Welcome to Edmonton! If you’re reading this travel guide, you’ve made a fantastic decision to explore a city full of unexpected delights. You may have heard it described with words like vibrant, friendly, or bustling, and as a person who has spent much of her life in this city, I can assure you that those descriptions are spot on.
This Edmonton travel guide is your companion to some of the most exciting experiences the city has to offer. In the following pages, you’ll find a chronicle of places you’ll want to get wonderfully lost in, activities that may lead to unexpected adventures, and countless festivals that are a joyful celebration of community and culture. A sensible person would immediately pack their bags and head to this amazing city and if you’re determined to make the most of your time here, plan to stay for three to four days.
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- What to Expect
- What to See and Do in Edmonton
- Getting to Edmonton
- Getting Around Edmonton
- Where to Stay in Edmonton
- Where to Eat in Edmonton
What to Expect
Edmonton is a city that embraces its northern spirit, offering a unique and vibrant experience in every season. Through the protracted, miserable winter, the city comes alive with a beautiful icy wonderland. Residents bundle up in so many layers they become indistinguishable from one another, a tradition that brings everyone together to enjoy the city’s many outdoor activities.
When the snow reluctantly melts, the city bursts into color as the Edmonton River Valley reveals its stunning beauty. This magnificent green space, carved by the mighty North Saskatchewan River, is a central hub for outdoor adventure. It’s a place where you can find walking trails, scenic views, and a peaceful escape right in the heart of the city.
In their pursuit of fun and connection, the people of Edmonton have created incredible destinations like West Edmonton Mall and host an endless calendar of festivals all year long. Edmonton is a city that showcases the best of human ingenuity and a resilient spirit, making it an incredible place to visit.
In short, Edmonton is a testament to the human desire to build things and be happy in a location that seems entirely inhospitable.
What to See and Do in Edmonton
- Get lost in West Edmonton Mall: Not merely a shopping center but rather a vast, indoor city, built to contain over 800 shops and services, a hotel, and a variety of unusual attractions. It houses a waterpark with the world’s largest indoor wave pool, an amusement park, an ice skating rink, and a full-size replica of a Spanish ship situated on a lake. For many years, it was the largest mall in the world, but it continues to be a destination for millions of visitors who come to shop, play, and stay without ever needing to step outside. It is a place where you can go to purchase a new pair of shoes and accidentally find yourself on a zipline, or where a desire for a quick bite to eat could lead to an evening watching a sea lion show.
- Walk, cycle, or segway through the Edmonton River Valley: This is a great, sprawling expanse of parkland, larger than some of the most famous city parks in the world. It is a ribbon of nature that winds its way through the city, and is home to a great many things. One may find people bicycling on its trails, or walking their dogs, or even paddling along the river. It is a place where one can feel a great distance from the city, even while still being surrounded by it.
- Plan your visit around one of Edmonton’s many festivals, such as K-Days, the Folk Music Festival, Street Performers Festival, International Fringe Festival, Taste of Edmonton, the Heritage Festival, or Ice on Whyte.
Getting to Edmonton
Fly: Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is located 30km south of downtown Edmotnon. It has nonstop flights to many destinations in North and Central America, and Europe.
Bus: With multiple stops across the city, Red Arrow offers bus services connecting Edmonton with several other communities in Alberta and British Columbia.
Bus: Sundog Tours offers bus services connecting Edmonton with Jasper and Banff.
Train: Via Rail trains connect Edmonton to destinations across Canada.
Drive: Self-driving is an excellent way to get to Edmonton and around Alberta in general.
Getting Around Edmonton
From Edmonton International Airport:
- Bus: Catch #747 to Century Park Transit Centre to connect with the LRT or bus system. A one-way fare is $5. Look for the “Parking and Ground Transportation” counter between doors 5 and 7 to purchase fare products.
- Taxi: Official airport taxis can be found outside Door 9, on the Arrivals level. There is a $62 flat rate to downtown Edmonton, or splurge and get a limo for $71.
- Rideshare: Uber and Lyft pickup outside Door 10, on the Arrivals level.
- Rental car: Car rental agencies are located on the ground level of the parkade, outside Door 8.
Walk: Walking is a great way to explore Edmonton neighborhoods.
Bus and light rail train: The Edmonton Transit System (ETS) buses connect every part of the city and integrate seemlessly with the light rail train system, creatively called the LRT. Check Google Maps for route schedules.
- Fares can be paid with exact change ($3.75) on buses – your fare allows you to transfer between buses and LRTs for up to 90 minutes, so be sure to ask for a transfer when you board.
- A single 90-minute Arc ticket also costs $3.75 and can be purchased from machines in LRT stations and at some transit centers. Tap your Arc ticket on the validator when entering and exiting buses and LRT platforms. 24-hour, 3-day and 5-day Arc tickets are also available.
- Arc Cards allow for a pay-as-you-go option, and reduce the cost of a single 90-minute trip to $3. These can be purchased from machines in LRT stations and at some transit centers. Tap your Arc card on the validator when entering and exiting buses and LRT platforms to ensure you are charged the correct fare.
Taxi and rideshare: Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are all great options. You can theoretically hail a taxi if you happen to be in the right place at the right time, but it’s more likely you’ll have to call for one.
Scooter and bikeshare: Bird Canada, Lime, and Neuron e-bikes and e-scooters can be found in various parts of the city.
Where to Stay in Edmonton
When it comes to accommodations in Edmonton, you’ll most likely want to stay near Whyte Avenue, West Edmonton Mall, or downtown for easy access to attractions, shopping, and restaurants. Filter by neighborhood and find a hotel that’s in your price range, with the amenities you want. If you’re looking for your hotel to be a destination, here are my recommendations:
- The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is a large and stately hotel that has been in operation for a great many years, and sits on a hill overlooking the North Saskatchewan River, a location that offers a wide, but not entirely surprising, view of the surrounding landscape. Its design is similar to other grand hotels of a certain era, meaning it possesses a great many architectural flourishes that serve little purpose beyond looking dignified. Inside, guests will find a series of corridors, each leading to a number of rooms that contain the usual assortment of furniture: a bed, a dresser, and a chair.
- If you’re in search of a truly unique stay, Fantasyland Hotel may fit the bill. Unlike most hotels, where rooms are merely places to sleep, a number of the rooms here are decorated in a manner that attempts to represent various fanciful concepts, such as a jungle, outer space, or the inside of a pirate ship. It is a known fact that a person cannot truly be in a jungle while also being inside a building in Alberta, but the hotel makes a valiant effort. Located within West Edmonton Mall, the hotel’s proximity to the mall’s many attractions, such as a water park and an indoor amusement park, means that guests have easy access to various amusements, should they have a desire to ride a roller coaster or get soaked while still remaining indoors.
Where to Eat in Edmonton
Should you, for some reason, find yourself in the bustling city of Edmonton, and further, should you develop an inexplicable craving for sustenance, it is recommended that you eat at Highlevel Diner for good Canadian eats, The Old Spaghetti Factory for old-school Italian vibes, Padmanadi for delicious vegan Indonesian food, The Monolith for funky aged beers, Duchess Bake Shop for magestic baked treats, and DaDeO for New Orleans-inspired food in a 50’s diner. I haven’t had the chance to visit the following places myself, but I’ve often heard great things about Fu’s Repair Shop – where, I’m told, you can find the unique Green Onion Cake – and also a spot called Meat , which, as its name suggests, specializes in barbecue. Additionally, you simply must visit at least one of numerous small-batch ice cream shops, each promising a sweet and delightful experience.
So, if your idea of a good time is a journey filled with stunning natural landscapes and giant malls, Edmonton is the place for you. It’s a city waiting to be explored, offering a dynamic experience far more rewarding than just staying home. I hope you’ve enjoyed this Edmonton travel guide. If you’re looking for more, here’s everything I’ve written about Edmonton and Canada.
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