Guide to Visiting Winnipeg in the Winter

At first glance, Winnipeg may not be the top of anyone’s list of places to travel to in the winter. After all, Manitoba winters are known to be quite cold. However, Winnipeg can be a wonderful place for avid travelers and photographers, even in the winter. It’s all about having the right approach and knowing where to go. That’s why we put together a guide on where to go, what to do, and how to make the most of any wintertime trip to Winnipeg.

The Forks

The first place in Winnipeg you should know about is the Forks, which is a historic area on the shores of the Red River. This is a place where you’ll find great places to shop and grab a bite to eat. But it’s also a hub for wintertime activities. The frozen river provides the perfect venue for ice skating, fat biking, and triking. If you need to borrow equipment, there are vendors close by, allowing you to skate or bike for as long as you can tolerate the cold.

Museums

Even if outside activities aren’t your favorite during the winter months, Winnipeg is still a great destination, in part because of its world-class museums. After all, the coldest months of the year are perfect for spending time in museums and learning about history and culture. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights, located conveniently in the Forks, is the highlight of Winnipeg’s museums. The exterior architecture of the museum is picturesque, while the interior of the museum contains exhibits relating to important human rights issues.

Not far from the Canadian Museum of Human Rights is the Winnipeg Art Gallery, which hosts tens of thousands of pieces of artwork. That includes one of the largest collections of Innuit artwork in the world. Anyone with an appreciation of art will love spending a few hours in the gallery. Meanwhile, Winnipeg is home to a few other museums that may interest visitors, including the Manitoba Museum and the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

Coffee Shops

During the winter, coffee shops offer a refuge from the cold. No matter how much you’re enjoying yourself or doing your best to brave the cold, spending an hour or two in a coffee shop can be time well spent. Luckily, downtown Winnipeg has several great options, including Modern Electric Lunch and Parlour Coffee on Main Street and multiple locations of Thom Bargen Coffee Roasters and Little Sister Coffee Maker scattered throughout the city. 

Stop into any of these places during your visit to Winnipeg when you need a break from the cold or want something hot to drink. At the same time, you can still be productive with your time. You can bring a book to read or journal some of your thoughts about your travels. Also, if you have a mobile device with you, take a little time to catch up on emails or explore some of the online casinos in Manitoba that provide fun and entertainment no matter where you are. Traveling isn’t all about being active; sometimes, you need a place to relax. Winnipeg has plenty of coffee shops where you can do just that.

Winter Spa

Speaking of relaxation, there’s no better place to do that than at a spa. Getting a spa experience in Winnipeg during the winter is possible at Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature. Known as one of the top Nordic spas in Canada, this retreat features a circuit of hot tubs, saunas, cold pools, and cozy spaces perfect for relaxation. Even if this seems like a summer activity, the full experience is truly revitalizing in the frigid winter temperatures. In addition to the traditional Nordic spa experience, visitors can also indulge in massages, body-care treatments, and dining at a gourmet restaurant just in case it’s too frigid.

Get Lost in the Snow

The best way to embrace Winnipeg during the winter is simply to lean into the cold and snowy conditions. Perhaps the best way to do that is to take a 30-minute drive south of downtown Winnipeg and literally get lost in the snow at A Maze in Corn. Between January and early March, this attraction features a corn maze that’s made entirely out of snow instead of corn. It’s a truly unique tourist attraction, and it usually takes less than an hour to traverse the maze successfully. The site also features sleigh rides, ice sculptures to gaze at, and a bonfire to help you stay warm.