Winnipeg, or The Gateway to the West, is Canada’s most central city and a diversity hotspot. Unpretentious and tough, this prairie city doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t and some of the best places to stay in Winnipeg are equal to the best anywhere in Canada.

Summers are hot and humid, but festivals and the nearby lakes help take the edge off the heat. Only an hour’s drive north of the city, Winnipeg Beach is a popular summer spot for lying on the sand, soaking up the sun or boating on one of the world’s largest lakes.

Winnipeg is a bastion of rock and country and western music and fans of the genres would do well to find themselves at the High and Lonesome Club where celebrities are known to drink after playing the local arena.

Ruefully neglected for half the year due to the extreme cold temperatures, the winter months in Winnipeg actually offer a plethora of activities. Skate along the manicured paths of the Red River and dine in heated tents set up on the ice. During the Festival du Voyageur, there is a showcase of some of the world’s best ice sculptures and maple syrup is always on the menu.

With so many sight and scenes so close together, the best places to stay in Winnipeg are all within distance of an event, a sight or a heritage spot.

Where to stay - which neighbourhood?

• Foodies should head to Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg’s answer to Little Italy. Italian restaurants line this strip, which also leads to Assiniboine Park and the Winnipeg Zoo.
• Although they are two neighborhoods on opposing sides of the city center, Osbourne Village and the Exchange District both offer an eclectic mix of live music venues, new restaurants and boutique shopping. Both are the place to be based if you're looking for bohemian vibe.
• St. Boniface is Winnipeg’s French quarter. A little piece of history in Manitoba, this neighborhood on the eastern banks of the Red River is proud of its French heritage. Cafés, bakeries, and restaurants all serve up French-Canadian specialties and don’t be surprised if you hear more spoken French than English!

What Not To Miss

• Winnipeg is a city of festivals. Beginning in February with the Festival du Voyager, a celebration of the city’s Metis heritage and onward through to summer with the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Folklarama and the Winnipeg Fringe Festival.
• The Forks is Winnipeg’s meeting place. Located at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, the Forks offers food, cultural shows and, in winter, the chance to skate from building to building.
• Don’t forget the Manitoba Museum for a look into the province’s past.
• Concerts and shows are a mainstay of Winnipeg, with three professional sports teams, a premier ballet and a symphony orchestra all playing throughout the year. Both the arena (the MTS Centre) and the concert hall (Millennium Concert Hall) are located downtown

Dont't forget that if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Winnipeg during the festivals, these events are extremely popular so it is advisable to book a hotel room in advance.