Warm Up And Chill Out, Even In Winnipeg’s Winter

23.11.2023 - 18:47 / forbes.com

Soon temperatures that can dip as low as -40 (where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet) will have Winnipeggers shivering. But this city in the heart of Canada stays warm with a surprising number of soothing options to thaw out, whether you’re a resident or just visiting.

Winnipeg, the capital of the province of Manitoba, has a population of about 800,000. However, the experiences available in the city make it feel like it’s a much larger metropolis. That’s not only for culture, outdoor, sports and food-centered activities, but also for those who want to de-stress—and even feel like they’ve traveled to a far-away country.

Just 62 miles north of the U.S. border, Winnipeg is almost the longitudinal center of Canada (that’s actually a half-hour drive east of the city, near the town of Taché). The area now called Winnipeg is both the birthplace of the Métis Nation and has been an Indigenous trading center for millennia, particularly so at The Forks where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet. Related, the name “Winnipeg” is from the Cree words for “muddy water”. The Forks—now characterized by parkland, wintertime skating and tobogganing, shops and restaurants—remains a popular meeting place and is also the site of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Winnipeg is also the jumping-off point for further travels into Manitoba. One of the most coveted trips is north to Churchill, the polar bear and beluga whale capital of the world. In Churchill, belugas are easily seen in July and August, while polar bear season ends in November once Hudson Bay freezes solid. It is possible to see northern lights year round, but the best time is in February and March. Frontiers North Adventures, a certified B corporation, provides a variety of Churchill trips to see all three.

Winnipeg, like all Canadian cities, celebrates four distinct seasons. While -40 temperatures are possible, Winnipeg’s winter is characterized by a much more manageable average of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Typical temperatures in the sunny summer are around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but can climb well into the 90s.

Regardless of whether it’s warm or cold out, Winnipeg has several indoor spots ideal for soaking up the heat, relaxing and capitalizing on the wellness travel trend.

Whether you want to warm up from winter or need your muscles to relax at any time of the year, there’s not much better than a Turkish hammam. Afficionados deem Turkish hammams the best of all hammams, which are a traditional part of many Middle Eastern and North African cultures. It’s difficult to find one using proper Turkish techniques outside of Türkiye, but Winnipeg has one—at the Ten Spa in The Fort Garry Hotel.

You won’t regret opting for the ultimate experience—called “Hammam