Manitoba is the province of 100,000 lakes, polar bears and northern lights — a vast territory where Arctic tundra meets golden prairies, where thousands of beluga whales swim up the Churchill River, and where the world's largest museum dedicated to human rights stands at the confluence of two historic rivers. Birthplace of Louis Riel and the Métis nation, Manitoba offers unmatched cultural and natural richness. Here are the 20 must-do experiences.
To explore further, see our provinces and territories guide and our Discover Manitoba article. The unique landscapes of this region are also covered in our Canadian geography guide. Canada's wildlife and wilderness is equally remarkable here. You can also explore Top 20 — saskatchewan.html and Top 20 — ontario.html.
Churchill is the "Polar Bear Capital of the World". Every autumn (October-November), hundreds of polar bears converge on the shores of Hudson Bay waiting for the sea ice to form. Visitors observe them aboard Tundra Buggies, specially designed all-terrain vehicles that safely traverse the tundra. It's one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences on Earth — seeing these majestic predators in their natural habitat.
A 2,973 km² park harbouring three distinct ecosystems — grassland, boreal forest and eastern deciduous forest — on an escarpment rising 475 metres above the surrounding prairies. The park is home to an enclosed plains bison herd, black bears, moose and wolves. The resort village of Wasagaming, on the shore of Clear Lake, offers sandy beaches, hiking trails and unique retro charm. Excellent for northern lights viewing thanks to low light pollution.
One of Canada's most remote national parks — 11,475 km² of tundra and boreal forest harbouring one of the world's largest polar bear denning areas. "Wapusk" means "white bear" in Cree. The park also protects caribou, Arctic foxes and hundreds of bird species. Accessible only through licensed commercial tour operators — the ultimate wilderness adventure in Canada's Far North.
Did you know?
Manitoba has over 110,000 lakes, covering approximately 15.6% of the province's total area. This legacy comes from ancient Glacial Lake Agassiz, an immense lake that covered most of Manitoba at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago. Lake Winnipeg is Canada's 6th largest lake.
A Canadian Shield gem with over 200 crystal-clear lakes, boreal forests and granite formations. Whiteshell offers sandy beaches, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and hiking across 2,729 km². The Bannock Point petroforms, over 1,500 years old, testify to the ancestral presence of the Anishinaabe people. The West Hawk Lake (formed by a meteorite impact) and Falcon Lake resorts are favourite summer destinations for Manitobans.
The world's first museum entirely dedicated to human rights and the first national museum built outside Ottawa. This architecturally spectacular building houses 10 galleries with multi-sensory exhibits. The largest gallery, "Canadian Journeys," features a 95-foot-wide digital storytelling canvas. From the top of the Israel Asper Tower of Hope, a 360-degree panoramic view of Winnipeg rewards visitors.
A historic meeting place at the junction of the Red River and the Assiniboine River — used for over 6,000 years by Indigenous peoples, then by fur trade voyageurs. Today, it's Manitoba's most visited site with its indoor market (The Forks Market), restaurants, artisan shops and waterside green spaces. In winter, the river skating trail becomes one of the longest skating surfaces in the world.
A National Historic Site of Canada comprising 20 city blocks and approximately 150 heritage buildings from the early 20th century — warehouses, financial institutions and terracotta-clad skyscrapers. In the 1920s, more than half of the world's wheat sales passed through the Winnipeg Grain Exchange. Nicknamed the "Chicago of the North," the district now houses art galleries, theatres, trendy restaurants and the annual Nuit Blanche festival.
Did you know?
Louis Riel, born in St. Boniface in 1844, led the Red River Resistance in 1869-1870, which led to the creation of Manitoba as Canada's 5th province on July 15, 1870. He is considered the "Father of Manitoba." The Manitoba Act guaranteed political rights, land ownership, the use of French, and separate Catholic and Protestant schools.
The largest francophone community in Western Canada. Founded with the establishment of a Catholic mission in 1818, St. Boniface is the birthplace of Louis Riel and Métis culture. The St. Boniface Cathedral (whose historic facade survives after a 1968 fire) and the St. Boniface Museum (in the former Grey Nuns convent, Winnipeg's oldest building, 1846) tell the francophone story of the Prairies. The Festival du Voyageur (February) is Western Canada's largest winter festival.
Every summer (July-August), over 4,500 beluga whales swim up the Churchill River estuary — one of the world's largest concentrations of belugas. Visitors can don a dry suit and kayak among these curious, friendly white whales and their calves. These cetaceans, nicknamed the "canaries of the sea" for their songs, often approach the boats. A unique and unforgettable marine experience in subarctic waters.
Lake Winnipeg is Canada's 6th largest lake (24,514 km²) and resembles a true inland sea. Grand Beach, ranked among Canada's most beautiful beaches, offers kilometres of fine white sand lined with spectacular dunes reaching 8 metres in height. Grand Beach Provincial Park draws summer crowds for swimming, beach volleyball and stunning sunsets over the lake.
Dog sledding is an ancestral way of life in the Arctic. In Churchill and northern Manitoba, visitors can race across the snow pulled by a team of energetic, well-trained huskies. In summer, the same adventure is available on a wheeled cart through the wildflowers of the tundra. It's an authentic way to experience Canada's Far North, guided by local mushers who carry on this centuries-old tradition.
Manitoba is a fishing paradise with its 110,000 lakes teeming with walleye, northern pike, lake trout and sturgeon. Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis are among the largest lakes on the Prairies. Northern fly-in lodges offer wilderness fishing experiences. In winter, ice fishing is a popular Manitoba tradition — heated shacks are set up right on the frozen lakes.
The "Journey to Churchill" exhibit is one of the world's best Arctic species exhibits. Spanning 10 acres, it houses polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic foxes and other northern species. The Sea Ice Passage — an underwater tunnel — lets you watch polar bears swimming overhead. The zoo is part of the beautiful Assiniboine Park, which also includes The Leaf, an indoor horticultural attraction with four distinct biomes.
A neoclassical architectural jewel inaugurated in 1920, topped by the famous Golden Boy — a 5.25-metre gilded statue of a youth carrying a torch and a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing Manitoba's spirit of enterprise and agriculture. The building is filled with Masonic and Hermetic symbolism uncovered by researcher Frank Albo. The legislative grounds are among the most beautiful green spaces in downtown Winnipeg.
The Royal Canadian Mint production facility in Winnipeg strikes all Canadian circulation coins as well as coins for over 75 countries. The interactive guided tour lets you see high-speed presses in action, hold a pure gold bar worth over $700,000 and discover the world's most advanced security techniques. A must for understanding Canada's monetary system.
Manitoba is home to the largest Icelandic community outside Iceland. The village of Gimli, on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, celebrates this heritage at Islendingadagurinn — the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba — every August long weekend. Live music, Viking crafts, Fris-Nok competitions and fresh lake fish. The Gimli Viking, a 4.5-metre statue, watches over the harbour. Gimli is also known for its summer water sports and winter ice fishing.
Did you know?
Winnipeg has the largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. Approximately 14% of all Indigenous Canadians reside in Manitoba. The province has 63 First Nations and five Indigenous linguistic groups: Cree, Ojibwe, Dakota, Oji-Cree and Dene. The name "Manitoba" is thought to come from the Cree "manitou-wapow," meaning "the passage of the Great Spirit."
Churchill is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights — they're visible up to 300 nights a year. Located directly beneath the auroral oval, the town offers regular displays of dancing green, purple and red lights. Nighttime Tundra Buggy excursions, heated observation domes and remote lodge stays let you experience this magic. Northern Manitoba offers some of the most reliable viewing conditions in Canada.
One of the most impressive stone fortifications built in North America. Erected by the Hudson's Bay Company starting in 1719, this star-shaped fort took more than 40 years to build. It testifies to the rivalry between France and England for control of the fur trade. Governor Samuel Hearne surrendered it to the French under La Pérouse in 1782 without a fight. Accessible by boat from Churchill, the site is a National Historic Site.
The province's oldest museum, founded in 1965, presents Manitoba's natural and human history through immersive galleries. Full-scale recreations include a 17th-century ship (the Nonsuch), an indoor boreal forest and tundra wildlife dioramas. The planetarium offers immersive shows about northern lights and the universe. The Urban Gallery tells the story of Winnipeg as a multicultural hub of Canada.
One of Canada's most epic train journeys. The two-day, two-night Via Rail trip connects Winnipeg to Churchill through ever-changing landscapes — from golden prairies to boreal forests, then to subarctic tundra. The train passes through isolated communities inaccessible by road. Churchill itself is connected to the rest of Canada only by train and plane — there is no road leading to this end-of-the-world town.
For the citizenship test: Manitoba became Canada's 5th province on July 15, 1870 through the Manitoba Act. Winnipeg is the capital. Louis Riel, born in St. Boniface, is the "Father of Manitoba" and led the Red River Resistance (1869-1870). The Hudson's Bay Company played a central role in the province's history. Winnipeg is a major multicultural hub with the largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. The name "Manitoba" is thought to come from Cree meaning "the passage of the Great Spirit." Check our provinces and territories guide to review the essential facts.