Winnipeg is a stunning metropolis that usually will get a nasty rap from Canadians. That’s as a result of most individuals who name Winnipeg “Winterpeg” have by no means been there. The capital of Manitoba has loads occurring, from a scorching meals scene to loads of out of doors actions and a historical past that can blow your thoughts. That’s only the start. Time named Winnipeg one of many world’s best locations in 2021, so there may be extra to Winnipeg than simply being a fly-over vacation spot. So, let’s dive straight into all the very best issues to do in Winnipeg!
Better of Winnipeg Fast Information
Should See: The Forks, Assiniboine Park, The Leaf, St. Boniface, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Manitoba Museum
The place To Keep: Radisson Resort Winnipeg Downtown, Fort Garry Resort, The Inn on the Forks
Enjoyable To Do: Folklorama Pageant, Assiniboine Park Zoo, Nestwaya River Path, Winnipeg River Stroll
Should Strive Meals: Smoked goldeye, Winnipeg rye bread, Imperial cookies, Schmoo torte
Greatest Issues To Do In Winnipeg
The most effective Winnipeg points of interest vary from botanical gardens to implausible artwork galleries. Town is especially identified for wonderful seasonal festivals; you would possibly even need to plan your whole journey round one. Come to Winnipeg, and also you’ll get to tour historic buildings, study indigenous tradition, and presumably even skate on a frozen river.
1. Be Moved at The Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the one museum of its type within the nation and probably the most common Winnipeg points of interest. The constructing is a modernist murals, whereas the exhibit inside is thought-provoking and academic.
The museum goals to boost consciousness of assorted human rights points plaguing Canada and the world. With a number of core and short-term displays, the museum goals to make clear the rights of people around the globe and the way essential it’s to guard them.
The therapy of indigenous folks in all corners of the world is a dominant theme within the museum exhibit. It’s explored intimately in displays “Canadian Journeys” and “Indigenous Views Gallery” and can also be addressed partially in most different collections. The museum’s short-term displays have been assorted, protecting every little thing from depicting human rights in Star Trek to Nelson Mandela’s struggle towards apartheid.
Different attention-grabbing displays embrace one devoted to Viola Desmond, the primary black girl on our Canadian $10 invoice. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights additionally showcases human rights abuses and victories worldwide.
Sensible Info
The Canadian Museum For Human Rights is open from 10 AM to five PM. Grownup tickets are $18, and Sunday admission is free.
2. Uncover Native Artwork at The Winnipeg Artwork Gallery
Add the Winnipeg Artwork Gallery to your itinerary if you wish to discover the artwork scene of this pretty metropolis. With an intensive assortment of over 28,000 items, it’s a prime location for artwork lovers in Winnipeg.
The museum focuses primarily on modern and Inuit artwork, however its displays additionally embrace European and Canadian artwork via the ages and different attention-grabbing collections. Additionally, it’s not simply work hanging on the partitions; the WAG’s assortment showcases sculptures, textiles, ceramic objects, and plenty of different items of ornamental artwork.
Sensible Info
The Winnipeg Artwork Gallery is open from 9 AM to five PM day by day besides Monday. Admission is $18 for adults.
3. Go to Assiniboine Park and Zoo
For those who’re our common reader, you’ll know that we don’t advocate zoos and animal parks until we’re totally sure that the animals there are handled pretty. We’ve got been to the Assiniboine Park and Zoo a number of occasions, and we’ve seen that the majority animals listed here are rescued and rehabilitated.
Polar Bears are normally orphaned cubs rescued within the wild and who would have by no means survived. As soon as a Polar Bear has been in captivity, it can’t return to the wild because it wouldn’t survive. Nonetheless, their habitat, they don’t appear to thoughts in any respect.
The enclosures are very spacious, intently mimicking their pure habitats. This can be a blessing for the animals however a little bit of a curse for the guests as a result of it will possibly typically be troublesome to identify them, particularly in the event that they’re sleeping. However hey, so long as they’re all handled proper, we’re completely not complaining.
A spotlight of the zoo is unquestionably the underwater show. We had the privilege of watching a polar bear swim above a glass walkway. It was actually having the time of its life! Plus, a cute little harbor seal stopped by to say whats up to us. These seals are curious creatures and can come proper as much as the glass to take a look.
The Zoo is open year-round, however I’ll say that it’s far more fulfilling within the winter. The crowds are smaller so you will get round extra simply, plus a lot of the animal rescues residing on the Assiniboine Zoo are arctic animals (polar bears, arctic foxes, snowy owls, and so forth.) who’re the happiest within the chilly climate.
Sensible Info
The Assiniboine Zoo is open from 9 AM to five PM. The admission charge is $24.70 should you purchase the tickets on the gate however $22.45 should you purchase them on-line a few days upfront.
Winnipeg is an attention-grabbing vacation spot for its historical past, and the Forks Nationwide Historic Web site is unquestionably one of many prime points of interest in Winnipeg for each customer. The Forks Nationwide Historic Web site has been a gathering place for six,000 years. Situated the place the Pink and Assiniboine Rivers converge, it was a spot the place indigenous folks met to commerce. This custom continued via the fur commerce, the place aboriginal peoples met with European fur merchants.
Simply wandering across the market constructing is a pleasant solution to spend a day. With loads of uncovered brick and an intensive skylight that permits lots of pure mild, it’s one among Winnipeg’s most charming buildings. To not point out the limitless buying alternatives and all of the scrumptious meals choices.
Sensible Info
The Forks Market is open from 7 AM to 10 PM, though particular person retailers observe completely different working occasions.
5. Tour Winnipeg With A Native
Let a neighborhood drive you round Winnipeg for a number of hours, and also you’ll see all the metropolis’s prime vacationer places and study their historical past. This can be a nice possibility for vacationers who’re on the town for a really quick time and need to see all of the completely different areas of Winnipeg.
A driving tour is a superb possibility as a result of you possibly can transfer across the metropolis rapidly and attain areas that may in any other case stay unexplored. Plus, you’ll move subsequent to Winnipeg’s most well-known points of interest, making it simpler to get across the metropolis on foot later whenever you need to examine them correctly.
Sensible Info
A non-public tour of Winnipeg by automobile takes round two hours and prices roughly $50 per particular person.
6. Calm down At Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature
Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature is a spa and well being membership in Crescent Drive Park on the financial institution of the Pink River. For those who’re in Winnipeg within the winter, that is by far probably the greatest locations to go to on the town to heat up. Unwind within the toasty thermal baths and get a soothing therapeutic massage that can have you ever dozing off on the desk.
The well being membership can also be identified for its scrumptious meals, which actually hits the spots after a day stuffed with pampering. I’d advocate testing the restaurant even should you’re not going to soak within the swimming pools, because it’s one of many metropolis’s greatest. It’s a simple taxi trip from downtown. You’ll be able to simply spend a whole afternoon right here.
Sensible Info
The Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature is open from 8:30 AM to 10 PM. It’s $86 for adults to chill out within the thermal swimming pools and massages are charged further.
7. Ice Skating the Nestaweya River Path
The Nestaweya River Path is one among Winnipeg’s hottest winter points of interest. Each winter, the native authorities create an ice-skating path on the Pink River, which anybody can entry at no cost. It’s probably the greatest issues to do within the metropolis in chilly climate, and numerous locals and vacationers placed on their skates and glide throughout the frozen river for enjoyable.
Nonetheless, I can’t assure that you simply’ll have the ability to do it the subsequent time you’re in Winnipeg. Within the winter of 2024, the Nestewaya River Path was open for under 9 days whole in two quick stints. The gentle winter and excessive precipitation made it extraordinarily difficult to handle the path and assure everybody’s security.
Sensible Info
The Nestaweya River Path is accessible solely within the winter, freed from cost.
8. Strolling Tour of St. Boniface
St. Boniface is house to the most important French-speaking neighborhood in Western Canada. Town district options many attention-grabbing landmarks and is the proper location for an easy-going strolling tour in Winnipeg. Additionally, there are fairly a number of bakeries all through St. Boniface, and also you’ll by no means be removed from a scrumptious croissant.
First, cross the Esplanade Riel Footbridge from Downtown Winnipeg to St.Boniface. Then, you’re simply steps away from Saint Boniface Cathedral, the district’s most essential landmark. Additionally, see Whittier Park, Fort Gibraltar, and Université de Saint-Boniface, the realm’s greatest historic sights.
When you have sufficient time in Winnipeg, the Royal Canadian Mint and Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum are additionally value touring.
Sensible Info
St. Boniface is a francophone district in Winnipeg, accessible on foot from the central metropolis space.
9. Attend Pageant du Voyageur
Winnipeg is known for its festivals, so I needed to embrace Pageant du Voyageur, even when it’s a seasonal attraction. It normally takes place in February and lasts for 10 days, attracting greater than 75,000 guests yearly. That is the most important winter pageant in Western Canada, and it has a historical past of greater than 50 years.
Pageant du Voyageur is understood for music performances, large snow sculptures, handmade crafts, and far more. The occasion is each enjoyable and academic, aiming to advertise the varied francophone and indigenous artists.
The primary location for the pageant is Whittier Park, which is inside strolling distance of Downtown Winnipeg.
Sensible Info
Pageant du Voyageur normally takes place in the midst of February. The admission charge varies from $5-$40 per day, relying on whenever you arrive on the pageant location.
10. Winnipeg Over The Years at The Manitoba Museum
The Manitoba Museum is a pure historical past museum with a set of two.9 million artifacts. It has three distinct areas, and guests can select to go to as many as they like. Particular person tickets can be found for every a part of the museum.
They’re the Science Gallery, the Planetarium, and the Museum Galleries. If you’re quick on time, prioritize the Museum Galleries as it’s the most elaborate space of the museum with an in depth exhibit on Winnipeg via the ages.
Sensible Info
The Manitoba Museum is open from 10 AM to five PM each day, besides on Mondays. The mixed ticket for all museum points of interest is $24.15.
11. Historical past Excursions at Dalnavert Museum
The Dalnavert Museum is about inside a Victorian-Edwardian mansion. With interval furnishings and costumed tour guides, visiting this museum is like touring again in time.Go to the museum for lovely structure, but additionally to see a surprisingly correct depiction of life within the nineteenth century. And take note of all the main points, whether or not it’s the mesmerizing stained glass home windows or the flowery kitchen range.
Sensible Info
The Dalnavert Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Excursions are simply $10 per particular person, and it’s beneficial to e book your spot upfront.
12. Admire The Variety at The Folklorama Pageant
I included a winter pageant in Winnipeg, so it’s solely honest that I additionally embrace another in the summertime for all of the vacationers preferring to go to town when it’s heat. The Folklorama Pageant is the largest occasion of its type in Winnipeg, attracting lots of of hundreds of tourists.
It takes place in August and lasts for 2 weeks. The pageant goals to have fun all of the completely different cultures that decision Winnipeg their house. Each distinct tradition will get its personal pavilion on the pageant, and there are normally round 40 completely different pavilions on the grounds.
Every pavilion celebrates its tradition with conventional music, dances, and, after all, meals. Some will supply further providers, similar to henna tattoos or numerous workshops.
Sensible Info
The Folklorama Pageant is held each August. Tickets are $7.5 per pavilion, and reductions are supplied whenever you purchase combo tickets for a number of pavilions.
13. Winnipeg River Stroll
The Winnipeg River Stroll is a waterfront strolling path extending from the Manitoba Legislative Constructing to the Pink and Assiniboine Rivers junction on the Forks Historic Web site. It’s the proper place for an off-the-cuff stroll in Winnipeg, largely as a result of good views.
Doing the River Stroll in a single course shouldn’t take greater than 25-Half-hour. On both finish, you get to see distinguished buildings with sculptures and landscaped grounds. There’s hardly a greater solution to finish a day stuffed with exploration and sightseeing in Winnipeg!
Because of Kendrick’s Outside Adventures in The Forks, you possibly can discover town year-round. They provide fats bikes for winter biking, e-bikes, e-scooter leases, and snowshoes (within the winter!)
Sensible Info
The Winnipeg River Stroll extends for roughly 2.5 kilometers in a single course.
14. The Manitoba Legislative Constructing
The Manitoba Legislative Constructing was probably the greatest issues we did in Winnipeg. It is usually probably the most attention-grabbing excursions we’ve taken in our lives! We met Frank Albo (Canada’s reply to Dan Brown) on the steps of the Winnipeg Legislative Constructing and he took us on a walkthrough of Winnipeg’s very personal Da Vinci Code.
We have been then taken on a wild tour of secret societies and scandals as we walked via the halls of the historic constructing. It’s so intriguing that Albo met with Prince Charles within the royal room when he visited.
That is positively probably the most attention-grabbing issues to do in Winnipeg. E book your Signature Expertise Tour right here.
15. Change District
Take a stroll via time on the Winnipeg Change District’s heritage buildings courting from 1880 to 1920. What was as soon as a derelict a part of town has now turn into a vibrant neighbourhood full of espresso retailers, boutiques, artwork galleries, and eating places. It’s value spending a day or night exploring the trendy space.
The Change District is situated within the coronary heart of downtown Winnipeg and is taken into account the humanities and cultural district of Winnipeg. Historic strolling excursions are supplied within the Change District as properly. E book one which fits your needs right here.
16. Johnson Terminal
Johnson Terminal is situated subsequent door to the Forks and is one other historic spot full of retailers and eating. It was a former warehouse for CN Railway, but it surely has since been restored to assist create the trendy but historic really feel of The Forks space. Stays of the railway are on show all through.
One among our favourite locations to eat within the Terminal is the Outdated Spaghetti Manufacturing unit. Certain, it’s tacky and a little bit of a Canadian chain, however it’s full of nostalgia.
17. Qaumajuq
When searching for locations to go to in Winnipeg to study Indigenous tradition, the Quamujuq Gallery is a superb place to begin. Quamujuq homes the world’s largest assortment of Inuit artwork devoted to Inuit artists and craftsmanship.
Qaumajuq means “it’s vibrant, it’s lit” in Inuktitut. The design was impressed by the panorama of Northern Canada, and its inside options 14,000 items of Inuit artwork. It’s becoming because the gallery sits on the unique land of the Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininiwak, Dakota, and Dene peoples. It was additionally the homeland of the Métis Nation. A whole wing is devoted to Inuit Artwork, which WAG has 10,730 works. You’ll additionally see modern artwork, ornamental artwork, and different Canadian artists on show.
18. Stroll Round The Leo Mol Sculpture Backyard
Leo Mol Sculpture Backyard is a small backyard located inside Assiniboine Park. That includes lovely landscaping and artistic endeavors, the backyard is a beautiful place that gives many a reasonably sight.
All of the bronze sculptures right here have been created by Dr. Leo Mol, a Ukrainian-born artist who spent most of his life in Winnipeg. Paved strolling paths lead via the backyard, permitting guests to find all of the completely different statues.
The landscaping is just about excellent. Come right here in spring or summer season to expertise the place in full glory and see all of the fantastic flowers in full bloom.
Sensible Info
The Sculpture Backyard is open from 9 AM to 9:30 PM. Entrance to the realm is freed from cost.
19. Climbing At The Assiniboine Forest
Assiniboine Forest is the southern space of the large namesake park. Spanning an space of greater than 285 hectares, the place is a Mecca for all hikers in Winnipeg. You may be at this Aspen forest in simply quarter-hour from downtown exploring the mountaineering trails and snapping photographs of free-roaming deer.
Roughly 18 kilometers of signposted trails can be found within the forest. Within the hotter months, they’re supreme for hikers and cyclists, whereas within the winter, they’re excellent for cross-country snowboarding. Come right here to find a correct city jungle separating two of Winnipeg’s communities and marvel on the untouched natural world.
One factor I’ll say is that the forest trails may be underwhelming for very skilled hikers, as they’re all typically simple, and there’s little or no elevation change.
Sensible Info
Assiniboine Forest is open from 8:30AM to 4:30PM on workdays with free admission. The forest is closed on the weekends.
FAQ For Greatest Issues To Do In Winnipeg
What Is Winnipeg Greatest Identified For?
Winnipeg is greatest identified for its many festivals. Town can also be a transportation hub and is usually referred to as the Gateway to The West.
Is Winnipeg Good For Vacationers?
Sure, Winnipeg is an effective metropolis for vacationers. With wonderful museums, historic landmarks, and implausible festivals, it’s tremendous simple to have enjoyable on this metropolis.
How Do You Spend a Day In Winnipeg?
A day in Winnipeg ought to embrace a go to to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a visit to The Forks, and an intensive exploration of Assiniboine Park. With a number of botanical gardens, displays, and an enormous zoo, Assiniboine Park takes up essentially the most time.
Why Is Winnipeg Widespread?
Winnipeg is common for its thriving cultural scene. Town is understood for its many artwork museums and galleries, in addition to music and dance festivals.
Ideas And Info For Visiting Winnipeg
Greatest Time To Go to
Summer season is the very best time to go to Winnipeg, particularly should you’re not used to Canadian chilly climate. Come right here between June and August, and also you’ll get pleasure from heat climate, flowers in bloom, and lengthy sunny days. Town can also be common throughout spring break, and April to Might are additionally good occasions to go to, however it is going to be a bit colder.
There are numerous causes to come back to Canada within the winter, and we extremely advocate it should you can deal with the chilly and snow. There will probably be fewer crowds round, you will get higher lodge offers, and also you’ll get to get pleasure from some actually native experiences.
Getting There
Winnipeg Richardson Worldwide Airport providers the Manitoba area, and it’s only a 15-minute drive from town centre. However it’s a small airport with only a few worldwide connections, so likelihood is you’ll have to catch a flight there from one of many larger airports in Canada.
The airports in Toronto and Vancouver are the busiest nation, and each supply connections to the Winnipeg airport. Neither of the 2 larger airports is inside driving distance of Winnipeg, so flying to town is by far one of the best ways of getting there.
Getting Round
Buses and Uber are your greatest guess for getting round Winnipeg. A lot of the downtown space is walkable, and plenty of points of interest are shut to 1 one other, so you possibly can discover fairly a little bit of town on foot. However you’ll have to depend on public transport to get to the extra distant areas, particularly Assiniboine Park.
You’ll be able to e book a personal driver from the airport to select you up upon arrival with a reputation card and take you on to your lodge. E book right here.
That being stated, if you wish to journey round Manitoba, you really want a automobile. Evaluate these automobile rental costs to search out the one best for you.
How A lot Time Do You Want
Two days are simply sufficient time to discover all the greatest points of interest in Winnipeg. It’s not an enormous metropolis and there aren’t too many vacationer points of interest, so a weekend ought to offer you loads of time to discover all the very best sights.
The place To Keep In Winnipeg
It’s greatest to base your self within the metropolis heart, particularly should you’re on the town for simply a few days. That method you possibly can stroll to a lot of the metropolis’s greatest points of interest and also you’ll solely have to take an Uber or a bus to get to Assiniboine Park. Listed here are among the greatest inns in Winnipeg for all budgets:
Radisson Resort Winnipeg Downtown is likely one of the extra reasonably priced inns with a central location in Winnipeg.
The Fort Garry Resort is about in a spectacular constructing simply 10 minutes from The Forks. The Fort Garry Resort With reasonably priced nightly charges and a very good location, it is likely one of the greatest choices in Winnipeg for a brief keep.
Inn on the Forks – We stayed on the Inn on the Forks, and I believe it’s the greatest location within the metropolis. Situated inside strolling distance from the Museum for Human Rights, the Forks, and Johnson Terminal, you might be solely steps away from nice eats, nightlife, and tradition. There’s a spa and eating and the rooms are trendy and stylish. The Inn on the Forks
Delta Winnipeg Resort—We’ve got additionally stayed on the Delta Winnipeg Resort previously, and it’s one other nice alternative. It has two swimming pools, a skywalk, a pub, and eating. It’s usually used for conferences and is straightforward to stroll indoors to the adjoining conference facilities. It’s situated downtown close to eating places and low retailers.
Fairmont Winnipeg – We stayed on the Fairmont when on a media tour a number of years in the past, and you may by no means go unsuitable with a Fairmont Resort. The Fairmont is centrally situated near the river. There’s a swimming pool, well being membership, and two eating places.
The Grand Winnipeg Resort is situated straight throughout the road from departures/arrivals on the Winnipeg Airport, and the 4 Factors by Sheraton is only a bit farther away. There’s a walkway via the Grand to the Sheraton. What we love is that you may take your trolleys from the airport proper into your rooms. There are eating places and bars proper on the premises of each.
The place to Eat in Winnipeg
Passero & Corto – We ate at Passero and Corto contained in the Forks Market. It’s the one eat in restaurant on the Forks and the Italian delicacies was to die for. Ask your server to assist with meals and wine pairings and be sure you share some plates to style all of the menu actually has to supply.
Clementine Cafe – Generally known as the very best brunch within the metropolis! Situated in Winnipeg’s Change District
ERA Bistro – Nice possibility for lunch situated contained in the Museum for Human Rights. Staying true to the essence of the museum, the restaurant makes use of domestically sourced, sustainable elements, which are natural and free-trade.
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