A Complete Guide To Churchill, Manitoba: The Land of Polar Bears, Belugas, and the Northern Lights

This Churchill, Manitoba, guide will help you navigate the world’s best destination for experiencing polar bears, beluga whales, and northern lights.

Churchill, Manitoba, is as close to a frontier town as you can find in Canada. This Northern Manitoba community still runs on squatters’ rights for most of its land claims. And there is a cast of characters in the town that would make it worthy of an HBO series.

But it’s not simply the unique locals that have made Churchill, Manitoba, such a premier destination in Canada’s north. Instead, it’s a unique combination of natural wonders that has led countless people to flock here each year. And it didn’t take long for my family to find out why.

Within about two hours of landing on a cool August morning, my family, including myself, Christina, eight-year-old Cohen, and five-year-old Dylan, were waiting in a hotel lobby packed with nervous travelers. People visiting this fascinating town run on strict schedules. A couple of days of bad weather often means an entire visit is a wash. For two days, the waves on Hudson Bay had been too big. Churchill tours had been canceled one after another, and the small crowds of intrepid travelers were waiting to hear whether they’d be allowed out on the water.

When the go-ahead finally came after an hour’s delay, the whole room breathed a sigh of relief. Ours was among them.

We didn’t have to find the beluga whales. Within a minute of Cohen and I pushing our tandem kayak into the mouth of the Churchill River, they found us. These curious white whales followed the sound of our paddles and gave the kayak gentle little bumps that had us both twisting around and laughing. Cohen discovered that the louder he sang, the closer they came, so somewhere in Hudson Bay there is a pod of beluga whales that has heard a full kayak-side performance of “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars. Dylan was three weeks shy of his birthday, so he was too young to paddle, but the crew at Sea North Tours let him and Christina follow along safely in a Zodiac so that he didn’t miss out.

A day later, Cohen yelled “Wolves!” from the window of a Tundra Buggy. A young wolf stepped into a shallow pond right in front of us, stood perfectly still, and lunged after a lone Canada Goose. It didn’t miss. The whole buggy erupted. It was like one of the boys’ favorite BBC nature documentaries, except it was happening live, and even our guide was speechless. Wolves, apparently, are a rarity on these excursions.

Churchill is wild. I don’t say that lightly. This is one of the rare places in the world where you can paddle with beluga whales, see wolves on the edge of the water, catch the northern lights sparkling overhead, and watch a moose trudge across the tundra. But this town is especially known for one animal. And after two days in Churchill, we still hadn’t seen a polar bear. We spent an entire week exploring every way to see the bears, from guided tours to renting a truck and driving ourselves. We finally caught up with one from the road near the old rocket range at the edge of town. By the end of the trip, we’d gotten VERY lucky and seen the trifecta: the aurora, the whales, and the polar bears, all in late August.

That’s the lesson Churchill taught me. You can plan a trip here, but you can’t control it. The weather decides when you go out, the wolves decide when they eat, and the bears decide when to show up. That unpredictability is exactly what makes it one of the most unforgettable places I’ve ever taken my family. I’ve written this Churchill, Manitoba, guide to help those who make the journey up to this unforgettable town experience something truly unforgettable.

Churchill sits WAY at the top of Manitoba on the shores of the famous Hudson Bay. In fact, it borders the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Churchill is one of the furthest destinations north that we’ve traveled within Canada, with the exception of our visit to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

It’s such an important destination that visitors are often fighting for the limited number of Churchill hotels with companies like National Geographic and the BBC. The town is home to Polar Bears and Beluga Whales and is also one of the best places in Canada to see the Northern Lights. Not only is it home to one of the best national parks in Canada, but this triple threat of attractions has made Churchill a crown jewel for adventure seekers and wildlife lovers from around the world.

Churchill, Manitoba Guide: What You Need To Know Before Visiting

The town of Churchill is small. Especially when compared to the provincial capital of Winnipeg. With a year-round population of under 900 people, it’s a wonder that Churchill can swell to accommodate the massive influx of visitors hoping to get a glimpse of Churchill’s “Big Three.” Yet several decades of tourism have helped the resilient Northerners to accommodate and thrive.

The community is home to Cree, Dene, Inuit, and Métis residents alongside non-Indigenous Northerners, and its history runs from Indigenous trade routes, to the fur-trading forts of the Hudson’s Bay Company, to a Cold War military base. Today, it’s also home to Canada’s only deepwater Arctic seaport, which has recently become the focus of a major push to expand it into Canada’s first proper Arctic trade gateway.

The town is touted as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, the Beluga Whale Capital of the World, and one of the best places to experience the sub-Arctic tundra AND the Northern Lights in one go. It’s almost too much to take in for a town of 900. But this guide to Churchill, Manitoba, will help you along the way. Any way you swing it, Churchill is high on the list for having the best wildlife encounters in Canada.

This northern town is very unique. I wrote this Churchill, Manitoba, guide to help visitors navigate some of the intricacies that make the Polar Bear capital of the world such a special place.

For the purpose of this Churchill, Manitoba guide, I’m going to assume that you are staying at a hotel in Churchill, Manitoba, or are on a Churchill, Manitoba excursion and aren’t staying in one of the high-end wilderness lodges that take care of many of these details for you (unless you’re spending a few days in town on one end of that trip).

When Is The Best Time To Visit Churchill?

There’s a lot to see in Churchill. The best time to visit depends on what you want to see most. Summer is best for beluga whales, October and November are best for polar bears, and late October through March is best for the northern lights. If you want to roll the dice on all three, aim for the end of August to early September.

• Summer (July to August): Peak beluga whale season, when thousands of whales gather in the mouth of the Churchill River. It’s also peak bug season, so pack a head net.
• Late August to early September: The trifecta window. The nights get longer, the bears sometimes begin to congregate on the rocks near town, waiting for the ice to freeze. And a few stray pods of belugas may still be near the mouth of the river. On my family’s visit at the end of August, there were dozens of belugas rather than the usual thousands, so you’re trading certainty for variety.
• October to November (polar bear season): The bears gather along the coast waiting for the sea ice to form so they can head out to hunt seals. This is the busiest time of year, and tours and hotels book up far in advance.
• Late October to March (northern lights): The longer the night, the better. October and March tend to pair long nights with milder weather and often clear skies.

How To Get To Churchill, Manitoba

The first step in your Churchill do-it-yourself itinerary will be figuring out the best way to get here. Although Churchill is a popular destination, there are no roads that lead into town. The only options for travel to Churchill, Manitoba, are via air and train. Air travel to Churchill is run primarily by Calm Air.

This small Manitoba airline runs flights from Winnipeg and Thompson through Churchill and up to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut. Although flights to Churchill might be more expensive than the train, these flights usually only take about two and a half hours from Winnipeg. If you have Aeroplan points, flying on points can be one of the best ways to save on the trip.

The other option for Churchill travel is to take the VIA Rail train north from either Winnipeg, Thompson, or Gillam, Manitoba. The train runs twice weekly and takes about two nights to make the journey from Winnipeg, with Economy seats and Sleeper Plus cabins available. However, there are often delays due to track traffic or maintenance, so build some wiggle room into your plans.

The train makes a stop in the towns of Thompson (an 8-hour drive north from Winnipeg) and Gillam (a 12-hour drive north from Winnipeg). It’s possible to board the train in these cities at a reduced fare compared to traveling directly from Winnipeg.

What To Pack For Churchill

The weather in Churchill, Manitoba, can be all over the map. During our visit in August, the temperatures ranged from 45°F (7°C) to 82°F (28°C). We saw rain, sunshine, fog, and everything in between. Even though I love to travel carry-on, I won’t recommend packing light for this trip.

Bring what you need. You didn’t spend all that money making the trek to northern Manitoba in order to save a few bucks on a check-in bag. A Churchill packing guide varies a lot depending on when you’re planning on visiting as well. But whether you’re going in the winter, spring, fall, or summer, here are a few things not to forget:

• Boots and Warm Socks: Winter boots are a must in the cold months. In the summer, you can often get by with a good pair of hiking boots. Something with a sticky tread. More important, though, are the socks. Pack a pair of warm, breathable wool or wicking socks to help keep your feet warm and dry. Expeditions in Churchill can be long, and you don’t want wet feet. These are the ones that I recommend.
• Hat, Scarf, and Gloves: Yes, you do need these, even during summer in Churchill. They are especially important if you plan to spend time on the water with the Churchill Beluga Whales. Temperatures on the water can be quite cold, and you can get splashed. If you get warm, you can always take them off.
• Bug Protection: In July, mosquitoes and blackflies can be pretty rambunctious. Pack strong insect repellent and a mosquito net to wear over your hat, especially if you’ll be outdoors around dusk and dawn. I recommend DEET repellent for adults and this kid-friendly repellent for children.
• Camera and Binoculars: Contrary to those amazing NatGeo photos that are often posted, seeing the Polar Bears in Churchill means keeping your distance (unless you’re on the Tundra Buggy tour). Make sure to bring a camera with a long zoom lens so that you can snap great photos. I brought a 70-200. It was not long enough. This camera has the equivalent of 3000mm, which is about as long as you can get without spending tens of thousands of dollars. It also helps to have a pair of binoculars to scope out those bears hidden in the rocky hollows of the bedrock. This model packs up small yet offers great glass.

Guide To Polar Bear Safety In Churchill, Manitoba

There’s no beating around the bush when it comes to safety in Churchill, Manitoba. This town isn’t the same as most places in Canada. Even famous wildlife towns like Banff, Alberta, don’t require the same level of awareness that Churchill demands. You do not want to come face-to-face with a bear that can stand nearly 10 feet (3 m) tall on its hind legs, with teeth as long as your hand. Oh, and there’s the fact that polar bears are one of only a handful of animals on the planet that will treat humans as prey.

Polar Bears can be anywhere in the Churchill area. It’s not rare for Polar Bears to be seen wandering through town, and you may not know that they are there until you’re face-to-face with them. The province runs the Polar Bear Alert Program to keep bears and people apart, with officers who patrol the town and respond to bear sightings around the clock. If you see a bear in or near town, call the alert line at 204-675-BEAR (2327).

Here are a few rules to follow to help you stay safe among the Churchill Polar Bears.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Remember, it’s not the polar bear you can see that you need to worry about. It’s the polar bear that you can’t see.
• Travel in groups and make noise as you walk. Polar Bears will usually avoid you if they can hear you coming.
• Avoid walking around coastal areas that have poor sightlines, such as the bedrock mounds.
• Stay within reach of vehicles or buildings.
• Obey the warning signs posted around town.
• Take advantage of guided tours to ensure that you’re with people who understand the animals and the terrain.
• Bears can be found at any time of the day but are most active in the early morning and at night.
• Never feed or approach Polar Bears in Churchill.
• Avoid walking at night after 10:00.

For more on spotting bears safely, read our guide on how to see Churchill polar bears in the wild.

20 Best Things To Do In Churchill, Manitoba

It may be a small town of 900 people, but Churchill, Manitoba, packs a punch. Hundreds of years of history combined with the character of those who choose to live in Manitoba’s far north have led to a wacky, yet delightful assortment of incredible things to do. If you don’t see it in this Churchill, Manitoba, guide, it might not exist yet. If it does, I want to hear about it.

SUP or Kayak With Beluga Whales

Besides Polar Bears, Beluga Whales in Churchill, Manitoba, are one of the town’s biggest draws. And unlike the bears, you can easily get right up close to the white whales of the north. We joined Sea North Tours for a Beluga kayak experience on the mouth of the Churchill River, which empties into Hudson Bay.

It’s amazing to see these playful Beluga whales bump the small boats as they swing by to say hello. The Beluga whales tend to follow kayaks and SUPs from behind, so make sure to look back because they are probably right there, saying hello.

Sea North Tours now requires kids to be at least eight to kayak (up from six when we visited), and paddlers aged 8 to 11 must be with a parent. The season runs from June, depending on the ice, through the end of August, and tours run rain or shine, so dress for cold and wet. You can read all about our experience kayaking with Beluga whales in Churchill here.

Surround Yourself With Beluga Whales From A Zodiac

Perhaps kayaking with Beluga Whales isn’t your thing. But the next best way to see the Beluga Whales in Churchill is by zodiac boat. We joined Sea North Tours for their experience at the mouth of the Churchill River. It wasn’t long before we were completely surrounded by these beautiful white whales. At times there were simply too many Belugas to count swimming in the waters around us.

The zodiac is also a great option for kids who are too young for the kayaks. It’s how Dylan got his beluga fix. Christina and Dylan took a zodiac with Sea North Tours, but there are other tours available through Frontiers North, Natural Habitat, and Lazy Bear Expeditions.

Explore The Backcountry On A Tundra Buggy Tour

One of the classic Churchill Manitoba tours is the Churchill Tundra Buggy. These tours operate year-round on massive custom-built frames with crazy off-road tires and suspension that allow them to reach some of the most remote areas of the sub-Arctic tundra. The Churchill Tundra Buggy tour is one of the best ways to experience Polar Bears up close, especially during the bear season when they are at their most active.

We did our Churchill Tundra Buggy tour with Frontiers North. They made the trip fun, exciting, and educational for our whole family. The Tundra Buggy tours last for anywhere between 6 and 8 hours, depending on the season. Fall and winter tours tend to be longer than summer tours. During the Frontiers North Tundra Buggy tour, there was a bathroom on board. A lunch of soup, sandwiches, soft drinks, and coffee was also served.

Frontiers North has also begun converting its massive Tundra Buggies to electric motors, with the goal of running an all-electric touring fleet by 2030. It’s an excellent conservation initiative that should help to protect these glorious wilds for a long time to come.

While Frontiers North has the trademark to the name “Tundra Buggy,” similar off-road polar bear tours are offered by Great White Bear Tours and Lazy Bear Expeditions. As per my latest research, these other companies do not offer electric-only vehicles. Autumn polar bear tours sell out quickly, so book as early as you can. Read all about our Churchill Tundra Buggy adventure, including the wolf that stole the show.

Take A Helicopter Into Wapusk National Park

Wapusk National Park is one of the most remote and least-visited National Parks in Canada. The only way to access the park on land is by helicopter or boat, and by snowmobile in the winter.

Hudson Bay Helicopter Tours in Churchill offer a flyover experience that will allow you to experience a truly unique view of Churchill and the sub-Arctic tundra that surrounds it. The tours were run by a different company during my family’s visit. During our Churchill helicopter tour, we saw Polar Bears, Beluga Whales, Moose, and Caribou, along with countless species of birds flying over the beautiful landscape.

The helicopter tour that my family and I took flew deep into Wapusk, where we saw an incredible diversity of wildlife from the air, including caribou, moose, polar bears, beluga whales, and countless flocks of birds. It was, honestly, one of the most beautiful helicopter flights I’ve ever taken. You can read my complete guide to Wapusk National Park here.

Go Dog Sledding Or Dog Karting

Dog sledding is a time-honored northern experience. We’ve ridden the trails in Yellowknife and again during our winter adventures in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. In Churchill, you can go dog sledding in the winter or dog karting in the summer with Wapusk Adventures.

This Indigenous-run dog sledding tour in Churchill gives you a chance to get out into the wilderness and feel the wind in your hair. During the summer months, Wapusk Adventures also runs e-bike tours past the murals and out to Cape Merry.

Experience The Frontier At Prince Of Wales Fort

People up north always tend to do things a little differently than those further south. And while most of the Hudson Bay fur trading posts were built up with log walls to keep out trouble, the designers of the Prince of Wales Fort in Churchill, Manitoba, decided to go big or go home (they ended up doing both). You can learn the whole story on a tour of this Parks Canada National Historic Site.

This sprawling stone fort is lined with cannons pointed in every direction. The interior is still under renovation due to the shifting of the constantly moving sub-arctic earth. Despite the decades of work put into the fort, it never fired a shot in its own defense. In 1782, its governor, the explorer Samuel Hearne, surrendered it to a French naval force without a fight.

The fort sits across the river from town, so you’ll need to get there by boat with a licensed operator. Sea North Tours pairs a fort visit with beluga watching on the way. Most visits here are done as a guided tour that includes a boat ride from the Churchill Port and includes a bear guard on an ATV whose job it is to keep everyone safe from the roaming polar bears.

Read 250-Year-Old Graffiti At Sloop Cove

Near Prince of Wales Fort, Sloop Cove is where the Hudson’s Bay Company once sheltered its ships for the winter. The rocks along the shore are carved with the names of 18th-century traders and sailors, including Samuel Hearne himself, who left his mark here in 1767. It’s across the river near the fort, in bear country, so check with Parks Canada at the visitor center about guided visits before you go.

Hike To The Point At Cape Merry

Cape Merry is another Parks Canada National Historic Site in Churchill, Manitoba. This site, which includes a cannon battery and a commemorative plaque, is worth 30 minutes of your time. It can be easily accessed from town by walking. The plaque commemorates Jens Munk, the Danish explorer who first landed here in 1619. His ill-fated wintering in Churchill is a great story for those who would underestimate the challenges of life in Canada’s north.

Take In The #SeaWallsChurchill Murals

There are nearly as many beautiful murals in Churchill as there are buildings. This is due to the #SeaWallsChurchill project that was started by Winnipeg Artist Kal Barteski (whose Back Alley Arctic designs Dylan fell in love with while looking for things to do in Winnipeg) and the PangeaSeed Foundation, along with SeaWalls: Artists for Oceans.

It’s worth doing a tour of Churchill to get a glimpse of as many of these beautiful pieces of art as possible (you can walk most of it, but some spots are a little harder to reach). Some of my favorites are the Aurora Belugas near the Churchill Town Complex, the Polar Bear on the Polar Bear Jail, and the black and white designs on the old boys residence near the seaport.

Explore The Itsanitaq Museum

This wouldn’t be a complete Churchill, Manitoba, guide without including a visit to the Itsanitaq Museum. It was formerly known as the Churchill Eskimo Museum, a name that’s now considered outdated.

This stop is a must-visit for those who travel to the town. Founded in 1944, the Itsanitaq Museum houses examples of Arctic wildlife, including Muskox, Polar Bears, and walruses. There is also a huge collection of incredible Indigenous and Inuit tools and artwork on display, with pieces dating back thousands of years. The museum is open year-round (closed Sundays and holidays), admission is by donation, and the gift shop is a great place to pick up Inuit art and local wild berry preserves.

Visit The Parks Canada Visitor Center

Located inside the Churchill train station, the Parks Canada Visitor Centre is a great first stop to get your bearings. The displays cover polar bears, the fur trade, and the history of the region, and there’s a massive polar bear model that our boys couldn’t resist posing with.

Break Out Of The Polar Bear Jail

As you can imagine, living in a place where Polar Bears outnumber humans can be a little dangerous. A stroll through Churchill will uncover countless signs pointing to where you shouldn’t go, lest you risk being made a snack. The bedrock-lined shores of Hudson Bay, which have countless areas for bears to lie in, are invisible to human eyes and are a prime example.

On occasion, a Polar Bear gets a little too comfortable around town. When this happens, they are tranquilized and sent to the Churchill Polar Bear Jail. Here, the bears wait until the weather cools before being shipped away from the town so they can continue on their journey once the ice freezes. Visitors aren’t allowed inside the jail. But you can check out the Polar Bear traps that are often lined up outside.

Make A Stop At The Miss Piggy Plane Wreck

There is a longstanding mystery surrounding the Churchill, Manitoba, plane wreck. A first look at the Miss Piggy cargo plane that sits abandoned on the rocks outside of town makes it seem like the plane simply dropped from the sky. Rumors abound about the crew simply hitchhiking to town and being discovered at the local tavern later that day.

Whether it’s reality or one of Churchill’s many amazing stories, only a few people know. But if you ask around, you may find someone who will tell you their version of the story. Be warned, though. Ask several people and each version of the story is likely to be completely different. No matter how it ended up in the woods near the rocket range, a visit out to the Churchill Plane Wreck (which is a nice parallel to the plane wreck in the country of Iceland, one of our other favorite northern travel destinations) is a must.

Hike To The MV Ithaca Shipwreck

Off the coast of Churchill, you can find the remains of the MV Ithaca cargo ship. Like the Miss Piggy plane wreck, no hands were lost when the Ithaca ran aground. The ship is too dangerous to enter. But because of its position in the shallows of Hudson Bay, a low-tide hike to the MV Ithaca is possible. However, polar bears are known to hang out in the wreck of the ship. If you want to attempt this hike, hire a local guide who is experienced with both Polar Bears and familiar with the area.

Wander The Ruins Of Ladoon’s Castle

The story of Brian Ladoon is a bit of a Churchill legend. This controversial figure is either loved, loathed, or a little bit of both by residents of the town. You can read more about him here. He was a man known for his movie star personality and his determination to do whatever he felt like, regardless of the consequences.

He was best known for his attempts to save the last of the Inuit sled dogs. He kept them on his property, which also drew in quite a few polar bears. He staked the dogs out on his property, which also drew in quite a few polar bears. Some of the encounters looked like play, and the videos went viral. But not all of them ended well, and officials raised concerns about bears being fed on Ladoon’s property.

Among his many projects in and around Churchill was the development of a castle-style hotel on the edge of Hudson Bay. The project was never completed, but its remains are often on the minds of many of those who travel to Churchill. You can find Ladoon’s Castle as you leave Churchill toward the Coast Road.

Have A Picnic On The Beluga

If you visit the Churchill beach (Yes, Churchill DOES have a beach) right behind the Churchill Town Complex, you’ll find the remains of the Beluga. This former fishing boat has been converted into a picnic and play structure. There are picnic tables and flat platforms for people to enjoy.

The Beluga is one of the best places to catch the sunset in Churchill, Manitoba. It also overlooks the beautiful Inukshuk that is placed just right for photography lovers.

Watch The Northern Lights

Churchill is one of the most popular Northern Lights destinations in Canada. Along with Whitehorse, Yukon, and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Churchill northern lights expeditions have become incredibly popular with tourists to Northern Canada. While the rocky coast of Churchill means that there are plenty of amazing foregrounds for the Aurora, one of the best places to catch the view is by the Inukshuk on the beach in Churchill.

The best time for northern lights in Churchill is from late October until the end of March. In summer, you’ll need to stay up late, as the sun doesn’t set until well after 10 p.m. Rather than wandering out alone in bear country, sign up for the Discover Churchill aurora call list, and they’ll let you know when the Aurora is showing. Read more about the best places to see the northern lights in Canada in this article I wrote for We Explore Canada.

Visit The Northern Studies Centre And Rocket Range

On the outskirts of Churchill, a short drive east of the town center, is one of the premier northern science centers. The Northern Studies Centre is actually a pretty cool place to visit. You can learn about some of the ongoing scientific studies, including underwater life. You can also check out the Aurora Dome, where guests at the Northern Studies Centre can watch the Northern Lights in Churchill from the warmth indoors.

Further into the complex, you can explore (from the outside) what remains of the military rocket testing facility. Churchill’s Northern Lights made it one of the best places to test how the Aurora affected rockets and communication equipment. You can check out the launch facilities. And you’ll even see a few models of the rockets that used to be fired from the facility. Keep your eyes peeled on the drive out. This is where we spotted one of our first polar bears.

Make A Visit To The Churchill Town Complex

Churchill was once a military hub. The military used up a huge portion of the town’s resources. To make amends, the government built and maintained a massive community center to support the town’s population. In fact, they overestimated that building the Churchill town complex would support a town of at least 5,000 people. The Churchill Community Center has a pool, ice rink, library, hospital, children’s playgrounds, and a cafeteria.

See The Polar Bears Safely

There are some great ways to see the Churchill Polar Bears in Churchill. One of the best ways is to get a Churchill guide to show you around. This will help you get the lay of the land and know which areas the bears like to congregate. It’s also possible to rent a car from Churchill Auto Rentals (previously Tamarack Rentals). The rates here are very reasonable, considering the location. But don’t expect shiny new models. The rental cars here have seen some use and are designed more for function than form. We did both, booking a guided tour in town and renting a truck for a DIY experience.

You can often hire local taxi drivers to show you around, as well as to show you the key sites. This is what Christina and I did for our safari. There are some incredibly expensive tours available on Get Your Guide that offer pretty much the same experience. Remember, the locals know where the bears like to hang out, so it’s always a good idea to get a tour of the area beforehand if you plan to tour on your own.

Churchill’s polar bears are also a reminder of how fragile the Arctic is. A 2021 survey counted 618 polar bears in the Western Hudson Bay population, down from 842 in 2016, largely because of shrinking sea ice. Choosing responsible operators helps protect them. If you can’t make it this far north, you can also see polar bears up close at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in Northern Ontario. Check out my guide to seeing the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba to find the best options for you.

How Many Days Do You Need To Visit Churchill?

I wouldn’t give Churchill any less than three days. However, if you can manage five or more, you should be able to fit everything in. Like any experience that involves nature, you are sometimes at the whim of the elements. The waves may not be conducive to being on the water, or the Northern Lights may be shrouded in cloud. Any extra time gives you more opportunity to experience the region.

Here’s a sample five-day summer plan:

• Day 1: Arrive, visit the Parks Canada Visitor Centre and the Itsanitaq Museum, and sign up for the aurora call list.
• Day 2: Kayak or zodiac with the belugas, then hunt down the SeaWalls murals.
• Day 3: A full-day Tundra Buggy tour.
• Day 4: Prince of Wales Fort and Sloop Cove by boat, then dog karting with Wapusk Adventures.
• Day 5: A helicopter flight over Wapusk National Park, then a drive to the Miss Piggy, Ladoon’s Castle, and the Northern Studies Centre.

Guide To Churchill: Where To Eat In Churchill, Manitoba

Dining in Churchill is pretty simple. Don’t expect 5-star dining in the Polar Bear capital of the world. But just because the town isn’t known for luxury doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to find some amazing places to eat in Churchill. Expect large servings and hearty, filling dishes when you eat out. Many kitchens are seasonal, so check what’s open before you go.

Here are a few of my favorite Churchill restaurants, and you’ll find more in my guide to the best restaurants in Churchill, Manitoba that I wrote for We Explore Canada.

Tundra Pub at the Tundra Inn

The Tundra Inn is one of the most popular places to eat in Churchill. The Tundra Pub serves a great selection of traditional and game meat. The caribou meatloaf is amazing, as is the Bison stew. Vegetarians won’t be left out in the cold, either. The Tundra Pub offers some of the best options for veggie lovers. It opens seasonally, in summer and during polar bear season.

Ptarmigan

Ptarmigan is the newest restaurant in Churchill, serving local and regional dishes along with barista-made lattes. It’s open year-round, which makes it a great option when the seasonal kitchens are closed.

Reef Restaurant at the Seaport Hotel

If you’re looking for the best ribs in town, check out the Reef Restaurant at the Seaport Hotel. This restaurant has both a cafe-style dining area and a cozier dining-style area. However, the dining area isn’t always open. You can find a great range of comfort food here that will fill your belly and maybe even leave some leftovers for lunch the next day.

Lazy Bear Cafe

If you are looking for a restaurant with the best ambiance, look no further than the Lazy Bear Cafe. The log-cabin-style interior is beautiful, and the central stone fireplace makes you feel at home. Lazy Bear serves up some great food and, when we visited, was one of the best places to grab a coffee and the only place to get an espresso. On hot days, make sure to stop in for one of their signature milkshakes. It’s open from summer through fall.

Churchill Health Centre Cafeteria

Food prices in Churchill can be a fair bit higher than those further south. One of the restaurants for those visiting Churchill on a budget is the Churchill Health Centre Cafeteria in the Town Complex. The Churchill Cafeteria varies its menu daily and generally offers simpler fare than some of the other Churchill restaurants. But the cafeteria in Churchill offers one of the best bang-for-your-buck meals.

Where To Stay In Churchill

There is no camping in Churchill. So if you make the trip up here, you’ll need to stay in one of the Churchill hotels. Luckily, there are a few places to stay in Churchill. But you’ll need to book early. Especially during Polar Bear season. The town does not have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the influx of visitors, and lodges and hotels get booked up quickly by documentary groups and photography tours. For high season, booking six months early is a good idea.

Like the restaurants in Churchill, don’t expect the Churchill hotels to be luxurious. You won’t find hot tubs, king-sized beds, or turn-down service. But most hotels in Churchill offer comfortable beds, great staff, and friendly service. Here is my list of the top hotels in Churchill, Manitoba.

Iceberg Inn

Located a short walk from the Churchill Train Station and Parks Canada Visitor Centre, the Iceberg Inn is one of the top-rated small hotels in Churchill, Manitoba. It’s a simple, cozy spot with eight non-smoking rooms, each with two single beds, plus a shared common area with a microwave and fridge and a free washer and dryer. There’s no restaurant on-site, but you’re steps from several. You can check out their rates and availability here.

Polar Bear Bed and Breakfast

Polar Bear Bed and Breakfast is one of the highest-rated places to stay in Churchill, according to Booking.com. This quaint converted home, right inside Churchill, offers free WiFi and on-site private parking. Each room includes a bath, dining table, and a quiet street view. Guests have access to a refrigerator, electric kettle, kitchenware, and toiletries. You can check out their current rates and availability here.

Churchill Hotel

Offering one of the best breakfasts in Churchill, the Churchill Hotel is also one of the few hotels in town that have family rooms that include a private bath and shower. The hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle and WiFi. You can check out their rates and availability here.

Tundra Inn

The family-run Tundra Inn sits on a quiet side street right in the middle of town, with spacious rooms and breakfast included. It’s one of the best-reviewed hotels in Churchill, and the Tundra Pub (home of that caribou meatloaf) is right next door, which makes dinner plans very easy. You can check out their rooms here.

Polar Inn & Suites

If you’re traveling to Churchill as a family or a small group, the Polar Inn & Suites is one of your best options. Along with standard rooms, it has kitchenette suites and one-bedroom apartments, so you can spread out and cook a few of your own meals (a real bonus in a town where food prices run high). An extended continental breakfast, coffee, tea, and Wi-Fi are included. You can check out their rooms here.

Lazy Bear Lodge

With its log-cabin style and the Lazy Bear Cafe attached, the Lazy Bear Lodge is the most atmospheric hotel in town. Its 33 smoke-free rooms each have two double beds and a full bathroom, and the lodge is wheelchair accessible. It’s also home base for Lazy Bear Expeditions, so you can roll out of bed and onto a polar bear tour. You can check out their rooms here.

Blueberry Inn

The newest hotel in town, the Blueberry Inn is run by Churchill Wild, the company behind the region’s remote eco-lodges. Its 15 rooms all have en-suite bathrooms; there’s an accessible room, and continental breakfast and Wi-Fi are included. You can check out their rooms here.

Wilderness Lodges

If you’d rather someone else handle the details, high-end wilderness lodges on the Hudson Bay coast, like those run by Churchill Wild, offer guided walking safaris among the bears, and Frontiers North runs the Tundra Buggy Lodge out on the tundra during polar bear season. Most wilderness lodges don’t accept children under eight.

Visiting Churchill With Kids

Churchill isn’t generally marketed as a family-friendly or multigenerational travel destination. But as an adventure travel family, we found Churchill to be an amazing destination. Five-year-old Dylan and eight-year-old Cohen were able to take part in every activity that we wanted them to.

The only exception was kayaking with Beluga Whales, which had a minimum age of 6 at the time, but 8 as of my latest update (Dylan was three weeks short of that age). But they did allow Christina and Dylan to follow along in one of the safety zodiacs so that he didn’t miss out. Note that Sea North Tours has since raised its kayak minimum age to eight, so younger kids will want to book the zodiac instead. I was also impressed by the sheer number of family travel lovers who were in Churchill during our visit. I counted no less than 4 separate families with children ranging from 5 to 12 years old in Churchill. For a destination as pricey as Churchill, it was incredible to see so many families taking part in one of the best wildlife travel destinations in the world.

Traveling with kids in Churchill does require a little extra planning and care. It’s very important that children don’t wander off out of sight, especially in areas closer to the coast. Always ensure that children are near a vehicle or building, or travel in groups with larger adults. But given a pair of binoculars and a sense of adventure, Churchill can be an absolutely mesmerizing destination for children. It is a true wildlife safari filled with adventure and frontier stories that will inspire them for years.

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel To Churchill, Manitoba

Have You Ever Visited Churchill, Manitoba?

I hope you’ve got some great tips from this Churchill, Manitoba, guide. If you’re planning a bigger trip, check out my guide to the best things to do in Manitoba.

Have you ever visited Churchill, Manitoba? Share your experiences in our comments below. Or tag us in your Instagram photo. We would love to share in your travels.

Disclosure: Our Tundra Buggy experience was hosted by Frontiers North. All opinions remain our own. Wandering Wagars is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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