The great thing about Winnipeg is that it can act like a small town while also showing off the best of what a big city has to offer. People in one area sit on the fence of a restaurant porch and catch up with friends, while in another, world-class sites draw people from far away. There is live music, theater, sports, and all kinds of art in this city. You can start your night out at a small sushi restaurant in an old building and end it with great seats at the ballet.
Every season brings a lot of energy to festivals — from the hot tracks at the Winnipeg International Festival of Jazz to the coolest snow models at the Festival du Voyageur in February. Indigenous, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Indian, Ukrainian, Greek, Italian, Filipino, Thai, and African tastes are just a few of the many delicious foods that can be found in the city’s restaurants.
We’ve found the top things to do in Winnipeg for a relaxing vacation. There are many things to do there. You will also hardly get bored if you relocate to this amazing city. Turn to an immigration consultant Winnipeg for help and get things arranged for you.
1. Take a Trip to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Canada’s newest national museum, which opened in 2014, is in a building that was made to look like the wings of a dove folded together. It shows how complicated it is to define human rights. People from all over the world tell stories here — from the past to the present. That’s what makes this modern museum so great.
Take a walk with a guide to learn more or look around the main halls on your own. There are places that are dedicated to both the Holocaust and Canada’s own rough path toward human rights. The gallery called “Indigenous Perspective” is one of the most important parts of the museum. It shows how the stories of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people have changed over time.
2. Spend Some Time in the Exchange District
The old Exchange District in Winnipeg was built in a different time, but it has a very modern feel to it with its art galleries, restaurants, small shops, and cool events. It’s called the “Chicago of the North” because more than 150 of its buildings were constructed before 1920.
Today, this 20-square-block area is home to creative restaurants like the Merchant Kitchen, whose menu is based on Latin American and Asian street food, and the always creative Deer + Almond, where you must try the local goldeye and whitefish caviar.
As a planning tip, take the Death & Debauchery Tour to learn about the dark secrets that have made Winnipeg the Wickedest City in the Dominion. After the tour, you can grab a beer at one of 20 bars that are within a 10-minute walk.
3. Plan a Day at Thermëa by Nordik Spa
When you go on vacation to Winnipeg, you should treat yourself to a spa day at Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature. The hot spa is about 6 miles (9 km) south of downtown Winnipeg. It has saunas, a treatment room, and outdoor pools. You can make an appointment for an intense massage or a Himalayan salt stone treatment. Afterward, you can eat at the restaurant on-site, which serves mostly local, fresh food.
4. Enjoy Your Time at The Forks
The Forks is a historic meeting spot in downtown Winnipeg that draws people in with its mix of unique shops, delicious restaurants, and peaceful outdoor areas. Outside, check out the Oodena Celebration Circle, where sunrise events mark the solstice and equinox. The Parks Canada Playground is a great place to burn off some energy, and the Riverwalk leads from under the Esplanade Riel to the Manitoba Legislature.
Inside, you can look for old things at the Johnston Terminal Antique Mall and then buy something new at the main shop of Manitobah Mukluks. The Forks Trading Company has the best selection of gifts from Manitoba. They sell art, delicious foods, high-end lotions, and jewelry that is made by hand. After that, take a seat at the Common, an open-concept food hall with great food and drinks. Pick up some cinnamon buns from Tall Grass Prairie Bread Co. and Deli for breakfast tomorrow.
- Planning tip: The best way to get a feel for places like the Forks Market is to walk around them. To get around more easily, you can rent bikes at some hotels and shops in certain areas.
5. Enjoy the Outdoors at Assiniboine Park Conservancy
Assiniboine Park Conservancy is home to the Assiniboine Park Zoo. For decades, people have enjoyed Aunt Sally’s Farm, Toucan Ridge, Animals of Asia, and the Open Range. With its twisting walks and freeform flower beds full of visual treats, the English Garden may be the most beautiful part of Assiniboine Park. The best warm-up is for the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, which is right next to the Assiniboine River.
The Leaf is the newest thing that the Assiniboine Park Conservancy has to offer. There are four different biomes in the botanical park that show off the color, texture, sound, and smell of living things. It has a butterfly garden, Canada’s biggest indoor waterfall, and trees from South Africa, Australia, and central Chile. There are a number of outdoor areas around the building, such as the Kitchen Garden, the Indigenous Peoples Garden, and the Sensory Garden, which is full of plants that are bright, smell good, and feel good.
Ready for Your Next Trip?
Already planning your trip to Winnipeg? You bet — there is a lot to see and to do. In order to make things easier for you, we have made this easy-to-follow checklist so that you do not miss out on a single important place.