Updated: January 10, 2024

We know that picking a destination to visit involves many factors including safety. And, as a large urban area, you may have questions about our city.

• The Minneapolis/St. Paul metro is the 16th largest metro area in the United States.
• Minneapolis, the biggest city in the state of Minnesota, has roughly 430,000 residents living within the city limits.
• More than 58,400 residents live downtown (an increase of 7,100 residents since 2020), and our post-pandemic downtown workforce includes roughly 130,000 workers.

Our downtown is active thanks to all our residents, workers and visitors.

Like any major city, we encourage everyone to be aware of their surroundings and belongings – and be prepared to enjoy the many amenities Minneapolis has to offer.

Is Minneapolis safe to visit?

Yes. Millions of people enjoy safe and memorable visits to Minneapolis and the surrounding area each year.

How will I be kept safe while visiting Minneapolis?

Our community works collaboratively – including city leadership, law enforcement and community organizations – to ensure the safety and well-being of residents, workers and visitors to Minneapolis.

• Law enforcement includes the fully funded Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), Metro Transit Police, Minneapolis Park Police, and the Hennepin County Sherriff’s Department. They work together, as needed, with a common goal of keeping our city safe.
• Our Downtown Improvement District (DID) Ambassadors are highly visible individuals who help visitors with directions and information, make suggestions on things to do and much more. They can be seen year-round throughout 120 blocks of downtown Minneapolis.
• Our DID also has a Safety Communications Center, which serves as a downtown safety information hub. Dispatch Ambassadors work 365 days a year, responding to pedestrian requests from Ambassadors on the street, communicating with outreach services for people in need, monitoring public area cameras and collaborating with private security

In addition, community and business leaders throughout the city work together on multiple initiatives to help ensure a safe environment for visitors and residents. Plus, more resources have been put towards addressing mental health and de-escalation such as:

• Mental Health Co-Responder Program
• Community Group Outreach and Intervention
• 911 Training on assessing and responding to mental health issues and situations
• De-escalation and restorative justice training

What is the rate of crime in Minneapolis?

In 2023, nearly every category of violent crime decreased in Minneapolis. That continues a downward trend that began in 2022.

What visitor services are available downtown?

We have a unique asset in our Downtown Improvement District (DID) Ambassadors. These men and women help visitors with directions and information, make suggestions on things to do and much more. The Clean Ambassadors also focus on making downtown shine and Safe Ambassadors are on hand to keep an eye out for you and your surroundings. Just look for the tennis ball green shirts (summer) or blue jackets (winter). Ambassadors are on the streets - rain or shine - Monday-Saturday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center – located at 505 Nicollet Mall (on the ground floor of the CenterPoint Energy building) – is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet Minneapolis staff are available in-person, over the phone at 612-397-9278 or via email at info@minneapolis.org to answer questions from visitors, share visitor maps and help with suggestions about things to do in Minneapolis and the surrounding area.

For safety concerns, who can I contact?

If someone’s safety is at risk and an immediate response from police, fire or medics is required, call 911. The city also provides services via 311 for non-emergency information. You can call, text, email (minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov) or download the 311 smartphone app (Apple, Google).

For more details around policing, police reform and other initiatives around community safety and violence prevention, please go here.

Looking for security options at the Minneapolis Convention Center?

Get more information on how the venue is keeping safety and security top of mind for every client and visitor on our Minneapolis Convention Center Guest Services and Security Operations pages.