Winnipeg



Winnipeg is Manitoba's capital and has more people than the rest of Manitoba combined. It stands midway on the Trans-Canada Highway and railway. With nearly 750,000 inhabitants (2021), The Peg is the metropolis for the Canadian Prairies and is as diverse as the majority of Canada.

Winnipeg is a "gateway to the West", and can be visited for its architecture, museums, and its broad retail market. Among major attractions are the Royal Canadian Mint, St Boniface Cathedral, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Winnipeg is off the tourist trail for most visitors to Canada, but the visitor will experience an authentic and friendly Canadian Prairie city which leaves many pleasantly surprised.

History
The name Winnipeg is a transcription of the western Cree word wi-nipe-k meaning "muddy waters"; the general area was populated for thousands of years by First Nations. The confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, nowadays known as The Forks, was a crossroads of canoe routes travelled by Aboriginal peoples prior to European contact. Winnipeg started out at this spot in 1738 as Fort Rouge, a French outpost for the fur trade. After the Seven Years' War, under the Hudson's Bay Company it became Fort Gibraltar and later Fort Garry. Many trails converged on the fort and later became streets, which is evident when you see the city's somewhat haphazard road layout.

In 1869–70, Winnipeg was the site of the Red River Rebellion, a conflict between the local provisional government of Métis, led by Louis Riel, and newcomers from Eastern Canada. This rebellion led to Manitoba's entry into the Canadian Confederation as Canada's fifth province in 1870. On 8 November 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city.

After the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway across Canada, Winnipeg became a major transportation hub and "Gateway to the West". The city experienced a boom during the early 20th century and for a while was Western Canada's major economic centre. Fortunately for the visitor, the economy slowed around the middle of the century, leaving intact a remarkable collection of period architecture, primarily in the city's downtown Exchange District.

People
Winnipeg is generally a very tolerant city and was the first large city in North America to elect an openly gay mayor. Winnipeg has several LGBT bars and a Pride festival every summer.

Winnipeg is a multicultural city. As of the 2021 census, visible minorities make up 34% of Winnipeg's population and Indigenous people 12%. Despite being only Canada's seventh-largest city, it has the largest populations of both First Nations and Métis (people of mixed European and First Nations ancestry, who form a distinct community within Canada) of any city in the country. Much of Winnipeg's population is of European descent, notably from Germany, Ukraine, France, Scandinavia and Poland. More than a hundred languages are spoken in Winnipeg. In fact, Winnipeg is home to Canada's largest French-speaking population west of Ontario and the Filipino language Tagalog is the second most prevalent mother tongue in Winnipeg. Nevertheless, 99% of the population speaks English fluently. The city celebrates its diversity with the Folklorama festival, the longest running multicultural event of its kind.

Climate
Winnipeg has a humid continental climate with extremes of hot and cold. The longest day of the year lasts for over 16 hours, and the shortest day of the year lasts for 8 hours.

Winnipeg is ranked as Canada's second sunniest city year-round and second for clearest skies year-round. Summers are typically warm and often humid, particularly in July, with frequent nighttime thunderstorms. On average, Winnipeg has 45 days a year where the humidex (combined effect of heat and humidity) reaches above 30 °C. Winnipeg is also known for its high mosquito population, particularly during early summer. Dusk and dawn are the most active time for mosquitoes. June, late August and September tend to provide the most pleasant environment for summer visitors.

Spring and fall tend to be rather contracted seasons, each averaging a little over six weeks. In general, the weather during these seasons is highly variable and rapidly changing. It is typical for the day to start off quite cold in the morning, but heat up considerably in the afternoon. It can be difficult to judge how to dress during this time, so layers are the best option.

Winnipeg has the coldest winter temperatures of any city in North America with a population of over 100,000. Winters in Winnipeg are usually dry, and can feel colder due to the often windy conditions. The winters are long and overnight minima average below -15°C with rare extremes going down to near -40°C, though there is still much to enjoy during these months. Be sure to pay attention to the windchill (combined effect of cold and wind) which can drop below -40 °C/F (exposed skin freezes in less than 10 minutes). Snow cover can be expected from mid-November to late March. The city turns on what is arguably Canada's best display of Christmas lights from late November until well into January.

Airport
There is one major airport serving Winnipeg:

Destinations
Direct flights to Winnipeg within Canada include from Calgary (2 hours), from Churchill (2.5 hours), from Edmonton (1.75-2 hours), from Hamilton (2.5 hours), from Montreal (3 hours). from Ottawa (2.75 hours), from Regina (1.25 hours), from Saskatoon (1.5 hours), from Thompson (1.75-2 hours), from Thunder Bay (1.5 hours), from Toronto (2.5 hours), from Vancouver (2.75 hours), and from numerous smaller destinations in Manitoba, Northern Ontario and Nunavut. Direct flights to Winnipeg from outside Canada include from Minneapolis–St. Paul (1.5 hours). There is non-stop charter and seasonal service to Phoenix, Palm Springs, Orlando, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Airlines
Canadian airlines operating to Winnipeg:

Other airlines:


 * Delta Air Lines
 * United Airlines

Public transit
Public transport is offered by Winnipeg Transit's Route 15 & Route 20 buses which run every 10 to 25 minutes between about 6AM to 1AM weekdays (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays have their own schedule) and will take you downtown in about 30 minutes.

Other ground transportation
There are usually taxi cabs and limo sedans-for-hire waiting at the airport.
 * Taxi: Expect to pay around $20 plus tip (15–20%) for a taxi (room for about 2–3 people depending on luggage) to central Winnipeg. Maximum fare to anywhere in the city is about $55 depending on traffic.
 * Limo or Shuttle: Limo sedan fares (up to 4 people with luggage) are a flat rate, generally $30 and up. Limos can, on occasion, be cheaper than a taxi.

Car rentals

 * Rental: The Winnipeg airport has five car rental companies on-site: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Rental counters are on the main floor of the parkade across from the terminal.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Routes serving Union Station:
 * The Canadian between Toronto and Vancouver with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops. Travel time to Winnipeg from Toronto is 1 day 10.75 hours, from Sudbury is 1 day 3.5 hours, from Portage La Prairie is 2.75 hours, From Saskatoon is 14 hours, from Edmonton is 1 day 1.25 hours, from Jasper is 1 day 8.5 hours, from Kamloops is 1 day 19 hours, and from Vancouver is 2 day 5 hours.
 * The Winnipeg–Churchill completes the 1,700-km journey (over 1,000 mi) to the vast subarctic region of Northern Manitoba in two days. The route travel between Winnipeg and Churchill including stops in Portage la Prairie, Dauphin, Roblin, Kamsack, Canora, Hudson Bay, The Pas, and Thompson. Travel time to Winnipeg from Portage La Prairie is 1.25 hours, from Dauphin is 4.75 hours, from Canora is 8.5 hours, from The Pas is 13.5 hours, from Thompson is 1 day 2.75 hours, and from Churchill is 1 day 21.25 hours. Two trips round trips per week between Winnipeg and Churchill with trips departing from Winnipeg on Tuesdays and Sundays, and trips departing Churchill on Thursdays and Saturdays,

By bus

 * Operates the following bus routes multiple days per week to Winnipeg:
 * From Sioux Lookout via Dryden and Kenora. Travel time to Winnipeg from Sioux Lookout is 6 hours, from Dryden is 4.5 hours, and from Kenora is 2.75 hours. Same day connection is available at Sioux Lookout to and from Thunder Bay.
 * From Balmertown via Red Lake and Kenora. Travel time to Winnipeg from Balmertown is 6.25 hours, from Red Lake is 6 hours, and from Kenora is 2.75 hours.
 * Service to Winnipeg from Flin Flon (11 hours away) and via Portage la Prairie (1.25 hours away), Neepawa (2.25 hours away), Ste. Rose du Lac, Dauphin (4.5 hours away), Swan River (6.75 hours away), and The Pas (9 hours away). Operates three days per week.
 * Service to Winnipeg from Thompson (9.5 hours away) including a stop in Cedar Grove (4.5 hours away). Operates two days per week. Same day transfer at Cedar Grove to and from The Pas and Flin Flon. Travel time to Winnipeg from The Pas is 7.5 hours and from Flin Flon is 9.5 hours.
 * Operates the following two routes multiple days per week between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay:
 * Via Kenora and Dryden. Travel time to Winnipeg from Kenora is 2.75 hours, from Dryden is 4.75 hours, and from Thunder Bay is 8.75 hours.
 * Via Kenora and Fort Frances. Travel time to Winnipeg from Kenora is 2.75 hours, from Fort Frances is 6 hours, and from Thunder Bay is 10 hours.
 * Travel to Winnipeg from Toronto (1 day 7.25 hours) and Ottawa (1 day 8.5 hours) involves timed transfers between bus routes at Sudbury, at Sault Ste. Marie, and at Thunder Bay.
 * Via Kenora and Dryden. Travel time to Winnipeg from Kenora is 2.75 hours, from Dryden is 4.75 hours, and from Thunder Bay is 8.75 hours.
 * Via Kenora and Fort Frances. Travel time to Winnipeg from Kenora is 2.75 hours, from Fort Frances is 6 hours, and from Thunder Bay is 10 hours.
 * Travel to Winnipeg from Toronto (1 day 7.25 hours) and Ottawa (1 day 8.5 hours) involves timed transfers between bus routes at Sudbury, at Sault Ste. Marie, and at Thunder Bay.



By car
Highways serving Winnipeg:
 * Provincial Trunk Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway)
 * From the west, the Highway 1 leads directly to Winnipeg from Regina, becoming Provincial Trunk Highway 1, once it enters Manitoba. Winnipeg is 3 hr 20 min from the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.
 * From the east, Ontario Highway 17 becomes Provincial Trunk Highway 1 at the Manitoba border (at which time it becomes a 4-lane divided highway). The journey from the Ontario border to Winnipeg's outside "Perimeter Highway" is about 1 hr 30 min and about another 30–45 min to downtown, depending on traffic.
 * Provincial Trunk Highway 75
 * From the south, take U.S. Interstate 29, which then becomes Provincial Trunk Highway 75, and Pembina Hwy once inside Winnipeg's city limits. Winnipeg is 1 hour from the Canada–U.S. border and 2 hr 30 min from Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Approximate driving times from nearby cities to Winnipeg are about 8 hours from Saskatoon, 6 hours from Regina, 2 hr 45 min from Kenora, 8 hours from Thunder Bay, 3½ hours from Fargo, 6 hours from Bismarck and 7 hours from Sioux Falls or Minneapolis. It is 14 hours from Edmonton, Calgary or Chicago. Travel from Saskatoon and Edmonton is via Highway 16 and Provincial Trunk Highway 16, until just before Portage la Prairie. Highway 16 and Provincial Trunk Highway 16 are part of the Yellowhead Highway.

Get around
Winnipeg is a large, spread-out city and it can take a while to get around. Unlike most North American cities this size, there is no urban freeway network in the city. Public transportation service is adequate to good in the inner part of the city and on main suburban roads, but only fair to poor in outer suburban areas and some bus routes run only infrequently during the evening or on weekends. Traffic jams, particularly in the downtown area, are common during the rush hour periods which are generally from 7:30–9AM and 3:30–5:30PM Monday to Friday. Much of Winnipeg's downtown real estate is devoted to parking, with ubiquitous and cheap surface lots continuing for multi-block stretches. It is worth considering renting a car, especially if any excursions outside of the city are planned.

Highways: Winnipeg is one of the first Canadian cities of its size to have a ring road (the Perimeter Highway) which provides a by-pass for travellers on the Trans-Canada Highway. Within the city, the Trans-Canada Highway follows regular city streets.

Street names: All streets in Winnipeg have names. Major routes will have both names and route numbers, but will almost always be called by the name. A notable exception is Route 90, which is commonly called Kenaston in the southern half of the city and Route 90 in the northern half. Many streets change names as they wind through the city, which can be extremely confusing, even to locals. The most known example is Route 62, which starts as Salter in the north end of the city, but as it goes south becomes Isabel, Balmoral, Colony, Memorial, Osborne, Dunkirk, and finally Dakota in the south end, with no clear indication when it changes.

One-way streets: Many downtown streets are one-way, which can make navigating downtown quite confusing. One-way streets are rare outside of downtown, except around Polo Park.

No left turns: Many busy streets limit left-hand turns, particularly during rush hour. This is especially prevalent downtown, but is common in the rest of the city as well. In many cases, though, a left turn from a one-way to a one-way is allowed.

Confusion corner: This intersection is mainly where Osborne St and Pembina Hwy (Routes 62 and 42) meet, but other streets connect as well, and there are bus-only lanes. There are many lanes going different directions, and it can be very confusing to know which lane you need to be in, which has given the intersection the name "confusion corner".

North End: The area of the city just north of downtown is known as the North End. This is the poorest part of the city and extra precautions should be taken when travelling through here, especially at night (though most crime is gang-related, rarely involving innocent bystanders). There is a very noticeable drop in the quality of infrastructure when you cross from downtown into the North End, but it is also a very sudden change so it is important to be mindful of your surroundings.

By bus
The city operates a bus service with routes running throughout the city, including one bus rapid transit (BRT) line:

The cash fare is $3.05 for adults, or $2.55 for youth 6–16 and seniors (65 years or older), for which identification is required (as of May 2021). Children 11 and under are free with a fare-paying adult. Drivers will only accept exact change in cash. A transfer can be requested when you pay your fare, which entitles you to ride as many buses as you like within the following 60 minutes. You may also purchase paper passes at a reduced rate of $2.70 ($1.91 for youth and $1.35 for seniors), in strips of 5 or 10, at almost any convenience store. These fares also apply to reloadable electronic peggo card.

There are a variety of passes available, which provide discounts of 22-38%. They can be purchased at any convenience store. The Max 5 pass, available only for adult fares, can be used Monday to Friday, and the Superpass can be used from Monday to Sunday.

Special services

 * Bomber FanFare allows you to ride Transit from the stadium for free by showing your valid game day ticket after Bomber home games. Transit also operates shuttle services to the Bomber stadium.
 * Bike and Bus offers bike racks on the 60, 160 and 162 buses during the summer free of charge. St. Vital Shopping Centre and Osborne Junction have bike lockers.
 * DART provides request bus service to residents living in selected areas of South and South East Winnipeg.
 * Park & Ride allows you to park in designated areas and then catch a Transit bus.
 * Shuttle services are offered for occasions such as the Folk Festival and the Red River Ex.

By taxi
Taxis are licensed in Winnipeg and every driver must have their identification visible. For security purposes, taxi drivers are protected by a shield and have video surveillance. By law, fares are non-negotiable and determined by a meter. Smoking and open alcohol are not allowed. The most common taxi model is the smaller Toyota Prius.

Winnipeg Taxicab Tariff: Starting fee (as of May 2021): $3.75 with 100 m, then $0.16 for each additional 100 m + $0.16 for each 18.4 seconds of time. Whenever the taxi stops, there's a "waiting time charge" of $0.16 for each 18.4 seconds of metered waiting time. A tip of 15–20% is customary, but sales taxes are included. A 10-km ride would cost $20.95 plus tip.

By car
Driving is the easiest way to get around Winnipeg. On-street parking, which ranges from $1–2/hr can usually be found in popular areas if you are willing to search. During rush hour, most of these spaces will turn into no stopping zones in order to facilitate traffic flow. If these are unavailable, there are parkades or parking lots which will provide a variety of hourly rates. These are roughly twice as expensive as street parking, but they are all over the downtown area. If visiting The Forks, there is a large parkade and two lots which provide free parking for visitors.

Auto theft is a serious problem in Winnipeg. Anti-theft devices are strongly recommended, especially immobilizers. Never leave your vehicle running and never leave any objects visible inside, especially aftermarket stereo equipment.

By bicycle
Bicycles are allowed on all Winnipeg roads, though drivers encountered may feel differently. The City of Winnipeg provides a cycling map which is available online or at one of many bicycle shops. Some roads have bicycle lanes (shared with buses) and sharrows. Suggested cycling routes are marked by road signs, but may venture into residential areas with many stop signs. Riding on sidewalks is illegal, but this law is rarely enforced. The most problematic areas are typically bridges where no bicycle infrastructure exists, such as the Midtown Bridge and the Louise Bridge. Cyclists may be better off walking their bikes on the sidewalk on these bridges during rush hours. Bicycle theft is common throughout all areas of the city. Seats and wheels should be secured with a sturdy lock.

Some dedicated active transportation paths exist. Many of these will follow along Winnipeg's rivers, making for a very scenic, but meandering, ride. Spring flooding may affect the conditions on routes near the rivers. The Forks makes an excellent starting/stopping point for scenic bike rides—many paths begin and end there, and there are many restaurants and patios to relax in before and after rides. Some suggested scenic routes are:


 * Along the Assiniboine River, between The Forks and Assiniboine Park (approximately 20 km round-trip). The north side of the river will take cyclists starting from The Forks past the Legislature, through Wolseley, and near Polo Park mall. The south side of the river will take cyclists starting from Assiniboine Park along Wellington Cres (one of the richest areas of the city) and through Osborne Village.
 * Along the Red River, between The Forks and the Bridge Drive-In (a locally famous ice cream shop) (approximately 15 km round-trip). This path is almost entirely on active transportation paths, going through natural areas and recreation parks in the Riverview area.
 * From The Forks to Whittier Park (approximately 5 km round-trip). This route will go over Esplanade Riel to Whittier Park in St. Boniface, which contains the reconstructed Fort Gibraltar. This route can be extended by following Tache Ave south to Marion St, which will take cyclists past the St. Boniface Cathedral and the St. Boniface Museum.
 * The Duff Roblin Parkway Trail (approximately 50 km one-way). Starting in the south of the city, this trail follows the Red River Floodway around the east side of the city to Birds Hill Provincial Park, 24 km north of the city. This trail is a peaceful gravel path through the prairie with no intersections. There are no amenities along this trail until you enter the park.
 * In January and February, the River Trail is available and can be ridden on bicycle (it has an ice trail for skaters and a packed snow trail for walkers and cyclists).

Many of the paths beside the river will also include "monkey trails"—unofficial trails that offer some challenge to mountain bikers. Due to frequent flooding and erosion, these may include muddy sections, fallen trees, and steep drop-offs into the river.

In the winter, snow and ice on roads can make cycling treacherous. Major routes, especially downtown, will be cleared quickly and will have sand applied, which will help with safety but also make for a messy ride. These conditions will generally last from December to March. Bike paths and lanes may take much longer to be cleared, if they are cleared at all. The right-hand lane is often the iciest, and frostbite is a reality for the poorly equipped rider.

In springtime (March and April), melting snow can create very large puddles and potholes and render off-road trails unusable.

On foot
Winnipeg is generally not a very walkable city. Because municipal law mandates that all new buildings must contain a lot of parking between the sidewalk and the building, pedestrians will be confronted with a morass of cars in all directions. Winnipeg's main arteries all have boulevards and are extremely wide by world standards, with Main St having ten lanes where it meets Portage Ave downtown. However, this pedestrian-unfriendliness is primarily perceived rather than real. Virtually all streets contain sidewalks on both sides running for the street's entire length and stoplight crossings are frequent even on highways.

Walking across Portage & Main is prohibited and physically impeded by concrete barricades. Pedestrians must cross this famous intersection through an underground concourse, which has a variety of entry points in or near the office towers on all four corners. Walking distance from Portage & Main to:
 * The Forks: 10–15 minutes.
 * St. Boniface: 15–20 minutes.
 * Osborne Village: 20 minutes.
 * Corydon Ave: 30 minutes.

Interesting walks in central Winnipeg:


 * Exchange District, all around.
 * Broadway from Osborne to Main.
 * Osborne St from River to Pembina.
 * River Walks along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers (notably from the Legislature to The Forks).
 * Esplanade Riel from The Forks to St. Boniface.
 * Tache Ave and Provencher Ave in St. Boniface.

Winnipeg Skywalk
As it can get very cold during Winnipeg's winters, the downtown area has a network of tunnels and skywalks. The Skywalk is a system of 14 skyways and 7 tunnels connecting 38 buildings and allowing for a maximum protected walk of 2 km. As far east as the Fairmont Hotel east of Main St all the way west to One Canada Centre on Portage Ave (across from The Bay), it connects you to all of the buildings around Portage & Main, Winnipeg Square, Cityplace and Portage Place malls, the Millennium Library (Winnipeg's central library branch) and the MTS Centre arena. It has many shops along the way, making travelling during the winter a lot easier.

Parks

 * Located within Assiniboine Park:
 * Assiniboine Park Conservatory.
 * Assiniboine Park Zoo: daily 9AM-5PM; adult $21.50, 60+ or student $18.75, child 3-17 $12 (Sep 2021). Polar bears, red pandas, kangaroos, bison, a very rare white bison, and many other animals, birds and amphibians.
 * Leo Mol Sculpture Garden.
 * Lyric Theatre.
 * The Pavilion Gallery Museum.
 * Winnie the Bear statue.
 * Winnie the Bear statue.

Sports




Events
The city is home to several events.

Buy
Provincial Sales Tax (PST) in Manitoba is 7% and Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Canada is 5%. Prices generally do not include tax, so expect your purchases to cost an additional 12%.

It is customary in Winnipeg that all prices are set by a price tag and it is uncommon for retailers to bargain.

It is common for smaller shops to close at 6PM, while large stores and malls will close around 9PM on weekdays. Weekends have reduced shopping hours, especially Sundays. Stores are only allowed to open at 9AM on Sundays and must close by 6PM, with certain exceptions (such as convenience stores). There are a few large chain stores that are open 24 hours or until midnight, such as Walmart, Shopper's Drug Mart and Superstore.

Eat
Winnipeg residents love food. There is an amazing array of restaurants catering to every taste and budget. Tipping is customary in Winnipeg and is not included in the price of the food. Some restaurants may automatically add a gratuity charge for large groups. Tips typically range from 10–20% Local cuisine includes:
 * Winnipeg goldeye, a smoked fish available at most grocery stores and fish markets.
 * Winnipeg-style rye bread, best bought unsliced directly from the bakery.
 * Winnipeg-style cream cheese is a good accompaniment for Gunn's bagels.
 * Fresh pickerel filets and cheeks.
 * Russian mints
 * Manitoba maple syrup
 * Kubasa or kielbasa, a ready-to-eat Eastern European pork garlic sausage smoked daily.
 * Mennonite farmer's sausage (for frying or barbecuing).
 * Chili Burgers
 * Tourtière, a Québécois meat pie.
 * Québécois desserts like sucre à la crême (similar to fudge) and tarte à sucre (like pecan pie, minus pecans).
 * Indigenous foods like elk, bison, and bannock.
 * Honey dill dipping sauce for things like chicken fingers and fries. Can be ordered at almost any restaurant in Winnipeg or bought in some stores.

Drink
The sale of alcohol is regulated by the Government of Manitoba through the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC, or the "LC"). All alcohol is sold through the MLCC's Liquor Marts. Beer and wine can be sold through beer vendors or wine markets. Any establishment selling alcohol must be licensed and follow MLCC rules, such as minimum drink prices and last call at 2AM.

The legal drinking age in Manitoba is 18. Alcohol can only be consumed in residences or licensed establishments, not in public. The legal blood alcohol contact (BAC) limit for driving is 0.05. Taxis are common at popular night spots. Buses run infrequently at night and stop running before 2AM.

Winnipeg is home to some local breweries:

Nightspots
Parking will be difficult in the popular areas, especially Saturday nights.


 * Corydon Ave. Packed patios during the summer, the place for late night eats and drinks all year round.
 * Osborne Village. Home of the underground scene and late night food and drinks.
 * Exchange District. The main dance clubs in Winnipeg can be found in the Exchange District.

Dance clubs
Most clubs and bars will insist on seeing identification for every patron, partly for security purposes.

Sleep


All major chain hotels have properties in Winnipeg. As well as in the downtown area, there are numerous hotels near the airport, near Polo Park Shopping Centre, and on Pembina Hwy South. Cheap motels can be found throughout the city. The older hotels on Main St should be avoided at all costs.

Stay safe
Winnipeg has a moderately high crime rate by Canadian standards, but low violent crime by American or global standards. Much crime is gang or alcohol related and rarely involves tourists who exercise the same degree of caution they would in any other urban centre. Areas where higher degree of caution is advised at night include areas north of City Hall on Main St and the area surrounding Central Park.

Panhandlers are less numerous in Winnipeg compared to cities like Vancouver and Victoria, BC and they are very seldom aggressive, however displays of obvious wealth such as jewellery and expensive digital cameras should be kept to a minimum. It is best to kindly refuse panhandlers and keep walking.

As in any city, common sense should prevail. Never leave a vehicle unlocked and under no circumstances should any object be left in the car interior where it can be seen, no matter what the value (includes gloves, clothing, tools, etc.) Keep all items in the trunk. Most importantly, never leave any coins, no matter what the amount in your ashtray or console. An individual with drugs or alcohol dependency will not hesitate to smash a car window even for less than $1.

If you rent a vehicle, ensure with your rental agency that it is equipped with an immobilizer. If you drive your own vehicle here, Manitoba Public Insurance offers a  most-at-risk vehicle assessment. While this is aimed at those intending to register vehicles in Manitoba, tourists may use this to consider if their vehicle is at an elevated risk for theft. Out of province tourists may also consult with their automobile insurance agent.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala
 * 🇮🇸 Iceland
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Birds Hill Provincial Park
Featuring hills and ridges formed by ancient glaciers, this 35km² park 24km northeast of Winnipeg on Hwy 59 has a lake, oak and aspen forests, native prairie wildflowers, deer, waterfowl and songbirds. Facilities include camping, swimming, picnic sites, a riding stable, a restaurant, a beach concession and a convenience store. There are 30 km of trails for walking and cross-country skiing and 7.2 km of paved bicycle and roller blading trails. Every July the park hosts the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Go next
Winnipeg is a great starting point to begin exploring the province of Manitoba. Manitoba has many recreational opportunities, including canoeing, fishing, cycling, and cross-country skiing.
 * Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada, 15 min north of Winnipeg
 * Oak Hammock Marsh, 20 min north of Winnipeg
 * Flights and trains to Churchill, a favourite Manitoba oceanfront spot for polar bears, are available from Winnipeg. There is no road.
 * The Gimli Icelandic Festival (Islendingadagurinn) in Gimli (Manitoba) (1 hr north on Hwy 8, first weekend of August) is the second oldest continuous ethnic festival in North America. It includes contests and a parade.
 * Grand Beach Provincial Park (100 km northeast on Hwy 59) is famous for its beautiful white sand fresh water beaches.
 * Whiteshell Provincial Park (90 minutes east of Winnipeg via Highway 1 or Highway 44, or VIA Rail Service to Brereton Lake) offers great camping, hiking, and boating.
 * The Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach (1 hour southeast of Winnipeg) is representative of Mennonite villages found throughout Southern Manitoba at the turn of the century, recounting the pioneer stories of Russian Mennonites and their migration to Canada. The north side illustrates early settlement buildings while the south side shows the gradual shift to various business enterprises.
 * , 19 km north of the city on Highway 8, has scheduled service to the Manitoba settlements Berens River, Bloodvein River, Garden Hill, Gods Lake Narrows, Gods Lake, Little Grand Rapids, Oxford House, Red Sucker Lake, and St. Theresa Point, and the Northern Ontario settlements Deer Lake, Sandy Lake, and Poplar Hill. Many of these places are home to various fishing lodges.