Holidays to Churchill (Updated 2025)

Holidays to Churchill

Churchill is a small town located in northern Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the west shore of Hudson Bay, at the mouth of the Churchill River around 140 kilometres from the Manitoba – Nunavut border. The town is part of the North of 53 regions of Manitoba. It has around 1000 residents. The town of Churchill is famous for its large number of polar bears which led it to earn the nickname “Polar Bear Capital of the World”. However, polar bears are not the sole highlight of the town. Churchill’s Hudson Bay sees a lot of cute Beluga whales every summer, earning the nickname of “Beluga Capital of the World”. It is also one of the best places on the planet to catch the stunning display of the Northern Lights.

The town of Churchill lies far from any other towns or cities in Manitoba. Thomson, the nearest city to Churchill lies in the south at a distance of 400 kilometres. The city of Winnipeg, the official capital of Manitoba lies 1000 kilometres which is also the main arrival point for international travellers in Manitoba. The region’s earliest inhabitants were the Thule people, the proto-Inuit that arrived in the region around 1,000 BCE. The first Europeans arrived in the region was a Danish expedition in 1619 with only three out of sixty-four residents revived due to intense cold before sailing set for home once the ice thawed. The town of Churchill took its roots with the Hudson’s Bay Company setting up an all-year trading post just north of the town across the Churchill River in 1717. The primary residents were engaged in the hunting of polar bears and fur trading in Northwest America.

In the 1730s there was a tussle for dominance of the area between the English and the French forces and saw a battle and subsequent conquest of the trading post’s star fort, Prince of Wales by the French Hudson Bay Expedition. Later, the trading post and river were named after John Churchill, the First Duke of Marlborough and an ancestor of Sir Winston Churchill, the legendary Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. Over the centuries the fur trade declined, and the provincial government of Manitoba set up the rail line from Winnipeg in 1929 and constructed the Port of Churchill from where it shipped shipments of wheat to all over the world. Today, Churchill is mostly a tourism-dependent economy.

Things to do in Churchill

Take a tour to see the Polar BearsChurchill

Churchill the “Polar Bear Capital of the world” is known for the highest concentration of polar bears that often ventured into the town, looking for seals. Each autumn, over a thousand big white polar bears, migrate along Hudson Bay’s scenic shoreline. There are several tours in tundra vehicles or from boats to see these majestic creatures in their natural setting. Some polar bears even ventured into the town during the summer and some of them also land in polar bear jail, a special holding area to keep the bears in the town before being relocated north of the town after crossing three river systems.

Spot the cute Beluga whales in Hudson BayChurchill

Churchill is also known as the “Beluga Capital of the World” as its famous for being the best place in the world to see Beluga Whale. Each year over 3,000 of the majestic, playful, curious, and cute white Beluga whales enter Hudson Bay and venture into the Churchill River. From mid-June to mid-August, the river is packed with pods of playful whales, also known as the ‘Canaries of the Sea’ due to their melodious clicks and calls. Visitors can take boat tours to see these majestic creatures or even get up close while enjoying kayaking, swimming, and scuba diving amid the cute and curious Belugas.

Take a tour to see the majestic Northern LightsChurchill

One of the USPs of Churchill is the Northern Lights. The town of Churchill is one of the best places in the world to catch the stunning display of the Northern Lights. Churchill lies far to the north and is positioned below the Auroral Oval, allowing visitors a chance to enjoy the spectacular swirling and enigmatic greenish-bluish Northern Lights. The best time to spot the stunning Northern Lights is from the months of January to March as the nights are longer and have very less chance of rain. There are several tour companies in Churchill offering tours into the Canadian wilderness to see the swirling and enigmatic Northern Lights from secluded, light-free spots and stays at cosy cabins, lodges, and campgrounds.

When to visit Churchill

Churchill lies in the north of Manitoba and lies close to the Arctic region with very cold weather. The town is very far north in Manitoba and needs layers of winter clothing to brave the harsh cold weather. Churchill is significantly cold even in the summer months and needs layers of warm clothing with warm hats, mittens, and waterproof and windproof clothing.

The winters in Churchill often see temperatures ranging between -15 degrees to -24 degrees Celsius. Spring in Churchill continues to be cold with temperatures ranging between -15 degree Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius. The summer weather is warmer with rain and cold. The average high in the summer hovers around 18 degrees Celsius and needs warm clothing for outdoor exploration. Autumn is the polar bear season with the average temperature dropping to -3 degrees Celsius by November. Churchill receives plenty of snowfall between September to June and sees 271 sunny days every year.

The best time to visit Churchill depends on what you plan to do and see. It is believed that all three of the top sights of polar bears, beluga whales, and the Northern Lights are possible in one or two seasons. The best time to see and revel in the full glory of the Northern Lights is the months of February and March. The greatest spectacle on earth starts around the wee hours of 2 AM in the cold and frozen weather but the experience of braving the cold and witnessing the florescent swirls of greenish-blueish Northern Lights is one of a kind special moment.

The best time to see the Beluga whales is in the months of July and August. The Churchill Rover and the Hudson Bay see droves of white, cute, and curious Beluga whales in the region for feeding and breeding. The best time to see Polar Bears is in the months of July to November. October to November is the time when Hudson Bay starts to freeze, and polar bears gather along the coast to hunt seals and occasionally venture into the town of Churchill as well.

Top Attractions in Churchill

Itsanitaq MuseumChurchill

The Itsanitaq Museum is a one-room museum that is dedicated to Inuit culture. This museum showcases an exceptional collection of Inuit carvings made of whalebone, soapstone, and caribou antler along with old harpoon heads and bone carvings of shamans and bears left over from the pre-Inuit Thule and Dorset cultures. Here, travellers can see the stuffed polar bear, musk ox, narwhal horns, etc. There is also plenty of items like loon-skin shoes, a pickled polar bear fetus, snow goggles made of caribou antler, and miniature carvings displaying various aspects of Inuit life. The museum also has an extensive collection of Inuit Carvings for sale along with books on Northern Canada’s history, culture, and indigenous communities.

Fort Prince of Wales National Historic SiteChurchill

The Fort Prince of Wales National Historic Site is famous for the Prince of Wales Fort is a historic fort bastion that lies across the Churchill River. The site was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. The fort has been standing on rocky Eskimo Point across the Churchill River since the 1770s. The star-shaped, stone Fort Prince of Wales took 40 years to build, and its cannons were never used. This fort began as a log fort built in 1717 by James Knight of the Hudson’s Bay Company to protect its fur trade and was named after the Prince of Wales in 1719. The French government’s Hudson Bay expedition captured the fort in 1782. Today, travellers can also explore the fort by taking a 15-minute boat trip from Churchill and learning about the area’s history.

Wapusk National ParkChurchill

The Wapusk National Park is Canada’s 37th national park which was established in 1996. The name ‘Wapusk’ comes from the Cree word for polar bears, “Wapask”. The national park is located on the shores of Hudson Bay in the Hudson Plains ecozone south of Churchill. The remote location of the park allows very limited accessibility to preserve the ecology. The park is also famous for its polar bears and is the preferred spot for wildlife photographers to click pictures of polar bears in their natural settings. Travellers can also see a few species like polar bears, birds, wolves, caribou and many more along with native plants and trees.

Frequently Asked Questions on Churchill Holidays

How do I travel to Churchill?
Churchill Airport (IATA Code – YYQ) serves the town of Churchill with domestic flights by Calm Air from Winnipeg, and Thomson. Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, which is the main international airport of Manitoba. VIA Rail Canada operates a train between Winnipeg and Churchill twice per week.

What are the travel requirements for Canada?
Citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union are exempted from visas and can stay in the country for tourism for a period of 6 months. They are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if arriving in the country by air. Citizens of the United States of America are free to enter the country without a visa and must bring their passports or identity card.

What is the currency used in Canada?
Canadian Dollar (CAD) is the official currency. CAD exchange rates are hovering around 1 CAD for 1 USD, 1 CAD for 1 GBP, and 1 CAD for 1 Euro. The exchange rates can vary with +/- of 1 to 2 as per currency. There are plenty of currency exchange service providers in the city.  VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted in the country as well.

Do I need travel insurance in Canada?
Yes, to visit Canada, worldwide travel insurance is required that will cover loss, damage, theft of your belongings, covers medical, accidental, baggage loss, trip cancellation and delays, accidental damage, or injury.

What is the language spoken in Churchill?
English is the most widely spoken language in Manitoba. French is also spoken in Brandon and other parts of the province.

How do I travel within Churchill?
Churchill is a small town, and it is very easy to walk within the town limits. It takes around 10 minutes to cover one end of the town to the other end. There are several taxi drivers around the airport and the train station. Self-driving car rental companies are also available but are not popular among travellers.

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