Winnipeg holidays

Winnipeg is made up of over 20 neighbourhoods, each with a different vibe and different offering so make sure you get out to a few different areas to really explore the city. Head to Chinatown for unique shops and dining experiences, Corydon, once known as Little Italy it’s home to al fresco dining and a friendly atmosphere, making it a great place for people watching.  If you’re looking for a more arties scene Osborne Village or Osbourne St. South are for you alternatively if you want to see how the other-half live head to Tuxedo to see sprawling mansions and gorgeous character homes.

A great way to explore some of the city’s neighbourhoods and to get some history behind them is to hop on one of the city trolley tours. Winnipeg Trolley Company is a great option and they offer a two-hour tour which takes you across the city on an interactive ride through different neighbourhoods. Highlights include St Boniface’s charming French quarter, The Exchange District, the hockey arena; home to the NHL Winnipeg Jets team, and the Manitoba Legislative Building, one of Canada’s most mysterious architectural wonders.

There is a lot to see and do in Winnipeg and whether you are here with your partner or bringing the kids there will be something to suite everyone. There are a whole host of galleries and museums to explore, from the Winnipeg Art Gallery which houses the largest collection of contemporary Inuit Art in the world, to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights which not only focuses on human rights of the Canadian people but from around the world. Another great place to head to is the Royal Canadian Mint, where you can enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how the coins are produced.

For those that want to get outdoors Assiniboine Park is the place to head to. Just a 15-minute drive from downtown Winnipeg, this sprawling park offers open spaces, a conservation zoo, a conservatory, outdoor theatre and Winnipeg’s newest attractions, The Leaf; an indoor horticultural attraction where you journey through different biomes from tropical to Mediterranean and make sure you take the lift to visit the butterfly garden on the six floor.

The climate in Winnipeg in the summer months; June to September, is very similar to what we would expect in the UK, with temperatures averaging 20 degrees Celsius in July. You can look forward to sunny days with beautiful blue skies, but you might also get cooler days with light rain showers. We would suggest that October and November are the better months to travel in as it will be quieter and flight prices tend to be more favourable.

Winter in Winnipeg is beautiful as the city tends to get a blanket of snow in December and January, however this does mean that temperatures get as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius. There is still plenty to do in the colder months though as there are many indoor attractions and if your dressed suitably then the cold won’t be too much of an issue for outdoor exploring.

Winnipeg boast many festivals throughout the year so whether you are here in the summer or hear for a winter trip then you’ll probably find there is something going on. At the beginning of May Canada’s funniest comics entertain people over seven nights of stand-up and improvisational comedy, late June each year there is an electronic music festival which features the latest techno, dub and house music, and ManyFest is hosted in September which is Winnipeg’s biggest street festival with activities for all ages.

Winter is no different as there are still festivals happening; throughout December and into the beginning of January you will be dazzled by a large drive-through light show with more than 25 themed areas. And then in February Western Canada’s largest winter festivals takes over Winnipeg, admire giant snow sculptures, dance to live music and tuck into some delicious French-Canadian foods. These are just a select few of the festivals in Winnipeg so be sure to check the festival calendar to find out what’s on when you’re in town.