20 Interesting Things to do in Edmonton

Edmonton is known for its natural beauty, culture, history, and attractions. Edmonton is a Canadian city located on the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta and is also known as the “Gateway to the North” and is Canada’s top tourist destination.

You can go to Edmonton city by train, bus, plane, taxi, or rental car depending on your choice and distance. There are lots of things to do in Edmonton city for everyone.

Best Time to Visit Edmonton City

The summer season which is from June to August is the most favourable time for visiting Edmonton since the city is more beautiful and comes to life with different festivals and activities. However, you can visit Edmonton during winter also if you can bear the low temperatures. In winter you can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, and ice castle visits.

Places to Stay in Edmonton City

Different types of budget, mid-range, and luxurious hotels are available in the city. You can choose as per your liking. The well-known Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is a luxurious hotel with mesmerizing sights of the Edmonton river valley.

Modes of Communication in Edmonton

You can roam around the city through different modes of communication like multiple taxi services, trains, buses, cycles, scooters, and bikes.

Popular Things to do in Edmonton

1. City’s West Edmonton Mall

The city’s West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America with a 490,000 square meters area that has around 800 stores and different services.

What You Can Find at West Edmonton Mall:

• West Edmonton houses the largest indoor water park (World waterpark) and also houses the largest indoor amusement park (Galaxyland) in North America.
• Inside West Edmonton mall, there is a golf course, movie theatre complexes, an aquarium, scuba diving, and a huge entertainment centre.
• Enjoy skating in the large indoor skating rink.
• See here a real-size replica of the Santa Maria (flagship used by Christopher Columbus to sail, to America in 1492)
• Visit the on-site hotel (The Hotel Fantasyland) in West Edmonton mall which has one-of-a-kind themed rooms including pirates, space, and more.

2. Muttart Conservatory

Muttart conservatory is an innovative botanical garden housing 3 greenhouses, four pyramids of glass and public gardens. It was designed by British architect Peter Hemingway.

What You Can Find at Muttart Conservatory:

• Muttart Conservatory is home to a climate-controlled biome comprising three diverse zones that are arid, tropical, and temperate like Asia, Australia, and Canada.
• This horticulture facility has quite a good number of species of plants like American redwoods and Australian eucalyptus. All for conservation and educational purposes.

3. Alberta Legislature Structure

Alberta legislature structure was completed in 1913 and is also known as “The Ledge”. It is the summit for the Legislative assembly of Alberta and the Cabinet of Alberta or Executive council of Edmonton.

What You Can Find at The Alberta Legislature Building:

• Take a guided tour here in any of 362 days and get to know about the different highness of government, Alberta’s political history and culture, and the daily routine of the legislative assembly.
• The 45-minute tour also gives an in-depth look at the design, art, and architecture of the structure and the parliamentary ceremonies and traditions that take place here.

4. Fort Edmonton Park

Fort Edmonton’s Park is a magnificent living history museum in Canada. This beautiful wooded parkland covers 158 acres of land, located southwest of Edmonton’s river valley.

What You Can Find at Fort Edmonton Park:

• The evolution of Edmonton’s early history.
• This park has 4 sections representing a different era of them, which includes a reconstructed Hudson’s Bay Fort from 1846, streets from 1885, streets of 1905, and streets of 1920.
• Get to know the brand-new Indigenous people’s experience.
• Enjoy a ride on a steam train, horse-drawn wagon, or streetcar.
• Costumed historical interpreters are present during a long weekend or national holiday to share the history of the park.
• You can also enjoy watching a short film in the restored 1929 Edmonton Capitol Theater.

5. Edmonton River Valley Park System

Edmonton River valley parks system is Canada’s largest park in an urban area. It covers more than 7,284 hectares of land and 160 km of the pathway.

What You Can Find At Edmonton River Valley Parks:

• Edmonton river valley Park has 20 big parks, 11 lakes, 22 ravines, different attractions and facilities like Fort Edmonton and Edmonton Valley zoo, Gold Bar park, a small golf course, skating or skiing area.
• You can also spot wildlife like hares, skunks, porcupines, and deer.
• You can go cycling, hiking on trails during summer, and skiing during winter.

6. Edmonton Valley Zoo

Edmonton Valley Zoo was opened in 1959, located along the banks of the Saskatchewan River. Traditionally it focuses on research into threatened animal species.

What You Can Find at Edmonton Valley Zoo:

• It is home to 350 animals, representing over 100 species from around the world.
• Some animals are taken out with their carrier to meet and engage with the guests, popular species of them are red pandas, snow leopards, lemurs, and arctic wolves.
• Kids can enjoy paddle boats, miniature train rides, and a carousel.

7. Royal Alberta Museum

Royal Alberta Museum is the largest museum in western Canada. It was earlier known as the Provincial Museum of Alberta. It showcases over 10 million objects, a marvellous mix of permanent natural and cultural exhibits including wildlife, entomology, arachnology, and some temporary rotating exhibits too.

What You Can Find at Royal Alberta Museum:

• Royal Alberta Museum has 3 permanent galleries that are named the wild Alberta, a Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal culture and natural history.
• You will get to explore fossils from the dinosaur and ice age, a huge aquarium of native fishes, and live insects of exotic and enormous species.
• Children can enjoy an interactive kid’s gallery.
• In the Cultural History department, you will get to discover aboriginal cultures with artifacts from Blackfoot, Cree, and other First Nations.

8. Art Gallery of Alberta

The Art Gallery of Alberta was founded in 1924, main work was to exhibit and preserve art and visual culture. It is the oldest cultural institution in the region. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2010 with glossy zinc and stainless steel designed structure representing the meandering North Saskatchewan River and aurora that is the Northern lights. It is located at Sir Winston Churchill Square.

What You Can Find at The Art Gallery:

• The Alberta’s Art gallery is home to more than 6000 artworks from early local Alberta and western Canadian art to modern artworks from around the world.
• Different art, educational and public programs are offered here for children and adults.
• You can enjoy it here and explore the place through talks, movies, late-night wednesdays, Alberta culture day, and family activities.
• Private guided tours are also available and a restaurant is there to kill your hunger.

9. Downtown Edmonton

Churchill Square is the core of Downtown Edmonton. It is surrounded by city hall, the art gallery of Alberta, and the Stanley Milner Library.

What You Can Find at Downtown Edmonton:

• You can walk through the streets of Downtown Edmonton to access the river valley.
• Pay a visit to the iconic hotel Macdonald at the edge of downtown.
• Towards West, 104 street is a beautiful one with views of its historic red brick buildings, restaurants and bars, and neon sign museum too.
• During summer, the streets of downtown Edmonton fill with local vendors every Saturday from 10 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon.

10. Elk Island National Park

Elk Island national park is located east of Edmonton city within 30 minutes drive. It is a beautiful wooded area with lakes and wetlands covering 194 square kilometres of land. Elk island national park is the largest fully enclosed park in Canada.

Elk island national park is home to diverse ecosystems and habitats, including native grasslands, boreal forests, northern prairies, and Asian parklands.

What You Can Find at Elk Island National Park:

• Elk island national park is a great place for activities like spotting wildlife, stargazing and watching the Northern lights.
• This place is home to bison, tiny pygmy shrews, elk, and species of birds.
• During summer, you can go camping, hiking, biking, kayaking or canoeing, or golfing.
• During winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular.

11. Jasper National Park

Jasper national park is also a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a beautiful national park located 4 hours west of Edmonton city.

What You Can Find at Jasper National Park:

• It is home to the quaint mountain town of Jasper and the Canadian Rockies.
• Enjoy an adventurous scenic tour on the Jasper sky tram and a boat ride on Lake Maligne.
• Do hiking on Maligne Canyon hiking trails.
• You can go skiing in winter here.

12. TELUS World of Science

TELUS World of science is an educational science centre that is a place for people of all ages.

What You Can Find at TELUS World of Science:

• Here, you can experience interactive and hands-on science and technology exhibit on space, robots, forensics, and the environment.
• Enjoy watching short educational movies at Margaret Zeidler Star Theater planetarium and IMAX theatre.
• Experience stargazing at an on-site observatory.
• Different varieties of programs, workshops, camps like scout and guide or summer camps, and astronomy classes for adults are also offered here at TELUS world of science.

13. Neon Sign Museum

Neon sign museum is the first-of-its-kind museum in Canada. It is installed on the east wall of the TELUS building and the south wall of the Mercer Warehouse building on 104 streets and 104 avenues.

What You Can Find In the Neon Sign Museum:

• Get to know about the history of Edmonton through the 20 functional historic neon signs.
• It is always open and free of cost.

14. Alberta Aviation Museum

Alberta aviation museum is located near the Edmonton city centre airport. Two fighter jets mounted outside are the prominent feature of it.

What You Can Find at the Alberta Aviation Museum:

• In the Alberta aviation museum, there is a display of 40 aircraft and their related information.
• Get to see a rare form of aircraft hangar constructed as part of Canada’s pilot training program back in World War 2.
• Get to know about aviation history in a 90-minute guided tour.

15. Alberta Railway Museum

Alberta railway museum is located in the northern suburbs. It was founded in 1976 to preserve the rich railway heritage of the province.

What You Can Find at The Alberta Railway Museum:

• A replica of a small terminal with a station, a water tank, and several shops will give you the experience of that time.
• It features some still-operating and static locomotives and rolling stock from around the country.
• It features 75 engines and railcars, original railway buildings, and related artifacts.
• Enjoy the special ride on the vintage trains or a speeder during summertime.

16. Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village

Ukrainian cultural heritage village is an open-air museum, it is 25 minutes east of Edmonton city. In the open-air museum dwells refurbished historical buildings from the east-central part of Alberta depicting the unique tale of the settlement of the early Ukrainians in Alberta from the year 1892 to 1930.

What You Can Find at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village:

• Get to know the story of the survival, and the perseverance of the Ukrainian people through the 35 refurbished, restored historic buildings and many costumed interpreters in the Ukrainian cultural heritage village.
• Explore some of the elements of living history like a working blacksmith, an open market, and an old-fashioned busy general store.
• Interactions with the presently costumed guides will give you a glimpse of the life of early settlers.
• Enjoy delicious Ukrainian food at the concession.
• Participate in events or workshops that are hosted throughout the year like cooking demonstrations of early ages, harvest celebrations, and commemoration of Ukraine’s national day.

17. Whyte Avenue

Whyte Avenue is the most popular street, located in Old Strathcona. Just walk to Whyte avenue to see a glimpse of Edmonton city.

What You Can Find at Whyte Avenue:

• This historic district has many historic buildings as well as trendy parts too.
• It has many art galleries, music shops, trendy restaurants, and cafes.
• Visit picturesque Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre park where different festivals, public events, or informal gatherings take place.
• Take a tour of the nearby Old Strathcona Farmer’s market on Saturday between 8 am to 3 pm.

18. Alberta Botanical Garden

Also called Alberta’s University Devonian botanic garden, it was founded in 1959. It covers almost 240 acres of land. It is the largest botanic garden in that province.

What You Can Find at Alberta Botanic Garden:

• This Botanic garden is divided into two different parts. One of the parts of about 160 acres of area is left in its natural state with trails and the other half part of about 80 acres of area has different gardens like a Japanese garden, an Indigenous Garden, a tropical greenhouse housing butterflies, and a large number of displays of indoor and outdoor plant species.
• Aga Khan’s Garden is a site of 12 acres, and it is inspired by Islamic architecture but with northern twists.
• Many beautiful forest paths, terraces, beautiful ponds, captivating pools, and waterfalls are also there.
• You can visit and explore on your own or go for a guided tour free of cost.
• You can enjoy the annual opera al Fresco event here, performed by the Edmonton opera company in June.
• Visit the research centre which offers workshops, and educational programs for children or young people too.

19. Alberta Beach

Lac St. Ann’s Alberta beach is near the north of Edmonton. The beach is on the southeast shore of the city and is in the centre of the town.

What You Can Find at the Alberta Beach:

• This beautiful cottage-filled village is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and swimming.
• You can enjoy staying in the campgrounds in the centre of the town.
• Visit the farmers market every Sunday. It can be explored in the spring season till fall.

20. Sylvan Lake

The most famous lake in Alberta is approximately a two-hour drive away from the city and makes a good day trip.

What You Can Find at Sylvan Lake:

• This lake is beautiful and mesmerizing, it has white sand and is best for relaxing.
• You can find many food trucks here during movie night, hence you can enjoy local dishes too.
• Have an ice cream at the ‘Big Moo‘ on Lakeshore drive.
• It has a campground, hotels, and cabins to stay in for more days.

Other Fun Things to Do in Edmonton

Edmonton is a city with numerous activities. Here are some more things to do in Edmonton city.

1. Festivals in Edmonton

Edmonton is known as Canada’s festival city since it hosts more than 50 festivals throughout the entire year. Some of the most popular are-

2. Go Skiing in Edmonton

Skiing Is most popular in Edmonton during winter. There are ski slopes namely Edmonton ski, snow -valley ski club, Sunridge ski area, and Jasper.

3. Have a Fine Dining Experience in Edmonton

Edmonton is a foodie paradise with cuisines from all over the world in different budget ranges. There is a variety of eateries in Central Edmonton, the central district, and the south-central area. Some are-

• Tzin- it is the perfect spot for wine and tapas, try out the “surprise me” menu option here.
• Vaticano Cucina- authentic rustic Italian food is served.
• Craft Beer market- enjoy great food and samples of draft beer here.
• Duchess Bakeshop- Persian-inspired bakery offers the perfect blend of classic French pastries with Alberta favourites.

4. Enjoy Sports and Games in Edmonton

For sports-loving people, Edmonton is a great place. It is sometimes known as the city of champions.

• Hockey team Edmonton oilers- The most iconic NHL team, Edmonton is home to this team. If you like hockey, try to get a ticket to Rogers arena in downtown Edmonton and enjoy.
• Football team Edmonton Elks is a popular CFL team. Enjoy this fast-paced Canadian Football game in the summer.
• North American soccer league’s FC Edmonton.
• Ice hockey– National sport in winter.

5. Paddle the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton

The big North Saskatchewan River cuts through the centre of Edmonton and is located in the river valley. One of the top things to do in Edmonton is paddling the river. The flow of the river is different throughout the year. You can opt for a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard as per your liking.

6. Visit River Valley Adventure Company

River Valley adventure company offers a good range of guided tours throughout the city and also provides equipment for use on self-guided tours. Its office is located at the Louise Mckinney riverfront park. Some adventures are:

• A Segway tour through North America’s largest urban parkland.
• High-end Mountain bike ride to explore the city.
• Some sports equipment like volleyball sets, football along with fishing equipment are offered.
• Enjoy Coffee and snacks at the Urban Green cafe.

7. Enjoy the Ride on A High-Level Bridge Streetcar

The High-Level Bridge Streetcar is a vital component of the city’s heritage. It is run by the Edmonton Radial Railroad society. Streetcars were introduced in 1908 to the city and became famous for their Streetcar ride over the North Saskatchewan River.

Its history can be discovered at the museum in the Streetcar Barn at Strathcona. You Can enjoy a ride on the vintage 1912 Edmonton streetcar #33 across the High-level Bridge and admire the beautiful views.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Edmonton a Great Place to Call Home?

Family travellers will love Edmonton. Its good quality of life, as already indicated, makes it a great area to raise a family. Families of all sizes will love living in Edmonton since it has so many top-notch schools and recreation centres.

2. Is Edmonton a Nice City for Immigrants?

In contrast to other major Canadian cities, Edmonton is one of the few places where employment opportunities are plentiful. This fact alone draws a large number of immigrants from outside who enter the nation through the skilled worker application process.

3. Edmonton vs Calgary, Which City Is Superior?

Edmonton is an excellent option if you want a major city with lots of facilities. Calgary might be a better choice if you’re seeking for a smaller city with a more temperate climate.

We hope you found this list helpful during your next visit to Edmonton. Take some days off your busy life and plan a family trip to Edmonton. Indeed, there are lots of things to do in Edmonton, just enjoy life here.