Manitoba Holidays

Best time to visit Manitoba, Canada

The best time to visit Manitoba depends on your interests.

• Summer (June-August) is the most popular time to visit, as the weather is warm and sunny, with long days. This is a great time to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and swimming. It's also a good time to visit festivals and events, such as the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Festival du Voyageur. 
• Autumn (September-October) is a beautiful time to visit Manitoba, as the leaves change color and the weather is still mild. This is a great time to visit national parks and forests, such as Riding Mountain National Park and Whiteshell Provincial Park. It's also a good time to see wildlife such as bison, elk, and moose.
• Winter (November-March) is a magical time to visit Manitoba, as the province transforms into a winter wonderland. This is a great time to enjoy winter activities such as ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. It's also a good time to see the northern lights.

If you're interested in seeing polar bears, the best time to visit Manitoba is in October and November. This is when the polar bears migrate to Churchill to hunt for seals.

If you're interested in seeing beluga whales, the best time to visit Manitoba is in late July and early August. This is when the beluga whales migrate to Hecla Island National Park.

Highlights of Manitoba

What is Manitoba famous for:

• Winnipeg
• Churchill
• Riding Mountain National Park
• Pisew Falls Provincial Park

Swipe left or right to learn more about each destination.

Winnipeg

A bustling and cultural city in the midst of the Manitoba prairies, Winnipeg is a great place to visit with a range of attractions and activities throughout the seasons, and excellent shopping.

In the heart of the city on the confluence between the Assiniboine and Red Rivers lies The Forks. Historically a meeting place, there is evidence of aboriginal campsites here from thousands of years ago. The Forks is still the hub of the town, after being a fur trading post, then a key part of the railroad development, as well as having an important role in immigration and the settlement of Western Canada. Spread over fifty beautiful acres, many original buildings such as the Johnson Railway Terminal now house shops, restaurants and a busy market. There are also many modern buildings such as the stunning Canadian Museum of Human Rights. The site is home to The Children’s Museum and the Manitoba Theatre for Young People and hosts many of the city’s best events at its amphitheatre and festival stage.

During the winter months when the rivers freeze, The Forks also provides access to the world’s longest naturally frozen skating rink. During the hot summer months the city blooms and there are many lovely parks to explore, including many green spaces and gardens downtown, and the larger Assiniboine and Kildonan Parks both just a short drive away. Assiniboine Park Zoo has a wide range of animals including a polar bear enclosure where you can watch the immense creatures swimming through an underwater viewing window.

Winnipeg has all the amenities of a big city with the amiability of a small town. Whether it’s culture, shopping, relaxation or history you’re after for the perfect holiday, Winnipeg has it – with plenty of hidden treasures along the way.

Churchill

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada is a northern seaport town located on the west coast of Hudson Bay. It is known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World" and the "Beluga Whale Capital of the World". Churchill is a unique and special place where the Northern Lights can be viewed regularly. It is a place where people can come to experience the beauty and wonder of the Arctic.

Churchill is a remarkable place to visit. Isolated and desolate, it is also ruggedly beautiful and rich with wildlife and natural spectacles. Perched on the shores of Hudson Bay on the northern border of Manitoba, the town is not accessible by road, only by air or by train. But Churchill’s remoteness is a large part of its charm and those who make the journey are rewarded above and beyond.

Here, majestic polar bears can be viewed in their natural habitat unlike anywhere else in the world. It's a beluga whale hotspot and a birder's paradise too. With its vast, open tundra landscapes, its wildlife and its magical light shows, Churchill is a world away from other holiday destinations. Here you will make memories you will never forget, in a place you will take with you forever.

Riding Mountain National Park

Riding Mountain National Park is a beautiful park located in Manitoba, Canada. It's home to forests, lakes, mountains, and abundant wildlife. Here are some of the highlights of the park:

• Clear Lake: This stunning lake is the heart of the park and offers visitors a variety of activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, and canoeing.
• Wasagaming Village: This charming village is located on the shores of Clear Lake and offers visitors a variety of shops, restaurants, and accommodations.
• Cypress Hills: These towering hills offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside and are a great place to go for a hike or bike ride.
• Prairie Dog Town: This unique attraction is home to a colony of prairie dogs. Visitors can get up close to these fascinating creatures and learn about their natural habitat.
• Spirit Island: This picturesque island is located in Clear Lake and is a great place to go for a picnic or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.
• Hike to the top of Riding Mountain: This challenging hike offers stunning views of the park and surrounding countryside.
• See wildlife: Riding Mountain National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, deer, elk, bison, and wolves. Visitors have a good chance of seeing these animals while hiking, biking, or driving through the park.

Riding Mountain National Park is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and experience the beauty of nature. There's something for everyone to enjoy in this park, so be sure to add it to your Manitoba itinerary.

Pisew Falls Provincial Park

Pisew Falls Provincial Park is a provincial heritage park in the southwestern portion of Mystery Lake, Manitoba, Canada. It is home to Pisew Falls, a beautiful waterfall that drops 13 meters (42.7 feet) into a gorge. The name Pisew is translated from the Cree language as "lynx," and the sound of the waterfall is said to resemble the hissing of a lynx. The park is also home to a variety of other natural attractions, including boreal forests, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and wildlife viewing in the park.

One of the most popular activities in Pisew Falls Provincial Park is hiking to the top of the falls. There is a short boardwalk trail that leads to three observation platforms that offer stunning views of the waterfall.  Another popular activity is hiking the Upper Track Trail. This trail leads to Kwasitchewan Falls, Manitoba's highest waterfall. The trail is 22 kilometers (14 miles) long and is considered to be a difficult hike.

Pisew Falls Provincial Park is a great place to experience the beauty of Manitoba's wilderness. With its stunning waterfalls, forests, rivers, and lakes, the park has something to offer everyone.

Things to do on holiday in Manitoba

Manitoba has so many things to do, making it a perfect holiday. Manitoba’s capital, Winnipeg, is the province’s largest city and is a pleasant surprise in the middle of the prairies. With a range of accommodation from quaint bed and breakfasts to chic hotels and family-orientated resorts, the city has it covered and the shopping is excellent with several contrasting districts to explore. Originally an aboriginal trading post, Winnipeg has a rich history which is celebrated with many museums and attractions, such as the historic meeting place The Forks on the junction of the Assiniboine and Red rivers. It also has a thriving arts scene, boasting many concert venues, theatres and galleries and a huge array of talent in all areas.

During the summer months the landscapes come alive; wildflowers scatter the prairies and meadows and blue skies abound. There are a huge amount of outdoor activities on offer, from boating or bathing on one of the sandy beaches, horse riding through the grasslands or following the pretty river trails on a bike, to thrilling whitewater rafting or rock-climbing. The region erupts in lively celebration as the summer festivals and events begin, from Dauphin’s Countryfest and River City’s Dragon Boats to festivals for every kind of music. And what could be more cheering than the fields of vibrant yellow flowers at the Manitoba Sunflower Festival?

Swipe left or right for more.

Things to do on holiday in Manitoba

In the north of the province on the shores of the vast Hudson Bay lies the charming town of Churchill. Popular with holiday visitors during the autumn months as one of the best places in the world to see wild polar bears and experience the awesome Aurora Borealis, the summer brings its own attractions, mainly in the form of the charming beluga whales as they flock to the bay for the warmer months. 

Manitoba has an extreme climate and winters are cold and long. But it doesn’t run and hide, it embraces the weather. From snow-carving to ice fishing, traditional trappers’ festivals to outdoor spas, there is plenty to keep you busy - and plenty of cosy cabins, friendly faces and welcoming restaurants to help you warm up afterwards! There are also a number of well-maintained ski resorts scattered around the province. There is ample opportunity to head out into the undisturbed snow on snowshoes with a great many marked trails and endless backcountry to explore, with just the deer and the birds for company. Head out after dark and be guided by the moonlight as you watch the spectacular light displays trip across the night sky.

Visit Manitoba on holiday and you will find the best of Canada in one province; skiing and winter sports, hiking, beautiful landscapes, dynamic city-life and simply amazing wildlife. Once you discover the heart of the country you won’t want to go anywhere else.