. Or are you BLM ring leader
EVERY LIFE MATTERS.”
Unfortunately, Minneapolis and Minnesota still have a lot of ignorant racists. These poor fearful creatures watch too much TV and get too much of their news from social media. They don’t live enough real life in our fine city. I feel sorry for them that they’re missing out on getting to know all the different kinds of people that live here, but their frightened ignorance is no excuse for their malice.
Yes, Minneapolis has problems like any other American city. If you research the actual causes of those problems, you’ll see that this city, state, and nation have engaged in a pattern of racial discrimination that goes back centuries. Through increased education and activism, white people here are beginning to understand the scope of the problem, our culpability, and our own responsibility to help heal the wounds that exist within communities harmed by centuries of racist housing, policing, and education policies.
It will take time before enough white people step up to help make things better, but we’ve made a lot of progress and will continue to do so. Minneapolis is an amazing place rich in culture and diversity. I feel sorry for fools like Anonymous who are missing out on what an enjoyable city this is to experience.
I’m a bit confused, why don’t people just mind there own business and do there own thing I don’t need to figure out the whole black thing becuase they had there feelings hurt or what happened eons ago that has nothing to do with today. Live your life stop complaining about what you diddent get and be glad you get what you got , drink water drive on. I have worked my a– off for everything that I got in this life and everyone else needs to do the same and stop looking for the freebies. We are all Americans, start acting like it and stop destroying things becuase you feel things are unfair !
Can’t we all get along
Well see some of your points but “white people step-up to make it better.”
So your really racist then? Saying that black people can’t do it as well? Or the someone who needs things to get better for themselves has no fight in the game?
Pretty lame.
Actually is the Demos and others who have been running things for 50 years and get the same results. Helping hand is fine but you can’t government well with chaos.
all life matters
Really, does every life matter?
What are you doing to support every life matters? Do you sign a complaint when police shoot down unarmed white people?
Or do you just sit on your hands. Do you stand up for all people who can’t fight for their rights? Do you protect the weak?
Or are you just mad because African American say black lives matters?
Totally unsafe. This review is ridiculous
I’ve heard stories of people who own businesses in downtown Minneapolis and it is absolutely unsafe to travel there right now. No one in their right mind would. As in the rest of the Democrat controlled cities that are being destroyed, there is no law and order and it has gone rapidly downhill. Stay away.
This is humorous to read. Minnesota has some of the best quality of life in the country. Minneapolis and St. Paul have a rich diversity of cultures and people from around the world. Most of us never leave here in the summer because it is so beautiful here. Lakes, free out door concerts, parks, gardens, swimming, boating, hiking, restaurants, world-class theater, concert halls, Paisley Park (Prince), Mall of America, etc. I’ve never been mugged or robbed. Like any big city in the world, we have social issues. Take normal precautions. Even the winter is lovely. You have to dress for the weather and be cautious while driving. Please come and visit. You’ll fall in love. I’ve met so many people with kids who have moved here from other parts of the country because of the quality of life, strong schools, health care (Mayo Clinic).
Please leave them if you don’t like it. We are better off without ignorant people.
Many already have. Except for BLM and ANTIFA. They are still there. Maybe tell them to take a knee and leave. Even their once supporters are saying the same thing
Minneapolis has many amazing areas and still vibrant downtown for businesses and corporations. The one sad part of downtown is the loss of major retail which makes it lose status as a destination downtown. Mall of America had effect of sending retail shoppers to the suburbs. But I’m happy to have lived and worked there for over 20 years. Your review is very biased against democratic cities/states which makes it loose credibility. Let’s remind ourselves that most of the poorest and most uneducated states and cities are Red (Republican States)…name them out..Louisiana, Arkansas, Nebraska, WV, Kentucky, Alabama, and these draw resources big time from tax payer dollars without much progress. he most vibrant in terms of education and contribution to GDP of America are democratic – Massachusetts, NY, Washington, Oregon, California, etc.
What city are you talking about? Minneapolis police have not been defunded. There is a power struggle going on right now between the mayor, city council and MPD. Reorganization and reform is definitely needed. We do not need fictionalization versions of facts being posted
Like your version.
Unsafe at any speed.
Early March of 2020, the majority of a Minneapolis City Council safety committee voted to refuse a $1.3 million dollar federal grant for the hiring of 10 additional police officers. The department has been woefully understaffed ever since. The MPD was certainly defunded with that vote. Having been brutally assaulted and separately successfully fending off a horrific carjacking attempt in Minneapolis, I can state quite categorically my hellacious experience is not fictionalization and very much reality.
Avoid this place at all cost!
Stay out of all Minneapolis and st.paul. Don’t even think of visiting. This place is Hell! Even in broad daylight this place is scary. Thank God we were able to sell and get out to a safer town. Place sucks.
Cap
Did you really live there?
Truth
I do live there and Liza G. is completely correct.
It’s not safe. And yes, I live there.
Dangerous to the Extreme
I lived in MN my entire life and in Minneapolis for 30 years and I can tell you you are absolutely, positively wrong about the riots being overhyped. First of all, as a man, you will have an entirely different assessment of what ‘safe’ is. Most of my neighborhood was burned down, looted and is still boarded up by the riots. Several stores that were rebuilt and restocked were burned and looted a second if not a third time. Pharmacies, liquor and grocery stores and tobacco shops have been hit multiple times. Four of my neighbors (all single women and/or elderly people) were mugged in broad daylight, had their valuables, coats and eyeglasses stolen and the muggers threatened to take the dog they were walking. After one young woman was mugged they continued to beat her head against the cement alleyway until she passed out. I should mention that in two of these instances the criminals were little girls and boys under the age of 13 years old. One set of them was armed. What you see during the day while you were doing cleanup as a group is vastly different from what happens at nightie or when people are walking alone. People were driving down alleys lighting things on fire, threatening to burn down gas stations and randomly shooting out of their car windows. Cars are being stolen with pets and children still inside them and God help you if you think your catalytic converter should stay on your car because it’ll probably be hacked off in broad daylight and sold, if your car is not stolen for a joyride and then totaled. Having a take-out meal delivered? Well your delivery guy will probably have his car stolen while he’s walking your meal up to your house. Need your mail or FedEx delivered? Well, they burned down my post office and were hijacking FedEx trucks too. These are all things that happened to neighbors by the way, in what was formerly a safe, peaceful neighborhood all in the summer of 2020. A majority of neighbors in the are report they suffer from PTSD it was so horrible. Did I mention carjackings are up by 537%? I know two people who have been carjacked. Both in broad daylight, both at stop signs. A third neighbor was pulled out of her car by her hair by a carjacker.
Thank you for telling it like it is. My daughter moved to Minneapolis 15 years ago to attend U of M. Our entire family fell in love with Minneapolis. My daughter loved it so much, still does, never left after graduating. My daughter lives in the same neighborhood as you. As a mother living in Arizona, I was terrified watching the riots on TV that occurred in your neighborhood knowing my single daughter was trapped there. We kept in constant contact with her for weeks. She stays. She said BLM does not speak for her neighborhood. Three years later the destruction is still there. Two months ago her SUV was stolen. She needed it for her job which is working in homeless shelters, feeding the people there. Whoever stole it has her registration. Knows her name and address. We beg her to leave, but she stays.
White Flight 2.0
You are as crazy as the two nutburgers who commented as well.
This is white flight 2.0.
Just to be clear
Facts are really more powerful than attempted insults. So here we go….
You may want to revisit the definition of “white flight”:
“The departure of whites from places (such as urban neighborhoods or schools) increasingly or predominantly populated by minorities.”
A) You made an assumption about my race, which is wrong, btw.
B) Moving out of the city had nothing to do with the racial make up in my neighborhood (which is diverse and largely unchanged during the 30 years I resided there) and everything to do with the number of times my neighbors were physically/sexually assaulted in their alleys/cars/streets/yards/homes at all times of day or night, carjacked at gas stations, daycare drop-off sites or stop signs or otherwise deprived of their basic human right to safety as tax paying, law abiding citizens. Not to mention the two times people tried to break into my home and the time a person rang my doorbell at 10:30 at night with a weapon in their hand.
Check out the crime maps for Minneapolis. It’s not pretty.
Stay Away it’s not safe
This once beautiful city has turned ugly. Graffiti, burned out buildings, violence in the streets in broad daylight. Minneapolis police department is understaffed and overworked. They’ve been castrated by the city council and mayor. The governor is a joke, and many restaurants and bars are gone. St Paul has been left mostly alone and unchanged. Minneapolis score of 51 looks to be the lowest ranking that I can find.
Yikes
This city is a definite no go. There is a section of town that police aren’t allowed into, and it’s allowed!!!
I'm Calling BS on this one.
What section is that? As a Minneapolis resident, I’ve never heard this.
wrong.
You don’t live in Minnesota
I call you and raise it as a crap hole city
So sad and pathetic
In June 2016 I took my Mom and Stepdad for a drive around Minneapolis. Saw US Bank being built. Went down memory lane with so many areas of the city they loved and once frequented. Beautiful day and one I will always remember. My stepdad died in 2017, my Mom in 2019. Never thought I’d be thankful that they were gone but I am. I would hate for them to see what your “leaders” have done to this once beautiful city and what crimes are being tolerated as acceptable and justified behavior. Why don’t you just post it on a billboard – “Agree with us or we’ll destroy everything and you”. Pathetic, pitiful.
Pretty Ghetto place
Minneapolis is only safe if you are with like 5 people. Downtown Minneapolis is full of criminals and thugs, and North Minneapolis is literally a hell-hole. Gun shots every night, we know what “race” is mostly responsible for it but we can’t do anything because we will be called racist. Seriously, even St.Paul Uniuversity area is complete garbage now, full of criminals and teenage thugs. It is scary. The only good place is areas where these low life criminals (White, Black, Asian, Latinos) don’t go to, for example the Art Institute is amazing, some of the lakes are great, but avoid Broadway and Downtown “Murderapolis.”
Wow
How about south?
You’re terribly racist lmao
If you see someone getting assaulted or murdered, you would probably check what their race is before stepping in, to give them a lecture about Critical race theory.
You’ll probably let a black or brown person get away with murder, because, you know, equity and equality and all that politicly-correct stuff. This needs to be destroyed.
I hope a protest happens and all the protesters get beaten up so bad, that police will just watch while they scream with pain. You guys deserve it for what you have done to the city of murderapolis.
Don't listen to the racists
People like Extra Life are the racist creeps who stand in the way of helping communities that are hurting. They’d rather point the finger at a few bad actors and then make inaccurate generations about an entire race based on the the actions of the few, which is called racist stereotyping. What do we know about stereotypes? THEY’RE NEVER ACCURATE. By far the majority of Black residents in Minneapolis are peaceful, loving individuals. Don’t listen to idiots like Extra Life. Hopefully that person pulls their head out of their a** and gets educated, but I doubt it’s gonna happen. We just all have to be better than that nimrod.
What is racist. Please define. Minneapolis is a shithole because of people like you. Even if ISIS, comes and drops, you ll just ignore it and go to your local coffee to organize a protest for a protest to protest against a protest that is not a protest. Wake up and smell avacados, or else you ll end up with a city that resembles baghdad, more than detroit
The trouble with going to the Art Institute in Minneapolis, aka Minneapolis Institute for the Arts, is that it borders yet another crime-filled neighborhood just south of downtown Mpls, in what is referred to as the Powderhorn neighborhood. Visitors to the Art Institute are subject to car break ins, carjackings, and robberies in the middle of the day. Best bet if you are to visit is to park immediately in front of the Art Institute, but of course that parking fills up fast, so one needs to get there when the building opens.
I am a part time docent, so I see first hand what happens.
HOLD UP
what if you go with 13 people??? would you be safe?
Mpls did not have 9 murders in 2016 Wtf r u talkin about LOL maybe 9 murders a week, its worst them most citys And very dangerous At night with a average of 4 shootings,
No way your serious Minneapolis is not nearly that bad your making it seem like Chicago it’s not. I’ve been there multiple times and there is not no damn 4 shootings a night lmfao stop making the place worse than it actually is yes the crime has gotten worse but not nearly to the extent that you are saying
Crime Stats - Do Some Digging
You are right. There are not 4 shootings a night. June 21, 2020, one person was killed and 11 people were injured during a shootout in the Uptown. Seven people were shot in one night in August of 2021 in Uptown. Visiting is not the same as living here. Even people 5 miles away don’t realize what is going on in and right around Minneapolis.
MurdaApolis
Real GangLand City
These reviews are trash
It’s boring and I would not recommend it as a vacation spot. But the crime is low, woman are safe even at night and there are no natural disasters. Delay your Minneapolis travel plans until the police trial is finished. Or better yet go up north to Duluth and beyond.
Mpls. has gone down the tubes
Crime is low? Tell that to the hundreds of people who were carjacked in Minneapolis last year. Or to the tourists who are robbed and assaulted in downtown Mpls. Or those who are trying to avoid the gunshots all over the city; there have been over 300 shootings just within the Minneapolis city limits through July 2022. And it’s not any better across the river in St. Paul.
You are obviously not from MInnesota. Women are not safe at night in downtown Mpls, and even during the workday it’s dicey. Stand on the corner of 9th and Nicollet Mall during the day, and the criminal drug-dealing element is out in force.
Minneapolis? Really? Forget it.
Stay Out of Minneapolis. It is the new Detroit.
Horrible
Stay out of Minneapolis. Crime is off the hook. It is only getting worse.
I’m a thirty year resident of a MInneapolis suburb. It’s shocking to see the crime increase in the city. Robberies and carjackings are now occurring in the “good” areas in broad daylight.
Downtown MInneapolis is not safe, even during the daylight hours. Stores are being robbed.
With COVID, very, very few office workers are left, and the hoodlums have taken over downtown. At the very least, a single woman would be verbally harassed walking down the main drag, Nicollet Mall.
Mpls. Police are viewed as the enemy by the city council and mayor, along with Ilhan Omar’s supporters.
Honest Minnesotan Review
Honest Minnesotan Review of 28 years!
Minneapolis has had a lot of issues that’s for dang sure. However with the Sherif (not Aradondo!) taking charge and St Paul PD stepping up a lot of crime is going down. If you visit don’t go to North Minneapolis that’s been true for the last five years and avoid Lake Street. Stay in the suburbs either Edina, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, or even Mall of America. Minneapolis is full of history, culture, and a melting pot of folks. We’ve been featured in series like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, an episode of “The X-Files” and “Criminal Minds”. The film “Juno” is set in Brooklyn Park/Center/Crystal, Mall Rats was filmed in EP Mall. We have the Minneapolis Institute of Art which is a great place to tour, the Russian Heritage group, The Swedish Institute, Science Museum, and so many other interesting sites to explore.
You’re probably asking yourself “You guys/Y’all/Yous guys/Yous in, are landlocked how do you get so many natural occurrences?”
Also yes we get hurricanes! Fun fact Gales are inland sea or fresh water hurricanes, Lake Superior is no joke! I’ve seen storm surge there similar to hurricanes in Florida. Lake Superior is so beautiful and a sight to behold, it’s a huge inland sea with cold water and winds. The lake can change in an instant always be vigilant, never go out on the lake if you’re inexperienced or in a small vessel or craft. It’s beautiful as it is deadly, never disrespect or underestimate her because she’s a lake. I encourage you to read up on our history as well because the Lake is part of it, in my mother’s language Anishnabe or Ojibwe/Chippewa it’s called Gitchi Gummee “great sea”.
We also get small earthquakes as we are on a plate that shifts, called the Laurentian Divide in the Iron Range, little tremors aren’t uncommon but they are pretty small. In fact there are many legends of thunder wings beings which describe such events. Avalanches aren’t your big ones but mostly are in the Sawtooth Mountains or the Iron Range. The true beauty of our state is up north on Lake Superior all year round. The cities are gorgeous in the Spring thru Fall; but there’s something about a Duluth/North Shore winter that is spectacular. Fun Fact the Disney film, “Iron Will” was shot for the most part in Duluth and the northern part of the state.
Also the folks are different in North and South. For example up North, they’re a different breed up north with strong kind values and really make Minnesota nice a reality. I’ll be honest down in the cities it’s Minnesota Passive Aggressive.
But most folks if you’re in a pinch will help you out. Expect good and honest company wherever you are in our great state.
If you go to downtown, take a Lyft or Uber if you don’t have a vehicle (don’t get a taxi) always make plans just in case, have a good purse with a wide strap or messenger bag don’t do a backpack unless you have a chain or padlock. Don’t over dress with brands as you can look like free advertising; don’t make eye contact with beggars or homeless, don’t give out money (they’ll follow you and jump you if they can) avoid the encampment and you’ll be good. Always dress appropriately with extra layers, only go in well lit areas and avoid alleyways. Always be watchful and smart, lock up your vehicle, and hide your belongings/don’t leave valuables in the car. I did all these practices living in Minneapolis, a student on campus and when I lived in other states and in Spain. These are common sense tips, be safe and smart.
What are you actually talking about?? Minnesota does not get hurricanes. Minnesota does not have volcanic activity. There are no tsunamis in Minnesota. Lol! You are hilarious!!
Avoid
Carjacking and assaults have skyrocketed. Over a quarter of the police department have quit or are disabled with PTSD. The city council is seeking to defund and get rid of the police. the officers will be replaced with the new SWAT team..Social Workers And Therapists.
Still Great
There are a lot of people who live in the suburbs commenting on Minneapolis, likely based on the “scary news stories” they see on TV. As someone who lives in the city, I can tell you that it is still the beautiful, safe city it has been for decades. Crime rates go up and down. Poverty moves around the city and you’ll see crime rates go up. Downtown turned bad when they tried to cram a suburban mall into the center of it with the block e project. I still bike around downtown with my kids and have never had any problems. North Minneapolis does have higher poverty and crime, but they also have a lot of pride. If you talk to people who live there, they’ll go on and on about how supportive the community is. People look out for each other. I live in NE Mineeapolis and it has become a destination part of the city with many brewpubs, interesting restaurants, and a vibrant art scene. I bike around with my kids at night and have never had a bad encounter. South Minneapolis will recover quickly and attention needed to be paid to the very serious problem of police violence and racial bias. I would be willing to bet that the new buildings and businesses in the area turn it into a destination part of town in 5 years. Stop letting fear dominate your lives.
The “activists” who have seized control of, and cordoned off, 38th and Chicago will only “allow” the area to return to public use when their list of demands are met. Their list of demands total cost is $155,000,000
That the city knuckles under to the seizure of public property demonstrates to me my property is not valuable. I am resilient but I have no faith in our government leaders fulfilling their responsibilities. I’m moving!!
We’re really going to miss you 🙁
Minneapolis is lost for good
There is no “police violence” in Minneapolis. Rather, police are responding as best as they can under an onslaught of “violence” by emboldened criminals… who are egged-on by the Democrat mayor, governor, and what passes as a city council.
The rest of Minnesota, i.e suburbs and rural areas, would just as soon see the crime-ridden, run-down, Marxist-run cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul secede from the state.
Avoid Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a dangerous, crime-ridden city. Armed robberies and carjackings occur frequently at all times of the day in every neighborhood. Even the most affluent areas have now become plagued by violent crime. What was once a very livable, beautiful city is no more.
There are a lot of very biased reviews on here for some reason. Some people seem to only think in black and white. Here is the truth: Minneapolis is still a particularly clean and safe city. Having visited every single state in the US and seen many of the cities here, I can confirm that as fact. However, it has gotten considerably more dangerous since the dereliction of many of the police officers and death of George Floyd. I assume the folks saying it is terrible and dirty are noticing that fact and blowing it out of proportion because they prefer it as it was.
I live in South Minneapolis right off lake street and can confirm that most of the businesses are rebuilding quickly and often better than before (Target, Aldi’s, the gas station, the new larger building going up where the Wendy’s was, the affordable housing complex, etc…). There do not appear to be any signs of a mass exodus as some people seem to be claiming. A small number seem to have decided not to rebuild right away and may indeed not return ever (the Arbys, Denny’s and a few others).
Truth from Resident
That may be your truth, but my truth is VASTLY different. I have a traveled extensively nationally and internationally and lived in multiple Minnesota cities including Minneapolis for 30 years. In the span of four months, five people (all women or elderly) were assaulted within a block and a half of my home, all in broad daylight, in an area which was once a very safe neighborhood. Two of them were attacked by children under the age of 13. People were literally driving down my back alley randomly shooting off guns. A few years ago, they found a dead body in the alley two houses down from me, dumped there during the day. People regularly break into houses during the day and night and stealing anything not tied down in your car, yard or home. Carjackings are a regular occurrence and most people know to be on alert when you were stopped at a stop sign as that is when they tend to surround your car. Leave a pet or a baby in the car and turn your back for a second, they’ll steal your car and take them too. If you are lucky, they will dump them off safely nearby. If you have a catalytic converter on your car you probably won’t have it for long because they will saw it off, right in front of your house, during the day.
In no way shape or form am I “blowing it out of proportion“ by saying the city is ‘terrible and dirty.” My once vibrant neighborhood now consists primarily of burned out and boarded up buildings. The local liquor store has been looted and burned five times. Yes FIVE times. Several pharmacies have also been burned down and looted and the closest open pharmacy is a temporary semi truck that they place near the former pharmacy and then remove each night. Three children were randomly shot in recent weeks. Two of them died and a third is fighting for his life.
No it isn’t. I live there. Crime happens daily…during the day. It is not safe at night. The police can’t do their job because of the idiots running the city. Don’t forget, the mayor allowed the criminals to burn down a police precinct. Do NOT go to Minneapolis. It’s very dangerous.
Don’t blame the police for Minneapolis’ crime. The police are under assault by Omar’s BLM and other Democrat liberals.
My company has moved its offices to the suburbs. There are many young women employees in our firm, and they are afraid (and rightly so) to work downtown. The main drag downtown, Nicollet Avenue, has been taken over by young thugs, especially around the Target discount store at 9th and Nicollet. South of downtown, Uptown, a “hipster” area, is plagued by robberies, carjackings, and assaults.
There is one relatively safe area of MInneapolis, the southwest quadrant near Lake Harriet. But even that area has experienced rising property crime. Because that’s the nicer area of MInneapolis, and with the police department decimated, that area has little police protection.
Steer Clear
Minneapolis has turned into a shithole thanks to progressive politics. I live in a nearby suburb and I avoid downtown altogether. The City Council is a collection of “woke” morons who want to abolish the police department altogether. Brilliant!
City in free fall
I was in Minneapolis from 1943 until 1972. It was A beautiful city far left progressive city government has taken control in a strong way it is really the people running and in charge that is the problem and I see no solution until those destructive people are ousted. Went back in sept of 2020 to my old neighborhood and couldn’t believe it. What A disaster. Just look at all the liberal cities and you will see the same thing. Minneapolis has finally hit its low and there is still more room to go lower. It’s just too bad that they have given into the race baiters
Great place to live
I have lived in Mpls for 70 years and have never experienced or been a victim of violent crime. We all have to work on justice in our cities. Our community is striving to rebuild. In general, a tolerant, friendly city with great parks, lakes and cultural opportunities.
When I moved to the MInneapolis area in 1985, it was a pleasant safe city. Not any more. City “leaders” appease the left-wing, police-hating radicals. For travelers… my advice living in a nearby suburb for thirty six years is to NOT stay downtown. And if you do stay downtown, walk only during the daylight hours, and preferably in a group.
Businesses are NOT coming back downtown after the pandemic. Women are particularly afraid of the crime.
I would avoid public transit as well. Uncivilized behavior, and worse, is tolerated.
Minnesota is a nice state, but not the central cities of MInneapolis and St. Paul.
Skip Minneapolis
Unfortunately, many Minnesotans haven’t figured out that elections have consequences and they continue to elect (and re-elect) incompetent people to critical leadership positions.
Consequently, asinine ideas like “let’s inconvenience everyone to appease those who don’t belive in living in a civilized society” gains scary traction, taxes continue to skyrocket while billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted on frivolous projects that don’t benefit the taxpayers.
These days, “progressive” leadership is entertaining the idea of disbanding the armed police force and will instead offer (taxpayer funded) self esteem coaches to help reign in the crime.
“Johnny, I’m your friend. I know you didn’t mean to kill that man and steal his BMW. Throw down your evil gun that made you kill and we’ll forget we saw you murder and hijack that car”
*face palm* You can’t make this stuff up!
Minneapolis hasn’t always been a dump. In the early 2000s (say 2003) it was a relatively safe place to be, even at night. There are many great activities for families including parks, lakes, museums, zoos, hiking, biking.
Unfortunately, neglect to enforce core laws has led to exponential decay in this once amazing city. Then top it off with groups like Black Lies Matter burning down the city and you wind up where we are today: good is being called bad and bad is being called good.
Unless you have a specific reason to visit Mpls, I’d consider an alternate destination until this mess is cleaned up.
Dangerous on 2021
We left at the end of 2020 and moved to a smaller city on the southeast US coast where people are genuinely kind. Sure there is still some crime, however the vast majority is relegated to a very small area. We had lived in NE area for 20 years and loved it till the last 2 years when crime and lawless behavior has become the norm making Minneapolis a miserable place to live.
It really seems like a portion of Minneapolis residents are just plain angry about everything all the time and that anger has ruined what was once a shining jewel of a city.
Hope things settle down there but won’t hold my breath. Meanwhile I’m off to the beach for a relaxing walk.
Stay out or get the hell out
Minneapolis is so dangerous. Can’t even leave my home at night because of gang activity out in the street. No laws apply here anymore because the idiot city council wants to defund the police and use social workers instead. Cars drive over 70 mph down residential streets literally killing people. It’s turned into the old west and I’m getting the hell out of here.
Incompetent political leadership
Lack of competent political leadership has destroyed Minneapolis proper. Hopefully, Minnesotans will elect better leadership in the future to promote law and order and restore peace.
Don’t visit
Total Hellhole. I grew up there and moved away only to visit and find it trashed. It’s been on a slow decline for years, but BLM finished it off.
Unfortunately I have to go there for work. The first day I was in the North Loop and we walked to lunch. Many dangerous characters around, talking to themselves etc. and the beautiful new restaurants have about 1/5 of the crowd they normally would.
Day 2 I had to go downtown. It’s an absolute ghost town. I was in a tower and it seemed like there were 20 people in the tower total. That night.. 13 shootings downtown. No wonder it’s a wasteland.
The only somewhat safe area of MInneapolis is the southwest side, near Lake Harriet.
The rest of the city is plagued by carjackings and robberies. Downtown Minneapolis is not safe, even during the daytime. Even though the pandemic is mostly over, businesses are not returning to downtown Minneapolis because employees, particularly women, are afraid.
Actual Minnesotan
The amount of Alt-right nutjobs that have never step foot in minneapolis talking about our city in this comments section is a joke. I think anyone living here can fully admit that things have been better then they are at this exact moment in time but compared to other cities similar in size to ours I feel 100x safer then i would in Memphis, or St.louis etc. Minneapolis and Minnesota in general is still one of the most friendly and accepting areas in the country…countless number of things to do involving nature,dining, and entertainment. I have traveled all over this country…calling minneapolis a sh*thole is dishonest at best
Saying Minneapolis is not quite as bad as Memphis or St. Louis does a disservice to potential visitors who are considering visiting Minneapolis. All three cities are at the top of the nationwide crime statistics. Minneapolis has only about half the number of police officers a city of its size should have.
Crime was not as bad in Minneapolis until about five years ago. Then the Mpls City Council eliminated the anti-loitering laws, and that gave free reign for all the criminals to hassle downtown visitors, which then escalated to robberies and carjackings in the once-busy downtown and Uptown areas.
Drivers also need to be extra cautious in Minneapolis, as illegal drag racing, blowing through stop signs, and excessive speeding is rampant. Again, law enforcement of traffic laws is non-existent, as there just are not enough police to enforce the laws.
Liberal and Still Think It is a Craphole
I am not Alt-Right and can say with 100% certainty the place has turned into a crap hole. Lived in the state my entire life and lived in downtown Minneapolis or near the city lakes the last 30+ years. I am actually shocked by the number of people who live outside of uptown or downtown who don’t know how dangerous it is. I lived near a Minneapolis street where people regularly drove down randomly shooting through windows of homes. People were finding bullet holes above their child’s crib. And this was considered a good neighborhood until 2020. Hearing gunshots at night is now a regular occurrence and my safety app typically alerted me of 2 to 3 stabbings a night. That is NOT acceptable and I refuse to cover up how bad it is.
How safe in 2021???
I have tickets for two for a rescheduled concert this fall at the State Theater. Looking at a crime map for the city, sure looks like a lot of incidents just this past week. (August 2021).
How is it by the State theater? Hell, for that matter, is it safe inside as well? I have some concerns about concertgoers being attacked. Going with a younger relative…. Maybe.
Also, if we DID go, would it be best to take a cab or Uber in? We originally planned to rent an Airbnb in the burbs.
One must also avoid a major commercial area near the University of Minnesota with the strange name of “Dinkytown.” Five people shot the other night, most of them innocent bystanders. Daytime is not very safe either. Women are encouraged to walk in groups in the daytime.
Parents are now discouraging their sons and daughters from attending this university, due to the high number of crimes on and near the campus.
Use common sense
Is that based on actual data or just your personal opinion? Please do your research prior to speaking.
Read the papers
Read the area crime reports from the U of MN campus newspaper or Star Tribune.
Answer…. not very safe.
Be very careful in downtown MInneapolis. Streets are still very quiet with most office workers not yet back to work. There are roving bands of hoodlums, particularly on Nicollet Mall.
Also avoid Uptown, which is actually south of downtown MInneapolis. All sorts of robberies, shootings, carjackings, and general mayhem. Uptown used to be a nice area… in the last couple of years it’s really gotten bad.
Advice needed fall 2021
Someone tell me if we will be safe going to a concert at the State Theater downtown on a Saturday Evening this fall? Please! I wish these replies had dates on them. We were going to park at a BNB or Hotel and take a cab in.
Such a shame since I was in the downtown back in the early 80s.
People walking to their cars a block or two away are harassed near the State and Orpheum theatres. Probably not violently, but most people nowadays are avoiding downtown Mpls because of the rampant carjacking all over the city, including downtown.
Orchestra Hall, where the MInnesota Orchestra performs, is better as their parking structure is immediately adjacent. My wife and I feel safe there, but not on Hennepin Avenue and nearby streets.
Problems but not a hellhole
Ok. As a long time resident of Minneapolis who lives half a block off Lake Street I can attest that crime is spiking compared to ten years ago. That said, it is important to look at the facts. According to Neighborhood Scout, Minneapolis still ranks 70th in violent crime on a per capita basis. You would have to skip Washington, Memphis, New Orleans, Huston, and Dayton (and 65 other cities) before deciding not to come to Minneapolis because of crime. Do we have work to do? For sure. Is a visitor likely to experience harm? No. Heatstroke and frostbite are probably greater risks.
Use common sense
A Mouthy bunch apparently?, I’ve lived in North Minneapolis and many many other places in MN over the last 40 years as born and raised here; yes in recent years the twin cities has become a rougher place, some of its residence and locals apparently turned on their own cities and burned them selves by throwing a temper tantrum about equality turns out it created more problems than it solved and now its worse than it ever was and nothing actually changed in a positive way. (by the testimony seen in this forum= proves that nothing was actually solved by the rioting) Foolish and Immature mostly driven by social activist groups with back logged political agendas that have been in the works for decades across the nation. Yes the cities still have their scars and problems from this stupidity. As of right now because of the schism that the activist created there is a deficit in law enforcement in certain areas and now they have created a void where more crime is able to grow and establish a foundation in. Generally speaking Minnesota is a very very safe and great place to get some clean fun R&R, as for Minneapolis there are areas like any other major city in the world you should avoid being in day or night. USE Common Sense and be part of the solution not the problem. Think before you speak also.
I’ve lived in Mpls for the past twenty years. Over the past few years, the city has gotten dramatically more dangerous. It used to be just the north side of Mpls that was dangerous. Now the entire city is not safe. There have been over 600 carjackings in the city of Minneapolis alone in 2021, and that doesn’t include St. Paul. I don’t see things getting better.
It’s become necessary for anyone driving a car in Minneapolis to follow what drivers do in cities with similar high crime rates…. always leave plenty of room in front of you in case you are “boxed in” by criminals and carjackers. Drive with doors locked and windows up. And this applies in every area in Minneapolis. Carjackings are now routine in Minneapolis.
Not too many freeway shootings in the Minneapolis area, at least not as bad as the Chicago expressways… yet.
Women unloading groceries from their car driveways are being accosted, robbed, carjacked, and in some cases beaten in the “nice” areas of Minneapolis (e.g southwest Minneapolis). Criminals know that it will take at least ten-fifteen minutes for police to arrive.
Women need to carry Mace while walking downtown. Yes, things are that bad in MInneapolis. The carefree days of Mary Tyler Moore are over, and have been for years.
I’m a sixty-year resident of the Twin Cities area. When the population was almost 100% Scandinavian Lutheran and German Catholic, this was a much better place.
There are no date stamps on the aforementioned posts, but in January 2022, Minneapolis is increasingly unsafe for visitors and residents alike. The “nice” areas of MInneapolis such as Linden Hills and Lowry Hill have been subject to continuing armed robberies and carjackings. Police can’t keep up. Downtown is empty of workers because of the pandemic, and women working in professional occupations (law firms, architectural firms, etc.) are uneasy coming downtown because of harassment from the loitering punks and thieves.
The new Minneapolis City Council members just voted in are no better than the previous council members, and view the police as the enemy.
Those on this forum who claim Minneapolis is still safe to visit should be ashamed of themselves. They are no different from the TV reporter who claimed the Minneapolis riots in the summer of 2020 were “mostly peaceful” while buildings burned in his background.
Experience Somalian cuisine at its finest!
If you want to try out some amazing, different and very interesting dishes then Minneapolis should definitely be on your list of travels. I absolutely love Somalian cuisine
(Sambusa, Malawah, Anjero, Sabaayad). They are all so yummy!
Most of the restaurants serving foods/cuisine from the “Horn of Africa” such as Somalia are located in very unsafe areas of Minneapolis, such as Cedar-Riverside. Urging travelers to visit such neighborhoods is putting their safety in jeopardy and irresponsible.
Avoid
Was on a fellowship at the U of M stayed and worked through 1991 – 2002. Lived in South East Minneapolis a block from the river. Walked or rode my bike everywhere, spent a lot of time downtown. It was a nice, safe city.
Had two days for a layover working in October, stayed downtown and thought I’d check out a show at the State Theater. I decided to walk up Nicolette Mall and head up to Bits Pub to grab a couple drinks before the gig. This was the first time I’d been downtown in 20 years. I’d heard it had gotten worse, but I had no idea. I made it two blocks before I decided it was way too dangerous and headed back to the hotel bar. Homeless everywhere, gangs, graffiti and trash. I often need to travel to Los Angeles and stay downtown, and Nicolette Mall in downtown Minneapolis is FAR worse that Pershing Square in LA.
Had an altercation the next morning with a very aggressive street person waiting for the tram back to the airport. Kept my wallet but needed to throw a punch. I’m 6’3”, 250, this should give you an idea of the pleasure you’ll have and how you’ll need to behave. This has NEVER happened anywhere else I’ve visited, and I travel 150,00 miles a year for work, even during COVID.
Congrats everyone, well done! You’ve ruined a city. Yes, Minneapolis is extremely dangerous and to be avoided. Those saying it isn’t are delusional and drinking the Jones Town brew.
Public transit in Minneapolis is dicey. Even during the day, a person needs to watch out for the homeless and criminals populating the light rail. There is no enforcement for fare-paying.
It is safe when the Vikings have a home game, and fans are traveling to US Bank stadium.
I was formerly a light rail rider in the Twin Cities to and from work, but went back to driving to avoid the light rail criminal element.
Buses are safer to ride, but still need to watch out.
Don't park on the street in your good neighborhood
Son’s neighbor was robbed of cat converter in broad daylight, car parked in front of house on street, thieves pulled alongside and had the job done in less than a minute – all caught on camera is how the facts were discovered. — In a very nice neighborhood.
Watch your car
Article in April 30, 2022 Minneapolis Star Tribune (a very left-wing media source) headlining that the Minneapolis area leads the country in catalytic converter thefts…. even in the nicer areas.
The article highlighted a family who left their car at an airport-area hotel for a fly-and-drive vacation, and the car’s catalytic converter was stolen when they came back. Great way to end a vacation.
Some people are comparing Minneapolis to Detroit. Actually, Detroit, while still dangerous, is coming back a little bit. On the other hand, Minneapolis gets worse every day.
Hopefully last trip to Mpls.
For a work visit, I spent four nights at a downtown Mpls hotel. First, there is very little retail left. Macy’s left, for example. The pedestrians consisted of what appeared to be 50% “normal” working people, and the other 50% appeared to be destitute, alcoholics/drug users, or criminals. I am a guy in my late 40s, and I did not feel safe during early evening walking outside my upscale hotel.
I hope this is my last trip to Minneapolis.
My friends have moved out of Minnesota because of the changes in the past few years.
I am now thinking that I won’t return to the Minneapolis area. I grew up there and bought
a house there recently but am hesitant to relocate back to a city that is clearly on the decline.
Very, very sad. It was once so beautiful, clean, unique, and artistic. I’m afraid it won’t recover.
City is sketchy
I stayed at one of the Mpls downtown hotels in late October 2022. I was told by one of the front desk people it was really not safe to walk around after nightfall. (I am a guy.)
Then up in my room on an upper floor about four hours later, I look down, and see about four police cars below. Apparently, there was a pedestrian attacked right in front of the hotel off Hennepin Avenue.
One trip is enough
I visited Mpls on a business trip in November 2022. Downtown had a dystopian look to it. Ugly buildings on NIcollet Mall, with no stores to speak of. Very few pedestrians, and most of the ones who were there looked destitute. I was advised by my business host to not walk the sidewalks downtown, even outside my nice hotel, after nightfall because it is not safe.
I was very unimpressed with the downtown area of MInneapolis
Mpls Public Transit
Don’t take the public transit “Blue Line” from the Minneapolis airport to downtown. Drug sales in the open, cussing, rough-looking characters on board…. and that was during the day. I’d hate to see what the nighttime hours bring.
This transit line is worse than the CTA Red Line in Chicago, my hometown.
Visiting Mpls.
My wife and I stayed at a downtown Mpls hotel last weekend for a wedding. Four people were shot half a block away. Our hotel doorman at Cambria hotel said downtown is not safe to walk after nightfall, especially alone, even along the major streets.
I am glad I don’t have to live in Mpls.
Stay in the suburb
Minneapolis has some nice suburbs, such as Wayzata, Orono, Shorewood (where my family and I live) and Edina. But stay out of the city of Minneapolis itself. Very unsafe, as police are few and far between, as the liberals have given criminals the go-ahead and most city of Mpls residents hate law enforcement. Most of we suburbanites will only go to Minneapolis when we have to, and we make sure that our car doors are locked, avoid stopping for gas in the city, and keep our heads on a swivel because of the predators.
Didn't like Mpls
Is Minneapolis safe to visit in 2023? In a word, no. My wife and I stayed in one of the nicer hotels just off Hennepin Avenue downtown, and there was a stabbing one block away and police cars with sirens for what seemed all night long.
Locals told us not to walk outside the hotel after nightfall, as it’s not safe. Hotel front desk also warned us to travel in a larger group to a restaurant only a couple of blocks away, or take a cab.
Plus, there is very little to see in downtown Minneapolis. It’s rather abandoned looking, even during a weekday.
I did some research before my trip to Minneapolis and found that the crime rates are comparable to other major cities in the US. With common-sense precautions, I felt completely at ease during my visit.
I was initially hesitant about traveling to Minneapolis alone, but after spending a week there, I can say it’s definitely a safe destination.
As a frequent traveler to Minneapolis, I’ve always felt safe exploring the city, especially in well-lit areas and popular tourist spots.