Best Time to Travel
As one of Canada’s sunniest cities, Edmonton is a great place to visit during the summer season, which lasts from June through August. The weather is warm and pleasant, and the city sings with outdoor markets, open-air concerts, and thriving festivals, like the Fringe Theatre and Folk Music festivals. If traveling in winter, wrap up warm. While Edmonton isn’t as chilly as other Canadian cities, the occasional harsh cold snap can occur. During winter, you’ll find plenty of intrepid outdoor snow-sports.
Not to Miss
Check out the Art Gallery of Alberta, a sleek modern museum which showcases thousands of contemporary and historic artworks. If you’re on the hunt for the latest fashion, flashy technology, or designer jewelry, head to the West Edmonton Mall - the largest in North America - but trendy travelers looking for hip boutiques should head to Whyte Avenue. Lovers of the outdoors will rejoice at the wonders of the river valley parks - a vast spread of wild and urban parkland that offers hiking, biking, canoeing, and camping.
Getting around
Edmonton is easily accessed by air, thanks to Edmonton International Airport, based 10 kilometers south of the city. This large, booming airport serves flights throughout Canada, the USA, and seasonal flights from London. Catch a shuttle or rent a car from the airport to the city. Edmonton is a pleasant driving city, thanks to its easily navigable grid-layout. There are plenty of inexpensive taxis available 24/7, and a safe and efficient light rail transit system which will whizz you through the central city area. There’s also a fleet of reliable buses covering all areas of the city.
Cuisine
Edmonton is a melting-pot of mouthwatering cuisine, boasting a varied and vibrant food-culture that stretches across the city. There’s a strong presence of authentic Italian cooking with a Neapolitan edge, the best restaurants of which are found in Little Italy. For bold new dishes - including eclectic vegan cuisine - head to Whyte Avenue, where you’ll also unearth spicy Thai and Indonesian cooking. In Downtown there are classic steakhouses, whereas across in Chinatown you’ll discover an array of cheap and tasty no-fuss takeouts.
Customs and etiquette
When visiting Edmonton in the winter, you need to be up-to-date with all the weather to avoid any driving difficulties, such as icy roads and sudden snow storms. City-dwellers find that tuning in to the local radio stations is a great way to keep informed of any unexpected road closures. Unsurprisingly, the city highly values its idyllic bounty of green space, so if you’re out camping or hiking, be sure to take all your litter with you, to avoid getting a hefty fine.Fast Facts
• Population: 877900
• Spoken languages: English
• Electrical: Canada runs on 120V, 60 Hz current
• Phone Calling Code: +1 780112
