Saskatoon is a city in West Central Saskatchewan. With a metropolitan population of approximately 317,000 people (2021), it is the province's largest city, and its economic and cultural hub. It has a beautiful setting along the South Saskatchewan River, and makes the most of it with parks and bridges. It's a little oasis among wheat fields.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Saskatoon is located on bluffs along the South Saskatchewan River. Early planners set aside the riverfront for parks. Several bridges cross the river, affording gorgeous views of river, trees, and skyline. Founded in 1906, with growth driven by immigration, railway links, and mining wealth, Saskatoon offers cultural sophistication and wealth of Art Nouveau architecture. That, together with the river and its bridges, gives it the nickname of "Paris of the Prairies". The foundation of Saskatoon's economy is potash and other resource mining; oil and gas extraction (fracking and conventional); and wheat and other agriculture. These are abbreviated as "POW".
This is a car-oriented city. There is plentiful street parking downtown ($2/hour typically). Outside the central business district, driving may be your most convenient option. The best choice of rental cars is at the airport. There are few rental car offices in the Central Business District or Nutana. Walking is a great way to get around the compact and pedestrian-friendly tourist haunts of the Meewasin park, Central Business District, Broadway Avenue, and Nutana. Saskatoon Transit serves most of the city. Both regular and express (DART) service is provided. Pay cash for individual fares, or buy a GoCard and load packages of 10 rides at a discount.
A good place to start is to walk up and down the Meewasin Trail, crossing the South Saskatchewan River at the University Bridge, the Broadway Bridge, and the Idylwyld Bridge. On a fine day, this rewards you with beautiful views, and connects you to attractions and the districts of most interest to a visitor. 1 Meewasin Trail (on the east and west banks of the South Saskatchewan River), ☏ +1 306-665-6888. Daily, 24 hours. The river offers a multitude of beautiful vistas along the Meewasin Trail system that runs the full length of both shores, a total of 60 km.
1 Eco Glide Adventures, 611 Spadina Crescent East (in Kiwanis park, beside the bathrooms, just a bit north of the Delta Bessborough Hotel, and across the street from the Sheraton Cavalier), ☏ +1 306-250-1817. Afternoons, roughly 3-10PM, depending on sunlight.. Explore the pedestrian trails of Meewasin Park on Segway and Ninebot personal transporters, led by a friendly and safety-conscious guide. Helmets and well-maintained transporters supplied. Runs rain or shine. $49.95. (updated Jun 2016) 2 Marquis Downs, 503 Ruth Street, ☏ +1 306-242-6100. The only licensed horseracing track in Saskatchewan. Features thoroughbred and standardbred races in the summer months.
1 Baba's Homestyle Perogies, 720B 51st Street E, ☏ +1 306-933-4280, babasperogies@sasktel.net. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM. Ukrainian cuisine that's available for eat-in or frozen. Also features a perogy drive-thru, the only of its kind in Canada. (updated Feb 2021) 2 Calories Bakery and Restaurant, 721 Broadway Ave, ☏ +1 306-665-7991. A intimate French restaurant with local art, focusing on French cuisine from fresh Saskatchewan-made ingredients. Has a bakery in the back with delicious desserts, and amazing cheesecake 3 Chianti Cafe, 102 Idylwyld Dr N, ☏ +1 306-665-8466. Pasta house.
The Yard and Flagon Pub, 718 Broadway Ave, ☏ +1 306-653-8883. A British-style, relaxed pub atmosphere located on trendy Broadway. Voted Saskatoon's best chicken wings, $4 on Tuesday. In the summer there is an amazing rooftop patio. Buds on Broadway, 817 Broadway Ave, ☏ +1 306-244-4155. A Blues bar with live music, pool tables and lots of friendly bikers. Amigos Cantina, 632 10th St E, ☏ +1 306-652-4912. A Mexican cantina. Restaurant by day (a great veggie burger) and other great cuisine. At night it transforms into a hopping live music venue. Tons of bands pass through from indie to punk. Hose and Hydrant Brew Pub, 612 11th St E, ☏ +1 306-477-3473.
Saskatoon has a fairly high crime rate per capita, but this tends to be concentrated in small areas of the city. The majority of the alphabetized avenues west of Idylwyld, from Avenue B through to Avenue Y (often referred to as "Alphabet Soup" by locals) are considered to be sketchy, with a lot of gang/drug activity, violent crime and prostitution. It's probably best to avoid this part of town, particularly the alphabet avenues south of 22nd Street, and also immediately surrounding the 33rd Street intersection with Idylwyld.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Aug, Saskatoon typically sees ~24°C daytime highs and 8 rainy days.
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