Where to Stay in Winnipeg, By an Area Local

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Winnipeg | Best Areas in Winnipeg | Tips | FAQ

I’m a Winnipeg local, and I’m here to help you choose exactly where to stay in Winnipeg.

For first-timers in Winnipeg, I recommend staying Downtown at the Fort Garry Hotel. This is one of the most historic and luxurious hotels in Winnipeg and will put you within walking distance of many attractions. 

But of course, Winnipeg is a city of over 800,000 people and there are lots of neighborhoods and hotels worth considering. In this article, I’ll list out the best neighborhoods in Winnipeg, what makes each unique, and the best hotels in each.

But first, here’s a quick list of the best hotels in Winnipeg:

Best Places to Stay in Winnipeg

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

Ok, now scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Winnipeg: 

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a deceivingly sized city. It’s not quite up there with the largest cities in Canada, but at almost 1 million residents, it’s hardly a small town. And yet, most visitors I get to Winnipeg are shocked by how sprawling it actually is. 

This means that where you choose to stay in Winnipeg matters. If you stay in the wrong place, it could be an annoyingly far drive to the sites. Not to mention, not all Winnipeg neighborhoods are created equal when it comes to safety.

Winnipeg’s downtown area is where most of the action is with the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street acting as the city’s centerpoint. The Red River snakes through the city from South to North, and the Assiniboine River meets it from the West. The rivers act as general dividing lines, as do Portage and Main.

Downtown

👉 Best Area For First Timers & Business | ✨ Best Downtown Hotels: The Fort Garry Hotel • Delta Hotels by Marriott Winnipeg • Alt Hotel Winnipeg

If it’s your first time in Winnipeg, stay Downtown. This area has the highest concentration of great hotels and is home to many of the best things to do in Winnipeg. Here, you’ll find the Canada Life Centre (the arena), the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the RBC Convention Centre. 

Basically, if you’re in town for a concert, a sporting event, or a conference, chances are this is the most convenient neighborhood for you.

Without a doubt, the Fort Garry Hotel is the best hotel in the city. It’s historic and where “very important people” stay when they’re in town. The hotel is home to Ten Spa, the Oval Room Brasserie, and Yuk Yuks – a comedy club chain. I recommend checking out these amenities even if you’re not booking a night’s stay.

However, if you’re in town for business, I’d say the Alt Hotel is a better bet. It has a more contemporary design style (versus the glamour of Fort Garry), meeting rooms, and a relaxed vibe.

Pros of Staying Downtown:

• Lots of hotels
• Close to major attractions
• Home to event centers

Cons of Staying Downtown:

• Visible social issues
• Wandering around at night isn’t the safest

Exchange District

👉 Best Area For Arts & Culture | ✨ Best Exchange District Hotels: Mere Hotel • Fairmont Hotel

Theaters, indie shops, boutiques, art galleries, museums, concert halls, and some of the best restaurants and cocktail bars in the city. The Exchange District has it all, and it’s all packed into 150+ beautifully restored warehouse buildings.

While you’re here, you can’t miss catching a performance at The Cube (shows are often free), poking into shops, and checking out art galleries. If you visit Winnipeg in the summer, then check out First Fridays in the exchange – local artsy businesses stay open late and put on activations.

Plus, two of the best hotels are in this area. The Fairmont Hotel is right at bustling Portage and Main (it’s technically Downtown, but close enough) and is the embodiment of contemporary luxury. Meanwhile, the Mere Hotel is nestled among the cobblestones on the waterfront and has been named one of the best boutique hotels in Canada.

👉 Safety note: While the Exchange District has visible social issues, it’s safe to walk around during the day. However, I don’t recommend walking on Main Street north of Alexander Avenue at all for about a mile, as this is a very disenfranchised area.

Pros of Staying in The Exchange District:

• Some of the best bars & restaurants in the city
• Plenty of art galleries & installations 
• A beautiful & photogenic area

Cons of Staying in The Exchange District:

• Visible social issues
• Wandering around at night isn’t the safest

The Forks

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Hotels at the Forks: Inn at the Forks

The Forks is probably Winnipeg’s most famous attraction, and yet the most common question I get asked by visitors is “So what exactly is The Forks?”

The Forks is where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet, and is a historic trading post. Today, it’s a gathering place with a market, food vendors, coworking space, and outdoor art installations. 

Besides the market, this area has The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Children’s Museum, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, river activities (tours, pedalboats, skating, etc.), a skateboard plaza, a stadium, and so much more. 

The only hotel in this area is the Inn at the Forks, my personal favorite boutique hotel in Winnipeg. The hotel is home to the Riverstone Spa and SMITH, a top-notch restaurant.

Pros of Staying in The Forks:

• Walking distance of a lot of sites
• Lots of events for both adults & children
• More safe than Downtown 

Cons of Staying in The Forks:

• Touristy area, not very “local”
• Not many bars or nightlife spots

Central St. Boniface

👉 Best Area For French Culture | ✨ Best Central St. Boniface Hotels: Norwood Hotel

Located right across the Provencher Bridge from The Forks, Central St. Boniface is the hub of Winnipeg’s Francophone community.

Here, the street signs are in French and the views of The Forks are unmatched (head to Tache Promenade for great photos!) It’s home to St. Boniface Cathedral (one of two roofless religious places in the city), Saint-Boniface Museum, and some of my favorite bars and restaurants on this side of the Red River. 

It’s also where Winnipeg’s famous winter festival, Festival du Voyageur, is held every February.

There’s really only one hotel in this area worth talking about – The Norwood Hotel. Besides great reviews, the hotel has a cozy restaurant, the Wood Tavern, and one of the best high tea spots in the city, Pauline Bistro.

Pros of Staying in Central St. Boniface:

• Great restaurants
• Picturesque views of The Forks
• Safer than staying right downtown

Cons of Staying in Central St. Boniface:

• Not a ton of nightlife or attractions

Winnipeg Richardson Int’l Airport

👉 Best Area For Budget Stays | ✨ Best Airport Hotels: The Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel • Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson

If you’re on a budget in Winnipeg, I recommend staying near the airport. In general, there’s a high concentration of well-rated hotels and the area is safer than Downtown. Of course, this isn’t exactly a culture-filled area and you’re, in fact, staying near a drab airport.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. I really do think the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is worth visiting (I recently went with my niece and nephew). The airport is also just around the corner from Polo Park (Winnipeg’s largest mall) and Assiniboine Park.

Other than that, the airport is only about a 20-minute drive from downtown, so you’re not too far from the sites either way.

If you’re staying near the Winnipeg Airport on a budget, I recommend Country Inn and Suites by Radisson. It’s one of the cheapest hotels in the area with good reviews. However, if you want to stay near the airport and money is burning a hole in your pocket, then The Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel is one of the nicest hotels.

Pros of Staying near the Winnipeg Airport:

• Lots of budget-friendly hotels
• Generally a safe area

Cons of Staying near the Winnipeg Airport:

• Not very much culture
• Far from downtown
• Not walkable 

Corydon

👉 Best Area For Local Life | ✨ Best Corydon Hotels: Quality Inn & Suites

If you’re looking to meet local Winnipeggers, try out some of the best bars & restaurants in the city, and experience *ambiance*, I recommend staying near Corydon Avenue. Corydon is Winnipeg’s Little Italy area, and you’ll find an abundance of Italian bars and restaurants.

There aren’t very many attractions here as far as museums or the like, but it’s a great area for boutique shopping and eating. Plus, it’s within walking distance of Osborne Village, one of the coolest areas of Winnipeg that, unfortunately, doesn’t have any hotels. 

The Quality Inn & Suites is the only proper hotel in the Corydon area. Thankfully, it’s a three-star hotel with pretty good reviews.

Pros of Staying in Corydon:

• Lots of locals out and about
• Bars & restaurants with patios and awesome ambiance
• Very walkable
• Safer than other Downtown areas

Cons of Staying in Corydon:

• Not very many hotels
• Not very many “attractions”

Fort Garry

👉 Best Area Near University of Manitoba | ✨ Best Fort Garry Hotels: Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South • Best Western Plus Pembina Inn & Suites • Holiday Inn Winnipeg-South

Fort Garry is a neighborhood in southern Winnipeg near the University of Manitoba. While it’s a little far from most sites, I recommend it if you plan to visit the University of Manitoba. Additionally, this area is home to Investors Group Field stadium and Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature.

The best hotel in Fort Garry is Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South. It’s highly rated and has an indoor pool.

Pros of Staying in Fort Garry:

• A very safe area 
• Close to the University of Manitoba
• Home to Thermea Nordik Spa

Cons of Staying in Fort Garry:

• Far from most sites
• Not very walkable
• Not very many local bars & restaurants (mostly chains)

Tips for Staying in Winnipeg

Rent a Car

If you have a driver’s license, you’ll 100% want to rent a car while in Winnipeg. City driving is the bane of my existence, but Winnipeg’s transit system leaves a lot to be desired. I recommend using the search engine Discover Cars to find the best rental for you and reading my guide to driving in Canada.

If you don’t have a license or prefer not to drive, you can take city buses to most places (they just take a lot longer). You can also take cabs, Uber, or Lyft. Uber is my preferred option in Winnipeg when I go out for drinks with friends and don’t want to drive.

Take Safety Seriously

It’s no secret that Winnipeg has some substantial social issues. I have my thoughts on this, but the gist is that you do have to factor in safety while staying in Winnipeg.

I don’t say this to scare you. Random personal attacks and muggings are rare, but petty theft is unfortunately more common.

Never leave anything in your car, always lock your car doors, choose parking garages with cameras versus street-level parking lots, don’t walk in downtown/central neighborhoods at night (especially alone), and try to stay out of the North End and Point Douglas neighborhoods.

Make Restaurant Reservations

You might be surprised to hear this, but Winnipeg’s food scene is one of the best in Canada. Winnipeggers go out to eat a lot, and culinary items are often tested on its market before they make their way to bigger cities like Vancouver and Toronto.

All to say, make a reservation or be prepared to wait – sometimes upwards of an hour – for a table at the best restaurants. 

Don’t Assume It’s the Tundra

As I write this, I’m sitting in my Winnipeg office with the AC blasting and a fan blowing in my face. Winnipeg in the summer gets hot and humid. Maybe not Death Valley is hot, but it’s not unheard of for temperatures to hit 32C / 90F in July and August.

All to say – pack accordingly. In the summer, breezy tank tops, dresses, and shorts are the norm. In the winter, Winnipeg gets just as brutal, but in the other direction. We’re talking -32C / -26F. Visit in the winter if you must (Winnipeggers make the most of it and there are a ton of festivals), but regardless, think seasonally.

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Winnipeg for first-timers?

The best areas to stay in Winnipeg for first-timers are Downtown, the Exchange District, and The Forks. These areas have the highest concentration of Winnipeg’s sites. 

What are safe areas to stay in Winnipeg?

The safest areas to stay in Winnipeg are Fort Garry, Corydon, and The Forks. These areas have statistically lower crime than more central neighborhoods.

What are the best parts of Winnipeg to stay with kids?

The best area to stay in Winnipeg with kids is The Forks. Both the Children’s Museum and Manitoba Theatre for Young People are in this area. 

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Thanks for reading my guide to where to stay in Winnipeg! I hope this helped you get the lay of the land.

Fancy a road trip? Check out my favorite day trips from Winnipeg.