According to Wholevehicles, Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. Founded in 1795, the city became an outpost for the development of the lands of the north and west of Canada. Now Edmonton is a major industrial, commercial and cultural center of the country.
How to get to Edmonton
Most Canadian and several American and European airlines arrive in Edmonton. In addition, many flights from American cities arrive in Calgary, from which you can fly to Edmonton in less than an hour.
Edmonton International Airport is located ten kilometers from the city. There is no public transport to the airport, but there is a shuttle that will take you to downtown Edmonton for 15 CAD. You can take a taxi, but it will cost quite a lot – at least 60 CAD, in addition, there is a car rental service at the airport. The prices on the page are for September 2021.
By bus
From any major Canadian city, Edmonton can be reached by Greyhound buses. From Calgary, Red Deer and Fort McMurray, Red Arrow Motorcoach buses run to Edmonton, which are considered the most comfortable.
By train
VIA Rail trains also run to Edmonton from almost every city in Canada. The fare on them is somewhat more expensive than the bus, but the service, even in the lowest class cars, is superior to that which you can be offered on the bus. The train station is within walking distance of the city centre.
By car
By car, it makes sense to go to Edmonton only from Calgary, from where it will take about three hours along Highway 16. It will take you at least 12 hours to get from Vancouver, especially since the roads are not in the best condition in winter.
Edmonton Public Transportation
Edmonton is served by Edmonton Transit System buses that cover the entire city. The movement of buses starts at five in the morning and ends at one in the morning, but on some routes buses stop running as early as eight in the evening. One ticket will cost you 5 CAD, a ten-ride pass will cost 9 CAD, and for the whole day – 11 USD.
Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains also run around Edmonton, starting at half past five in the morning and ending at half past two in the night (on Sundays – an hour earlier), the fare is 3.50 CAD, for 10 CAD you can buy a ticket for the entire day, and for 28 CAD – for ten trips. Tickets can be bought from a vending machine at the station or online.
In addition, in Edmonton, as in all other Canadian cities, there are many bicycle rentals and excellent bike paths that run throughout the city and operate all year round. Although, of course, riding them in the winter is a pleasure for everyone.
Weather in Edmonton
Edmonton has a northern continental climate, with all four distinct seasons and milder weather than other Canadian cities. Spring in Edmonton begins in May, although even then short frosts are possible.
Summer lasts from June to mid-September, the average temperature is +21… +25 °С, although on some days it rises even above +30 °С. But the humidity in the summer is quite low, so despite the high temperature, you will feel quite comfortable. In autumn, which starts from mid-September, the temperature drops to +10…+15 °С.
Winters in Edmonton are long but not as severe as in other cities. Usually the temperature stays only slightly below zero, but sometimes there are severe cold snaps.
See also the current weather forecast in Calgary for the next 10 days.
Edmonton Hotels
If you are interested in budget options, you can opt for Grand Edmonton, which starts at 55 CAD per night. Holiday Inn Express Downtown and Comfort Inn & Suites, located in a picturesque area near the city center, will cost a little more.
Of the high-class hotels, Courtyard Marriott, Sutton Place and Westin Edmonton are the most popular. More extravagant (and even more expensive) is the Fairmont Macdonald, housed in a castle-like building built in 1912. All rooms are elegantly decorated and offer stunning river views.
Restaurants
In the center of Edmonton you can find a huge number of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. The revolving restaurant La Ronde is located on the 24th floor of the Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe and offers stunning city views.
Gourmets should definitely check out Chianti’s Cafe and Italian Restaurant, an Italian restaurant located in an old post office, and Da-De-O, a Creole Cajun bar. And beer lovers will surely enjoy the Wunderbar Hofbrauhaus, a German pub offering a huge range of European cuisine and more than 60 beers.
Entertainment and attractions in Edmonton
We recommend you visit the Alberta Legislature, a beautiful colonial-style building built in 1911 after Edmonton was chosen as the provincial capital. In summer, there is a swimming pool, and in winter, an ice rink is flooded, in addition, free tours are held.
The Royal Alberta Museum exhibits unique works by Canadian artists and sculptors, as well as exhibits that tell about Aboriginal culture, and in World of Science, a huge science museum, in addition to viewing exhibits, you can visit a planetarium and an IMAX theater.
Muttart Conservatory – four huge glass pyramids, inside which are three climatic zones and four seasons.
At the Fort Edmonton Park Living History Museum, you can join in costume performances that tell about the life and history of Canada, and at Elk Island National Park of Canada, located less than an hour’s drive from Edmonton, you can look at representatives of the Canadian fauna in natural conditions, ride canoe and ski or play golf.
Developments
More than 30 festivals are held in Edmonton every year. The Fringe International Theater Festival, with about a thousand performances annually, attracts more than half a million visitors. During the Festival of Art and Design and Whyte Ave Artwalk, you can look at the works of local sculptors and artists.
At the Symphony Under the Sky and Edmonton Folk Music Festivals, you can listen to great music in the open air.
During the Edmonton Culture Days, you can taste the cuisine and watch dances from over 60 nationalities, and at the Taste of Edmonton festival, sample dishes from 40 of the city’s leading restaurants.