Winnipeg is known internationally as the home of the Winnipeg Jets, the city’s NHL team, but nationally it is also appreciated for its outstanding arts and cultural scene. Locals, known informally as “Peggers,” enjoy a very active cultural life, with everything from drama and ballet to concerts and opera on offer. More recently, the city has gained recognition for the addition of its newest major attraction, the impressive Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Equidistant from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Winnipeg is the heart of central Canada. The city’s extreme climate of hot summers and cold winters means the range of things to do in Winnipeg varies by season. But there is always plenty to enjoy here.
For ideas on where to start your visit, see our list of the top attractions and places to visit in Winnipeg.
1. Assiniboine Park + Zoo
If you’re spending time in Winnipeg this summer, the Assiniboine Park Zoo is an absolute must. Start by exploring the Park’s pathways with a rental from Bee-Together Bikes, then grab some food to enjoy by the duck pond from the Park Café or the pop-up Cargo Bar.
Next, take a stroll through the vibrant English Gardens and admire works of art in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden. For an even bigger garden attraction, explore the outdoor Gardens at The Leaf, made up of almost 30 acres of blooms with five themed areas.
At the tail end of The Gardens is an incredible piece of architecture called The Leaf. This new and beautiful horticultural attraction offers guests the opportunity to explore and learn about flowers, palms, plant life, and thousands of trees through four unique biomes. Onsite, Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar offers modern prairie cuisine and culturally expressive dishes.
Finally, a trip to the Assiniboine Park Zoo needs to include a few hours (or easily an entire day) dedicated to the many animals who call it home. Stand beneath swimming polar bears and seals in the incredible Journey to Churchill exhibit, or meet the goats of Aunt Sally’s Farm.
2. The Forks
The main building is The Forks Market, where the highlight is the food vendors who cook up all kinds of tasty dishes. Grab a fresh baked pastry or loaf of bread at Tall Grass Prairie, pick up an expertly cooked steak at Simon’s Steak, sample a variety of ethnic foods, or treat yourself to a frozen dessert or cup of coffee. Fruit and vegetable sellers set up in the main hall in season and stores are found on two levels. You can also walk up the lookout tower to get a bird’s-eye view over the river and the city.
3. The Manitoba Museum
The Manitoba Museum is primarily devoted to the human and natural history of the province. The nine permanent galleries showcase the best of what the province has to offer, and the highly interactive Science Gallery and Planetarium introduces the vastness of the night sky on its domed screen.
Highlights of the museum include a 95-million-year-old Pliosaur fossil, a display that recreates the northern lights, and a recreated Hudson Bay fur trading post.
One of the most famous exhibits is the Nonsuch, a 17th-century replica ketch sailing ship. You can climb on board and explore all areas of the ship to see the hardships of the brave souls that crossed the Atlantic way back when. The museum is located downtown, not far from the Exchange District.
4. Legislative Building
Built of local Tyndall stone and Italian marble, the magnificent Neoclassical Legislative Building in Winnipeg was completed in 1919. Unique features of the building include hidden hieroglyphics, Freemason symbols, and secret numerical codes. Tours are offered weekly and are led by an architectural historian.
The lavish grounds feature statues, monuments, and manicured gardens. Surmounting the 72-meter dome is a statue known as the Golden Boy, a four-meter-high bronze weighing five tons and plated with 23.5-carat gold. A torch in his right hand and a sheaf of wheat on his left arm symbolize Manitoba’s enduring agricultural prosperity.
5. Experience the Festival du Voyageur
Large tents are set up outdoors at Voyageur Park and other sites in the city, where you can find live music, food, dancing, and more. Make sure you don’t miss the stunning ice and snow sculptures, one of the highlights of the festival. Another festival tradition is the beard-growing contest. Participants have 10 weeks prior to the festival to grow their best beard in four categories.
6. Winnipeg Art Gallery
New in 2021, the former Inuit Art Gallery has been renamed and is now known as Quamajuq. In this brand-new architecturally stunning 40,000-square-foot building are over 14,000 pieces of Inuit Art. The craftsmanship of the Inuit is on display throughout the gallery, but the most impressive area is the three-story-high Visible Vault showcasing 7,500 pieces.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is Western Canada’s oldest art gallery and frequently hosts events and a wide range of artists, from poets to jazz musicians. Be sure to check out the very unique triangular rooftop sculpture garden for views over the city. The gallery is located downtown and is not far from The Forks.
7. Fort Whyte Alive
Spread over 259 hectares, Fort Whyte Alive is known for its five lakes, grassy parkland, and bog boardwalks. The interpretive center is home to an aquarium and nature exhibits, including burrowing owls. Outdoors, visitors can watch the bison herd, visit the bird-feeding stations, see the sod house, or watch the antics of the prairie dogs at the prairie dog town.
Fort Whyte Alive has seven kilometers of walking and cycling trails, and sailing and paddling courses are taught in the summer on the small lakes. In the winter, a giant ice-skating rink, toboggan run, and cross-country ski trails are available for those keen to get outside and enjoy the cooler temperatures.
8. Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces coins not just for Canada, but for a number of other countries as well. In fact, over 55 billion coins have been produced here. You can follow the whole minting process in the recently renovated tour area. Interactive displays show how coins are manufactured from start to finish.
The on-site museum does an excellent job of showing visitors the ancient history of how coins and currency first started. The ultra-modern, triangular-shaped building also contains a tropical garden and fountain. Reservations for the 45-minute tours are recommended.
9. Corydon Avenue
This bustling tree-lined street is where locals come to unwind, catch up on the latest trends, and enjoy some downtime. Small, trendy shops with the latest unique fashions will pique your interest.
Restaurants, many of them with outdoor patios in summer, offer a wide range of cuisines. Also of note is the street art — eight large metal figures on display each summer represent the countries of Spain, Greece, Argentina, Japan, Ukraine, Italy, France, and Scotland.
Concerts also take place most Friday and Saturday nights and feature a diverse selection of musicians. The main area is Along Corydon Avenue from Daly Street to Harrow Street, and parking can be a bit challenging.
10. Manitoba Children's Museum
The Manitoba Children’s Museum is housed in a state-of-the-art facility located at The Forks. Inside this unique building, you’ll find 12 interactive permanent galleries, which will appeal to children of all ages.
The galleries range from the Milk Machine, featuring a giant cow cube you can actually go inside, to the Engine House, where kids will find a multitude of gears and levers to pull. Also of interest is the Lasagna Lookout, where your kids are allowed to play with their food.
In addition to the permanent galleries, the museum also hosts traveling exhibits and has special events around key dates like Halloween and Christmas.
