I am a female & traveling on a business trip to Minneapolis. Never been there. I'm staying in downtown at the Marquette hotel. Is it safe to walk around by myself at night? Safe to take the light rail at night to Mall of America? Where I'm from, public transportation at night is pretty seedy- don't know if it's different in Minneapolis.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

You might consider re-posting your question with the name of the city in the title. It will attract more readers who are familiar with Minneapolis.

Light rail to/from MOA should be fine, if you have concerns just sit up in front. Walking around downtown alone at night could be a bit more problematic - probably the skyway is safer than the streets. If you don't have far to walk and are headed to a show, there will be enough people traffic on the sidewalks so that you will be fine. I wouldn't try to hit the clubs in the Warehouse District and then try to walk to the hotel at closing time alone though.

Hi-If you're walking around within a couple blocks of the Marquette-fine. I personally wouldn't take the light rail LATE at night. If you're going during MOA hours, then perhaps okay. Depending on what time of year you're in Mpls.-it can stay light out pretty late.

I am a female who has taken the light rail from MOA to downtown clubs and back - with a group of friends and my husband. I would not have wanted to do it alone. The trip into downtown during daylight hours did seem safe enough, but returning at 12:30 a.m. would have made me nervous without the guys with us. We were approached asking for a donation of money - hard luck story - we said no.

I wouldn't walk around the Mpls streets late at night. Use the same judgement you would in any large metro area.

Thanks for the responses- I won't take the Light Rail to go to clubs. What about to/from the airport & downtown- during early evening?

You're totally fine. The Marquette is just a few blocks from the nearest stop. Early evening there will be plenty of people out and about so there's really no safety issue, not on the streets nor on the light rail itself.

You are more than fine walking around Minneapolis in the evening/early night. Everyone you pass will even say hello to you, or at least smile. Just use good judgment. On the whole mpls is very safe. I always felt safe walking at night alone.

I've taken the light rail by myself after the mall of america closed, and did not find it scary at all.

Unless you're buying drugs or looking to get Spitzered, Minneapolis is very safe and walkable, even at late hours.

The light rail is fine. Not seedy.

As someone who grew up in the area, but has lived in a number of larger, often rougher cities, I always get a laugh about what Minnesotans (including relatives) think are dangerous or seedy. I just say ... 'Don't be from Braham all your life.'