Plan your stay
Experience The Great Northern Winter Festival like a local.
Our official hotel partners offer comfort, connection, and easy access to all festival happenings across Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Explore the guide below to download your free Metro Transit passes and more travel tips for your time spent at The Great Northern Winter Festival!
Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, boasts high design and high-tech features for an inspiring stay in the heart of downtown Minneapolis’ Mill District, steps from the Mississippi River. Ideal for urban explorers seeking to discover the city’s vibrant sports, music & arts scene, with US Bank Stadium and the Armory blocks away. Nearby, various corporate headquarters including Target, Wells Fargo, and government agencies provide quick access to those blending work with pleasure.By fostering collaborations globally, we build a robust framework for environmental stewardship. Our efforts empower communities to embrace sustainability and thrive in harmony with nature. This ensures solutions are groundbreaking, scalable, and adaptable.
Discover new tastes at Milwaukee Road Restaurant & Bar, featuring Northern fare and craft cocktails at the bar, fireplace, or outdoor fire pit on the patio. Relax in their indoor heated pool, or connect with nature on one of the trails near the Stone Arch Bridge.
The Lofton Hotel
Ideally located in downtown Minneapolis, The Lofton Hotel is surrounded by entertainment, dining, and bars. Target Center, Target Field, and the Hennepin Theatre district are steps away. The Skyway connects us to sporting and entertainment venues, and a Metro light rail stop is a block away. Enjoy their rooms and suites with city views, restaurant, and lobby bar.
Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis
Shining bright in the skyline, Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis redefines luxury in the heart of downtown. Connected by Skyway to premier sports venues, corporate hubs, and world-class entertainment, our luxury Minneapolis downtown hotel places you just two blocks from the Mississippi River. Inside, indulge in Mediterranean-inspired dining by award-winning local chef Gavin Kaysen, unwind on their dedicated wellness floor featuring both indoor and outdoor pools, and experience holistic rejuvenation at their Spa.
Rand Tower, Minneapolis, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Discover a vibrant, story-rich experience at Rand Tower, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Located in the meticulously restored Deco-era Rand Tower, their historic hotel welcomes you with an atmosphere that celebrates our heritage and our vibrant downtown Minneapolis location. Savor delicious dining, highlighted at two innovative restaurants and bars, each offering distinct points of view on modern American cuisine. Their brunch restaurant, Blondette, serves classic breakfast favorites using local ingredients in the one-of-a-kind dining room beneath a glass retractable roof. Their premier restaurant, Bar Rufus is open for breakfast, dinner, coffee, and cocktails, and features an all-new modern American menu with an elevated twist on classic gastropub fare along with inventive cocktails and a curated wine list.
Celeste of St. Paul Hotel + Bar
Bringing new life to an historic former convent and arts conservatory in the heart of Minnesota’s capital city, the Celeste of St. Paul Hotel + Bar provides an elevated, uniquely intimate guest experience steeped in the heritage of the nuns who once lived and taught there. Guest rooms and suites exude a tasteful simplicity that befits the Sisters, along with technology and amenities sure to tempt them. The Celeste Bar serves bespoke cocktails in an intimate setting. And a range of event spaces ensure memorable meetings and celebrations. For business and leisure travelers alike, the Celeste Hotel’s standard of service and comfort is matched only by its quality of character.
Free Metro Transit Passes
Get around the festival, sustainably, and ride Metro Transit with complimentary festival transit passes available for the duration of the festival to access light rail and buses across the Twin Cities.
Free Festival Passes are Linked Below:
● January 28th
● January 29th
● January 30th
● January 31st
● February 1st
For quick point-to-point travel, Evie Car Share offers all-electric, one-way rentals you can pick up and drop off throughout Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Festival hub
The Great Northern Winter Festival’s hub is along Saint Anthony Main, with additional programming in Saint Paul.
Getting Here
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), 15 minute drive or 25 minute light rail from downtown. The new Borealis service connects the Twin Cities with Chicago and Milwaukee, offering round-trip Amtrak service arriving daily at Saint Paul’s historic Union Depot.
Parking Options:
- Metered street parking is available along Main Street from 6am to Midnight daily.
- Metered street parking is available along University Ave SE, 2nd Street SE, and 2nd Ave SE from 8am to 10pm daily.
- Free street parking can be found further east on University Ave and on various side streets within several blocks of the cinema
- Discounted parking is available at the following ramps:
- Riverplace NE Garage: Can be accessed on NE 2nd Street at address 10 2nd Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Get Directions
- Riverplace SE Garage: Can be accessed on NE 2nd Street near Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 30 South 2nd Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Get Directions
- Discounted parking is available at a rate of $10 for 6 hours. To utilize this discount, just scan any of the QR codes within the facility or add a payment on file at app.metropolis.io before you exit.