• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

  • City Guides
      • Calgary
      • Banff
      • Jasper
      • Edmonton
      • Vancouver
      • Kelowna
      • Victoria
      • Tofino
      • Regina
      • Saskatoon
      • Winnipeg
      • Toronto
      • Ottawa
      • Niagara Falls
      • Montreal
      • Halifax
      • St. John’s
  • Where to Go
    • Map of Canada
      • Provinces
          • Alberta
          • British Columbia
          • Manitoba
          • New Brunswick
          • Newfoundland & Labrador
          • Northwest Territories
          • Nova Scotia
          • Nunavut
          • Ontario
          • Prince Edward Island
          • Quebec
          • Saskatchewan
          • Yukon
  • What To Do
    • Outdoor Attractions
    • Indoor Attractions
    • History & Culture
    • Food & Drink
    • Festivals & Events
    • Road Trips
  • Blog
  • Facts
    • Facts About Canada
    • Canada Flags
    • Canadian Money
    • Canadian Languages
    • Alberta Facts
    • Calgary Facts
    • Ontario Facts
  • Resources
  • About
    • About Us
    • Work With Us
    • Contact

The Best Things To Do in Saskatoon in 2021

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

Sharing is caring!

492 shares
  • Share291
  • Tweet
best things to do in saskatoon

Things to Do in Saskatoon last updated: June 28th, 2021

As the South Saskatchewan River winds through the city, Saskatoon is buzzing with an infusion of new restaurants, bars, breweries, and attractions. Locals who had once left to attend school or experience big cities like Vancouver and Toronto have moved back, bringing with them a new sense of pride.

It’s really quite beautiful, with some calling Saskatoon the “Paris of the Prairies”. Multiple bridges cross the wide river, while an 80-km trail provides a scenic way to take it all in while walking, jogging, or biking. Those into watersports can grab their paddleboard, kayak, or canoe, and go down the river for a scenic soft adventure. Even in the winter, people can be seen on bikes or kick-sleds – a new activity to the area.

Saskatoon surprised us in many ways. Not only is there so much to do and see, but the uniqueness of the new restaurants, shops, breweries, and pubs is truly awesome. The Hollows, for example, converted a historic Chinese restaurant into a modern-day contemporary restaurant focused on natural and seasonal products. Stepping inside is like stepping into the 1970s. Almost all of it has been kept intact. Then there’s Ayden Kitchen and Bar, which is owned by the winner of Canada’s top chef, serving up an incredible array of food and drink. One of the newest trendy spots for satisfying the sweet tooth is Darkside Donuts, which names its donuts after local neighborhoods and even provides an online live feed of what’s in stock. This is just a taste, figuratively and literally speaking, of what’s happening in Saskatoon. It’s alive, it’s bold, and the love for the city can be seen in almost every corner.

things to do in saskatoon

What To Do In Saskatoon

For those visiting Saskatoon, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best things to do and see, as well as some of the best places to fill your belly. However, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with a local and see what they recommend. With all the youth and revitalization happening around the city, you never know what might be new and trendy.

Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Now on its way to UNESCO World Heritage status, Wanuskewin Heritage Park is one of the coolest indigenous sites we’ve ever seen and one of the top Saskatoon attractions. Not only is it a great museum and cultural centre, but it’s also Canada’s longest-running archaeological dig site. This site dates back more than 6,000 years, which is more than double the age of the Egyptian pyramids. There are tons of events in the summer months and in the winter, you can go snowshoeing and enjoy outdoor bannock bakes.

Remai Modern Museum

Remai Modern is a new museum of modern and contemporary art in Saskatoon, offering a unique perspective on art and culture in the 21st century, with an eye on the future. There are many galleries, as well as a ping-pong room, but one of the most exciting is the world’s largest Picasso linocut collection. Even the architecture itself received an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Architect magazine.

things to do in saskatoon

Riverside District and River Landing

If you’re looking to take a stroll, there’s no place more scenic than the beautiful river valley. Snaking its way through Saskatoon, the South Saskatchewan river provides a beautiful backdrop and a great place to go paddle-boarding and kayaking. This is one of the most popular outdoor Saskatoon activities and a good place to start is the area around the revitalized Riversdale neighborhood, which just so happens to be a great place to grab some food as well. If you need to rent some gear, head to Drift Sidewalk Cafe.

The Stoked Centre

This might be the most “random” place we visited in Saskatoon. What started out as a garden center has now become an almost all-you-you-need stop. There are garden supplies, household items, dog grooming, a restaurant, and even an awesome Go-Kart track, arcade, and zip-line. Parents can go shopping while their kids play or the whole family can have some fun. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Saskatoon that are indoors, this is a really cool place to visit.

Beaver Creek Conservation Area

If you’re looking to check out some wildlife, go for an easy hike, or feed some birds, consider going to Beaver Creek Conservation Area. This is a unique habitat for grassland birds and wildflowers. It is located where a prairie creek meets a prairie river. The active wildlife and scenery make it a great place to go for a stroll and there’s also an opportunity to feed cute little chickadees.

things to do in saskatoon rush

Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse

Nobody rallies behind their sports teams more than they do in Saskatchewan. Witness the energy at Sasktel Centre as up to 15,000 fans cheer on the three-time national lacrosse league champions. Lacrosse is Canada’s national summer sport and is a great way to spend an evening in Saskatchewan’s biggest city.

Optimist Hill (Winter)

Optimist Hill is a brand new community-funded winter park that opened earlier this month. It offers tubing, skiing, a terrain park, free tobogganing, and snowboarding, all within the city.

Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink (Winter)

According to Flare magazine, the Meewasin Skating Rink is one of the most scenic skating rinks in Canada. It’s a great thing to do in the winter and the free skate rentals make this available to anyone.

Hard Pressed

Falling in love with Saskatoon or Saskatchewan? Get yourself over to Hard Pressed and grab a locally-designed and pressed t-shirt, sweater, or other garments to show your love for the province.

Saskatoon restaurants

Where to Eat – Saskatoon Restaurants

If you’re looking for great places to eat in Saskatoon, you’re in luck. Saskatoon is home to an amazing food scene. We can’t list them all but here are some of the best restaurants in Saskatoon, all of which we have tried ourselves.

Drift Sidewalk Cafe (breakfast)

Drift exemplifies the laid-back nature of the Riversdale district – fusing together a California/Portland vibe with the collaborative spirit of the neighborhood. Drift Sidewalk Cafe and the Vista Lounge above is the perfect hot spot for grabbing your morning coffee and a breakfast crepe. It’s really one of the coolest buildings we’ve seen. There are hammocks to chill in. There’s a store for buying and renting outdoor gear. There’s an outdoor patio and there’s even a cool little outdoor patio if you feel like eating in a hot air balloon. You’ll see what we mean when you visit.

Park Cafe (breakfast)

Park Cafe is a quirky throwback diner located in the heart of the trendy Riversdale neighborhood. This place is full of history and specializes in locally-sourced comfort food. They even smoke their own salmon and bacon in-house. This place is often packed so arrive early.

Shift (Brunch) 

Located in the newly opened Remai Modern, Shift is one of the newest names in the Saskatoon restaurant scene. Working with the seasons and the farmers to craft Canadian favourites like chicken pot pie and tourtière to prairie staples like perogies, this is a great place for brunch.

saskatoon restaurants

Baba’s Perogies (lunch)

With around 12-15% of Saskatoon’s population being of Ukrainian descent, Baba’s perogies, home to the only perogies drive-thru in the world, is a popular stop in the city. Perogies are made by hand, in-house, with up anywhere from 6,000 – 15,000 being made each day. Get the opportunity to see the perogy-assembly-line and taste an authentic Ukrainian meal.

The Hollows (lunch)

Food at the locally-owned The Hollows is made with the best ingredients in our area; cultivated plants are grown from heirloom seeds, wild-harvested leaves, and mushrooms, flowers, sap and roots, local fish that are sustainability raised, pastured meat, poultry and eggs from small regional farmers. The chefs at The Hollows do everything the hard way – the way it has been done for thousands of years. They forage, butcher, brine, cure, and smoke as well as embrace modern cooking techniques.

Hearth (Supper)

Opening their doors last spring, Hearth brings to the table fresh and foraged food that is local to the Saskatoon area. After operating as a catering business for a number of years, the owners aim to bring unpretentious, thoughtful, ingredient-forward prairie cooking to a tucked away neighborhood spot.

Odd Couple (Supper)

This trendy father-son-owned restaurant serves high-quality classic Chinese/Vietnamese dishes and delicious cocktails. We especially loved the Ginger Beef, the Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Maple Thai Basil Pork Ribs, and the Thai Basil Gin Sour cocktail.

Ayden Kitchen and Bar (Supper)

Canada’s original top chef winner Dale Mackay creates homegrown and globally inspired comfort food paired with properly hand-crafted cocktails at their award-winning restaurant in downtown Saskatoon. As a cocktail lover, I was impressed with the drink menu. With sophisticated drink concoctions that would make even a connoisseur squeal in delight, this is a great place for a night out on the town.

Darkside Donuts (Sweets)

Saskatchewan’s newest sweet tooth is Darkside Donuts, which makes delicious donuts named after various Saskatoon neighborhoods. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is the place to go.

Fable Ice Cream (Sweets)

Freshly made ice cream with organic milk and cane sugar, all created mostly from local farmers, makers, and producers. Salted Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Sweet Cream, Venn Coffee, Earl Grey Tea, Cereal Milk, Cookies & Cream, and more!

Where to Stay – Saskatoon Hotels

Saskatoon is full of hotels, ranging from budget to luxury. Some of the ones we’ve stayed at are the Park Town Hotel, which has a wonderful weekend breakfast buffet, and the brand new Alt Hotel, which is right across the street from the Remai Modern museum. Both hotels are next to the river and provide excellent views of the city, depending on the room you’re in.

What’s Next After Saskatoon?

Saskatoon is the biggest city in Saskatchewan and has really become one of our favorite cities in the country. It has this cool vibe that’s hard to explain. With so much young energy and entrepreneurship feeding into this small Northern city, there are so many cool things going on. From deliciously trendy restaurants to modern museums and outdoor adventure, Saskatoon is a great urban area to explore.

If you’re exploring more of the province and country, here are more articles for you to enjoy:

  • Things to Do in Saskatchewan
  • Things to Do in Regina
  • Exploring Saskatchewan’s Big Muddy Badlands
  • Exploring Grasslands National Park
  • Four Ways to Enjoy the Great Sandhills of Saskatchewan
  • Waskesiu Saskatchewan in the Winter
  • Things to Do in Alberta
  • Things to Do in Calgary
  • Things to Do in Manitoba
  • Things to Do in Winnipeg

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT!

Things to do in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Things to Do in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net.

 

GET YOUR FREE TRAVEL PLANNING KIT!
Grab your FREE Trip Planning Guide and Canada Packing Checklist, including lists for camping, hiking, and winter excursions!
We respect your privacy.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SJ says

    May 12, 2021 at 8:31 am

    Definitely a city to see.

    Reply
  2. Kathleen Alexander says

    May 14, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    Music in the park during Jazz Festival, or Taste of Saskatchewan or Rock the River hold so many fun memories for me after all, Saskatoon is known as “Toon” (tune) “Town”!

    Reply
  3. Pamela says

    May 19, 2021 at 5:15 pm

    My favorite thing to do is to run the riverside trails

    Reply
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
\n

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search this blog
Disclaimer:

This page and website in general may contain affiliate links. Please review our full Terms and Conditions as well as our Privacy Policy for more information. Note that any pricing, operating hours, or other such information provided on this website may have changed since the initial publication.

Categories
Connect With Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Email Newsletter

Enter your email below and be the first to know about new articles on Must Do Canada as well as exclusive deals, giveaways, and promotions.

Thanks for subscribing. We've sent you a confirmation email. Please check your inbox and hit confirm.

Categories
  • accommodation
  • Alberta
  • Annapolis Valley
  • Banff
  • British Columbia
  • Calgary
  • Camping
  • Canada Road Trips
  • Canmore
  • Cape Breton
  • crowsnest pass
  • Drumheller
  • Edmonton
  • Facts about Canada
  • Fall
  • Festivals and Events
  • Food and Drink
  • Golden
  • Halifax
  • Hiking
  • History and Culture
  • Indigenous Tourism
  • Indoor Attractions
  • Jasper
  • Kootenays
  • Lethbridge
  • Manitoba
  • Montreal
  • National Parks
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Okanagan
  • Ontario
  • Ottawa
  • Outdoor Attractions
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Products
  • Quebec
  • Quebec City
  • Regina
  • Road to 150
  • Saskatchewan
  • Saskatoon
  • Small Towns
  • Summer
  • Tips
  • Toronto
  • Travel Guides
  • Travel Knowledge
  • Uncategorized
  • Vancouver
  • Vancouver Island
  • Victoria
  • Winnipeg
  • Winter
  • Yukon

Footer

© 2022 Must Do Canada. All Rights Reserved.

Things to Do in Canada

About
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Us
  • Get in Touch
Resources
  • Facts about Canada
  • Canadian Languages
  • Canadian Money
  • Canada Flags
  • Things to Do in Calgary
Tips
  • Best Canada Road Trips
  • Best Road Trip Essentials
  • Fall in Canada
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
x

Travel Across Canada Every Week

Join our weekly newsletter for the latest articles, videos, top photos, and more!

Awesome! Thanks for subscribing. Please check your inbox and confirm :)