What is there to do in Winnipeg on a train trip?

Winnipeg is a key travel hub for journeys north to Churchill and a major passenger stop on VIA Rail’s cross-country Canadian route. Its central location and long history as a railway hub have made Winnipeg an important meeting point for rail routes across the Prairies and Canada since the late 1800s.

Both train journeys offer a comfortable way to travel, with sleeping accommodations, meals, spacious areas to relax, and attentive onboard staff. You can settle in, watch the scenery change outside your window, and enjoy a relaxed pace of travel.

1. The Forks National Historic Site

Located where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, The Forks is an iconic cultural hub in Winnipeg. The site has a 6,000-year-old history and is known as the Gateway to the West. This site was declared a National Historic Site due to its significance in western Canadian history.

The Forks was a historical meeting place for Indigenous people in the area, and then colonial traders. You can learn about the history of The Forks by taking a guided tour of this historic site.

Now, more than 4 million visitors still come to The Forks each year. The 56-acre site features a great mix of shops with local markets, tempting dining options, and a constantly changing slate of entertainment and events.

Parking can fill up fast during peak times. Since Union Station sits right beside The Forks, it's an easy, stress-free stroll directly off the train.

2. The Forks Market

Enjoy a local shopping excursion at The Forks Market, where you'll find items ranging from fresh produce and baked goods to the best wine to pair them with. These shops sell aromatherapy products, kitchen essentials, and Indigenous arts and crafts.

You can reach The Forks Market by car or by public transit.

3.  Canadian Museum for Human Rights

If you’re interested in human rights and history, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is one of Winnipeg’s notable attractions. It is the first museum in the world dedicated to exploring human rights, from their history and evolution to the challenges they face today.

Located just behind The Forks, the museum houses seven floors of galleries displaying varied human rights themes. Numerous permanent exhibits themed around collective rights, women's rights, protection of human rights, and human rights promotion are displayed. Beyond the exhibits, the building itself is worth seeing, with its striking architecture, irregular forms, and bold geometric design.

4. Assiniboine Park

Enjoy 1,100 acres of green space at Assiniboine Park, a popular destination in the heart of Winnipeg. The park attracts millions of visitors each year and offers a mix of gardens, walking paths, attractions, and outdoor activities.

The park is home to popular attractions including the English Garden, Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, Assiniboine Park Zoo, theatres, and public art. Its trails and gardens are ideal for a leisurely walk, while The Leaf offers year-round indoor gardens and horticultural displays. Allow at least three hours to explore the park and its attractions.

Most of its famous attractions, like the English Garden, The Leaf, outdoor gardens, The Pavilion, and the natural playground, are open throughout the year. 

There is free entry into the park for everybody, though some of the attractions do require the purchase of tickets

5. Assiniboine Park Zoo

Located within Assiniboine Park, the zoo is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Winnipeg. The zoo houses numerous animal species in environments resembling their natural habitats.

Popular exhibits include the polar bears at Journey to Churchill, Shirley Richardson Family Farm, Toucan Ridge, and Animals of Asia. Other highlights include the McFeetors Heavy Horse Centre and the Grasslands & Boreal Forests exhibits.

The zoo also has gift shops, playgrounds, and restaurants, making it a convenient stop for families. One of its unique play areas is Shirley Richardson Family Farm, where children can interact with goats.

Assiniboine Park is free for visitors, but the zoo charges entry fees.

6. The Exchange District

The Exchange District is known for its well-preserved turn-of-the-century architecture, including terracotta buildings and stone warehouses along its narrow streets. Often referred to as the “Chicago of the North,” the district can be explored on a guided walking tour, which typically lasts about 90 minutes. You can also browse its shops, restaurants, and bars.   

7. Royal Canadian Mint Tours 

These tours showcase the history, art, and science of coin-making. The Royal Canadian Mint facility in Winnipeg is a massive, high-speed manufacturing plant where every single Canadian circulation coin is made, along with coins for dozens of other countries. Tours are available in English and French and run Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the winter season, and seven days a week during the summer months.

8. WAG-Qaumajuq (the Winnipeg Art Gallery) 

With over 27,000 artworks in its permanent collection, the gallery is home to Canadian and international art, including nearly 14,000 pieces of Inuit art. It has the world's most extensive collection of contemporary Inuit art, showcasing works by the people of the Arctic region. The displays are exhibited under various themes like Canadian Art, Decorative Art, Inuit Art, International Art, and Photography.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is about a 20-minute walk from The Forks Market.

9. Canada Life Centre

Located in downtown Winnipeg, Canada Life Centre is an indoor arena home to the famous local hockey teams, the Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose. It hosts national and international ice hockey, curling, and other sporting events. Sports fans from across the country visit this place for its world-class viewing experiences. Check the event calendar and book your tickets to avoid disappointment.

10. Old Market Square

Located in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, Old Market Square is a popular gathering place surrounded by historic red-brick buildings. The area is home to independent shops, antique stores, cafés, pubs, restaurants, and clothing stores. During the summer, the outdoor stage hosts concerts, performances, and other events.

11. Assiniboia Downs Horse Racing Track

You can watch live Thoroughbred horse races select evenings from May to September at the Assiniboia Downs Gaming and Events Centre. Operated by the Manitoba Jockey Club, you can wager on your favourite horses — if you are 18 or older.

Featuring over 60,000 square feet of event space and grandstand seating, Assiniboia Downs is located at the corner of Perimeter Highway and Portage Avenue.

12. See the Northern Lights at Gangler’s Lodge

For those looking to witness the Northern Lights, a quick 2.5-hour flight from Winnipeg to Gangler's North Seal River Lodge offers a chance to experience dancing auroras in a remote subarctic setting. Sitting on the shores of Egenolf Lake, it's surrounded by over 5 million acres of exclusive land filled with lakes, eskers, and wildlife. The main lodge is where you can relax, socialize, and enjoy meals, while private log cabins (one-bedroom or two-bedroom) offer a comfortable place to sleep.

13. Attend Festival du Voyageur

Winnipeg's Saint-Boniface neighbourhood hosts the 10-day Festival du Voyageur winter celebration, the largest winter festival in Western Canada, to commemorate the history and culture of the fur trading era, alongside Métis and Indigenous heritage. The festival usually takes place in mid-February, and visitors often admire snow sculptures, listen to lively music, attend concerts and enjoy French Canadian cuisine. It's one of the best things to do in Manitoba to experience local history, culture, and Winnipeg's vibrant winter atmosphere.

14. Riding Mountain National Park

Located near Winnipeg, Riding Mountain National Park encompasses more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 sq mi) of diverse landscapes, including lush forests, rolling prairie grasslands, and serene lakes. It boasts over 400 kilometres (249 mi) of hiking trails, offering opportunities to explore the park's boreal forests and iconic rolling hills. Pristine lakes, like Clear Lake, are ideal for water-based activities such as kayaking and swimming.

15. Folklorama

Folklorama is Winnipeg’s premier multicultural festival and one of the world’s largest and longest-running celebrations of cultural diversity. Held over two weeks in August, the festival brings communities from around the world together through immersive cultural pavilions across the city, with different pavilions featured during each week of the event.

Manitoba is known for its vast landscapes, unique northern wildlife, rich Indigenous culture, cold winters, prime Northern Lights viewing, and Churchill, the polar bear capital of the world.