Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Absolutely amazing museum – and it’s completely FREE!

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is hands-down one of the best cultural attractions in the Twin Cities. From the moment you walk in, the staff is incredibly welcoming and helpful. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning, you’ll always be greeted with a smile and a warm atmosphere.

What makes Mia even more impressive is the quality and variety of the exhibits – everything from ancient artifacts and Asian art to modern masterpieces and local work. The galleries are well-organized, beautifully curated, and surprisingly expansive. You could easily spend several hours wandering through and still have more to see on your next visit.

And yes, it’s completely free to visit, which is honestly incredible for a museum of this caliber. Donations are encouraged but not required, making art and culture truly accessible to everyone. It’s a perfect place for families, solo visitors, students, or tourists looking for something enriching and peaceful to do.
The museum also has a lovely gift shop and a nice café if you want to take a break. Plus, the building itself is stunning, with lots of natural light and clean, open spaces.

Overall, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is a must-visit. Friendly people, world-class art, and free admission

The Minneapolis Institute of Art is an absolute treasure. The fact that admission is free makes it even more incredible given the scale and quality of the collection. You can wander from ancient artifacts and Asian art to European masters and contemporary pieces, all beautifully displayed in a stunning building.

The museum is clean, well-organized, and staff are welcoming and helpful. Special exhibits do sometimes have a fee, but they’re worth it—always thoughtfully curated and impressive. Parking is pretty easy, and it’s accessible by public transit too. You could easily spend several hours here, and still feel like there’s more to explore. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Minneapolis—art lovers, families, or just anyone looking for an inspiring day.

Absolutely loved visiting to the Minneapolis Institute of Art! The museum is stunning, well-organized, and filled with an incredible range of exhibits, from classic paintings to modern installations. Every gallery feels thoughtfully curated, and the staff are friendly and welcoming.

We walked through the nearby sculpture garden, which was a perfect complement to the visit. There’s a lot of walking involved, so wear comfortable shoes, but it’s totally worth it for the art, the views, and the peaceful atmosphere.

It’s one of those places where you can easily spend a few hours and still feel like there’s more to explore. Highly recommend for anyone who loves art, history, or just a great day out in Minneapolis!

An Absolute Gem – A Must-Visit in Minneapolis! 🌟

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is truly a world-class museum with an incredible collection that spans centuries and cultures. I was amazed by the diversity, quality, and depth of the exhibits — and even more amazed that general admission is completely free, as far as I understood. There are paid special exhibitions, but the main galleries are open to all and absolutely worth the visit.

My personal favorite was the Japanese and Chinese porcelain collections. The elegance, detail, and history embedded in each piece are just breathtaking. The serene layout of the Asian art section creates a quiet, almost meditative atmosphere. Some of the Japanese ceramics and Chinese vases date back hundreds of years, yet the craftsmanship feels timeless. You can sense the spiritual and cultural significance behind each design, brushstroke, and curve. I spent the most time here and honestly could return just to revisit this part alone.

My sincere recommendation: break your visit into multiple days. Each floor is rich and overwhelming in the best way possible — trying to absorb it all in one day would not do it justice. Take your time. Let each culture, era, and room sink in.

The museum is clean, well-organized, and the staff is kind and helpful. Whether you’re into European classics, modern art, Native American works, or ancient sculpture — there’s something here that will speak to you.

Highly recommended for art lovers, travelers, and anyone looking for inspiration. Mia is a treasure.

For a museum in a midsize city, I was pretty impressed by the quality of the collection. It’ll take a good 3 to 4 hours if you decide to see the entire museum. If you focus on a sub genre, you could probably do it in an hour and a half. Definitely worth a stop if you have any interest in art.

Surprisingly good collection of impressionists that you have heard of as well as impressionist that you haven’t. That was my biggest positive surprise of the day, and I’m really glad that I went.

This is my dream museum. It’s so vast, we came twice in one week and barely made it through a whole floor. Fantastic painting section. Lovely staff. And it’s free ?! Unbelievable. The parc in the back is also lovely…

It’s free and there is plenty of parking. This is a very large art museum that is spacious and has a vast array of art. The Asian collection is expansive and well done. The Impressionist collection was not large but major artists were represented and the Van Gogh was wonderful. You can easily spend the day there. The reproductions of period rooms were excellent and decorative arts filled many rooms. The cafe was small with self service but the sandwiches were very good. The food we really enjoyed it.

This AMAZING museum is FREE to visit. As in zero dollars. yes, in this economy.

Walk in, breathe, and suddenly you’re standing in a museum that’s spotless, thoughtfully lit, and run by staff who actually know their stuff and aren’t hesitant to help you out if you ask.

The curation is 10/10 with coherent themes, clear labels, and rotating exhibits that feel intentional and connected. But the real selling point for me was the period rooms. Whole interiors rebuilt with unimaginable levels of historical accuracy. Like??? I was right there, completely stupefied and amazed by the Prairie School living room wondering if Frank Lloyd Wright is about to materialize. It’s the closest we’ll probably get to time travel.

Security and front-desk folks are friendly without hovering; docents will actually answer questions instead of pointing at stuff. This place is underrated and a must-visit.