Welcome to Saint Paul, MN
Close your eyes and imagine flying into one of the top international airports in the US, then driving along the Mississippi River into downtown Saint Paul, where the historic architecture and small town feel are apparent, but the big city amenities are what really shine. This digital tour walks you through the steps you would normally take with our team on a site tour. From arriving at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to exploring the city, scroll through from the comfort and safety of your home.
Arrival at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport
Welcome to MSP Airport
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) offers the convenience of an international airport with the the ease of access to Saint Paul’s downtown. A scenic 15-minute drive takes you along the Mississippi River straight into downtown Saint Paul. MSP Airport is also a Delta Air Lines hub and brings the flavor of Minnesota to you the second you are off the tarmac with local art, restaurants and other vendors.
MSP Airport received the 2019 Best Airport Bathroom Award and named to the 2020 Director General’s Roll of Excellence in Airport Service Quality, one of only seven airports globally.
More about MSP
Travel Confidently
The Travel Confidently program is a set of measures adopted over the last few months across the airport in partnership with airlines, concessionaires, federal agencies and others, to give travelers a safer experience on their journeys.
Ground Transit
Traveling to and from the airport as well as around the city is a breeze. Beyond ride share options like Lyft and Uber, Metro Transit is local public transportation and combines train and bus options to help attendees get around town with ease. The light rail system travels from the airport into the heart of Downtown Saint Paul with trains running around the clock.
Fly with Ease
MSP Airport is the 17th busiest airport for passengers and 12th for aircraft operations in the US. As a Delta hub, MSP accommodated just over 400,000 landings and take offs and more than 39 million travelers in 2019. Additionally, serving 163 domestic and 27 international markets, all your attendees will be able to fly with ease into Minnesota.
Mississippi River
As you depart MSP for downtown Saint Paul, you’ll be greeted with views of America’s greatest river, the Mississippi. This drive isn’t the only place you’ll see the river as Saint Paul has 26 miles of Mississippi riverfront — more than any other city. The river is steeped in history and importance to the area and the people that live here. The confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers is located here and is known as Bdote in Dakota, meaning “where two waters come together.” It is a sacred site of creation for the Dakota people. Today, the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area protects 72 miles of the historic river — a rare urban national park site that offers quiet stretches for hiking, bicycling, paddling, birdwatching, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and boating. When you approach the skyline, you’ll see how downtown Saint Paul sits atop a bluff right along the river making it clear how our convention center complex got its name
Convention Center Complex
Saint Paul RiverCentre
Saint Paul RiverCentre offers over 250,000 square feet of versatile event space, with 27,000 square feet of ballroom space and over 238,000 square feet of exhibit space. The capital city’s convention center can manage any meeting at any size from small board meetings to 5,000-person conventions.
More about RiverCentre
Health & Safety
Healthy & safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and Saint Paul RiverCentre has established additional measure to ensure your attendees are safe.
Skyway Connected
Walk from Saint Paul RiverCentre to nearby hotels and venues without stepping foot outside with nearly 5 miles of 72-degree skyway system, Saint Paul — as the third longest skyway system in the US.
Green Initiatives
As one of the first convention centers in the world to be LEED certified, Saint Paul RiverCentre offers sustainable practices that extend from daily operations and culture to event assistance. Saint Paul RiverCentre is currently platinum LEED certified.
Great Hotels, Great Location
Downtown Hotels
A great place to stay is never far away when meeting at the RiverCentre. Saint Paul’s downtown area is home to 10 hotels — all within a 2-mile radius. With so many great options, you are sure to find the perfect place for every attendee’s stay.
Celeste St. Paul Hotel + Bar
Hyatt Place
Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Saint Paul
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Rival House at DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul Downtown
InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Residence Inn St Paul Downtown
The Saint Paul Hotel
Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge
Drury Plaza Hotel St Paul Downtown
Holiday Inn St Paul Downtown
Stay in Saint Paul
Ready Together
Visit Saint Paul coordinated efforts within the City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County to offer the Ready Together Pledge. This is a voluntary program to show the commitment to the health and well-being of Saint Paul residents and guests.
Room Blocks
With just over 2,000 rooms in the immediate downtown area, finding a room block is a snap. Downtown hotels offer everything from VIP suites to fan room blocks and headquarter hotels.
“Our experience working with Visit Saint Paul has been second to none. When our conference made the decision to locate our championship tournament in the city of Saint Paul, VSP was a big factor in helping us decide. We have enjoyed the relationships developed with VSP staff...they always firmly have our organization’s needs in mind. We look forward to continue bringing one of college hockey best events to the city and working closely with Visit Saint Paul for many years to come.”
Special Events
Unique Venue Options
Creating memorable event experiences for your guests is a breeze in Saint Paul, which offers venues to meet any event from seated dinners in historic train stations to receptions in art galleries or an outing at a soccer game. Visit Saint Paul staff can help you create a memorable experience from in-event receptions to out of event options for attendees and their guests.
Minnesota History Center
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
Science Museum of Minnesota
Holman's Table
Union Depot
Allianz Field
North Garden Theater
Can Can Wonderland
Virtual Event Solutions
Hybrid Meetings
Bringing people together may have changed over the past year, but Saint Paul is prepared to meet you where you are at. With the ability to connect attendees in the room to those in their living rooms, we can ensure the needs are met with seamless execution.
Event Solutions
From creating a custom engagement platform to live streaming and full studio productions, our staff will ensure you are connected with the virtual solution that best fits your needs.
Endless Options
Saint Paul vendors can bring the audience to any location. Combining Saint Paul’s many unique venues with great virtual event solutions, vendors make the event location options endless.
Historic Charm
Architectural History
Saint Paul offers the charm of historical buildings with a modern twist. With the longest stretch of Victorian homes on Summit Avenue, running 4.5 miles from downtown Saint Paul to the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is known for preserving it’s architectural gems. Savor the classics or find a new twist.
Recently renovated Capitol building has served as home to the Minnesota legislature since 1905.
Sports in the City
Cheer Right Here
Whether you like soccer, hockey or baseball, Saint Paul has a game for every fan. With 2 professional sports teams and many amateur level leagues, the city offers you the best seat in the house.
Home of Hockey
Minnesota is the pride of hockey and Saint Paul is the home of it. With the Xcel Energy Center as the rink of the Minnesota Wild, the state’s professional men’s hockey team, and the Tria RInk as the home ice for the White Caps, the state’s professional women’s hockey team, there is no shortage of ice or great hockey in the immediate Downtown area.
Tournament Town
The excitement of post-season play is found in Saint Paul. State tournaments, college conference championships, elite level national competitions and professional playoffs, Saint Paul has the drama and excitement for every sports fan.
Cultural Diversity
Cultural Diversity
Saint Paul prides itself on the cultural diversity of the city. The public school system embraces nearly 80 languages in the schools, including Hmong, Somali and Spanish. Saint Paul is also home to large annual celebrations including Cinco de Mayo, Hmong New Year and Rondo Days, which is the state’s largest celebration of African American contributions in the community of Rondo to the City of Saint Paul.
Visit Saint Paul
Thank you for visiting
Saint Paul offers all the amenities and ease of a big city with the charm and friendliness you find in a small town. From baseball to breweries, soccer to science, Saint Paul has everything you are looking for. We look forward to hosting your group and can’t wait to share in person all the great things Saint Paul has to offer.
Meet the Team.
Jane Lewis
Jane (she/hers) is the Vice President of Convention Sales and has been with Visit Saint Paul for over 20 years. She loves to travel but even more, loves calling Saint Paul home. Jane enjoys spending time outdoors golfing with her husband and hiking with her daughters in Colorado.
Amanda Friedrich
Amanda (she/hers) is the Director of Sales and has been with Visit Saint Paul for almost 15 years. When she isn’t selling Saint Paul, Amanda is the Director of Chaos, raising two kiddos and silver lab, Jake, with her husband. They enjoy traveling and spending time up north at the family cabin.
Josh Anderson
Josh (he/his) is the Director of Sports Development and enjoys sharing all the unique options in Saint Paul. With a passion for fitness, food and brews, Josh spends his quality time cooking for his wife or visiting a local winery or brewery. You can find him on the greens with family and friends satisfying his golf itch.
Want to learn more about the city? Bridget (she/hers) is our Business Development Manager, local expert and would love to discuss Saint Paul with you.
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