Edmonton Tourist Information and Tourism
(Edmonton, Alberta - AB, Canada)
One of the most northerly cities in Canada, Edmonton is actually the six-biggest city in the country and has much to offer. Located in the province of Alberta (AB), Edmonton is centered around the scenic North Saskatchewan River, which meanders through the heart of the city.
With tremendous growth and wealth in the 1970s, due to intensive oil production, Edmonton is today more diverse and in recent years, the downtown district has been dramatically redeveloped and modernized. Close to the Jasper National Park, Edmonton averages more than six hours of sunshine each day, with warm summers and cold winters, when many of the parks offer an array of winter sports, including cross-country skiing.
Split into a number of notable regions, downtown Edmonton is the heart of city life, where many major companies and eye-catching buildings reside, include the Legislative Building. Nearby, Edmonton's Old Strathcona area is particularly historic and full of charm and character. Chinatown is the place to head for if you like oriental restaurants, while many visitors to Edmonton stay in the University District, close to the University of Alberta, which is home to over 30,000 students.
Accommodation in the Edmonton area is in good supply and varies greatly, ranging from historic buildings to more contemporary high-rise hotels. Many of the city's most popular are clustered in downtown Edmonton, close to restaurants, attractions and shops, including the Eaton Center shopping mall. Further hotels are concentrated around the West Edmonton Mall, Old Strathcona, along the Calgary Trail, and close to the nearby Edmonton International Airport. More information about
Edmonton Hotels.
Tourism is a fast growing economy in the Edmonton area and tourists are well looked after here, with a number of tourism bureaus available. The main tourist information centers in Edmonton include the Edmonton Tourism office at the Shaw Conference Center along Jasper Avenue Northwest, and the Gateway Park Visitor Information Center on the Calgary Trail Southwest, both of which offer travel tips, information about sightseeing and tourist attractions, and places to stay.
Edmonton's main tourist attractions and landmarks include Alberta Legislature Building - a stunning historic building more than 100 years old, famous throughout the Edmonton area; Aquatics Entertainment Stage and Sea Life Caverns - featuring a range of marine shows and enormous shark tanks; Commonwealth Stadium - the country's biggest sports stadium, able to seat over 60,000 spectators; Deep Sea Adventure - small yellow submarines which provide a unique underwater journey at West Edmonton Mall; Galaxyland - a major indoor theme park at West Edmonton Mall, with fast rides suitable for all ages; Odyssium - home to many interactive, scientific exhibits, an IMAX theater, an observatory and spacious gallery areas; Valley Zoo - one of Edmonton's most popular tourist attractions, with all of the typical zoo favorites in large enclosures; and World Waterpark - a major water attraction popular with both locals and tourists, containing a large swimming pool and fast slides. More information about
Edmonton Tourist Attractions and Landmarks.
Some of Edmonton's main museums and art galleries include Edmonton Art Gallery - home to an impressive collection of more than 5,000 works of art, which are regularly alternated; Royal Alberta Museum - full of historic information about the Edmonton area, including paintings, natural history displays and a gift shop; Alberta Aviation Museum - standing on Edmonton's northern side of Edmonton, with many magnificent restored aircraft and aviation-related exhibits; Museum of Zoology - located in the University of Alberta complex, with in excess of 35,000 zoological specimens and a host of educational information; Fort Edmonton Park - a notable living museum, recreating 19th-century city life, with many period zones and activities; and the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta - dedicated to the distant Ukraine settlers of Edmonton. More information about
Edmonton Museums and Art Galleries.
Tourist attractions located nearby Edmonton include Fort Saskatchewan - a popular excursion from the nearby city of Edmonton, with in excess of 185 acres / 75 hectares of parkland, together with many superb cycle trails and festivals; Elk Island National Park of Canada - close to Edmonton, offering a high concentration of indigenous wildlife and a range of recreational outdoor activities; Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village - known for its recreation of 19th-century village life, with costumed guides, horse-drawn rides, festivals and eye-catching buildings; and Father Lacombe Chapel - situated in nearby St. Albert, just a short trip from Edmonton, with impressive architecture, period features and many seasonal events. More information about
Edmonton Attractions Nearby.
More Edmonton Information / Fast Facts and Orientation
- Country: Canada
- Location: Alberta (AB)
- Status: provincial capital city
- Area: approximately 264 square miles / 684 square kilometers
- Population: approximately 715,000
- Language: Canadian English / Canadian French
- Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Time zone: GMT - 7 hours Mountain Standard Time (daylight saving time is observed)
- Country dialing code: +1
- Telephone area code: 780
- Religion: various religions
- Average daily Edmonton January temperature: -7°C / 19°F
- Average daily Edmonton July temperature: 23°C / 73°F