Look on any map for the heart of Canada and you’ll find Winnipeg, Manitoba. This major Canadian city is located next to the country’s longitudinal centre and is often underrated as a travel destination. Friendly, vibrant and diverse, Winnipeg is a place that, in spite of its often cold winter temperatures, warmly welcomes visitors all year round to explore its history, culture, and active arts and music scenes.

Winnipeg is centered around the point where the Assiniboine River and Red River meet on Treaty 1 Territory. Historically, the city was a place of trade for Indigenous peoples long before French traders built the first fort on the site in 1738. Nowadays, the city is quite multicultural, and this is seen in its thriving food and drink scene, which features a wide variety of tasty dishes and cuisines.

Museums, galleries, and theatres are just some of the cultural attractions Winnipeg has to offer. Home to 26 National Historic Sites of Canada, this dynamic city is full of ways to explore and engage with local culture. If you’re seeking time in nature, take a stroll along the banks of the Red River to see some of Winnipeg’s most beautiful parks and green spaces. No matter the season, there’s always something to do in Winnipeg.

Top three things to do in Winnipeg

Witness the meeting of the Rivers at The Forks

A designated National Historic Site of Canada, The Forks is easily one of Winnipeg’s most visited attractions. The Forks is an important site and meeting place, not only because it's the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, but also because these grounds were used as a trading hub for many years between the Indigenous peoples and the Europeans. Now home to a market, an interpretive park, an urban skate plaza, a pedestrian promenade, boutique stores and restaurants, and several other attractions, The Forks is a popular place to visit any time of the year.

Explore Winnipeg’s arts and culture

When it comes to arts and culture, you might be surprised at how many options there are in Winnipeg. Find the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Western Canada’s oldest public art gallery. Then, wander over to the striking Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the only national museum west of Ottawa. Finally, you can’t miss seeing the Royal Canadian Mint, a beautiful building where every Canadian coin is produced.

Cheer on the local sports teams

When in Winnipeg, do as the Winnipeggers do — and many are known to enthusiastically cheer on their favourite local sports teams. Winnipeg is home to several professional ice hockey teams, most famously the Winnipeg Jets who play in the National Hockey League (NHL). Sports fans shouldn’t miss catching a game while in town.

Winnipeg

Things to do in Winnipeg