Choosing A Hotel in Winnipeg
Quick Summary of Most Popular Areas
Downtown Hotels: central to most everything, a good selection of shopping and restaurants
Forks Market Hotels: a popular spot in the downtown area for tourists and locals alike where you can find boutique shops, art galleries, food stalls, restaurants and a variety of things to see and do
Downtown Winnipeg
For most people visiting Winnipeg, staying in the downtown area will make good sense since it's quite central to everything. Still, you'll probably want to have a car if you're going to be in Winnipeg for more than a day or two, or if you're attending events or meetings outside of the immediate area in which you'll be staying. Parking will set you back about $10 for a day, and about $6 if you're just there for the evening. Parking is free, for the most part, everywhere else in the city.
Unlike larger mixed use urban areas like Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal, Winnipeg's downtown is more like a central business district, and less residential than other cities. Still, there is a lot of activity, dining and entertainment options in the downtown area.
Forks Market
If you're looking for something to do downtown, the Forks Market area (named so for where the Red River meets the Assiniboine River) is worth exploring. Half park and half market, it's a great place to walk around and spend a couple of hours. Situated along the river front, it's popular even among locals for its summer patio scene, snack stalls, food market, museums and shops.
Little Italy (Corydon Street)
Little Italy is a short strip along Corydon Street (about 5 minutes drive from downtown) which is best known for its restaurants, lounges, ice cream gelaterias and boutique clothing shops. A great place to grab dinner and a passeggiata stroll on a warm summer night.
Osbourne Village
Osbourne Village is a young and hip neighbourhood centred around Osbourne Street (just around the corner from Little Italy). You'll find a decent assortment of restaurants and small shops here.
Polo Park
Located about a 15 minute drive from downtown, and about 10 minutes to the airport, Polo Park is a large shopping area, centred around a mall of the same name. While Winnipeg may never be known as the shopping or fashion capital of Canada, if you're just dying to wander the aisles of a big box store or in need of some retail therapy, you'll probably find what you're looking for here. The Winnipeg Stadium, home of the Blue Bombers, is also located here, and you'll also find a decent selection of chain restaurants in the area.
