Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta. Its metro area is home to 1.2 million people (2025), and is the northernmost city of at least one million people in North America, the fifth-largest city in Canada and the largest Canadian city farther than 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the US border. Edmonton is famous for its beautiful river valley park system, the North Saskatchewan River Valley, which offers over 100 kilometres (62 mi) of recreational trails, wildlife viewing, and city views.
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In addition, Metro Edmonton also features several large communities outside Edmonton's city limits: St. Albert on the northwest, a community with deep French-Canadian roots and a popular city farmers market. Sherwood Park on the southeast is a suburban area that despite having a population of over 70,000 (2016) it still retains its status as a hamlet, making it the largest such community in Canada. Fort Saskatchewan on the northeast. Leduc and Beaumont are bedroom communities a few kilometres south of Edmonton.
The area around Edmonton, which sits in the geographic centre of the province, was home to native populations for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. In 1795, Edmonton House was constructed and work on Fort Edmonton began. The original site was near Fort Saskatchewan, but was relocated near the present day Legislature in 1830. The town developed around the fur trade, and in the early days there was little to distinguish it from other such settlements in the area. The first hotel and hospital were built in the 1870s.
A large part of the city, built before and during the Second World War, is laid out in a grid pattern of straight streets, which makes for easy navigation by car or foot. There are a number of bridges, including the Walterdale Bridge and High Level Bridge, going in and out of the downtown core. Edmonton's downtown is fairly eclectic, home to many Government of Alberta buildings and modern office towers, including the CN Tower near City Hall and the impressive, white marble-clad Bank of Montreal on 101 Street.
A young city, Edmonton's historic structures are still relatively new. The City of Edmonton's Municipal Historic Resources are buildings or structures that have been designated by bylaw as buildings or structures legally protected from demolition and from inappropriate changes and alterations. For further reading about Edmonton's architecture from 1940-1969, Capital Modern is a book available from the Art Gallery of Alberta. Here are some of the most popular attractions: Alberta Legislature Building - This beautiful example of Beaux-Arts architecture dates back to 1911, built following Edmonton's selection as the provincial capital. Free tours are available.
Edmonton's summer brings many festivals, and with Canada's most impressive mountain parks 3.5-hr drive away, Edmonton is fun year-round. You can expect to find some kind of festival any weekend during the summer months and they are usually located in the central region either around Whyte Ave or downtown at the Legislature grounds or in front of City Hall. Edmonton has a vibrant performing arts community with notable accomplishments in live theatre and live music.
See the district articles for specific listings of different restaurants and fast food joints. There are three major dining centres: Downtown and Wîhkwêntôwin- many restaurants both chains and independents, with a side range in pricing. 103 St., 102nd Avenue, 100 St. and Jasper Avenue have the highest concentration. Some of the most popular include: Lux Steakhouse, Sorrentino's, Famoso Neapolitan, Japanese Village, La Ronde, Sabor Divino, Corso 32 and La Tapa. Whyte Ave.
While the macrobrewery Labatt makes beer in Edmonton (look for a giant beer can at Gateway Blvd and Whitemud Dr), if you're looking for a more unique (and usually pricier) brew, Edmonton is home to a growing number of smaller breweries. Alley Kat and Yellowhead brews are commonly on tap in bars. There are many pubs, clubs, lounges, and bars clustered on Jasper Avenue (downtown) and Whyte Avenue (Old Strathcona).
Visiting Edmonton is no more risky than visiting any other large city. There are some areas where increased caution is advised, particularly after dark: The "inner city" area to the east of downtown (these neighbourhoods include: Boyle, Central McDougall, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Alberta Avenue) – a square bounded by Jasper Avenue (corresponds to 101 Avenue) on the south, 118 Avenue on the north, 97 Street on the west, and around 85th Street on the east – has parts that are best avoided. 118 Avenue and 107 Avenue feature numerous signs asking visitors to report prostitution by calling a 1-800 number.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Edmonton typically sees ~23°C daytime highs and 7 rainy days.
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