Saint Paul itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Saint Paul, day by day: the Cathedral of Saint Paul, the Minnesota State Capitol and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory first, then the James J. Hill House, Landmark Center and Mickey's Diner. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Saint Paul in 1 day
Day 1
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Free zoo and glass-domed Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in a large park, with gorillas, polar bears, seals and tropical plants.
Lake Como
A 70-acre lake in Como Park with a walking path around it, a pavilion and a lake-side picnic area.
Minnesota State Capitol
Cass Gilbert's 1905 marble building, topped by one of the largest self-supporting marble domes in the world, open for free tours.
Cathedral of Saint Paul
Large Roman Catholic cathedral of the early 1900s on Summit Hill, with a green copper dome that dominates the skyline.
Saint Paul in 2 days
Day 1
Cathedral of Saint Paul
Large Roman Catholic cathedral of the early 1900s on Summit Hill, with a green copper dome that dominates the skyline.
James J. Hill House
The 1891 Romanesque mansion of the railroad magnate James J. Hill on Summit Avenue, open for guided tours.
Mickey's Diner
Art Deco dining-car diner on West 7th Street, open around the clock since 1939 and a historic landmark.
Landmark Center
Romanesque former federal courthouse of 1902 on Rice Park, now an arts and cultural centre with galleries and a grand courtyard.
Day 2
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Free zoo and glass-domed Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in a large park, with gorillas, polar bears, seals and tropical plants.
Lake Como
A 70-acre lake in Como Park with a walking path around it, a pavilion and a lake-side picnic area.
Minnesota State Capitol
Cass Gilbert's 1905 marble building, topped by one of the largest self-supporting marble domes in the world, open for free tours.
Watch: Saint Paul
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Saint Paul
Late spring to early autumn is the best time for the parks, the lake loops and the Mississippi riverfront, with warm summer days and some storms. Autumn colours peak in late September and October. Winters are long, cold and snowy, though museums, the cathedral and the conservatory are comfortable indoor stops. The Winter Carnival is held in late January or early February, and the Minnesota State Fair in late August fills the city.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Saint Paul on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Saint Paul on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Saint Paul on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
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Tips for Saint Paul
- The Cathedral of Saint Paul, the James J. Hill House, Landmark Center and Rice Park are all within a short walk of each other on the hill above downtown.
- Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is free to enter, though donations are asked; it lies north-west of downtown and is best reached by car or bus.
- The James J. Hill House is visited on a guided tour; check the tour times and book ahead in busy months.
- Mickey's Diner is a small 1939 dining-car diner that is open around the clock, but it has limited seating and can have a line at busy times.
- Winters are cold, with snow and ice from December to March, and the Winter Carnival in late January or early February is a long-standing local festival.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cathedral of Saint Paul: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: RxS at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- James J. Hill House: Minnesota Historical Society, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Como: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Landmark Center: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mickey's Diner: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Minnesota State Capitol: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
