Edmonton is found in Central Alberta on Treaty 6 territory. It is the province’s capital city and is home to museums, art galleries, natural parks, and great restaurants. My partner was born and raised in Edmonton, so we return frequently to visit family and friends. As Calgary‘s sister city and biggest rival (Battle of Alberta), it’s fun and exciting to see all the similarities and differences between our two hometowns.
After slowly exploring the city over the past four years, these are my top recommendations of things to see and do in Edmonton.
What’s in this guide?
- Local Restaurants and Cafés
- Tour the Royal Alberta Museum
- Visit the Muttart Conservatory
- Walk in the River Valley
- Shop on Whyte Ave
- Check out Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market
- Attend a Summer Festival
- Learn about Edmonton’s History
- Take a Day Trip to Elk Island National Park
- Map of Edmonton Locations to Visit
1. Try Some Local Restaurants or Cafés
Edmonton has a great food scene. Whether you’re on Whyte or Jasper Ave, or tucked in a less trafficked area, there are plenty of hidden gems to try.
My favourite cafés so far include Liberta Coffee Lab, a cute and bright café on 99 St and 66 Ave. I had their Summer Korea Street Toast and a Lavender London Fog and both were delicious. I also enjoyed the Woodrack Café on Whyte Ave which offers great breakfast sandwiches, coffees, teas, and more in a quaint, welcoming space.
I’ve also gotten to experience a dinner at Fu’s Repair Shop, with its speakeasy-esque entry and imaginative dishes. We especially enjoyed the Crazy Rich Rice Noodles, but I also appreciated the variety of vegetarian/vegan friendly options they offer.
I also recently got to try Haweli Indian Kitchen and Bar in South Common, which was fantastic. They offer a buffet, but we chose three dishes (Daal Bhukhara, Sookhi Aloo Ghobi, and Chicken Kadhai) and naan to share amongst five of us. This was the perfect amount of food.
Finally, I’d recommend stopping at one of the local Kind Ice Cream locations for a sweet treat and trying out Puffizza. This puff crust pizza surprised me; it was one of the best take out pizzas I’ve had.
2. Tour the Royal Alberta Museum
If you’re hoping to learn something about Alberta’s history and culture, you need to stop at the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM). The museum holds collections related to Alberta’s history, including prehistory geology and archaeology, history and culture of Indigenous Peoples, military and government history, artifacts and stories from settlers in Alberta, and natural sciences such as plants and animals native to the region.
As Alberta’s provincial museum, the RAM represents the histories and cultures of the entire province. If you’re visiting from elsewhere in Canada or the world, the museum is a great place to get an overview of what makes up Alberta. For Albertans ourselves, it’s an ideal location to connect with our history and gain a deepr understanding into new topics.
Admission to the museum is $21 for adults, $14 for seniors, and currently running discounted or free tickets for youth, families, and children under the Canada Strong Pass until Septembet 2, 2025.
3. Visit the Muttart Conservatory
The Muttart Conservatory holds botanical gardens in 4 distinctive glass pyramids. Located near the intersection of Connors Road and 98 Avenue, the Muttart Conservatory sits near the River Valley, across the North Saskatchewan from Downtown Edmonton.
Each of the 4 pyramids is regulated to simulate a different biome. Three of the pyramids are permanent exhibits, featuring plants in the temperate, tropical, and arid biomes. The fourth pyramid is known as the feature pyramid and varies from season to season. This pyramid often features work from local artists.
Admission is $14.95 for adults, $7.75 for children, and $12.95 for youth and seniors.
4. Walk around the River Valley
Edmonton’s River Valley is the site of most of the city’s best parks. Stroll along the North Saskatchewan in Henrietta Muir Edwards Park and pass Accidental Beach. Or, start across the river in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park and walk over to the Frederick G. Todd Lookout.
If you start at Victoria Park, there’s a nice loop across High Level Bridge through Kinsmen Park to the Walterdale Bridge. You can also stop and visit the three houses of John Walter at the John Walter Museum on this side of the river. Victoria Park is also a nice place to skate outdoors in the winters.
If you’d rather stay further out of the downtown area, plan a picnic at Rundle Park. With various sports fields, a paddling centre, a disc golf course, and walking paths, this park has a little something for everyone.
5. Go Shopping on Whyte Ave
With Old Strathcona on the east end and the University of Alberta to the west, Whyte Ave (82 Avenue), holds tons of local shops and restaurants. It’s a hub of activity and hosts an annual Art Walk in the summers. It’s also a popular destination for a night out with a number of bars and clubs in the area.
Stop at the Wee Book Inn and explore their collection of used books. You might even spot the shop’s resident cat. Browse The Plaid Giraffe and Vivid Prints for unique gifts and local goods. Village Goods supports fair trade companies with products from around the world.
There are also many great restaurants and cafés along Whyte Ave, from DaDeO’s Cajun-style restaurant to Made By Marcus’s ice cream to Under The High Wheel’s farm-to-table brunch. Whyte Ave is a must-stop spot in Edmonton.
6. Spend the Weekend at Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market
Just a block north of Whyte Ave sits the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. This year-round, indoor market has local produce and handcrafted products from local vendors. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, and often has additional events such as performances and children’s events going on as well.
Personally, I love farmers’ markets and supporting local, so this market is right up my alley. If you’re visiting Whyte Ave on a weekend, I’d add a stop in here as well.
Visit the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market website for more information on specific events for the upcoming weekends.
7. Attend a Summer Festival
Edmonton has a number of popular summer festivals and events. Make sure to check their schedules so you can plan to attend them this year! Here are some of the events you can attend in Edmonton:
- Edmonton Art Walk, which is an art market and festival in the heart of Old Strathcona during mid-July.
- KDays, a 10-day carnival with rides, games, performances, and vendors in mid-to-late July.
- Taste of Edmonton, which is the largest food and entertainment festival in Western Canada running mid-to-late July.
- Edmonton Heritage Festival, which is the world’s largest 3-day multiculturalism celebration, with food, performances, and goods from across the world. It lands on Heritage Day weekend at the beginning of August.
- Edmonton Folk Fest, which is a 4-day folk music festival in early August.
- The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, which spotlights hundreds of theatre programs in venues across the city in mid-August.
8. Learn Some History at Fort Edmonton
As a Calgarian, Fort Edmonton Park is very reminiscent of Heritage Park. It’s a living museum with interactive exhibits that teach visitors about the history of Edmonton. The park includes the Indigenous Peoples Experience, the Fur Trading Era, the Settlement Era, The Municipal Era, and the Metropolitan Era, guiding visitors through Edmonton’s history from it’s First Peoples up to one century ago.
The park also includes shops, food, and rides so you can spend the whole day here. For the 2025 season, Fort Edmonton Park is offering 10% off on all admissions to the park.
9. Take a Day Trip to Elk Island National Park
Drive about 30 minutes east of Edmonton on the Yellowhead Highway (16) to reach Elk Island National Park. Known for its bison, Elk Island National Park is a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to bison, elk, beavers, muskrat, and over 250 species of birds.
You can visit Elk Island all year round. It’s a popular spot for picnics and camping during the summer, with affordable canoe and kayak rentals on Astotin Lake. I’ve visited in summer and winter, and have to say it’s more fun with the heat and green plants.
Elk Island is also within a Dark Sky Preserve, so camping overnight here means you get to experience stars you cannot see from the cities. Parks Canada has front country, hike-in, group camping and glamping options available.
My Map of Edmonton
Use the map below to help you plan your trip to Edmonton. Star the map to save it to your own Google account for easy itinerary building.