With parks, forests, art galleries and museums, the capital city of Manitoba is an underrated destination in Canada. Plus, with immigrants comprising nearly 30% of the population and numerous industries headquartered in the city, Winnipeg is an economic powerhouse as well.
Ready to dive into what Winnipeg can offer you as a visitor? Find it here, as well as the travel medical insurance to protect you during your trip.
Travel Medical Insurance for Travelers Visiting Winnipeg – FAQs
Getting sick or injured outside of your home country can be expensive. Your domestic health insurance is unlikely to be accepted, meaning you’d have to pay for the full cost of treatment yourself. It’s not worth the risk. A far better choice is to choose travel medical insurance that can cover you outside of your home country.
Do I need travel medical insurance for Winnipeg?
You aren’t legally required to have travel medical insurance in order to visit Canada, but it’s something you should still have. The socialized healthcare in Canada won’t necessarily cover foreign visitors, so it’s essential to have valid coverage.
Why buy travel medical insurance before visiting Winnipeg?
There’s no way to guarantee you won’t fall ill or get hurt during your trip to Winnipeg. The last thing you want to do is risk your financial security by paying for treatment at a Canadian hospital without valid insurance coverage. Travel medical insurance can protect you when you need it most during your trip abroad.
Winnipeg’s Most Popular Activities
With a diverse population of 750,000, Winnipeg offers loads of different activities for every type of visitor. Depending on what you’re into, try one of the following activities while you’re here.
If You Love the Outdoors…
Stop by Birds Hill Provincial Park. Offering 22 square miles of native forests and wildlife, it’s the perfect place to enjoy camping, swimming, picnicking, horseback riding, and more. You can even enjoy hiking or cross-country skiing on more than 18 miles of trails. If you visit in July, be sure to attend the Winnipeg Folk Festival to see a bevy of musical artists.
If You’re Visiting With Kids…
Go to Assiniboine Park. This is one of Winnipeg’s centerpiece attractions. It features the amazing Winnipeg Zoo, a horticulturalist’s dream at The Leaf, and a peaceful English garden. The park regularly hosts special events and concerts, and there’s ample greenspace for relaxing outdoors and barbecuing. There are even options to rent bicycles or enjoy winter sports if you’re visiting during the colder months.
If You Want an Educational Experience…
Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This museum uses cutting-edge technology and amazing art to relay hundreds of stories about the importance of human rights for all. Exhibits are available in both of a Canada’s official languages (English and French), and programming is tailored to suit different age groups and interests.
If You’re Visiting In Winter…
Embrace the cold at Arctic Glacier Winter Park. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the Olympic-sized ice-skating and hockey rink, the thrilling toboggan run, and nearly a mile of ice-skating trails. The central Plaza has warming huts so you can defrost, and everything is lit by festive winter lights. It’s the ideal place to take your family when the temperatures drop.
Key Guidelines for Travelers Visiting Winnipeg
Winnipeg is a very safe city to visit, with few hazards to worry about other than the extremely cold weather in the winter months. Just keep the following in mind during your trip to have a great time.
Winnipeg Is Cold
In fact, it’s one of the coldest cities in the world by average temperature. However, this certainly doesn’t mean it’s cold all year long. In fact, temperatures regularly reach 80°F during the height of summer. But if you do visit in winter, you’re best off bundling up and embracing the cold. Winter is very long here, and residents have come to celebrate it.
What to Eat
Winnipeg is full of diverse neighborhoods hosting over 100 different ethnicities and nationalities. Wherever you’re from, you’ll likely find a taste of home. But if you want a taste of Winnipeg, consider trying a bison burger, fried Goldeye, which is a fish native to Winnipeg, and Bannock, which is a popular form of flatbread from Canada’s indigenous peoples.
Getting Around
Public transit isn’t fantastic in Winnipeg, so you’re usually best off renting a car. This is quite easy, and traffic isn’t nearly as stressful in Winnipeg as it is in larger Canadian cities. However, you do need to watch for slick and snowy road conditions in the winter. You can also rely on taxis and rideshare services for shorter trips.
Paying for Things
Like other large cities in Canada, credit cards are almost universally accepted for payment in Winnipeg. However, it’s never a bad idea to get some Canadian currency to pay for incidentals. You can exchange currency at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport when you fly in, or do it at most banks.
How to Dress
During the summer, light and comfortable clothing is the order of the day. Depending on what you’re used to, having some long sleeves can be a good idea even in June and July, as Winnipeg is cool compared to some locations. During the winter bring a heavy coat, hat, gloves, insulated boots, and plenty of layers. Temperatures can regularly drop below 0°F (-18°C).
Before You Visit Winnipeg – Do This
- Pack plenty of warm clothes if you’re visiting during the winter.
- Plan out your itinerary ahead of time. There are a lot of things to do in Winnipeg.
- Protect yourself with travel medical insurance .