18 Best Places to Visit in Manitoba (By a Local)

Manitoba is a huge province, so trying to narrow down the very best places to visit in Manitoba is a big task. But I’m here to help! As a Manitoba local, I’ve experienced first-hand what makes this province so great, and I’m here to let the cat out of the bag on the best places in Manitoba.

Canada’s geographical center and fifth-most populous province, there are some awesome things to do in Manitoba. Think rolling fields, bustling cities, the aurora borealis, polar bears, the renowned Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and some of the best sunsets in the world.

With that, let’s dive into the best destinations in Manitoba, Canada! Just be sure to get here quick before the secret gets out:

18 Best Places to Visit in Manitoba

Winnipeg

Manitoba’s largest city and a hotbed of culture on the prairies.

📍 Google Maps | Winnipeg Website | Where to Stay in Winnipeg

Manitoba’s capital city and the namesake of the one and only Winnie-the-Pooh (yes, really), Winnipeg is an eclectic city home to roughly 800,000 people.

A hotbed of culture on the prairies, it’s no wonder that Winnipeg, Manitoba made our list of the top places to visit in Canada.

The city is known for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Festival du Voyageur (a spectacular winter festival), The Winnipeg Jets hockey team, The Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, The Manitoba Museum, The Forks Market (a historical center with shopping and restaurants), The Winnipeg Art Gallery, and so much more.

👉 Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a Winnipeg hotel, I recommend booking something in the Exchange District, Saint Boniface, or Downtown. And don’t miss my post on what to do in Winnipeg for some awesome activity ideas!

Riding Mountain National Park

Manitoba’s southernmost national park is just a 2.5 hour drive from Winnipeg.

📍 Google Maps | Riding Mountain National Park Website

Home to grasslands, boreal forests, bison, and one of the cutest resort towns in Canada, Riding Mountain National Park definitely makes for one of the best places to visit in Manitoba.

The park is perfect for water activities, cross-country skiing, camping, and wildlife viewing. In particular, head to Deep Bay, Clear Lake Golf Course, the Ominnik Marsh, and Grayling Lake.

Plus, for one of the best views in the park, hike to the top of Bald Hill. You’ll get panoramic views of the park and the distant prairie landscapes. It’s definitely one of the top things you can do in Manitoba!

Pinawa Dam Provincial Park

A hydroelectric station turned whitewater rafting destination.

📍 Google Maps | Pinawa Dam Provincial Park Website

Pinawa Dam Provincial Park is one of the best spots for photography, hiking, river tubing, white water rafting, swimming, and kayaking in the province. Located on the edge of the rocky Canadian Shield, the site was once a hydroelectric generating station that provided power to the area. Today, just the ruins of the station remain, and Pinawa Dam has become a popular Manitoban destination.

Whiteshell Provincial Park

The pinnacle of Manitoba’s lake country.

📍 Google Maps | Whiteshell Provincial Park Website

Located in southeastern Manitoba near the Ontario border, Whiteshell Provincial Park is known for dozens of lakes and rivers, Canadian Shield topography, pristine forests, and hiking trails.

In particular, Whiteshell, Canada is known for West Hawk Lake, the Mantario Trail, Hunt Lake Hiking Trail, McGillivray Falls, Falcon Lake. and Falcon Ridge Ski Slopes.

Churchill

Manitoba’s best destination for spotting polar bears and beluga whales.

📍 Google Maps | Churchill Website

One of the most famous places to explore in Manitoba, Churchill is a town located on the shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba’s north and is a popular Canadian destination because, well, it’s been dubbed the Polar Bear Capital of the World.

Best reached via guided tour, a trip to Churchill will knock your socks off with roaming polar bears, migrating beluga whales, northern lights opportunities, and activities galore. In particular, expect to check out the Miss Piggy Plane Wreck, the Aurora Domes, Cape Merry, the Itsanitaq Museum, and the Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site.

✈️ How to Get to Churchill: Given how far out of the way it is, the best way to experience Churchill is as part of a guided tour.

Birds Hill Provincial Park

Just 30 minutes from Winnipeg, Birds Hill Provincial Park is an easy nature escape from the city filled with hiking and cycling trails, horseback riding opportunities, and more.

📍 Google Maps | Birds Hill Provincial Park Website

Birds Hill Provincial Park is a soul-refreshing nature-filled day trip from Winnipeg. Winnipeggers flock to this earthy park like moths to a flame on the summer evenings and weekends due to its lush hiking trails, viewing tower, and horseback riding opportunities.

Plus, this park is where the acclaimed Winnipeg Folk Festival is held every year in July. While you can camp at Birds Hill all through the summer, I especially recommend you nab a camping spot at Folk Fest and brave through the festivities. You’ll be sleep deprived, let’s be honest, but you’ll have memories for a lifetime!

Pineridge Hollow

With shops, a petting zoo, a farmers market, a stacked event calendar, and one of the cutest restaurants in Manitoba, Pineridge Hollow makes for a fun and elegant visit.

📍 Google Maps | Pine Ridge Hollow Website

Looking to spend an afternoon in an adorable little visitor’s village with boutique shops, a farm-to-table restaurant, a farmer’s market, a petting zoo, an independently operated greenhouse, walking trails, and so much more? Then run, don’t walk, to Pineridge Hollow in Manitoba.

Pineridge Hollow began in 1992 as a quaint gift shop and has since expanded to its current form due to popular demand. While I highly recommend visiting Pineridge Hollow any time you have a case of the shoppies, do check out their event calendar as well. There are always fun workshops, sessions, and parties going on.

Brandon

Manitoba’s second-largest city and the best place to learn about farming culture.

📍 Google Maps | Brandon Website

A small Manitoba city home to 50,000, Brandon is the place to go to learn all about agricultural life on the prairies.

Some of the best things to do in Brandon include visiting the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, the Daly House Museum, Westman Reptile Gardens, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, and Grand Valley Provincial Park (there are some great hiking trails).

Gimli

A beach destination set on Lake Winnipeg with a strong Icelandic heritage.

📍 Google Maps | Gimli Website

Where Icelandic Heritage meets beachy vibes, Gimli, Manitoba is a history-packed delight to explore no matter what time of year.

In the summer, Gimli is the place to get out on the water (swimming, sailing, kayaking, jet-skiing, and kite surfing are all great), while the winter brings some awesome ice festivals. In particular, head to the New Iceland Heritage Museum, Gimli Beach, the Gimli Viking Statue, The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, and stroll the harbor.

🚗 Pro Tip: Gimli is also one of my top picks for the best trips for the day from Winnipeg, so it makes a great place to visit in Manitoba if you’re based out of Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park

📍 Google Maps | Winnipeg Beach Website

Winnipeg Beach is a provincial park and cute-as-a-button town resting on the western lapping shores of Lake Winnipeg. The provincial park boasts all the usual outdoorsy activities such as boating, swimming, and hiking in the summertime, and ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter. 

In particular, you’ll want to walk the boardwalk, check out the water tower, and pop in at the cute shops and restaurants. This is notably a very involved community – I once took a foraging class at Flow Wellness here – and you’ll find tons of community events to take part in all year long.

If you can, time your visit to Winnipeg Beach for the Boardwalk Days festival in July when they have vendors, live music, a food court, events, and rides.

Thompson

A northern Manitoba community, you’ll come for the natural sites, but stay for the community.

📍 Google Maps | Thompson Website

Northern Manitoba’s largest city, Thompson is one of the best attractions in Canada if you love spending time in nature and viewing wildlife.

Though known among Canadian locals as a mining town with a fur trade history, Thompson really shines because of Pisew Falls Provincial Park, Paint Lake Provincial Park, plenty of Northern lights viewing opportunities, the Spirit Way Walking Trail (it goes past 16 notable sites), and some great festivals.

Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park

A fun island on Lake Winnipeg known for sailing, camping, hiking, and wildlife-spotting opportunities.

📍 Google Maps | Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park Website

With island vibes, a rugged shoreline, and marshlands teeming with life, Hecla-Grindstone makes the Canadian prairies feel like a whole new world.

Located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, some of the best activities in Hecla-Grindstone are visiting Sandy Bar Beach, exploring Gull Harbor, hiking the Grassy Narrows Marsh, walking the Lighthouse Trail, exploring the quarries, and taking the Hecla Village Scenic Drive.

Grand Beach

A beautiful beach in Manitoba home to interpretive trails, a beautiful boardwalk, and miles of glistening sand.

📍 Google Maps | Grand Beach Website

With over 100,000 lakes scattering the land, the prairie province of Manitoba is home to some pretty amazing beaches. And, with that many shores to pick from, you better believe it when I say that the crown jewel of them all is Grand Beach.

Also, a park of the same name, Grand Beach is a staple summer destination among Manitoba locals. Resting on the eastern edge of Lake Winnipeg in the town of Grand Marais, this place is perfect for people of all ages.

The beach features dunes that stretch up into the sky, miles of warm white sand, a beautiful boardwalk, interpretive tours, tons of water sports, and a nearby marsh.

Souris

Discover the best of Manitoba charm in this cute small town of just 1900 people.

📍 Google Maps | Souris Website

Famously home to Canada’s longest swinging pedestrian bridge (it’s 581 ft / 177 meters), Souris will be a fun small-town stop on your Manitoba itinerary.

With things to do for the whole family, some of the best Souris sites include visiting the Old Oak Tree (over 600 years old), checking out the regal Hillcrest Museum, exploring the Railway Museum, and hiking in Victoria Park.

Nopiming Provincial Park

Go off-grid in one of Manitoba’s most pristine parks.

📍 Google Maps | Nopiming Website

With a name that translates to “Edge of the Wilderness” in the Anishinaabe language, Nopiming Provincial Park is the perfect Manitoba destination to unplug and immerse yourself in pristine nature.

While there, I recommend setting yourself up at either Black Lake or Tulabi Falls Campgrounds and then exploring the hiking trails (Walking on Ancient Mountains is my personal fave), visiting Tulabi Falls, going boating on one of the lakes, or taking a canoe trip.

👉 Pro Tip: Bring a fully-charged portable charger for your trip to Nopiming. Many of the campsites aren’t equipped with electricity and you’ll want to have full batteries just in case.

Asessippi Ski Area & Resort

Hit the slopes at Manitoba’s premier ski resort.

📍 Google Maps | Asessippi Website

Manitoba may not be known for its mountains (hint: there are none), but that doesn’t mean you can’t add hitting the slopes to your winter to-do list. Asessippi Ski Area & Resort is Manitoba’s #1 spot to go downhill skiing or snowboarding as it has 26 runs, 3 chair lifts, 4 tubing lanes, 2 terrain parks, and the coziest ski chalet.

In the summer, the resort turns itself into a hiking and mountain biking destination so definitely add it to your list even if you visit Manitoba in summer.

Spruce Woods Provincial Park

Traverse Manitoba’s sand dunes.

📍 Google Maps | Spruce Woods Website

Where a forest of white spruce trees meets the Manitoba “desert”, Spruce Woods Provincial Park is one of the most unique destinations in Manitoba.

Located just two hours west of Winnipeg, the park is perfect for camping, hiking, and photography. In particular, I recommend exploring the 30-meter high sand dunes (aka the Spirit Sands), taking a horse-drawn wagon ride, checking out the Devil’s Punch Bowl pond, and hiking the trails.

While you’re here, be sure to keep an eye out for the Northern Prairie Skink — Manitoba’s sole lizard species.

Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve

Immerse yourself in diverse flora and fauna.

📍 Google Maps | Brokenhead Wetland Website

Home to one of the rarest wetlands in North America, Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve is an informative Manitoba destination for all ages. Some of the ecosystem types found here are boreal forest, cedar swamp, and calcareous fen.

The trail at the wetland is an easy 2.6km round trip jaunt that’s wheelchair accessible. There are even descriptive signs located along the trail for more information on the plants and animals living in the wetland.

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That’s it for my 18 best places to visit in Manitoba; Manitoba attractions. For more great content to help you travel to Manitoba and Canada, check out my list of 13 incredible Canadian road trips.

Have fun in Manitoba!