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Compiled by the Road Trip Manitoba team
Last updated on November 21, 2024
As local Winnipeggers, it’s difficult to imagine only having two days to explore Winnipeg; there are so many incredible things to do in the city that it’s almost impossible to narrow it down to only one weekend!
But if you only have two days in the city, we want to make sure you experience some of the best of what the city has to offer. From amazing restaurants to interesting museums to lively concerts, here are our top recommendations for the perfect weekend in Winnipeg.
And remember: we have an entire article devoted to things to do in Winnipeg if you’re looking for even more advice!
A note on getting around Winnipeg: while the downtown area is fairly walkable, Winnipeg’s main attractions are quite spread out.
For this weekend itinerary, we’ve recommended restaurants and attractions around the city, but all are within about a 15-minute drive. We recommend renting a car for the weekend, but ride-share options, such as Uber and Lyft, are also available (approximately $10-15 per ride). The only public transportation in Winnipeg is the Winnipeg Transit bus system, which runs frequently to all major attractions listed here. If you want to keep your itinerary limited to the downtown area, check out our article on things to do in Winnipeg’s downtown.
And make sure to check out our article on the best hotels in Winnipeg so you know where to stay when you’re in the city! For this itinerary, we recommend staying downtown.
Itinerary for A Fun Weekend in Winnipeg
Day One
Morning
You know what they say… breakfast is the most important meal of the day! If you want to fuel up before setting out on a busy weekend in Winnipeg, there are, thankfully, quite a few excellent spots to start your morning.
While there are numerous breakfast and brunch restaurants in Winnipeg, we recommend Promenade Brasserie in St. Boniface. Using ingredients and influences from both Métis and French cooking, the weekend brunch here is spectacular (try the Eggs Benedict with smoked char and bannock bread). The location of this restaurant also sets you up nicely for your first activity in Winnipeg: a self-guided walking tour!
With nearly 60 points of interest along a 9.5-kilometre loop, The Loop walking trail would take you approximately 3.5 hours to complete. Our recommendation, in case you don’t have that long, is to choose the section that appeals to you the most!
Starting at the St. Boniface Cathedral (a must-see landmark in Winnipeg), one such route could involve walking to the Exchange District. You could also choose to walk to the Manitoba Legislative Building. Either way, you’ll want to eventually circle back to The Forks, our next morning destination in Winnipeg. And make sure to keep an eye out for places to stop for coffee, as some of Winnipeg’s best cafés are in this vicinity!
The Forks is always one of the top things we recommend when it comes to things to do in the city, and if you only have a weekend in Winnipeg, we definitely urge you to check it out!
The Forks, also known as Nestawaya in Cree, has been a meeting place for people for over 6,000 years. Today, the indoor market is filled with restaurants and food stalls, art installations, shops selling local products, and plenty of seating in the huge common room. This is the perfect place to grab lunch at one of the many food stalls and then wander around for a bit.
There’s also a huge outdoor space to explore – 5.5 hectares, to be exact. And if you visit in winter, consider heading down to the frozen rivers for the Nestawaya River Trail (also one of our top picks for ice skating in Winnipeg; you can rent skates at The Forks or simply walk on the frozen Red and Assiniboine rivers).
Afternoon
After a filling lunch at The Forks, it’s time to visit one of Winnipeg’s best museums. Seeing as you’re already in the area, our top pick for this afternoon is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
You can easily fill an afternoon here as it has stunning architecture, powerful exhibits, and an incredible gift shop featuring local artists. You’ll see many exhibits that explore human rights issues, such as Indigenous rights, disability rights, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, and more.
While it can be an emotional experience, there are also many stories of triumph, courage, and the ability to overcome the worst. The first museum in Canada is solely dedicated to human rights, so we definitely recommend a visit.
Another museum recommendation is the Manitoba Museum, our province’s biggest natural history museum. It’s a five-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from The Forks, and this museum provides a fantastic history of Manitoba with immersive galleries, interactive exhibits, and more.
It’s also home to the full-sized replica of the Nonsuch, a 17th-century sailboat, as well as the Planetarium and Science Gallery.
Evening
Time for another delicious meal! All of that sightseeing has surely made you hungry. There are so many incredible restaurants in Winnipeg that it would be impossible to list all of our favourites, but if you want some of the best food in the city, we recommend Passero, Nola, Bar Accanto, or Deer + Almond (reservation highly recommended at all three).
If you’re on a bit of a budget, we recommend Hargrave Street Market; with a lively atmosphere and a selection of fabulous restaurants to choose from in the food hall, it’s a foodie’s dream.
It’s been a very busy day. If you do have some energy, however, there’s probably a live event you can attend! There are often concerts and shows at the Burton Cummings Theatre or the Canada Life Centre arena, while the Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club is a lot more laid-back (and often features local acts). There’s also comedy at Yuk Yuk’s and a variety of cultural productions at the Centennial Concert Hall. Whatever you decide to attend, we recommend purchasing tickets beforehand; events in Winnipeg sell out quickly!
Day Two
Morning
Time for another day in beautiful Winnipeg! While yesterday was jam-packed, today is a bit more chill. First up, enjoy a long, lazy breakfast at one of the city’s best breakfast spots. We recommend Juneberry, Clementine, Modern Electric Lunch, or Pauline Bistro. Note: all of these places fill up quickly, so we recommend heading out for breakfast as early as possible!
After fuelling up, head to one of Winnipeg’s top attractions: the Winnipeg Art Gallery – Qaumajuq. Often referred to as the WAG, the Winnipeg Art Gallery is an amazing place to spend a morning (and heads up: the second Sunday of every month has free admission).
With a solid selection of permanent collections and temporary exhibits, you could easily spend hours wandering around the gallery; with a long history of championing local art, especially Indigenous art, the gallery is a must-see on a weekend in Winnipeg. Qaumajuq is a huge highlight of the space, as it is the largest public collection of Inuit art in the world.
Next, you’re heading to one of Winnipeg’s most famous parks: Assiniboine Park!
Afternoon
After a riveting experience at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, make your way to Assiniboine Park (about a 15-minute drive from the gallery). It is one of the most beautiful parks in the city. There’s a lot to see and do here, but we recommend starting with lunch!
Head to either the Park Café or Gather Craft Kitchen and Bar (the latter of which is found inside The Leaf building; reservations are recommended). We love the “farm to fork” initiative at Gather, as the restaurant always has a globally-inspired menu that still features many local Manitoba products.
After eating, there are numerous options for sightseeing within Assiniboine Park, depending on the season. In the warmer months, check out the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden and perhaps stop in for a cocktail at Cargo Bar nearby.
The park is also where you’ll find the Assiniboine Park Zoo, home to many fantastic exhibits, including the “Journey to Churchill” exhibit, an amazing exploration of the animals and ecosystem you’ll find in Manitoba’s far north. If you can’t get up to Churchill to see a polar bear, this is a close second.
Finally, no matter the season, don’t miss The Leaf; one of Winnipeg’s newest attractions, The Leaf is a beautiful horticultural building with four distinct biomes to walk through and explore, including a huge waterfall and butterfly garden.
Evening
All of that walking and exploring has surely worked up an appetite! As you visited a restaurant last night, tonight you should check out one of Winnipeg’s best breweries. Even if you’re not a beer-drinker, there are lots of great choices around the city that serve delicious food (and even a few non-alcoholic beverages).
Our pick would be Nonsuch Brewing Company (which serves one of the best burgers in Winnipeg, in our opinion) or Good Neighbour Brewing Company (with food by Next Door).
Finally, end your evening at one of Winnipeg’s best bars. If you visit Nonsuch Brewing Company first, both Patent 5 Distillery and Amsterdam Tea Room are within walking distance (the latter of which serves Tea Cocktail Flights). Good Neighbour Brewing is within walking distance of Langside Grocery, another great place for snacks and cocktails (including mocktails).
And that’s a wrap on your perfect weekend itinerary in Winnipeg! From museums to walking tours to some of the city’s best restaurants, we hope you love Winnipeg as much as we do.
Brenna Holeman (she/her) has adventured to over 100 countries but is incredibly proud to call Winnipeg home. Brenna spent 16 years travelling solo around the world, living in Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Osaka, Antigua, and London, England. Once a writer and editor for Expedia UK, she is a co-founder of Road Trip Manitoba and also runs This Battered Suitcase, one of the most trusted and respected travel blogs in the world.
