+15 Hidden Gems & Unique Things to do in Saskatoon

I’ve got a secret! There’s a gem of a destination in Canada that you’re going to want to plan a trip to right away. That place is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Saskatoon is often called the ‘Paris of the Prairies’ due to its various bridges that cross the South Saskatchewan River that winds through the city. While many people, including plenty of my friends, drive through the province keen for more ‘exciting’ places to visit, but after returning from a 2-week trip to Saskatoon I encourage you to stop and explore this Canadian hidden gem!

Saskatoon is an ideal destination for those looking for a unique holiday in Canada. There’s something for everyone, from arts and culture to a thriving food scene and plenty of outdoor activities including paddling the river and cycling the Meewasin Trail. I went with zero expectations and was blown away by the diversity of things to do in Saskatoon. So much so that I’m already plotting a return visit!

So, whether you’re looking for new places to visit in Canada, let my Saskatoon guide inspire you to start planning a trip!

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Stroll along the Riverside

One of my favourite things about Saskatoon is the city’s scenic riverside trails. With the South Saskatchewan River winding through the city, you’ll find trails on both sides.

The Meewasin Trail runs for over 100 km in and around Saskatoon, covering both sides of the river. Part of which is also a section of the Trans Canada Trail.

I immediately fell in love with strolling the trails along the river, and did so nearly every day I was in the city!

The river boasts countless hidden gems along the trails, like a pagoda, painting rocks, and art installations. There’s also dancing along the river in the summer as well as an ice cream stand – The Sugar Shack, that has twinkling lights for evening snacking.

Insider Tip: If you’d rather cycle along the river, you can grab an e-bike rental from Life Outside Gear Exchange.

Visit Wanuskewin

Wanuskewin, pronounced Wah-nus-KAY-win, the name comes from a Plains Cree word meaning ‘seeking peace of mind.’ It’s home to Canada’s longest-running archaeological dig and has been a sacred gathering place for the Northern Plains Indigenous peoples over 6,400 years.

It’s more than a day trip from Saskatoon — it’s an experience that stays with you.

I spent a couple of hours hiking some of the over 7 km of trails that wind through stunning prairie and valley landscapes. You can also watched bison roam freely — back on this land after 150 years.

I loved being able to sit and take in a powerful dance performance where I learned about a few different dance styles from the Northern Plains Region. This was part of their daily events, so be sure to ask what’s going on the day you visit.

The museum is packed full of exhibits which share insight into the history of Wanuskewin, the people, the bison, and so much more, further deepened my understanding of the rich Indigenous history here.

And with a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation on the horizon, it deserves a top spot on your Saskatchewan must-do list.

Highlights:

• 5 trails (0.4 – 2.1 km)
• Bison viewing
• Museum
• Cultural Programing (IE. dance, drumming & storytelling)

Explore Murals

If you love street art then you’ll love exploring the murals in downtown Saskatoon! I’m always on the hunt for street art on my travels and I was blown away by the amount in the city.

One of the most iconic murals is the Saskatoon mural at 402 21st Street East. Spelling out Saskatoon with images that celebrate the province like bison and farms, it’s a must see. However, while it was once easy to get a photo in front of it, it’s now gated. But you can still score a picture through the gate.

Many of the murals celebrate the region’s culture and landscapes. You’ll see everything from prairie lilies to bison.

One of my favourites is the massive prairie lilies mural in the parking lot at 120 20th Street East. Next to it is another massive mural depicting Indigenous people on horseback and is surrounded by plants traditional used by them.

Walk the Train Bridge

One of the many reasons Saskatoon is dubbed the Paris of the Prairies is because of its scenic bridges. And there’s one that is more adventurous than the others!

The CPR Bridge was built in 1908 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and offers one of the most unique things to do in Saskatoon – walk with trains!

Yes, the Saskatoon train bridge is still in use and it features a walkway where you can walk alongside trains. But I’m thrilled to report that I did not encounter a train when I dared to walk across it with friends. Yes, thrilling for some but a little too close for comfort for me!

Standing over 60 feet (19.5 m) above the river, the bridge spans over 1100 feet long (341 m).

You can access it from the Meewasin Trails either near the University of Saskatchewan Campus or on the other side of the river.

Visit the Sculpture Park

Another fun place to visit in Saskatoon near the train bridge is the Sculpture Park. It’s located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

While there’s no signage about the sculptures or their artists in the large grassy park where they stand, it just adds to the hidden gem factor!

The sculptures range from a giant hand, that’s perfect for fun photos, to modern abstract pieces that make you wonder what they are.

It’s like an open-air art museum that inspires the imagination.

Go Birding

Saskatchewan is one of the most underrated and best birding spots in Canada! Thanks to its location, it sees a lot of diverse migratory bird species. And its home to endangered species like the burrowing owl and whooping crane.

But there’s plenty of birding to be done in the city. The best place for birding in Saskatoon is along the South Saskatchewan River.

Even right downtown, along the riverside trails, I spotted grey catbirds, yellow warblers, various sparrows, and more. There’s also potential to see various waterfowl and great blue heron.

One of the most unique birds to see in Saskatoon is the American white pelican. You can see them at the Weir feeding during the day.

During one visit to the weir, my friend’s and I caught sight of one of them catch a large fish and it was quite the sight! The bird expanded its large beak pouch and we could see the fish moving around inside!

But there are plenty of places for birding near downtown Saskatoon too – like Beaver Creek Conservation and even at Wanuskewin, for those with a vehicle.

Explore Broadway Neighbourhood

Beyond the downtown, there’s another great neighbourhood that you should explore, Broadway! This cool neighbourhood has a small town feel and is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the heart of downtown.

Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon is the place to be! The neighbourhood is filled with great local shops, a quirky bookstore, and coffee shops – like Museo Coffee Roasters. Plus, it’s home to some of the best places to eat in Saskatoon like Odla.

I also loved that there is more murals, painted doors and street art to be found!

A few must-visit shops:

• Wren
• Handmade House
• Turning the Tide Bookstore
• Saskatchewan Craft Council

Indoor Things to do in Saskatoon

Wander the Remai Modern

Whether you’re looking to escape the rain or heat or snow, a visit to the Remai Modern is always a good idea! Plus, it’s a great spot to visit if you’re on a budget, as entry is by donation.

This Art Gallery is located in downtown Saskatoon and features contemporary art from local and international artists. Across 4 levels, the museum is home to over 8000 pieces of art. There’s everything from mixed media to oil paintings.

The Remai is also home to one of the best restaurants in the city, Hearth. With a local inspired menu, unique cocktails and views of the river – it’s a must! Be sure to make reservations in advance though.

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Saskatoon, be sure to check out the Remai Modern’s events page. They host a variety of events, from screenings to markets as well as art making workshops.

Highlights:

• free daily tours at 2pm
• Picasso gallery
• Hearth restaurant
• art making events

Insider Tip: The Remai Modern has an epic rooftop that offers some of the best views in the city! If you can attend one of their rooftop events – don’t miss out! I enjoyed a guided painting workshop and loved it!

Explore the Natural History & Science Museums

The University of Saskatchewan is full of hidden gems in Saskatoon! I spent many hours exploring the campus and its treasures during my trip.

If you’re looking for free things to do in Saskatoon then head over to the university. This stunning campus is like walking through a Harry Potter set, with its historic buildings – some of which look like castles, and towering trees.

The campus is home to two museums. One is the Museum of Natural Sciences. This small, two floor museum is home to giant dinosaur skeleton replicas, mineral and rock exhibits, as well as live animals.

Museum of Antiquities is the other and located in the Peter McKinnon Building. Walking up its main steps to enter, I felt like I was walking into the campus of the X-Men!

The small museum showcases replicas of significant historic pieces like the Rosetta Stone. But there are also a number of original pieces like ancient Egyptian statues and marble theatre masks from Ancient Greece.

Visit Gather Local Market

If you love shopping local then visit Gather Local Market. Located in the River Landing neighbourhood of Saskatoon. It’s the city’s first public market.

This up and coming spot in Saskatoon is a place to keep an eye on! Inside you’ll find a diverse array of food and drink vendors and other shops.

One of my favourites was the SaskMade Marketplace that sells a variety of local items, from soaps to food and unique Saskatchewan gifts. I couldn’t resist buying a couple of souvenirs and gifts to bring home to friends.

Must-Visit Shops in Gather:

• SaskMade Marketplace
• The Sure O’s Co. – for epic churro donuts!
• Botté Persian Cafe

Do an Escape Room

When my friends and I travel together we always try to do an escape room. During my visit to Saskatoon, it was my friend’s birthday so we celebrated with an escape room in Saskatoon.

The Escape Manor in downtown Saskatoon is a hub for fun! Along with escape rooms they have axe throwing, darts and a cool bar.

We opted to try the Arthur Bradford’s Wine Cellar escape room. It was so fun and full of unique puzzles to solve and different rooms. It is noted as a difficult one with not the best escape rate, so it was no surprise we didn’t escape. But it was fun!

They have a number of different rooms. One of which – Santa’s Secret, sounds so fun if you’re looking for things to do during the holidays in Saskatoon.

Insider Tip: Some escape rooms, like Escape Manor, offer free admission if it’s your birthday.

Shop the Hidden Mall

The main mall downtown is set in what was once the old train station, which is so cool! But there’s another mall that’s a hidden gem in Saskatoon!

Drinkle Mall is an historic building in downtown Saskatoon (map), built in 1913. It was built and named after J.C. Drinkle, who was one of the city’s early pioneering developers.

Now the towering building has a hidden mall in the basement! It’s home to over a dozen shops that range from vintage decor to clothing to a tattoo parlor.

I loved browsing the vintage finds at the Hobnobber. I wish I had more room in my suitcase, as I would have picked up a few finds.

Drinkle Mall is so much more than a place to shop! The walls are covered with art and historic photos. Plus, you might stumble upon a DJ cranking out beats at the vintage clothing shop.

Hang out at a Cat Cafe

My love of cats is strong and so is my love of coffee, so I was thrilled to find a cat cafe in Saskatoon!

Purrfect Cup Cat Cafe is one of the best cat cafes I’ve been too! And it was definitley one of the cutest coffee shops in Saskatoon!

They have a selection of drinks and food to purchase and then you enter the cafe. There are so many nooks and fun spots for the cats to hang out in, I could immediately tell how much they cared for them.

They have a diverse age range in cats and with different personalities. There were older relaxed ones, young playful cats, and one – Jethro, who is quite the adventurous one.

Like many cat cafes, most of the cats here are up for adoption and they seem to be really successful with it. Plus, there’s an admission fee of $14.

Hidden Gems in Saskatoon

Riverhouse Studio Gallery

This colourful century home, turned art gallery is owned by the equally colourful artist, Cecilia Elizabeth.

Cecilia was celebrating her birthday when my friends and I popped in to visit Riverhouse Studio Gallery. She welcomed us in, showed us some of her pieces of art and photos from a recent trip to Europe.

In addition to the gallery, you can also attend one of her art classes in watercolour or acrylic.

Insider Tip: Peek inside the bathroom – there’s an incredible mural inside!

Visit the Observatory

Another hidden gem in Saskatoon is the University of Saskatchewan Observatory. Built between 1928 and 1930, its home to a 6 inch refracting telescope.

My dad got me interested in astronomy as a kid when he would show me the night sky through his telescope. So, when I learned about the observatory in Saskatoon during the Doors Open event I was excited to visit.

The observatory also has a small museum in the basement that showcases different exhibits about the solar system and astronomy.

But if you’re looking for unique things to do in Saskatoon at night, the observatory offers twice a month free night sky viewing.

On the first and third Saturday every month, visitors can come for free! If the sky is clear, you have a chance to look at the different planets, star clusters and more through the telescope.

Attend Doors Open

After attending countless Doors Open events in Ontario, I was delighted that my visit to Saskatoon coincided with their Doors Open event.

The Doors Open event allows people to visit buildings that are either not generally open to the public or enjoy a free tour of a place. Sometimes there are also walking tours too.

Checking out Doors Open is not only free but is a great way to discover hidden gems! They put out a flyer that lists the places that are open, times for tours and locations.

That’s how we learned about the Dinkle Mall and the Observatory!

We also did a cool tour of the Hotel Senator, which is one of the oldest in the city. Our tour included visiting hotel rooms, the downstairs bar, learning about its history and hidden gems they’ve uncovered while renovating.

Attend Theatre in the Park

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Saskatoon with kids during the summer, check out Theatre in Park. This free event highlights a different live theatre performance every summer.

Theatre in the Park takes place at various parks around Saskatoon and other places in Saskatchewan. It’s great for families with small kids, as the show is only 45 minutes long.

During my visit, the show was called Breathe and it was an endearing story of friendship and getting outside your comfort zone. Characters included birds, a fish and a dragon.

Where to Stay in Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a very walkable city, so if you’re looking for places to stay, I recommend staying downtown. I stayed at a few different spots during my 2-week trip, including the Alt and the Bessborough Hotels.

Alt Hotel

The first time I stayed at an Alt was during my trip to St. John’s, Newfoundland. I immediately fell in love with this family owned and operated Canadian hotel chain! So, I was delighted to stay at the Alt Hotel in Saskatoon.

Rooms are modern and feature comfortable beds, stylish bathrooms and epic floor to ceiling windows. My room had an awesome view of the river!

It’s located right downtown, so you can easily walk to all the downtown attractions.

Bessborough Hotel

If you’re looking for a historic hotel in downtown Saskatoon then book a stay at the Bessborough Hotel. This castle-like hotel can be seen from across the city and is one of the classic railway hotels of Canada.

At the Bess, as it’s affectionately dubbed, the rooms are spacious and amenities include 2 pools, a spa and a fitness centre. It’s been welcoming guests, like myself, since it opened in 1935.

FUN FACT: Take a peek at the exterior walls for fossils! I was totally blown away by seeing these hidden gems in the stones of the hotel.

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