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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Selkirk
Selkirk, Manitoba
Give Selkirk one night, or a half-day stop between Winnipeg and Gimli: the Marine Museum and Lower Fort Garry are the reasons to get out of the car.
Selkirk is a Red River town of about 10,000, 38 km northeast of Winnipeg on Highway 9, and the practical base for Lower Fort Garry and Oak Hammock Marsh. There is no bus to Winnipeg, so you need a car or a lift. Most travellers see it in half a day, or sleep one night on the way to Gimli and Winnipeg Beach.
- Country
- Canada
- Local name
- Selkirk, Manitoba
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (deep cold, snow)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–230 excl. bed · High C$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Health Links Manitoba (24 h) 1-888-315-9257
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee and a bakery item | C$5–9 |
| Café lunch or a diner plate | C$15–25 |
| Beer, draught in a bar | C$7–9 |
| Selkirk Transit single fare | C$2 |
| Marine Museum of Manitoba entry | Adult C$6.50, seniors C$5.00, children 6–16 C$3.50, family C$18.00, under 6 free |
| Lower Fort Garry entry | Adult C$11.90, senior C$10.20, youth free |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YWG · Winnipeg Richardson International
- About 45–55 min by car via Highway 9; no direct bus to Selkirk
Typical fares
- Winnipeg airport → Selkirk, taxi
- about C$90–120, 45–55 min (check)
- Selkirk Transit single fare
- C$2, hourly loop Mon–Fri 6:00–18:00, Sat 8:00–18:00C$2, hourly loop Mon–Fri 6:00 AM–6:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Selkirk → Gimli by car
- about 45 min, fuel only
Get around
Selkirk Transit runs a single hourly loop Monday–Friday 6:00–18:00 and Saturday 8:00–18:00, fare C$2. It is not useful for Lower Fort Garry or Oak Hammock Marsh. A car is the practical choice; the town core itself is walkable in 20–30 min end to end.Selkirk Transit runs a single hourly loop Monday–Friday 6:00 AM–6:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM, fare C$2. It is not useful for Lower Fort Garry or Oak Hammock Marsh. A car is the practical choice; the town core itself is walkable in 20–30 min end to end.
See and do
Known for
- Marine Museum of Manitoba and its historic ships
- Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site
- Selkirk Lift Bridge over the Red River
- Catfish capital branding and Chuck the Channel Cat
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site | Drive Highway 9 south about 7 km from SelkirkDrive Highway 9 south about 4.3 mi from Selkirk | About 15 min |
| Oak Hammock Marsh | Drive via Highway 220, north of Winnipeg | About 40 min |
| Gimli | Drive Highway 9 north, then Highway 8 | About 45 min |
| Winnipeg Beach | Drive Highway 9 north | About 40 min |
| Winnipeg | Drive Highway 9 south | About 45–55 min |
Sleep
- Manitoba Avenue strip
- Hotels, the shopping centre and most cafés; walkable, and the default if you have a car.
- Main Street / downtown
- Closer to the lift bridge, the catfish statue and the riverfront; fewer beds.
- Selkirk Park area
- Riverfront park and the Marine Museum; quiet at night, best with a vehicle.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Where is the washroom? | Where is the washroom? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Is it far from here? | Is it far from here? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- No bus service to Winnipeg since 2018: plan a car, a taxi or a lift.
- Winter runs from about November to April, with roughly 21 snow days a year; roads can be icy.
- Lower Fort Garry and the Marine Museum keep seasonal hours: check before you drive out.
- Distances between sights are rural; fuel up in Selkirk before heading north.
Selkirk is a small Prairie town and feels safe by day; the real risks are winter driving on Highway 9, unlit rural roads at night and long distances between services. Lock the car and keep an eye on the weather in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Selkirk yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Marine Museum of Manitoba and its historic ships
- Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site
- Selkirk Lift Bridge over the Red River
- Catfish capital branding and Chuck the Channel Cat
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Travel Manitoba — Interlake: www.travelmanitoba.com/
- Parks Canada — Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site: www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/mb/fortgarry
- Wikivoyage: Selkirk (Manitoba), revision 5272398 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5272398
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SelkirkSelkirk, Manitoba
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Health Links Manitoba (24 h)1-888-315-9257
No embassies in Selkirk; the US consulate and most embassies are in Ottawa, with consulates in Winnipeg and Toronto (check).
English is the working language; no phrase list needed beyond polite basics.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/selkirk-manitoba). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.