Welcome to Winnipeg! Situated within the Canadian prairies, the city of Winnipeg is the geographic centre of Canada and a city that holds a special place in the hearts of its residents. Its a place that gives you that small town feel, but has the amenities and attractions of a big city. As the capital of Manitoba, it has a population of about 840,000 and as someone who was born and raised here, we can tell you firsthand that there are some amazing things to do in Winnipeg.
It is a land locked city surrounded by gorgeous lakes, rivers, as well as both provincial and national parks. It is one of the few places in the world where the temperature consistently fluctuates between a frigid -40°C in the winter and up to a scorching +40°C in the summer. It is one of the best places to experience both winter and summer activities. This allows visitors and locals alike to experience winter sports such as ice skating, sledding, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. In the summer you can find Winnipeggers at the beach, going for a hike and enjoying live music downtown. The best time to visit Winnipeg will depend on whether you enjoy winter or summer activities.
This city is bursting with cultural diversity, and has some of the most amazing Canadian history you’ll ever hear about. With so much to experience and explore, why not give Winnipeg a visit?
Here are the top attractions and best things to do in Winnipeg
Things to do in Winnipeg. Let’s Go!
Winnipeg Manitoba is a great place to visit due to its affordability, international airport and diversity (in both weather and culture). You can get around the perimeter of the city in around an hour, the food scene is on point and the people are friendly (just as their licence plates state)!
Get Outside
The Forks National Historic Site
Perhaps the most notorious place in Winnipeg is The Forks. The Forks is aptly named as this is the site where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet at a fork. The area is an epi-centre for art, culture, food shopping and community. During the winter months, the Nesaweda Trail includes 10 km’s of skating along the frozen river. You can play some hockey, meet up with friends and get your cardio workout in!
If you’re looking for a self guided tour with audio, we recommend checking out this self guided audio tour from Get Your Guide.
In the summer, you can watch concerts at the outdoor stage, enjoy the river walk, visit the skate park, get an ice cream or fro-yo, or enjoy the beer garden area by the river. Inside the Forks Market is tons of shops where artisans sell local products. You can enjoy a beverage at Market Hall and try phenomenal food (may we suggest a cinnamon bun from Tall Grass Prairie)?!
City Trolley Tour
One of the best ways to see the most of any city in a limited amount of time is by booking a guided tour. Our favourite city tour is the 2 Hour City Trolley Tour. Hop aboard a historically inspired Winnipeg trolley and experience Winnipeg’s most popular sights. Not only will you be riding in style, but you’ll enjoy the the sights and stories of everything Winnipeg.
Assiniboine Park, Assiniboine Zoo and The Leaf
The southern part of the city hosts the Assiniboine Park Zoo and Assiniboine Park. The grounds at the park host stunning botanic gardens, the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, and play areas for families. The Leaf is a new attraction at the park that just recently opened its doors. It boasts stunning water features, four unique biomes to explore, a butterfly garden and an Indigenous peoples garden. A spectacular way to spend the afternoon.
If you’re with the family, you can also pop in to visit the Assiniboine Park Zoo. A notable feature of the zoo is the Journey to Churchill exhibit where you’ll see animals like polar bears, reindeer and more. Stop on by and learn how Manitoba is committed to the conservation of polar bears and preserving their natural habitat.
Take a Drive to Lockport and Visit The Half Moon
If there’s anything you NEED to do while in Winnipeg, it’s visit this awesome old school diner. The Half Moon Drive In is the perfect place to enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream in the summer months. An absolute must do on a warm summer evening. Don’t forget to bring some quarters with you and spend time playing some arcade games.
Gimli, Manitoba
If you’re looking for a road trip out of Winnipeg in the summer, consider heading north to the beach town of Gimli. This Icelandic beach town is full of quaint shops, scrumptious fish and chips and the best banana splits. A great place to spend the weekend lounging around on the beach or on the lake.
Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba
On the other side of the lake is Winnipeg beach, an equally special place along the water of Lake Winnipeg. Take a stroll along the boardwalk and feel transported back in time. If you visit during the summer, you might be lucky enough to enjoy Boardwalk Days, an annual festival with carnival games and rides, street vendors, live music and fireworks.
Indoor Things to do in Winnipeg
Manitoba Legislative Building
Winnipeg is lucky to have many heritage listed buildings and areas full of history in the downtown region. The Legislative Building was built in 1913 and opened in 1920! It’s a stunning piece of Winnipeg history to walk through and admire.
Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
The WAG (Winnipeg Art Gallery) boasts beautiful exhibits that reflect the many peoples and perspectives in the world. Plus, the first floor of the gallery is free to walk through! And with rotating exhibits you are sure to see something you’ve never seen before.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR)
The Canadian Museum of Human Rights opened in 2014 and is located right next to The Forks downtown. It is a visually stunning building and is thoughtfully curated. The exhibits look at human rights from the lens of Canadians and the broader world.
Manitoba Museum
If you’re visiting with children, consider checking out the Manitoba Museum! The museum has a planetarium as well as the Explore Science Zone; interactive exhibits sure to excite and intrigue people of all ages.
Royal Canadian Mint
If you’re interested in how and where our Canadian coins are produced, the Winnipeg Mint is a must visit. What’s cool about the Mint is that every Canadian circulation coin is produced right here in Winnipeg. They also produce circulation coins for countries all around the world. Take a 45 minute guided tour and get a birds eye view of the production floor, learn about the record-breaking “Million Dollar Coin”, and even get a up close look at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Medals.
Manitoba Children’s Museum
One of Mikes favourite places as a kid (and one of his favourite things to do in Winnipeg) was visiting the Children’s Museum at The Forks. Housed in the oldest surviving train repair building in Western Canada, the museum is filled with 12 different hands on creative learning galleries. It’s probably one of the top Winnipeg attractions for kids and the best way to spend a day if you’re looking for some fun.
Cultural Experiences
Folklorama
Folklorama is a two-week festival that celebrates the rich cultural heritage that makes us Winnipeggers. Over a two-week period in August, you can visit dozens of pavilions and immerse yourself in the food, music, dancing and art of every culture that makes Winnipeg what it is. It’s honestly one of our favourite yearly things to do in Winnipeg and truly a unique and rewarding Winnipeg experience.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
The Ballet is a majestic and elevated experience for all ages. Enjoy the art of dance and an evening immersed in a story. With a number of shows throughout the year, you’ll experience performances like the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and more! I can assure you, you won’t be dissapointed,
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The WSO is an affordable option for enjoying the shared experience of the beauty of music. Often, there are featured artists and some shows are paired with video or thematic performances.
St. Boniface
St. Boniface is a region of the city that is overflowing with French culture. Stop in at some of the most spectacular bakeries and coffee shops and taste exquisite pastries, make a reservation at a restaurant for an elevated dining experience, tour the micro breweries and visit the historical sites such as the Saint Boniface Cathedral.
Our recommendations:
- La Belle Baguette is such a great bakery with some very unique pastries
- Kilter Brewing Co. has some of our favourite craft beer
- Nola is a fun, elegant, and wonderfully tasty place to eat
Festival du Voyageur
The Festival du Voyageur is now known as the largest winter festival in Western Canada that is held for 10 days every year in the month of February. It’s one of the top things to do in Winnipeg every winter and is always a great time. Showcasing art and history from both indigenous people and francophone culture, you’ll feel like you’ve been completely transported back to the era of the voyageurs in 1815. The festival features a wide variety of activities where you’ll experience all kinds of fun things like giant snow sculptures, toboggan runs, live music, traditional food, and all kinds of francophone/Metis/First Nations traditions. Don’t forget to try some yummy Beaver Tails (fried dough pastry) or my favourite Maple Taffy (maple syrup drizzled over snow). You won’t want to miss this!
Winnipeg’s Historical Sites
The Hudson’s Bay Company
Located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, the 6 story heritage listed building was formerly known as the flagship store for the Hudson’s Bay Company in all of Western Canada. It’s probably one of the most well known historic buildings in the downtown area of Winnipeg and is walking distance from the famous corner of Main Street and Portage Avenue. Although the building no longer functions as a HBC retail location, the building itself is still a spectacle to see.
Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site
Located just north of the great city of Winnipeg, Lower Fort Garry was built on the bank of the Red River in 1830 by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Open year-round and home to a number of special events throughout the year, the site holds some of the most fascinating history behind it. From being the site where Treaty Number 1 was signed, to being the stronghold for the Hudson’s Bay Company, and so much more. Take a walk through history and experience historical interactive displays by costumed interpreters of what it was like to be a part of this settlement.
Eat, Drink and Shop
Exchange District
The exchange district is a fabulous pocket of downtown that is full of eclectic eateries, bars and hosts many events throughout the year. We love the punch bowls at Patent 5 Distillery, the beer at Nonsuch Brewing Co. and the delightful food and atmosphere at Cibo and James Ave Pumphouse. If you’re looking for a great breakfast spot we recommend Clementine Cafe on Princess Street (we LOVE the fried chicken waffles).
Kenaston Outlet Mall
The Winnipeg Outlet Mall boasts a fabulous collection of specialty and discount stores. Located on Sterling Lyon Parkway, it’s a great way to spend a day out shopping. Once you’ve had your fill of deals and sales, venture beyond the mall for some great dining options in the Kenaston area as well as breweries and big box stores such as Ikea.
Pine Ridge Hollow and Bird’s Hill Provincial Park
Just north of the city is Pine Ridge Hollow. This gem in the woods in Birds Hill Provincial Park is worth the 15-minute drive out of town. The most scrumptious food, unique shopping and farm adventure awaits you! (May we recommend trying the beet chips and dip)!
Corydon Avenue
Corydon Avenue, also known as the “Little Italy” of Winnipeg, is a cultural area of the city. Italian flags hang proudly in restaurants with pizza, pasta, breadsticks and wine on the terrace. We love grabbing a drink at The Roost, pizza at Tommy’s Pizzeria or lunch at Market Burger. A great street to walk down and just simply enjoy some great eats and drinks.
Osborne Village
An diverse area of Winnipeg with niche restaurants, bars and dessert spots. There is nowhere else like it in the city. If you’re in the village, you absolutely must get a slice of cake at Baked Expectations and try the garlic crust pizza from Little Pizza Heaven.
Get Tickets to a Sporting Event
Winter Sports
If you’re a hockey fan and are visiting Winnipeg in the winter, why not catch a Winnipeg Jets (NHL) or Manitoba Moose (AHL) game? Both are great options and a lot of fun for a night with friends or a family friendly outing.
Summer Sports
If you visit in the summer, you have the opportunity to either watch the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) play some football or Valour FC soccer at Investors Group Field. Or if baseball is more your thing, check out the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Shaw Park as well.
See You in Winnipeg!
Canada is home to some of the most memorable and special places in the world. With so many things to do in Winnipeg, we hope after reading this blog that Winnipeg has made your list of places to visit. It isn’t the largest city in the Canada, but there isn’t anywhere else in North America where you can experience both summer and winter outdoor activities like Winnipeg, Manitoba. So catch one of those direct flights and come see us! We hope to see you soon!
