Things to do in Edmonton

Nature · Diagonally through the whole city

The largest expanse of urban parkland in Canada — more than twenty major parks and a connected trail network in a valley cut through the middle of the city.

Local tip: The stretch from the Legislature through Emily Murphy and Hawrelak to the Whitemud ravines is the best of it. It works in winter: parts are groomed for cross-country skiing, fat bikes are everywhere, and the Silver Skate Festival in February is when the city stops pretending it hates the cold.

Neighborhood · South of the river, near the University of Alberta

The pre-war main street of a town Edmonton annexed — independent shops, record stores, bars, live music and the farmers' market.

Local tip: The Saturday farmers' market has run since 1983 and is the real thing rather than a tourist version. In August the whole district becomes the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, the oldest and largest fringe theatre festival in North America — buy nothing in advance, just walk in somewhere.

Landmark · Downtown, above the river

The 1913 Beaux-Arts legislature above the river valley, with fountains, gardens and a pedway link into downtown.

Local tip: Free guided tours run year-round and the public gallery is open when the House sits. The grounds are the best free thing downtown — the wading pools in summer, the light installations in winter — and the pedway connection means you can reach it from the core without going outside in January.

Landmark · West Edmonton

The largest shopping mall in North America, containing an indoor water park, an ice rink, a roller coaster and a full-size replica ship.

Local tip: Easy to sneer at and genuinely useful in February, which is exactly the point of it. Go on a weekday morning if you want to actually accomplish anything; go with children on a −30 °C Saturday and understand why Edmonton built it.

Nightlife · Downtown

The arena district built around the Oilers' home, with towers, restaurants and a public plaza, connected into the pedway.

Local tip: Hockey here is not a casual interest, and a home game changes the mood of the entire downtown. The plaza runs outdoor events through the winter with heaters, which is a very Edmonton solution to a very Edmonton problem.

Nature · 45 minutes east

A fenced island of aspen parkland and lakes holding free-roaming plains and wood bison, and one of the darkest accessible night skies near a Canadian city.

Local tip: It is a Dark Sky Preserve within an hour of a million people, which is close to unique — and from roughly September to April the aurora is genuinely visible from the lakeshore on clear nights. Go for the bison in the day and stay for the sky. Bring a red torch and check the aurora forecast.