Rochester travel guide

Rochester Tourism | Rochester Guide

You're Going to Love Rochester

With a population of 106,769, Rochester is a must-see destination in Minnesota, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Rochester has to offer.

Where to Eat in Rochester

If you’re looking for affordable options, Terza (30 3rd St. SE H3 Plaza) and Chester's Kitchen & Bar (111 South Broadway Suite 108) are great picks.

Most popular restaurants in Rochester

American
Wonderful (176 reviews)
American
Wonderful (97 reviews)
American
Wonderful (176 reviews)
American
Wonderful (97 reviews)

When to visit Rochester

Rochester in December
Estimated hotel price
$110
1 night at 3-star hotel
Rochester in December
Estimated hotel price
$110
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Rochester in July, when the average temperature is 71.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 80.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 8.6 °F, with an average temperature of 15.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 4.7″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Rochester, with an average rainfall of 0.8″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Rochester

Plane

When flying to Rochester, you’ll arrive at Rochester (RST), which is located 7 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Rochester include American Airlines, British Airways and Air France. The shortest domestic flight to Rochester departs from Denver and takes around 3h 49m.

Car

Another option to get to Rochester is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 78 miles from Rochester. You’ll find branches of Ace and Thrifty, among others, in Minneapolis.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Rochester Groome Bus Station, located 1.3 miles from downtown Rochester. Rochester 205 6th St SW is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Rochester, you’ll arrive at Rochester (RST), which is located 7 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Rochester include American Airlines, British Airways and Air France. The shortest domestic flight to Rochester departs from Denver and takes around 3h 49m.

Car

Another option to get to Rochester is to pick up a car rental from Minneapolis, which is about 78 miles from Rochester. You’ll find branches of Ace and Thrifty, among others, in Minneapolis.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Rochester Groome Bus Station, located 1.3 miles from downtown Rochester. Rochester 205 6th St SW is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Rochester

Airlines serving Rochester

Lufthansa
Good (4,606 reviews)
KLM
Good (849 reviews)
SWISS
Good (926 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,444 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,590 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,281 reviews)
Air France
Good (974 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,547 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,925 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,125 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,482 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,710 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (226 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (832 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,161 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (911 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (835 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,504 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (704 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Rochester

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Candlewood Suites Rochester Mayo Clinic Area and Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester-North.

Where to stay in popular areas of Rochester

Most booked hotels in Rochester

Even Hotel Rochester - Mayo Clinic Area, An IHG Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (9, 471 reviews)
$114+
Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 205 reviews)
$201+
Hotel Indigo Rochester Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 536 reviews)
$129+
Kahler Grand Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.6, 996 reviews)
$168+
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Rochester Mayo Clinic North
2 stars
Good (7.4, 1131 reviews)
$73+
America's Stay Inn Stewartville
2 stars
Good (7.4, 69 reviews)
$75+

Renting a car in Rochester

Renting a car in Rochester costs $84 per day, on average, or $253 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Rochester.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Rochester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Rochester is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Rochester costs $84 per day, on average, or $253 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Rochester.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Rochester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Rochester is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.