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Explore Minnesota Tourism Office

121 7th Place East, Suite 360 · St. Paul, MN

Why you should go…

Explore Minnesota Tourism is the state's official tourism promotion agency, headquartered in downtown St. Paul near the State Capitol. Travel counselors are reachable by phone and email seven days a week to help plan trips within Minnesota's statewide welcome center network. Its own St. Paul Welcome Center storefront was listed as temporarily closed for building construction as of 2026.

  • #visitor center
  • #travel info
  • #free

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Explore Minnesota Tourism Office, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Free

    Schubert Club

    Free

    Free music museum at Landmark Center in Saint Paul with hands-on instrument galleries and a historic keyboard collection.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Science Museum of Minnesota

    $25–$50

    Hands-on science playground on the Mississippi bluff with dinosaurs, a giant Omnitheater and endlessly pushable buttons.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Minnesota State Capitol

    Free

    Cass Gilbert's 1905 marble statehouse with one of the world's largest self-supported marble domes, free guided tours leave hourly.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cathedral of Saint Paul

    Free

    One of America's grandest domed churches, crowning a hill with sweeping views over downtown St. Paul.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Padelford Riverboats

    Under $25

    Narrated paddlewheeler cruises on the Mississippi from Harriet Island, river lore, eagles and skyline views.

    0.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Stone Arch Bridge

    Free

    James J. Hill's 1883 stone rail bridge, now a beloved walk-and-bike crossing over St. Anthony Falls, freshly restored and fully reopened in 2025.

    8.1 mi awayMore like this