Once a thriving fur trading post, Fargo is now North Dakota’s flagship city with plenty of unique attractions, from a fine art museum to a world-class zoo. Fargo is full of surprises, including its lively student population, which has created thriving bar and cafe scenes.

Things to do

Downtown Fargo is compact and pedestrian friendly, with charming brick buildings housing a mix of shops, cafes and restaurants. The German-style Wurst Bier Hall is one of the best picks for delicious cuisine, serving up tasty sausage sandwiches and a creative beer list.

Of course, no mention of Fargo is complete without a nod to the cult Coen Brothers film of the same name. At the official visitor’s centre, you’ll find a handful of “Fargo” movie relics on display, including the infamous wood chipper. You can even act out the scene wearing a furry lumberjack hat.

Housed in a renovated warehouse, the small Plains Art Museum showcases a fantastic line-up of contemporary art. The highlight exhibit is the collection of Native American traditional folk art, but you can also admire famous works by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali.

Travelling with the kids? The Red River Zoo is a North Dakota highlight, known for breeding some of the world’s rarest cold-climate species, including red pandas, grey wolves, Bactrian camels and Sichuan takins.

Getting around

Fargo is serviced by an efficient network of local buses that run throughout the city, while the downtown area is easy to navigate on foot. Hector International Airport is only a 15-minute drive from the city centre.