Winnipeg is a shocking 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 outside actions and a historical past that may blow your thoughts. That’s only the start. Time named Winnipeg one of many world’s best locations in 2021, so you understand there may be extra to Winnipeg than simply being a fly-over vacation spot. So, let’s dive straight into all one of the 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
Finest Issues To Do In Winnipeg
The perfect Winnipeg points of interest vary from botanical gardens to implausible artwork galleries. Town is especially identified for glorious seasonal festivals; you would possibly even wish to plan your total journey round one. Come to Winnipeg, and also you’ll get to tour historic buildings, find out about indigenous tradition, and probably 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 variety within the nation and some of the in style 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 varied human rights points plaguing Canada and the world. With a number of core and non permanent reveals, the museum goals to make clear the rights of people world wide and the way vital it’s to guard them.
The remedy of indigenous individuals in all corners of the world is a dominant theme within the museum exhibit. It’s explored intimately in reveals “Canadian Journeys” and “Indigenous Views Gallery” and can also be addressed partially in most different collections. The museum’s non permanent reveals have been different, masking the whole lot from depicting human rights in Star Trek to Nelson Mandela’s struggle in opposition to apartheid.
Different attention-grabbing reveals embrace one devoted to Viola Desmond, the primary black lady on our Canadian $10 invoice. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights additionally showcases human rights abuses and victories worldwide.
Sensible Data
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 beautiful metropolis. With an in depth assortment of over 28,000 items, it’s a high location for artwork lovers in Winnipeg.
The museum focuses primarily on modern and Inuit artwork, however its reveals 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 Data
The Winnipeg Artwork Gallery is open from 9 AM to five PM daily besides Monday. Admission is $18 for adults.
3. Go to Assiniboine Park and Zoo
Should you’re our common reader, you’ll know that we don’t advocate zoos and animal parks except we’re fully sure that the animals there are handled pretty. Now we have been to the Assiniboine Park and Zoo a number of instances, and we’ve seen that the majority animals listed below 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, taking a look at their habitat, they don’t appear to thoughts in any respect.
The enclosures are very spacious, carefully 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 may possibly generally 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 hi there 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 way more pleasing within the winter. The crowds are smaller so you may get round extra simply, plus a lot of the animal rescues dwelling 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 Data
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 high points of interest in Winnipeg for each customer. The Forks Nationwide Historic Web site has been a gathering place for six,000 years. Positioned the place the Purple and Assiniboine Rivers converge, it was a spot the place indigenous individuals 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 technique to spend a day. With loads of uncovered brick and an in depth skylight that permits quite a lot of pure gentle, it’s one among Winnipeg’s most charming buildings. To not point out the infinite procuring alternatives and all of the scrumptious meals choices.
Sensible Data
The Forks Market is open from 7 AM to 10 PM, though particular person outlets observe completely different working instances.
5. Tour Winnipeg With A Native
Let a neighborhood drive you round Winnipeg for a number of hours, and also you’ll see the entire metropolis’s high vacationer areas and find out about their historical past. This can be a nice choice for vacationers who’re on the town for a really brief time and wish to see all of the completely different areas of Winnipeg.
A driving tour is a good choice as a result of you’ll be able to transfer across the metropolis rapidly and attain areas that might in any other case stay unexplored. Plus, you’ll go subsequent to Winnipeg’s most well-known points of interest, making it simpler to get across the metropolis on foot later once you wish to examine them correctly.
Sensible Data
A personal tour of Winnipeg by automotive takes round two hours and prices roughly $50 per individual.
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 Purple River. Should you’re in Winnipeg within the winter, that is by far among the finest locations to go to on the town to heat up. Unwind within the toasty thermal baths and get a calming therapeutic massage that may 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 trying out the restaurant even should you’re not going to soak within the swimming pools, because it’s one of many metropolis’s finest. It’s a simple taxi journey from downtown. You possibly can simply spend a whole afternoon right here.
Sensible Data
The Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature is open from 8:30 AM to 10 PM. It’s $86 for adults to calm down 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 Purple River, which anybody can entry at no cost. It’s among the finest 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 just’ll have the ability to do it the following time you’re in Winnipeg. Within the winter of 2024, the Nestewaya River Path was open for under 9 days complete in two brief stints. The gentle winter and excessive precipitation made it extraordinarily difficult to handle the path and assure everybody’s security.
Sensible Data
The Nestaweya River Path is accessible solely within the winter, freed from cost.
8. Strolling Tour of St. Boniface
St. Boniface is residence 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 vital landmark. Additionally, see Whittier Park, Fort Gibraltar, and Université de Saint-Boniface, the world’s finest historic sights.
If in case you have sufficient time in Winnipeg, the Royal Canadian Mint and Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum are additionally price touring.
Sensible Data
St. Boniface is a francophone district in Winnipeg, accessible on foot from the central metropolis space.
9. Attend Pageant du Voyageur
Winnipeg is legendary 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, big snow sculptures, handmade crafts, and way 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 Data
Pageant du Voyageur normally takes place in the midst of February. The admission charge varies from $5-$40 per day, relying on once 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 group 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 brief 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 Data
The Manitoba Museum is open from 10 AM to five PM day by 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 small print, whether or not it’s the mesmerizing stained glass home windows or the frilly kitchen range.
Sensible Data
The Dalnavert Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Excursions are simply $10 per individual, and it’s really helpful to guide your spot upfront.
12. Admire The Range 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 variety in Winnipeg, attracting a whole lot of 1000’s of holiday makers.
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 residence. 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, reminiscent of henna tattoos or varied workshops.
Sensible Data
The Folklorama Pageant is held each August. Tickets are $7.5 per pavilion, and reductions are supplied once 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 Purple and Assiniboine Rivers junction on the Forks Historic Web site. It’s the proper place for an informal stroll in Winnipeg, largely because of the good views.
Doing the River Stroll in a single route shouldn’t take greater than 25-Half-hour. On both finish, you get to see outstanding buildings with sculptures and landscaped grounds. There’s hardly a greater technique to finish a day stuffed with exploration and sightseeing in Winnipeg!
Due to Kendrick’s Out of doors Adventures in The Forks, you’ll be able to discover town year-round. They provide fats bikes for winter biking, e-bikes, e-scooter leases, and snowshoes (within the winter!)
Sensible Data
The Winnipeg River Stroll extends for roughly 2.5 kilometers in a single route.
14. The Manitoba Legislative Constructing
The Manitoba Legislative Constructing was among the finest issues we did in Winnipeg. It is usually some of the 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 had 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 some of the 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 change into a vibrant neighbourhood stuffed with espresso outlets, boutiques, artwork galleries, and eating places. It’s price spending a day or night exploring the fashionable space.
The Change District is positioned 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 positioned subsequent door to the Forks and is one other historic spot stuffed with outlets and eating. It was a former warehouse for CN Railway, nevertheless it has since been restored to assist create the fashionable but historic really feel of The Forks space. Stays of the railway are on show all through.
Certainly one of our favourite locations to eat within the Terminal is the Previous Spaghetti Manufacturing facility. Certain, it’s tacky and a little bit of a Canadian chain, however it’s stuffed with nostalgia.
17. Qaumajuq
When in search of locations to go to in Winnipeg to find out about Indigenous tradition, the Quamujuq Gallery is a good place to start out. Quamujuq homes the world’s largest assortment of Inuit artwork devoted to Inuit artists and craftsmanship.
Qaumajuq means “it’s shiny, 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 complete 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 had 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 time to expertise the place in full glory and see all of the fantastic flowers in full bloom.
Sensible Data
The Sculpture Backyard is open from 9 AM to 9:30 PM. Entrance to the world 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 will be at this Aspen forest in simply quarter-hour from downtown exploring the mountain climbing trails and snapping images of free-roaming deer.
Roughly 18 kilometers of signposted trails can be found within the forest. Within the hotter months, they’re splendid 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 will be underwhelming for very skilled hikers, as they’re all usually straightforward, and there’s little or no elevation change.
Sensible Data
Assiniboine Forest is open from 8:30AM to 4:30PM on workdays with free admission. The forest is closed on the weekends.
FAQ For Finest Issues To Do In Winnipeg
What Is Winnipeg Finest Identified For?
Winnipeg is finest 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 efficient metropolis for vacationers. With glorious museums, historic landmarks, and implausible festivals, it’s tremendous straightforward 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, reveals, and a large zoo, Assiniboine Park takes up essentially the most time.
Why Is Winnipeg Standard?
Winnipeg is in style for its thriving cultural scene. Town is understood for its many artwork museums and galleries, in addition to music and dance festivals.
Ideas And Data For Visiting Winnipeg
Finest Time To Go to
Summer season is one of the 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 in style throughout spring break, and April to Could are additionally good instances to go to, however it will likely 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 may get higher resort 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 chances are high you’ll have to catch a flight there from one of many greater 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 greater 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 finest 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’ll be able to 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 possibly can guide a personal driver from the airport to choose you up upon arrival with a reputation card and take you on to your resort. E book right here.
That being mentioned, if you wish to journey round Manitoba, you really want a automotive. Examine these automotive rental costs to seek out the one best for you.
How A lot Time Do You Want
Two days are simply sufficient time to discover the entire finest 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 one of the best sights.
The place To Keep In Winnipeg
It’s finest to base your self within the metropolis heart, particularly should you’re on the town for simply a few days. That method you’ll be able to stroll to a lot of the metropolis’s finest points of interest and also you’ll solely have to take an Uber or a bus to get to Assiniboine Park. Listed below are a number of the finest inns in Winnipeg for all budgets:
Radisson Resort Winnipeg Downtown is without doubt one of the extra inexpensive 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 inexpensive nightly charges and a very good location, it is without doubt one of the finest choices in Winnipeg for a brief keep.
Inn on the Forks – We stayed on the Inn on the Forks, and I feel it’s the finest location within the metropolis. Positioned 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 fashionable and stylish. The Inn on the Forks
Delta Winnipeg Resort—Now we have additionally stayed on the Delta Winnipeg Resort up to now, and it’s one other nice alternative. It has two swimming pools, a skywalk, a pub, and eating. It’s typically used for conferences and is simple to stroll indoors to the adjoining conference facilities. It’s positioned downtown close to eating places and occasional outlets.
Fairmont Winnipeg – We stayed on the Fairmont when on a media tour a number of years in the past, and you’ll by no means go fallacious with a Fairmont Resort. The Fairmont is centrally positioned near the river. There’s a swimming pool, well being membership, and two eating places.
The Grand Winnipeg Resort is positioned immediately 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 could 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 you should definitely share some plates to style all of the menu actually has to supply.
Clementine Cafe – Often known as one of the best brunch within the metropolis! Positioned in Winnipeg’s Change District
ERA Bistro – Nice choice for lunch positioned contained in the Museum for Human Rights. Staying true to the essence of the museum, the restaurant makes use of domestically sourced, sustainable substances, which might be natural and free-trade.
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