Summer - Attractions

Winnipeg’s all-star attractions are back at it this summer, offering you experiences that range from world-class and awe-inspiring to tranquil and whimsical, and some sporty numbers too. 

Looking for a great Winnipeg tour experience? Visit up to five top-tier attractions while saving up to 35 per cent on admissions with the  Winnipeg Attractions Pass. Purchase the pass, add it to your phone’s home screen for convenient access, and start saving when you visit the Manitoba Museum, The Royal Canadian Mint, FortWhyte Alive, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and The Canadian Museum for Human Rights.   

Marquee attractions    

Look up at  Assiniboine Park Zoo, and you can see polar bears swimming overhead in a stunning Churchill-replica habitat, goats crossing bridges and even dinosaurs looking down from the treetops!  

Along with the show-stealing bears, your family will encounter snow leopards, Amur tigers, gibbons, kangaroos and muskox in the zoo, a merry band of domesticated animals at Aunt Sally’s Farm and 17 life-sized animatronic ‘terrible lizards’ as part of Dinosaurs UnCovered in the forested trail.  

Assiniboine Park itself has no shortage of attractions either. The Leaf is now open with its incredible biomes and gardens, the Leo Mol Sculpture Gardens is a top spot for tranquillity and public art, and the Children’s Playground is a super fun setup for the whole family. Plus, you can explore the Park’s endless paths by walking or renting novelty pedal-powered vehicles from Bee-2-Gether Bikes.  

The city’s other central draw for tourists and locals alike —  The Forks — has countless ways to entertain you.  

From The Forks Historic Port, take a river tour onboard  Splash Dash River Tours, where saucy captains paint a historic picture as you watch the city slide past on the banks. The port is surrounded by one of Western Canada’s largest patios, providing a spot to sip on interesting beer and wine from The Common under the shade of the trees and watch boats go by.    

In front of the market, hop aboard a tour from the  Winnipeg Trolley Company or do some shopping inside. Cross the Historic Rail Bridge and enter the Indigenous-led area called Niizhoziibean, where you’ll behold awe-inspiring works of public art like the 30-foot-tall sculpture Niimamaa. The Forks grounds are also home to the Children’s Museum, Manitoba Theatre for Young People and Parks Canada, the latter of which offers interactive walking tours.  

Marvellous museums   

Of course, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) is also located at The Forks—not that you could miss it. Within its towering stone and glass façade, you’ll climb from darkness to light through interactive galleries that spark dialogue and urge us all to work toward a better world.   

From the Museum’s Tower of Hope, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Saint-Boniface, an area that is a must-visit in the summer. Its charming streets feature no shortage of cafés, patios, galleries, locally owned shops, bakeries and so much history. A fantastic way to experience the area is through  Tourisme Riel, which holds events, hosts tours and provides info, all from one easy-to-find spot at its offices located in the old City Hall at 219 Provencher Blvd.   

Within the visitor centre, watch the film At the Heart of Manitoba’s Francophone Community before heading out to explore sites like Saint-Boniface Cathedral and Cemetery — home to Louis Riel’s grave and remarkable architecture that combines old and new, and Saint-Boniface Museum — where Métis and francophone history is presented in Winnipeg’s oldest building, which is also the largest oak structure in North America.    

To dive into more history, set your sights on the  Manitoba Museum, located downtown, just a short walk from Portage and Main. The museum offers something for everyone, from life-sized retro dioramas and out-of-this-world Planetarium shows to captivating experiences like hopping aboard a life-sized 17th-century replica ship that sailed across the Atlantic in the Nonsuch Gallery. Plus, there’s no shortage of incredible specimens and fossils, including a 90-million-year-old intact juvenile pliosaur that once swam the region where you’ll be standing.    

Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq is a can’t-miss. This celebrated institution is home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit Art and works spanning the Renaissance to the current period in various mediums. The newest massive exhibition in Qaumajuq, Inuit Sanaugangit, is a survey of Inuit artistic expression featuring nearly 400 works produced between 200 BCE to the present day.  

Get sporty, then get relaxing   

If you’re looking to cheer on the home teams, Winnipeg has several options this summer. Right downtown at Shaw Park, you can catch American Association baseball as the Winnipeg Goldeyes swing for the fences in this beautiful little ballpark brimming with local food and beer options.  

Down at Investors Group Field (IG Field) at the University of Manitoba (U of M), you can catch CPL soccer courtesy of Valour FC, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be looking to make it three Grey Cups in four years as they kick off the CFL season as favourites. Downtown at Canada Life Centre, our newest professional sports team – the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League – have 10 home games this summer.  

If relaxing is more your thing, Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature is always a good call. During the summer months, its beach beckons with mist areas, lounge chairs and lunch from its beachside wood-fired kitchen. The whole outdoor spa itself is equally enchanting with heated hammocks, thermal pools, steam rooms, saunas and excellent al fresco dining from the Restö.

Visitor Information

21 Forks Market Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3C 4T7
1 855 PEG CITY (734-2489)

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