Best Areas to Stay in Winnipeg, Canada

Where to Stay in Winnipeg – A Guide to the “Gateway to the West”

Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, located on the confluence of the Red River and the Assiniboine River in southern Canada, not far from the American border. It is famous for being the “Gateway to the West”, for its booming economy, its wide collection of early 20th-century art nouveau and art déco architecture and its vibrant cultural life, numerous galleries and annual festivals. In this post, we will talk about the best areas to stay in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg is home to several attractions, perhaps the best-known is the central area known as “The Forks“, designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. It is located at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers and has become a meeting place for the city’s main events and festival. It is also home to historical warehouses turned into boutiques and restaurants.

Other must-see attractions in this Canadian city include the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Assiniboine Park & Zoo, FortWhyte Alive, the Manitoba Museum, the Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg Art Gallery, or the Children’s Museum.

The main festivals in Winnipeg are the Festival du Voyageur, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and Folklorama.

When it comes to climate, not unlike other places in the Canadian Prairie, Winnipeg has an extreme humid continental climate. This means the winters are tremendously cold (average high temperatures from November to March are rarely above 0ºC and average lows hover around -10ºC in January). Meanwhile, summers are mild and dry, with highs around 26ºC in July.

In order to reach Winnipeg by air, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is located 4km south of the City Centre. It’s the main hub for airlines Calm Air, Perimeter Airlines, Flair Airlines and a focus airport for WestJet. This airport, the sixth-busiest in the country, offers direct connections to destinations across Canada and the United States, as well as some longer-haul flights to Latin America and the Caribbean.

With regards to public transport, Winnipeg has a system consisting mainly of buses. Traditional taxis and ride-sharing apps are also widely available in the city. That said, in order to travel more freely and reach every corner of the city, it is advisable to move around by car. You can rent a cheap car in Winnipeg here.

The best area to stay in Winnipeg is, definitely, Winnipeg City Center since it is full of shops, nightclubs, and restaurants, as well as for the location for many festivals celebrated in the city. See accommodation in Winnipeg City Centre.

Here’s a guide with the best areas to stay in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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The Best Areas to Stay in Winnipeg, Manitoba

1. Recommended area: Winnipeg City Centre (Downtown Winnipeg)

Downtown Winnipeg is at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers and is the oldest urban area of ​​the city.

This area is mostly known for The Forks, an old rail yard converted into a lively riverfront park and market.

In this area, you will find most shops in the city and all kinds of hotels.

Those who stay in downtown Winnipeg will have easy access to many shops and food outlets, historic buildings such as the Winnipeg Town Hall, the Manitoba Museum or the Planetarium, as well as access to the Union Station for trains.

In addition to Union Station, Winnipeg City Centre is connected by buses to move to other areas of the city, making it one of the best areas to stay in Winnipeg without a car.

Other points of interest include the Museum of Natural History, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and its architecture, a mixture of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century styles.

Downtown is one of the best areas to stay in Winnipeg for its hotels, shops, restaurants and the opportunity to enjoy all the entertainment in the city.

Why is this a recommended area to stay in Winnipeg:

• Best area to stay without a car
• Best area for sightseeing
• Close to the city’s attractions

2. Fort Garry

Fort Garry is another recommended area to stay in Winnipeg. This district is located south of Downtown and is known for being a residential and ethnically diverse area.

This area is very well-connected, as it offers numerous bus routes.

In and around Fort Garry you can find popular tourist sights such as Assiniboine Park and the University of Manitoba’s Ed Leith Cretaceous Menagerie, which displays a collection of dinosaur skeletons.

Fort Garry is located a few minutes from the University of Manitoba, so the area is packed with bars and restaurants frequented by a cheerful youth community.

Fort Garry is another of the best areas to stay in Winnipeg, as it offers tourists a peaceful environment away from the hustle and bustle of the centre, but without missing out on the fun of a good trip.

Why is this a recommended area to stay in Winnipeg:

• Peaceful area
• Great transport connections
• Museums and attractions

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