Overview
Excelsior is a city of 2300 people (2018) in the Twin Cities. Excelsior was founded in the 1850s as a destination for vacationers, primarily from the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Excelsior sits on beautiful Lake Minnetonka and offers numerous lake cruises and beaches.
2 sights · 7 things to do · 8 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Excelsior
Excelsior Commons
At the north end of town is The Commons park and recreation area with a swimming beach, playground, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and picnicking.
Lake Minnetonka Historical Society
The society’s museum and archives are free and open to the public, and hold the largest collection of historic artifacts and documents in the area.
The Excelsior Trolley
Old trolley No. 78, a streetcar that ran from Minneapolis to Excelsior in the 1920s, has been restored and now runs between the Bayside Grille and the Farmer's Market in Excelsior. It's a charming experience. Operated by…
Lady of the Lake Paddle Wheel
Enjoy a beautiful Minnesota day or evening on the premier Lake Minnetonka charter boat, the Lady of the Lake.
The Queen of Excelsior Cruises
Every Sunday, May through September, the QE offers a public Sunday Brunch. Cruising the pristine waters of Lake Minnetonka with friends or family is a great way to spend a Sunday.
Excelsior Bay Charters
Sail through Lake Minnetonka gliding through bays and inlets, discovering the magnificent homes and historic estates.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 9°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Minneapolis)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
- STC Saint Cloud Regional Airport, Saint Cloud — 50 mi away. Directions
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is 20 miles from Excelsior.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Excelsior Commons, The Excelsior Trolley, The Queen of Excelsior Cruises
- Lunch 318 Cafe
- Afternoon Steamboat Minnehaha, Excelsior Dock
- Dinner Adeles Custard
- Evening Haskells Bar & Grill
Day 2
- Morning Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, Lady of the Lake Paddle Wheel
- Lunch Bayside Grille
- Afternoon Excelsior Bay Charters, Old Log Theater
- Dinner Hazellewood
- Evening Jake O Connors Irish Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Understand
Throughout the years, Excelsior's Water Street has been the home to many businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and merchants. Today, Excelsior works hard to maintain its historical identity while renewing various elements of the downtown area.
The Excelsior Commons and Lake Minnetonka are central amenities to the community and are major draws for tourists today. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum, a local transportation museum, maintains a heritage streetcar line in Excelsior and operates three restored streetcars on the line: Twin City Lines No. 1239, Winona Power & Light Co. #10, and Duluth Street Railway No. 78.
History
Streetcars were used in Excelsior until 1932, when the line was cut back to Hopkins.
A large ballroom called "Danceland" (later "Big Reggie's Danceland") stood across the street from Excelsior Amusement Park from the mid-1920s to 1973. Operated by Ray Colihan, it hosted performances by Lawrence Welk, Fred Waring, and the Andrews Sisters in the 1930s. These acts were followed by the Beach Boys in 1963. In 1964, the Rolling Stones played at Danceland for an audience of 283.
Since 2010, restaurants and eateries have come to dominate the town's commercial landscape. Beyond the downtown district, Excelsior also retains much of its Victorian-era housing stock. Strict building codes are enforced in order to preserve this identity.
Get in
By plane
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is 20 miles from Excelsior.
By car
Highway 7 runs through Excelsior and connects the city to Interstate 494, US 169, and Highway 100. Highway 7 also continues into Minneapolis.
Get around
Metro Transit runs express buses to and from Excelsior to Minneapolis
See
See Excelsior Commons
At the north end of town is The Commons park and recreation area with a swimming beach, playground, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and picnicking.
Do
While it is a smaller town Excelsior is filled with fun activities for all ages. Situated along Lake Minnetonka the city is filled with trails to explore and parks to enjoy all year round.
Trolley rides
Do The Excelsior Trolley
Old trolley No. 78, a streetcar that ran from Minneapolis to Excelsior in the 1920s, has been restored and now runs between the Bayside Grille and the Farmer's Market in Excelsior. It's a charming experience. Operated by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, which also operates the Como-Harriet streetcar line in Linden Hills, Minneapolis.
Lake cruises
Theaters
Buy
Water Street in downtown Excelsior is lined with specialty stores and smart eateries. There are also shops located along 2nd and 3rd Streets, which run perpendicular to Water Street. Metered parking is available along Water Street, public parking is also available off 3rd Street. This historic shopping district offers a wide range of family-owned and small town shops catering to many tastes.
Antiques
Shop Excelsior Coin
Excelsior Coin and Collectibles has been in business for more tan 30 years. They have extensive knowledge of collectible coins, gold and silver and buy and sell on site.
Shop Country Look Antiques
Country Look Antiques is your everything antique store that’s chock full of unique treasures and fun finds.
Clothing
Shop Ooh La La
Two great store ideas within one place that truly complement each other. Ooh La La features fashionable handbags, tees, Voltage shoes and accessories at affordable-chic prices.
Shop Big Island Swim & Surf
Swimwear, beach bags, handbags, handcrafted jewelry, flip flops, sunglasses and browning lotion.
Gifts
Specialty
Shop Wilcock Gallery
Original oil, watercolor and pastel paintings by regional and national artists.
Shop Minnetonka Music
Minnetonka Music offers a complete selection of musical instruments, music education, instrument repairs, school instrument programs, sound equipment, sheet music and instrument accessories.
Shop Excelsior Bay Books
An intimate setting on picturesque Water Street. This bookstore stands out based on its friendly staff, well chosen book selection, and perfect location. If they don’t have it, they’re more than happy to find it and order it for you.
Eat
Eat 318 Cafe
318 is a quaint cafe on Water Street that offers a small town feel with an urban vibe.
Eat Adeles Custard
At Adeleʼs, they make every batch of homemade frozen custard on-site with fresh, premium ingredients from their own recipes resulting in custard that’s rich, creamy and delicious.
Eat Bayside Grille
Escape the ordinary and experience the Bayside Grille, Lake Minnetonkaʼs hot spot for unparalleled waterfront deck dining, fantastic drinks, and sunsets.
Eat Hazellewood
A neighborhood gathering place for your friends and family that captures the essence of hospitality in casual, comfortable surroundings.
Eat Joey Nova's Pizza
Joey Novas Excelsior Pizza is an East Coast style pizzeria & delicatessen offering and delivering exceptional, freshly prepared foods for their friends in Excelsior, Chanhassen, Shorewood and Tonka Bay.
Eat Licks Ice Cream
A locally owned ice cream parlor that features homemade waffle cones, ice cream and soft serve yogurt. Just a short walk to the public docks. Lickʼs is open by the season (usually May thru October) and is a local favorite.
Eat Maynards
American casual, with an expansive outdoor dining deck and bar adjoined to their own dock space that makes it a boating favorite for lunch and dinner.
Eat Yumi's Sushi
A bustling little sushi bar in downtown Excelsior where it serves the artfully presented sushi.
Drink
Drink Haskells Bar & Grill
Offering a full bar, grill and happy hour Haskell’s is a great destination for a gathering after a day on the lake.
Drink Jake O Connors Irish Pub
A public house with Irish hospitality. Live music and fresh pints.
Sleep
Go next
In the Twin Cities metro
- Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
- Valleyfair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
- Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley.
Nearby
Minnetonka
City / town · 15 listings · 3 mi away
Chanhassen
City / town · 15 listings · 3 mi away
Eden Prairie
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
Shakopee
City / town · 7 listings · 7 mi away
Hopkins
City / town · 23 listings · 8 mi away
Plymouth
City / town · 2 listings · 9 mi away
Edina
City / town · 8 listings · 10 mi away
St. Louis Park
City / town · 6 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
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