Are you planning a long weekend in Winnipeg, but not sure what to do? Look no further! I’ve created this amazing Winnipeg itinerary.
But be warned, it’s an action-packed itinerary filled with all the fun things to do in Winnipeg. I’m talking about:
- world-renown museums
- natural haven to escape the city
- historical tours
From the thought-provoking Canadian Museum of Human Rights to the awe-inspiring Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and the unique FortWhyte Alive floating boardwalk trail, your days will be filled with discovery and adventure.
I’ve visited Winnipeg this summer with my boys as a fun 3-day getaway on our long cross-country road trip. Winnipeg is worth a visit.
Whether you’re a history buff, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking to immerse yourself in the local culture, this Winnipeg itinerary is for you.
TABLE OF CONTENT
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Day 1: Assiniboine Park,
On your first day, start your adventure at the Assiniboine Park. It’s a wonderful place just 15 minutes from downtown Winnipeg and the airport. The park is huge, so you’ll be spending the entire day here.
The Pavilion Art Galleries
You’ll start your exploration at the Pavilion Art Galleries. It’s a beautiful building that looks like a fancy Swiss chalet. You’ll go to the 2nd floor to look at the Winnie the Pooh gallery.
This gallery throws you back in time with the enchanted stories of Winnie the Pooh. You’ll find objects, archives, books, and art to tell about Winnie-the-Pooh’s different sides.
Winnie-the-Pooh is a famous teddy bear character in children’s books by A. A. Milne. The character was based on a real bear from Northern Ontario and was the companion of a Winnipeg veterinarian, Harry Colebourn, during World War I. The exhibition lets visitors learn about Winnie-the-Pooh’s history and how he became a famous story and cultural icon.
Natural Playground
Then, head to the Natural Playground. It’s just next to the Pavillion. You’ll have to go through a fun little special door. The kids will love it.
The playground is perfect for children of all ages. You’ll find a big slide, multiple modules and even a sand pit. Kids can play for hours.
Before leaving the playground, don’t miss the famous Winnie the Pooh statue. It’s located near the main entrance of the playground.
Lunch at Park Cafe
When you’re ready head to Park Café for lunch. It’s a great place for families. You can sit by big windows and look at the green park and a duck pond. They serve soups, sandwiches, salads, and burgers.
In summer, enjoy your meal on a quiet patio and then take a walk in the beautiful English Garden.
Assiniboine Park Zoo
Spend all the afternoon at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.
This zoo is open all year, with over 80 acres to explore. One of the best parts is the Journey to Churchill exhibit. Here, you can see polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic foxes, wolves, and other animals from the north. It’s like visiting the Arctic!
Seeing the polar bears was definitely the highlight of our visit. Seeing them playing in the water from the inside tunnel was so cool. I’m so happy that we now have polar bears at the zoo in Calgary. They come from the Assiniboine Park Zoo.
The zoo also teaches you about nature, the climate, and how to protect animals.
If the kids are tired of walking around, you can rent strollers at the zoo’s entrance or take the free little train. It’s fun to see the zoo’s highlights without much effort.
The Leaf
End your day with a visit to The Leaf. It’s a new indoor garden in Assiniboine Park and it’s amazing. It’s like walking through different parts of the world!
There are four areas:
- a tropical place,
- a Mediterranean spot,
- a display house and
- a butterfly garden.
You’ll see many different plants and even Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall. It’s open all year, so it’s always a good time to go.
Our favorite part was visiting the butterfly garden on the top level. The kids had the opportunity to have some butterflies land on them. It was magical.
Check-in at the hotel
When you’re done exploring, check in at your hotel. We recommend the Residence Inn by Marriott Winnipeg. It’s a 10-minute drive from downtown and close to shopping, restaurants, and movies.
The hotel has big rooms with kitchens, free internet, and breakfast. There’s also a pool with a slide and a splash park. It’s perfect for relaxing after a busy day.
🛏️ Find price and availabilities for the Residence Inn by Marriott Winnipeg
For dinner, try a local restaurant. Winnipeg has lots of family-friendly places. You can choose from pizza, East Indian and Hakka cuisine, Chinese food, Middle Eastern dishes, burgers, and Japanese sushi. Some good options are
- A Little Pizza Heaven,
- Copper Chimney,
- Good Earth,
- Les Saj,
- Yafa Cafe,
- The Burger Place,
- St. James Burger & Chip Co., and
- Sushi Cushi.
These restaurants are all close to the hotel, so it’s easy to find something everyone will like.
Day 2: Saint Boniface & Museums
Start your morning with a complimentary breakfast at the Residence Inn. Enjoy fresh, hot, and healthy options to fuel up for the day ahead. Or maybe try the Stella’s Café And Bakery.
PRO-TIP: For this day, I recommend parking at The Fork. Paid parking is available.
The Fork National Historic Site
Enjoy some free time at The Forks National Historic Site, Manitoba’s number one attraction. The Forks is a four-season destination with walking tours, a bustling market, local shops, and food kiosks from some of Winnipeg’s best restaurants.
This area has been a meeting place for Indigenous peoples, fur traders, and settlers. Today, it is a vibrant public space that blends the past and the present. The site features a variety of outdoor sculptures, historic rail cars, and a recreated prairie garden. You can also find the famous Park’s Canada red Adirondack chairs.
Old Saint-Boniface
When ready, head to Old Saint-Boniface for a walking tour of the French Quarter. From the Fork, you can walk across the Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge, and you’ll land in Saint-Boniface, the largest French community in Western Canada.
The Old Saint-Boniface Walking Tour starts at the Tourism Riel offices, inside the hotel-de-Ville. This 1.5-hour guided tour begins at 10:30 am from the Tourisme Riel offices. You’ll learn about the people, buildings, and events shaping Old St. Boniface.
This area is known for its unique architecture and the vibrant spirit of the Franco-Manitobans. The tour will end at the Saint-Boniface Museum.
As a French Canadian from Quebec, this tour and area of Winnipeg was special for me. I loved the visit. But the tour could have been more exciting for my kids. There was a lot of interesting information and historical facts that my kids were too little to appreciate. I recommend it for older children.
Saint-Boniface Museum
Next, visit the Saint-Boniface Museum, the oldest building in Winnipeg and North America’s largest oak log structure. This museum is rich in history, showcasing the heritage of French-Canadian and Métis peoples.
It’s also home to Canada’s largest collection of Louis Riel artifacts.
The Forks Market
For lunch, head to The Forks Market. This popular tourist spot has a history of over 6,000 years and offers a variety of dining experiences. You can choose from organic bakery goods, ethnic cuisine, casual restaurants, fine dining, and a food hall with craft beer and wine.
We were not super fancy and had hot dogs and pull pork sandwiches from Wienerpeg. The kids also had a delicious frozen yogurt from Frogurts and I treated myself with a comforting Latte from Fools & Horses Coffee Company.
Children’s Museum
Then, take the kids to the Children’s Museum. It’s in Manitoba’s oldest train repair facility, right by the Fork.
This museum features 12 permanent galleries that encourage creative learning. Highlights include a 1952 diesel locomotive, a 1910 Pullman passenger coach, and interactive exhibits like the Lasagna Lookout and the Illusion Tunnel. There’s also a special area just for toddlers.
The museum is targeted to little kids. My 6-year-old son had fun, but I think he was at the limit. My two years old LOVED it.
Manitoba Museum
Next, visit the Manitoba Museum. It’s an award-winning heritage and science center. You’ll need to drive to get to the museum. It’s a short drive.
PRO-TIP: Use the Winnipeg Attractions Pass to visit some of the city’s most beloved points of interest, including the following museums and attractions: Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Manitoba Museum, Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Royal Canadian Mint or FortWhyte Alive.
It offers a journey through Manitoba’s past, present, and future, including a Planetarium and Science Gallery. The museum is recognized for its variety of specialty exhibits.
I recommend visiting the museum in this order:
- start with the museum galleries first (don’t miss The Nonsuch Gallery. You’ll take a step back to 17th century in Deptford, England, to a wharf lined with businesses and where a ship, the small ketch Nonsuch).
- head down to the science gallery, where kids can have fun with all the hands-on exhibits.
- if time allows, watch one of the movies at the Planetarium.
Dinner at Corrientes
End your day with dinner at Corrientes, an Argentinean-style pizza place in the Exchange District. Enjoy unique pizza toppings like shaved Angus rib eye, corn, smoked salmon, pickerel cheeks, and empanadas.
This restaurant offers a taste of Argentina right in Winnipeg.
Day 3: Nature & Museums
Start your morning with a delicious breakfast at the Original Pancake House. This family-friendly restaurant is known for its all-day breakfasts and classic diner fare. They serve crepes, waffles, burgers, soups, and salads. Don’t miss trying their legendary giant apple pancake – it’s a must-try!
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
After breakfast, head to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. Located at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, this museum is a treat for aviation enthusiasts.
It features more than 20 aircraft and 17 exhibits showcasing Western Canada’s aviation history. You’ll find inspiring stories of pioneering aviators, interactive exhibits, and modern audio-visual displays. There’s also an Observation Lounge where you can watch planes on the runways, a gift shop, and the Galaxy Exploration Zone for kids.
Kids will love the chance to go outside and use a paddle plane.
FortWhyte Alive
Next, visit FortWhyte Alive to experience nature and wildlife. Here, you can see a prairie bison herd and other wildlife, explore forest trails, walk on a marsh boardwalk, and visit an interactive museum and aquarium. It’s a great place for fishing, cycling, paddling, hiking, and wildlife watching.
The floating marsh boardwalk trail was a fun thing to do.
Lunch at Buffalo Stone Cafe
For lunch, enjoy a meal at the Buffalo Stone Cafe located in FortWhyte Alive. The cafe offers a beautiful view of the lake, forest, and wetlands. They serve homestyle soups, grilled sandwiches, and a signature bison burger.
Royal Canadian Mint
In the afternoon, take a 10-minute drive east of downtown to the Royal Canadian Mint . This facility, known for its 110-foot tall glass tower, produces billions of coins yearly.
This museum can also be visited on a guided tour to see the coin-making process from a viewing gallery. It’s super interesting and the tour is only about 45 to 60 minutes long.
The Mint also has a display of 75 flags representing countries that have coins made in Winnipeg.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Then, drive back to the Fork area to visit the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. It’s the only global museum dedicated to human rights education and awareness. It combines modern technology, storytelling, and art to convey the importance of human rights.
The building’s architecture is amazing. You can also take a glass elevator ride to the Israel Asper Tower of Hope viewing platform. You’ll have a great view of the city.
But honestly, I feel like my kids were a little too young to understand and appreciate this museum. There is an interactive Inclusion Game on the second floor in the Canadian Journeys that kids will love. It’s a motion‐sensor Lights of Inclusion game in the gallery’s center. Kids can watch how their movements activate a “bubble” of colored light on the floor. But it definitely better to go with older kids.
Final Thoughts: 3-Day Winnipeg Itinerary
If you have a long weekend in Winnipeg, this itinerary will give you a taste of what the city offers. It’s a busy itinerary but a fun one.
You’ll sew cool animals at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, learn about planes at the Royal Aviation Museum, and money-making at the Royal Canadian Mint. Plus, you’ll explore nature at FortWhyte Alive and see lots of history at the Manitoba Museum.
You’ll do so much and make lots of memories. Winnipeg has lots to do and see, and you really got to experience it!
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