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Alberta · Canada
The capital of Alberta, cut by the North Saskatchewan River valley, with the largest museum in Western Canada, the Muttart’s glass pyramids and the bison of Elk Island National Park 45 km away.
In the photo: North Saskatchewan River valley, in Edmonton.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, sits on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, which cuts the city through a deep, tree-lined valley. The valley forms one of the largest networks of urban parks in North America, with trails, pedestrian bridges and wooded areas within the city.
The city began as a Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post and grew with the railway, the Klondike Gold Rush that passed through the area, and later with oil. The 1913 Legislative Building stands above the valley, near the site of the old fort. The Royal Alberta Museum, downtown, tells the natural and human history of the province, and Fort Edmonton Park recreates the city in different historical periods.
On the river’s south bank, the four glass pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory house gardens of different climates. About 45 km to the east, Elk Island National Park protects forests, lakes and herds of plains bison and wood bison.
Edmonton hosts summer festivals such as the alternative Fringe theatre festival, and has long, cold winters with skating and cross-country skiing in the valley.
This destination brings together 1 city: Edmonton.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence) / geoBoundaries. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Edmonton International Airport (YEG), in Nisku · 30 km to Edmonton
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is about 30 km south of downtown and receives flights from several cities in Canada, the United States and Europe. The Canadian train, operated by VIA Rail, stops at Edmonton station.
The local experience
The largest museum in Western Canada, downtown Edmonton, covering Alberta’s natural and human history, with an Indigenous gallery, fossils and a live insect gallery.
Seat of Alberta’s parliament, from 1913, with dome and columns, above the North Saskatchewan River valley, near the site of the former Hudson’s Bay Company Fort Edmonton.
Four glass pyramids on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River, with tropical, temperate and arid gardens and a seasonal exhibition that changes each term.
Open-air museum in the river valley, with a reconstruction of the fur trading fort and streets of Edmonton from different eras, with interpreters and a steam train.
Fenced national park 45 km from Edmonton, with forests, lakes and herds of plains bison and wood bison, as well as moose and a dark-sky reserve.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From June to September, with long days, festivals and the valley in green. Autumn, in September, brings yellow leaves in the valley. Winter, from December to March, is very cold.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Two or three days: one for downtown, the museum and the Legislative Building; one for the Muttart and Fort Edmonton Park; and one for Elk Island.
Downtown, near the museum and the river valley, has most of the hotels. The Old Strathcona neighbourhood, on the south bank, has guesthouses, bars and restaurants along Whyte Avenue.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Two or three days, including downtown, the river valley, Fort Edmonton Park and Elk Island.
Jasper is about 365 km to the west, roughly a 4-hour drive.
Downtown has a light rail and buses; a car makes visiting Elk Island and Fort Edmonton Park easier.
A corridor of parks and trails along the North Saskatchewan River, one of the largest urban park systems in North America.
Alberta Time, fixed year-round: UTC−6.
