Winnipeg Transport

Getting around in Winnipeg is easy if you have a car. The only real alternative is to use the excellent bus system, which provides frequent connections to destinations all over the city. If you’re only in town for a short time and want to see as much as possible during your stay, then the hop on, hop off Downtown Spirit bus is by far your best option. Taxis are available, but can be expensive.

By bus

Public bus services in Winnipeg are provided by the Winnipeg Transit Bus Company, and a total of 65 different routes operate on a daily basis. Buses operate within the city centre and the network expands well into the outer suburbs of the city. For visitors, the most useful services are the Downtown Spirit 1, 2 and 3 circular lines, which provide free connections between city centre locations.

Services begin at 07:00 or 11:00 and stop at 15:30 or 19:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, while on Sundays, services operate from 12:00 to 17:30. These buses are easily recognised by their bright, blue colour and are single-decker vehicles.

Winnipeg cyclists can enjoy the convenience of bike and bus with the Transit's Bike and Bus programme on route 60 Pembina. There's no cost to use the rack, you just pay your regular transit fare and enjoy the ride. All buses are free during snow storms and blizzards.

Taxis

There is a good selection of taxi companies in Winnipeg. Some can be booked by telephone, while others have stands at major shopping malls or hotels. The city has 400 licensed taxis, with Unicity (tel: +1 204 925 3131) and Duffy (+1 204 775 0101) being the two major taxicab companies in the city. Winnipeg has taxi drivers from all over of the world, and you'll be surprised at what you can learn in a short conversation during a ride! Taxis are non-smoking as per law. If you have a driver who smokes, you may ask him to stop. If you really need to smoke, call the cab company, and they'll assign a smoker-friendly driver.

Tourist services

The Downtown Spirit is a free bus service for both locals and tourists. It operates three circular routes within the city centre and takes in most of the major attractions and sights. Operating times are somewhat limited, with services running longer at weekends.

From the airport

Regular buses run every 20 minutes from outside the terminal to Winnipeg city centre. Catch the Sargent number 15 bus and pay the regular fare on the bus. Major hotels provide shuttle services to and from the airport. Alternatively, taxis and limousines can be found outside Entrance 1 and Entrance 6. Signs displaying estimated fares to various parts of Winnipeg are posted at the kerb side on either side of these doors. The car rental counters are located on the main floor of the Administration Building.