15 Fun Things to Do in Saskatoon: The Ultimate Guide

There are so many amazing things to do in Saskatoon, the largest city in Saskatchewan. It’s a lively and vibrant place to visit in Canada with a fantastic restaurant scene, sprawling parks and greenspaces, interesting cultural and historic sites, quirky neighbourhoods, and intriguing cafes and breweries. It’s also known as “The Paris of the Prairies” due to all of the bridges in town.

The name “Saskatoon” is named after the Saskatoon berry (“Mis-sask-quah-too-mina” in Cree) that grows wild and in abundance throughout the city. While the city of Saskatoon was founded in 1883, people have lived in and travelled through the area for 11,000 years. Saskatoon is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

If you’re looking for what to do in Saskatoon, I’ve got an awesome list of 15 fun activities for you. I spent about four full days in Saskatoon, though you could use these suggestions to create a fantastic Saskatoon 3 day itinerary. Among the best things to do in Saskatoon, I’ve included:

• Where to stay in Saskatoon
• The best places to go hiking in Saskatoon
• Outdoor activities in Saskatoon
• Cultural and historic sites in and around Saskatoon
• Saskatoon neighbourhoods you need to visit
• Breweries, cocktail bars, cafes, restaurants and more

Where to Stay in Saskatoon

I stayed at the Alt Hotel Saskatoon, located in the heart of downtown on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. In fact, I had beautiful views of the river and the bridges of the “city of bridges” right from the window of my room. It’s across the street from Remai Modern and within walking distance of Riversdale and the Broadway District.

The hotel has many great amenities, like free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour gym, a Nespresso coffee machine in the room, and a cocktail bar next to the lobby. You can borrow complimentary cruiser bicycles from the hotel (first come, first serve), and we took them out for a spin one day.

Wanuskewin Heritage Park

One of the best things to do in Saskatoon is visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park. In fact, it’s one of my recommended “must do Saskatoon” attractions. I feel like you can’t travel to Saskatoon without making the trip out to Wanuskewin as it’s such a valuable and important historic and cultural site within the province of Saskatchewan and all of Canada.

The nomadic tribes who ventured across the Northern Plains first gathered at the site of Wanuskewin over 6000 years ago. These lands were important for hunting bison, gathering food, and offering protection from inclement weather.

This is the site of Canada’s longest running archaeological dig. New treasures are being discovered daily at sites that are older than the Egyptian pyramids. There’s an ancient Medicine Wheel at Wanuskewin that’s 1500 years old. You can also visit many exhibits at Wanuskewin with artefacts like animals bones and pieces of pottery.

There are also daily dance and music presentations at Wanueskewin Heritage Park. These happen daily at 1:00pm. In addition to the regular daily programming, there are numerous workshops and special events that take place. Be sure to check the calendar on the website to help plan your trip.

Right now, Wanuskewin is on the road to receive UNESCO World Heritage Designation in 2025. To gain UNESCO World Heritage status, a site must demonstrate that it has Outstanding Universal Value. Wanuskewin is one of the best cultural destinations in Canada with 6000 years of archaeological heritage, and I have no doubts that it will become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bison Herd

Over 150 years ago, Plains bison disappeared from these lands. Though the Plains bison are a symbol of the west, they were nearly completely wiped out by overhunting and slaughter. While 30-60 million bison once roamed North America, there were no bison remaining in Canada by 1888.

Bison have played a central cultural role for Indigenous people for many centuries. Conservation and restoration of bison to these lands is an important element towards Reconciliation. In December 2019, Wanuskewin partnered with Parks Canada to welcome the first Plains bison back to their natural prairie home, with ceremonies led by Elder Cy Standing and members of the Wahpeton Dakota Nation.

Six female calves came from Grasslands National Park and an additional five bison came from the United States with ancestral ties to Yellowstone National Park. The herd is slowly growing as new bison babies are born at Wanuskewin. Through this conservation herd, they hope to restore native grasses within one of the most endangered biomes in the world. Furthermore, they’re creating a habitat for animals that nearly became extinct.

When you visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park, you can visit the bison, too. Currently, there are two guided Bison Walks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You can always go for a walk to see the bison at any time of day, too. They weren’t too far from the fence when I visited, and I also saw a few baby bison.

Petroglyphs at Wanuskewin

In late 2021, Wanuskewin announced an amazing discovery at the park. While archaeological digs are continuously happening and have revealed nearly 200,000 artefacts, the bison themselves inadvertently uncovered these ones. The roaming bison kick up the dirt and roll around in the grass. In doing so, they uncovered a submerged boulder.

As it turns out, the boulder was a 1000 year old petroglyph (an image carved or abraded in rock). Archaeologists ended up finding three more petroglyphs, as well as the stone knife used to carve them. The first petroglyph, a Bison Ribstone, is on display at the museum. Remarkably, if the bison had not returned to these lands, we may have never discovered these ancient petroglyphs.

Medicinal Plant Walk

Every day, there’s special programming and guided tours in addition to the Bison Walk, the Step Back in Time Walk, and the dance/music presentation. When I visited Wanuskewin, one of their amazing guides took us on a Medicinal Plant Walk.

Wanuskewin currently has 7km of walking trails that you’re welcome to explore. There are many plants and herbs along the journey. A guide showed us all kinds of berries, leaves, and plants that we even consider to be weeds and how they can be used medicinally to treat ailments.

Some of these plants can help with various issues, while some can work as natural sunblock or treat bug bites. I thought it was fascinating that a poisonous plant and its antidote often grow quite close to one another. This walking tour is interesting and demonstrated the true wonders of nature.

Beaver Creek Conservation Area

Going for a hike at Beaver Creek Conservation Area is one of the top things to do in Saskatoon. If you love outdoor activities, nature, and want to see beautiful scenery, head straight to Beaver Creek Conservation Area. There are a collection of several easy hiking trails to explore.

At this park, prairie creek meets prairie river and it is home to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Beaver Creek Conservation Area is home to rare, threatened, and species at risk, and also provide a larger corridor for wildlife. These preserved lands contain remnant sandhills prairie complexes that are home to many grasslands birds and wildflowers.

Naturally, with a name like Beaver Creek Conservation Area, many beavers live here, too. The dams that beavers build flood the water upstream and create beaver ponds. Some plants and animals thrive in these sheltered habitats. You can see evidence of many beaver dams as you go for a hike here. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a beaver, too.

It’s important to note a few things before you visit Beaver Creek Conservation Area. First, it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Next, be sure to stay on the marked trails to protect these sensitive habitats. Don’t pick any wildflowers (leave no trace). Also, no bike riding is permitted at Beaver Creek (hiking only). As this is a protected habitat for wildlife, please do not bring your dogs to the trails (dog-friendly Meewasin sites include Cranberry Flats Conservation Area, Chief Whitecap Park and Sutherland Beach).

Meewasin Northeast Swale

Another great place to go for a walk in Saskatoon is at the Meewasin Northeast Swale. The Meewasin Valley Swale is an ancient river channel, starting at Peturrson’s Ravine and carving a 26 km long path next to the South Saskatchewan River.

Even though this path is fairly close to neighbourhoods and urban areas, there’s an amazing biodiversity here. The Swale is an endangered grassland habitat, home to more than 200 plant species, over 180 bird species, as well as mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Before you visit, download the Meewasin App or check it out online. Check out the section titled, “Indigenous Connections to the Northeast Swale”. It is a companion guide with insightful videos to play as you go for your walk to learn more about the culture, connections, and experiences in the Saskatoon river valley corridor.

Each time you approach an interpretive panel, watch the corresponding video, usually featuring an Indigenous elder. We’ll learn about animals, plants, the ways we are connected to nature, creative expressions, and world views of First Nations and Métis. This self-guided experience is one of the best things to do in Saskatoon if you’re interested in nature and culture.

Take a Walking Tour of Saskatoon

A walking tour is the perfect opportunity to become oriented with a new place. I embarked on the Meewasin Walking Tour with an extremely knowledgeable guide to explore the river valley in downtown Saskatoon.

Did you know that the Meewasin Valley is the largest urban conservation zone in Canada? And do you know what Chief Whitecap is pointing at in the roundabout by the Traffic Bridge? We walked through Kiwanis Park, learned about the history of the impressive Delta Marriott Hotel, and local lore of the SS City of Medicine Hat marine disaster.

For soeone who was brand new to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, this walking tour provided both a valuable history lesson and intriguing insights to the current happenings in the city. There are so many interesting stories and facts that are useful to locals and visitors alike.

Go Cycling in Saskatoon

One of my favourite things to do in Saskatoon is take advantage of their bike-friendly paths. Yes, Saskatoon is a very bike-friendly city! Many of the main bridges are pedestrian and safe to ride your bike across, and there are paved paths lining the South Saskatchewan River. Here is a map of the paved bike paths, as well as roads with bike lanes.

The Saskatoon downtown business improvement organization, DTNYXE, has partnered with several area hotels to offer bicycles for guests to use for free. The hotel where I stayed, the Alt Hotel Saskatoon, has two complimentary bicycles offered on a first come, first serve basis.

I suggest taking out a bicycle for a spin along the river, through downtown, over to Riversdale and then over to the Broadway district. You can ride on both sides of the South Saskatchewan River. There are many bike racks in Riversdale and Broadway, so you can lock up your bike and wander around town for a while, too.

Shop Local at SaskMade Marketplace

While there are so many amazing local businesses in Saskatoon (I’ll get to a few more in the Riversdale and Broadway sections of this travel blog post), I wanted to highlight the SaskMade Marketplace. This is a Saskatchewan business that sells local products by local farmers, artisans, and other small businesses.

They place an emphasis on sustainability, quality, and shopping local. The farms and artisans are well known to the staff members, so you can be certain that what you’re purchasing comes from reliable and ethical companies.

One product I wanted to highlight is Hanes Hummus, a Saskatoon-based company that makes some of the most delicious gourmet hummus. With flavours like Hot Date, Garlic & Dill, and Moroccan 7 Spice, you need to try this hummus when you’re in Saskatoon.

Saskatoon Berries

Saskatoon berries are local to Saskatoon and they grow wild all over the city. I had the opportunity to try some of the berries straight from the plant. It’s hard to describe how they taste. They’re a little bit more tart than a blueberry. Make sure you try Saskatoon berries while you’re in the city, but it’s even better to try them in a pastry or a local product. Here are a few of my suggestions:

Venture over to McQuarrie’s Tea and Coffee Merchants on Broadway and you’ll find Saskatoon berry tea. I found several other kinds of loose-leaf teas to purchase as well. It’s a lovely shop! A couple of blocks away, I suggest going to Las Palapas for lunch or dinner. Try the Saskatoon berry mojito. It’s so refreshing.

Street Art in Saskatoon

Do you love colourful murals and street art? So many walls in Saskatoon are covered with unique and beautiful public art that you can visit whenever you like. Notably, there are some wonderful pieces in Riversdale, mostly on the side streets off 20th St W.

There are also some murals in the Broadway District. You’ll need to walk behind the buildings of the businesses on Broadway Avenue to find much of this street art.

It can be easy to miss some of these murals if you’re not looking out for them. When you walk down the street, take a peek behind you every once in a while. Some street art won’t be obvious right away, but that’s the fun of the hunt. Finding works of street art and public art is one of the best things to do in Saskatoon.

Broadway District

There are two neighbourhoods that I wanted to highlight: the Broadway District and Riversdale. First, Broadway Avenue and its side streets have an eclectic collection of shops, restaurants, cafes, and breweries. There’s something for every interest with unique things you may not find elsewhere.

Riversdale

Another fantastic neighbourhood in Saskatoon is Riversdale. Walk up and down 20th Street West and its side streets to find lovely shops, restaurants, cocktail bars and cafes. You will find lots of public art on the way, too.

Remai Modern

If you’re still thinking about what to do in Saskatoon and you’re a fan of art and museums, don’t miss Remai Modern. It is a museum of modern and contemporary art in Saskatoon. It’s directly across the road from the Alt Hotel Saskatoon, making it an extremely convenient stop on my trip.

There are permanent exhibits and timely exhibitions, many of which are by artists across the prairies and Indigenous artists. Museums are always a great rainy day activity, though you’ll want to visit this one even if it’s a bright and sunny day outside.

When I visited Remai Modern, there was a poignant exhibit by Adrian Stimson called Maanipokaa’iini. This renowned Siksika Nation artist creates works out of several mediums, like photography, painting, video and live performance. Stimson re-examines colonial history and explores themes of identity, the lasting impacts of the residential school system, and the importance of the bison to Blackfoot spirituality and survival.

Remai Modern is a major collecting museum in Saskatchewan that holds approximately 8000 artworks in a wide variety of media. In addition, Remai Modern houses the most comprehensive collection of linocuts by Pablo Picasso as part of their permanent collection. Make sure you wander through every room and exhibit at Remai Modern as this museum is truly fascinating. It’s one of the best things to do in Saskatoon.

Eat Delicious Vegan Food

Saskatoon has one of the highest amount of restaurants per capita in Canada. While there aren’t really any entirely vegan restaurants, Saskatoon is an incredibly vegan-friendly city with loads of options. I was really surprised at the variety of plant-based offerings and also just how delicious every meal truly was.

Breweries and Cocktail Bars

Saskatoon is home to a number of breweries and cocktail bars that you don’t want to miss. I tried lentil beer for the very first time in Saskatoon at Prairie Sun Brewery on Broadway. There are a number of other breweries to visit in Saskatoon as well: 9 Mile Legacy Brewing, High Key Brewing, Shelter Brewing, and Better Brother Brewing.

Many restaurants in Saskatoon have delicious cocktails to pair with your meal. However, I made a midday stop at POP Wine Bar in Riversdale where they have a number of enticing beverages. They prepare their own cocktail mixtures and use an ice machine to make these alcoholic slushy drinks that are a bit reminiscent of a snow cone. Try the spiked ice tea, it’s refreshing and delicious.

Coffee Shops and Cafes in Saskatoon

If you know me, you know that I adore coffee and always stop at numerous cafes on my trips. Saskatoon was no exception and I managed to find many amazing coffee shops there. Drift Cafe was one of my absolute favourites as they create lattes using macadamia nut milk. A vanilla latte with macadamia nut milk is one of the creamiest, most delicious coffee drinks you’ll ever have, trust me.

Don’t miss ordering some lattes at Hometown Diner, coffee and a vegan muffin from Good Earth Coffeehouse, caffeinated beverages from Museo Coffee Roasters or Broadway Roastery over in the Broadway District, or some Vietnamese coffee from The Karma Conscious Cafe.

Best Things to Do Near Saskatoon

While you can easily spend days in Saskatoon, there are a few notable spots not far outside of Saskatoon area where you can make a day trip. The above fun things to do in Saskatoon can be covered in about 3 days in Saskatoon. Then, take a day trip from Saskatoon to Rosthern and Batoche as your fourth day in Saskatchewan.

Station Arts Centre in Rosthern

Rosthern is about 40 minutes outside of Saskatoon, but there’s a really good reason to venture outside of the city to Rosthern: Station Arts Centre. It is a renovated CN Railway Station that functions as an art gallery, seminar space, tea room and performing arts theatre. They host all kinds of workshops and events throughout the year. I attended a brilliant and fun workshop there called Garden Alchemy.

Beside the train station building, there’s an expansive garden full of herbs and botanicals. Gather the ones you like and then make a herb-infused simple syrup from them. The staff will work you through all of the steps and it isn’t all that difficult. I created a simple syrup using mint, lemon balm, rosemary, lavender and rose petals. You can use it in cocktails and mocktails.

Then, while the flavours from the herbs are infusing on the stovetop, you will have the chance to collect leaves from the garden. We used the leaves to create one-of-a-kind works of art to bring home. I was really happy with how mine turned out!

Batoche National Historic Site

Driving a little further north, about an hour from Saskatoon, lies Batoche National Historic Site. For history buffs, this is a must visit place in Saskatoon. This is where the Battle of Batoche took place, which was the final battlefield of the Northwest Resistance of 1885.

You’ll travel back in time to the 1800s and see what life was like for the Métis residents. Several original buildings and structures are still standing at Batoche, even some riddled with bullet holes. There is also a cemetery that serves as the final resting place for many important historic figures. Also, don’t miss one of the most beautiful views of the South Saskatchewan River from a lookout point at Batoche.

More Things to Do in Saskatoon

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