The 6 Best Free Things to Do in Winnipeg, Canada

Free things to do in Winnipeg abound at Assiniboine Park. Tour an English Garden, let your imagination play in the Nature Playground or see bronze works by a master sculptor in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden. You can also check out artwork by Manitoba artists in the Pavilion Gallery Museum.

Music performances and movies take place at an outdoor stage in July and August. And it couldn't be easier to get to the park from downtown: a free trolley service runs daily between the park and The Forks Market.

Travelers on a budget should plan to visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) on the first Wednesday of the month. Admission is free that day from 5 to 9 p.m., which will save you about about $20.

While you won't have access to some special exhibits, you can explore 10 other galleries covering human rights and equality issues.

You can save a few dollars when you visit on other days, too. On every other Wednesday of the month, admission is $5 after 5 p.m.

And admission is always free for children under 7, for indigenous peoples and for those who join a visitor with a disability.

Art galleries and shops stay open late during First Fridays in the Exchange District. One of the best free things to do in Winnipeg, the event takes place on the first Friday of every month.

The streets in the 20-block historic district come alive with art gallery openings and live music.

Of all the popular Winnipeg attractions, The Forks offers the most bang for your buck. The historic site and green space, located where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, has dozens of free things to do in every season. In winter, you can ice skate on the Red River Mutual Trail; in summer, stroll along the River Walk.

Wide-open grassy areas welcome little tykes who need to run off excess energy. Families will love the Variety Heritage Adventure Park, with play zones for every age. When skies are clear, head up to the tower on top of The Forks Market for photo-worthy views, especially at sunset.

If you're interested in architecture or the inner workings of government, take a tour of the Manitoba Legislative Building. You can explore the building and grounds for free.

If the Legislative Assembly is in session, you can watch proceedings from a viewing gallery. For more insight into the building’s symbolism and architecture, join a free guided tour. The free tours start daily on the hour 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in July and August.

Pack your camera and head out to St. Boniface, Winnipeg’s French quarter. The walkable area lies just across the Esplanade Riel footbridge from downtown. You can’t miss the limestone façade of the St. Boniface Cathedral, a historic landmark in the city. While the cathedral was damaged by fire in 1968, a few walls and the impressive stone façade still remain. A modern structure was built inside the original footprint.

The surrounding churchyard has the grave of Louis Riel, the Métis leader celebrated as the founder of Manitoba. It's free to visit the cathedral and grounds, but please be respectful when mass is in session.

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