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. The latter part of the century saw an influx of wealthy families, and in 1892 the Town of Edmonton was officially founded.

Early developments were centred around the Quarters area. In 1905, Edmonton was declared the capital of the province of Alberta, and a year later was designated a city. The 1907-1914 period saw the city experience an unprecedented boom, with the population rising from around 6,000 to 78,000. During this period, the University of Alberta was founded

In 1947 oil was discovered just outside of Edmonton in Leduc county, which spurred a second period of growth, leading to urban sprawl and the development of US-style malls. The Royal Alberta Museum opened in 1967.

The utilitarian office buildings and condos that dominate the downtown landscape today were mostly constructed in the 1970s.

Today, Edmonton is the hub for energy development and petrochemicals for Alberta. As well, it has become a centre of excellence in research through the University of Alberta and the high technology industries in the region like the National Institute for Nanotechnology.

If you want to spend time outdoors, the summer months offer the most opportunities for recreation and entertainment. In the summer, Edmonton offers great outdoor festivals, street entertainment, open-air concerts, and many other world-class entertainment opportunities. Winter is equally exciting, with snow sports for the outdoorsy, extensive indoors shopping in the many malls, and live sports, theatre, and music throughout the city.

Edmonton's climate is "northern continental", with a wide range of weather over all four distinct seasons. Edmonton receives 2,300 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of Canada's sunniest cities. Rainfall is low to moderate, and entire weeks can pass without clouds or precipitation through the late spring and summer.

Bright green foliage appears in May, signaling spring. Even as the city shakes off its winter chill, cold snaps and the occasional snowfall can still occur. The region's golf courses are generally open by this time.

Summer days generally bring temperatures up to 21 to 25 °C (70 to 77 °F) in June, July, and August, though temperatures will often rise over 30 °C (86 °F) for a few days. Thunderstorms sweep in from time to time during the summer months, usually in the evening. Humidity is relatively low, so warm days are more comfortable than they are in humid climates. At the height of summer, Edmonton enjoys more than 17 hours of daylight, the sun is up from 5:15AM to 10PM, with twilight extending into 11PM in late June.

Fall starts in mid-September, bringing bright yellow and orange foliage to Edmonton's treed neighbourhoods and river valley parks. This season ushers in cooler temperatures ranging between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F) during the day.

Winters are long, but not as harsh as those further east on the Canadian Prairies. Periods of mild temperatures with daytime highs over 10 °C (50 °F) can occur. Such mild weather makes outdoor winter sports extremely popular with the locals. Stop by a local outdoor ice rink to catch the fever of children and adults alike taking part in community hockey. Colder days in Edmonton are kept reasonably comfortable by the low humidity index, but it's wise to have some lip balm and hand cream with you, as the skin and lips can get cracked and chapped quickly in this dry environment. Daylight hours in the winter run from 8:45AM to 4:15PM.

Winter walking and driving are not often affected. Cold snaps with temperatures down to and beyond −30 °C (−22 °F) can occur during the winter, although it's unusual for these frigid spells to last more than 1 or 2 days. Extremely cold temperatures are usually accompanied by the crisp blue skies and bright sunshine of a prairie high-pressure zone. Even regular winter temperatures can feel very cold if there is a noticeable wind: if you are visiting between December and March, be prepared.

• 53.54502-113.494251 Downtown Business Association of Edmonton, 202 - 10104 103 Ave (Bell Tower), ☏ +1 780-424-4085, info@edmontondowntown.com. 8:30AM-5PM M-F, closed weekends and statutory holidays. Every year, the Downtown Business Association publishes Guide to Downtown - a free, pocket-sized resource for everything happening downtown all year round. Download it online, email for a copy, or pick it up in person at the DBA office or either of Edmonton Tourism's two visitor information centres. 
• 53.54146-113.489932 Edmonton Tourism - Downtown Visitor Information Centre, 3rd floor - 9990 Jasper Ave (World Trade Centre at corner of Jasper Ave and 100th St), ☏ +1 780-401-7696. M-F 7AM-7PM, Closed weekends. Located on the main floor of the historic World Trade Centre building. free. (updated Sep 2018)

Edmonton is the largest city on the Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway). Edmonton is 3.5 hours east of Jasper on Highway 16. Edmonton is 3 hours north of Calgary on the divided Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II Highway).

Travelers unfamiliar with Canadian winter driving should be aware that winter storms can arise suddenly, slowing traffic or closing even major roads for (usually) a few hours. Road conditions are regularly announced on radio if poor weather threatens travel, so check before you leave and every couple of hours on any long drive near Edmonton.

The two words to watch out for in a winter weather report are "fair" and "poor". Fair winter driving conditions suggest snow tires, lots of windshield washer fluid, full winter outdoor clothes in case you have to leave the car, and preferably winter driving experience. Poor conditions are the code for "stay home". Fortunately, poor conditions rarely last more than one day on major highways, where road clearing takes place continuously. Travelers familiar with winter driving will find the major highways connected to Edmonton generally safe, but should stick to the biggest highway possible as the smaller ones are not as frequently traveled nor as quickly cleared.

From Vancouver, Edmonton is best accessed using Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada) east to Hope, then Highway 5 (the Coquihalla) from Hope to the Highway 16 eastbound junction. The average travel time in reasonable weather is 12 to 14 hours, but can be significantly longer if poor winter weather strikes. This is particularly likely on the major inclines between Hope and Kamloops in British Columbia, where poor road conditions can add a few hours to the total trip. Further along the Yellowhead Highway toward Edmonton, communities near the highway are sparse, so judge the driving conditions (and your fuel status) carefully as you proceed.

The QE II highway from Calgary northward to Edmonton is a very busy thoroughfare in all seasons, and a generally reliable road in winter. It's occasionally closed if winter storms create dangerous road conditions. Fortunately there are many communities near or on the highway where one can shelter if necessary.

Unlike the vast majority of North American cities, Edmonton lacks a straightforward approach into its downtown from its most important intercity highway: Highway 2 (the QE II highway). Northbound traffic on Highway 2 coming in from Calgary or Edmonton International Airport must run a gauntlet of traffic lights on Gateway Boulevard, then make a hard right turn onto Saskatchewan Drive. Both routes from there to downtown—Queen Elizabeth Park Road and McDougall Hill Road—involve at least one hairpin turn to navigate the steep terrain of the North Saskatchewan River Valley. The southbound routes towards Calgary or the airport are even more awkward. The city government is well aware of this issue but has been unable to win popular support for any comprehensive solutions, such as the downtown freeway network proposed in 1969.

Travelers from Saskatoon will find Edmonton about 5 hours away using the Yellowhead Highway, which is divided for the entire route between the two cities. Winter driving awareness is important here, as communities are spaced further apart than on the QE II and you have fewer opportunities to pull over for shelter if road conditions deteriorate.

• Cold Shot, ☏ +1 587-557-7719, support@coldshot.ca. Operates bus services primarily in Alberta with some service reaching British Columbia. (updated Feb 2021) Operates the following routes to Edmonton:
  • Between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 4 hours and from Red Deer is 1.75 hours. Operates several days per week.
  • Between Cold Lake and Edmonton including stops in Bonnyville and St. Paul. Travel time to Edmonton from Cold Lake is 5 hours and from St. Paul is 3 hours. Operates several days per week.
  • Between Grande Prairie and Edmonton including stops in Valleyview and Whitecourt. Travel time to Edmonton from Grande Prairie is 5-5.25 hours, from Valleyview is 3.75-4.25 hours, and from Whitecourt is 1.75-2 hours. In Grand Prairie, there is service from Fort St. John via Dawson Creek (operating) and from Peace River (temporarily suspended).
  • Between Fort McMurray and Edmonton including a stop in Athabasca. Travel time to Edmonton from Fort McMurray is 5.25 hours and from Athabasca is 1.75 hours. Operates several days per week.
  • Between Fort McMurray and Edmonton including a stop in Redwater. Travel time to Edmonton from Fort McMurray is 5.5 hours, from Redwater is 1 hour. Operates several days per week.
  • Between Jasper and Edmonton including stops in Hinton and Edson. Travel time to Edmonton from Jasper is 4 hours. Route temporarily suspended.
  • Between Lloydminster and Edmonton including stops in Vermilion and Vegreville. Travel time to Edmonton from Lloydminster is 2.75 hours. Route temporarily suspended
  • Between Peace River and Edmonton including stops in High Prairie, Slave Lake, and Westlock. Travel time to Edmonton from Peace River is 5.75 hours and from Slave Lake is 2.75 hours. Operates several days per week.
• Ebus, toll-free: +1-877-769-3287. Operates several routes in British Columbia and Alberta. (updated Mar 2022) Operates the following routes to Edmonton:
  • Between Fort McMurray and Edmonton including a stop in Gibbons. Travel time to Edmonton from Fort McMurray is 5.5 hours and from Gibbons is 1 hour. Operates one day per week.
  • Between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 4.75 hours and from Red Deer 2.25 is hours. Operates twice daily.
  • Between Grande Prairie and Edmonton including stops in Valleyview, Whitecourt, and Mayerthorpe. Travel time to Edmonton from Grande Prairie is 5.25 hours, from Valleyview is 4 hours, and from Whitecourt is 2.25 hours.
• Red Arrow, toll-free: +1-800-232-1958, customerservice@redarrow.ca. Operates premium service in Alberta featuring spacious seating (only three seats to a row) and workstation seats with electrical connections for business travelers and their computers. (updated May 2022) Operates the following routes to Edmonton:
  • Between Fort McMurray and Edmonton including a stop in Gibbons. Travel time to Edmonton from Fort McMurray is 5.25 hours and from Gibbons is 50 minutes. Operates multiple days per week.
  • Between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 3.25-4 hours and from Red Deer is 1.75 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
• FlixBus. Service from Lethbridge and Calgary. (updated Apr 2024)
• Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Operates bus routes with connections including from Calgary to Vancouver, and from Regina to Winnipeg. (updated May 2022) Operates the following routes to Edmonton:
  • Between Calgary and Edmonton with a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 4-4.5 hours and from Red Deer is 1.75-2.25 hours. Operates multiple days per week.
  • Between Regina and Edmonton with stops including in Vegreville, Vermilion, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Saskatoon, and Davidson. Travel time to Edmonton from Lloydminster is 3.25 hours, from North Battleford is 5 hours, from Saskatoon is 6.5 hours, and from Regina is 9.5 hours. Operates multiple days per week.
• SunDog Tours, ☏ +1 780-852-4056, toll-free: +1-888-786-3641, info@sundogtours.com. Operates daily service between Edmonton International Airport and Jasper including stops in downtown Edmonton, Hinton, and Edson. Travel time to downtown Edmonton from Jasper is 5.5 hours (6.25 to Edmonton International Airport), from Edson is 3 hours (3.75 to Edmonton International Airport). (updated Sep 2021)
• The Canada Bus. Service from Calgary and Red Deer, arriving at Southgate LRT station. (updated Oct 2023)
• Thompson Valley Charters, toll-free: +1-877-769-3287. In partnership with Ebus, operates twice per week service between Kamloops and Edmonton with stops in Barriere, Little Fort, Clearwater, Avola, Blue River, Valemount, Mount Robson Provincial Park, Jasper, Hinton, and Edson. Travel time to Edmonton from Kamloops is 9.5 hours, from Clearwater is 7.75 hours, from Valemount is 5.25 hours, from Jasper is 4.25 hours, and front Edson is 2.25 hours. (updated Mar 2022)

See also: Rail travel in Canada

• 53.57888-113.530722 Edmonton station, 12360 121st Street NW (5 km NW of downtown). The Edmonton VIA train station is from downtown near the northwest corner of City Centre Airport. The station has free wifi - ask a staff member for the passkey. Taxis are available and meet most trains on arrival; fare downtown should be about $15. Public transit does not serve this station, although local bus service connecting to downtown is available for determined public transit users by walking south to the end of 121 Street. (updated Oct 2023)
  • VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates The Canadian up to three trips per week between Toronto (2.5 days) and Vancouver (1 day) with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury (2 days), Winnipeg (1 day), Portage la Prairie (1 day), Saskatoon (10 hr), Jasper (6 hr), and Kamloops (17 hr). This route can offer a scenic view of the Canadian Rockies, depending on the train schedule, as the train operates day and night. This service connects with another route that travels between Jasper and Prince Rupert. This rail operator also offers services that enable travellers to reach Canada's east coast. (updated Jul 2023)

VIA Rail prices are higher than train prices generally in Europe (or even short distances by Amtrak in the United States). Passengers experience leisurely travel through some of the most amazing scenery in the world. Though somewhat more expensive than bus travel, service on a VIA Rail train even in the lowest class is superior to any bus. You can get up and walk around the carriages, dine conveniently, and you will find plenty of legroom in the comfortable seats. However, long delays are common, with no guarantee of on-time arrival.

Edmonton has a safe, efficient and inexpensive public transportation system: the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS). Hundreds of different bus routes cover the city, travelling nearly anywhere you need to go.

Service starts at 5AM, with Late Night Owl service on five major routes (including an LRT replacement bus) until 3AM. During peak hours, buses run as frequently as every 15 minutes. Outside of peak, the frequency drops to every 30 minutes and on some routes to industrial areas or far-flung suburbs as infrequent as one service per hour. There are a number of routes which stop running at 8PM-9PM or which only run only during peak hours (6AM-9AM and 3PM-6PM). Some bus routes do not run on Sundays. For more information or to plan your bus trip, you can call Transit Information at +1 780-442-5311 or check out the Trip Planner or Google Maps.

Edmonton's transit system is not unified with those of the nearby communities, but an Arc card can be used for seamless transfers to suburban buses.

Edmonton was the first North American city with a population of under 1 million to have developed a light rail system. (Metro Edmonton population is now over 1 million.) It is a part of the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), which also runs the buses. The light rail system has three lines: the Capital Line the Metro Line, and the Valley Line. The Capital Line runs from Century Park Station (formerly known as Heritage) via Health Sciences/Jubilee and Churchill Stations to Clareview Station in the northeast section of the city. The Metro Line shares the tracks of the Capital Line from Health Sciences/Jubilee Station to Churchill Station where it branches off to terminate at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) Station. Both lines serve the University of Alberta main campus. The Valley Line runs from downtown to Mill Woods in the Southeast (with an extension to the west, serving West Edmonton Mall) and uses low-floor vehicles, resembling a streetcar line to some aspects.

The LRT operates between 5AM and 1AM daily. Trains run on a 5-minute frequency during rush hour, ten-minute frequency midday and Saturdays, and on a 15-minute frequency in the evening and on Sundays. When the Metro Line is running at full capacity, train frequency will double between Health Sciences/Jubilee station and Churchill station.

Fares are $3.50 with children 12 and under riding free. Day passes can be bought for $9.75 regardless of age group. A pack of 10 tickets can be purchased for $27.75/adult or $19.75/concession and may be better than day passes if you plan only a few trips per day over multiple days. Single trip tickets are valid for 90 minutes and allow return and stopovers within that time limit. Day passes (also called family passes) allow one adult to accompany up to 4 children aged 12 or under at no charge for the children. Tickets can be purchased at the ETS online store, automated fare vending machines located at all LRT stations, or at the ETS Customer Information Centre located on the pedway level of Churchill Station.

The High Level Bridge Streetcar is a seasonal tram service running from Victoria Day (second last Monday of May) through to Thanksgiving Day (second Monday of October) on a limited but regular schedule. From Victoria Day to Labour Day, the service runs daily. After Labour Day to Thanksgiving Day, the service runs only Saturdays, Sundays and Thanksgiving Day. Operated by the Edmonton Radial Railway Society, a railfan group, the vintage streetcar service has 5 stops between Jasper Plaza (Edmonton/Central) and Old Strathcona (Edmonton/South Central). It crosses the North Saskatchewan River via the High Level bridge offering magnificent views of the river valley and downtown. The line is a convenient way to travel between the area of the Alberta Legislative Building and Old Strathcona. Despite the absence of "rush-hour" service, non-tourists occasionally use the line because of its direct route. Warning: Tourist pamphlets for this service may contain an obsolete schedule; get the current schedule from the website. ETS tickets are not valid for this service. The one-way fare is $5 and round-trip fare is $8 (as of 2024) for those ages 6 and up with stopovers permitted. The five stops are:

• 53.5396-113.50933 Jasper Plaza, 109 Street & 100 Ave (South of Jasper Ave, west of 109 St NW). Northern terminal. (updated Jul 2016)
• 53.5352-113.50914 Grandin-Legislature (South of Grandin LRT Stn, west of 109 St NW at 98 Ave NW). Near the Alberta Legislature grounds. (updated Jul 2016)
• 53.5255-113.51335 Garneau-90th Avenue, 109 St NW. First stop south side of the High Level Bridge. (updated Jul 2016)
• 53.5227-113.50676 107th Street & 87 Avenue Crossing, 107th St NW. (updated Jul 2016)
• 53.5203-113.49587 Strathcona Terminal, Whyte Ave (a.k.a. 82 Ave NW) (at Gateway Blvd NW & Whyte Avenue). Southern terminal. The Strathcona Streetcar Barn & Museum is nearby. (updated Jul 2016)

• By taxi

The most prominent cab companies are:

• EDMtaxi.com, ☏ +1 780-462-3456 (Yellow Cab), +1 780-489-7777 (Barrel Taxi), +1 780-423-2425 (Capital Taxi), +1 780-484-8888 (Checker Cab). Edmonton's largest taxi provider. (updated Jul 2022)
• Co-op Taxi, ☏ +1 780-425-2525. (updated Jul 2022)

All Edmonton taxi companies offer 24/7 service.

• Lyft. 24/7. (updated Sep 2024)
• Uber. (updated Jul 2022)

Edmonton has excellent cycling routes which allow for all-year cycling, though winter cycling can be challenging for those unaccustomed to Edmonton weather. These marked routes, combined with a lack of freeways to traverse and relatively low traffic compared to other major cities, low snow or rainfall, and a fairly flat terrain, make Edmonton an easy city to travel by bicycle. The City of Edmonton provides free maps of the bike routes.

One of Edmonton’s greatest attractions, the North Saskatchewan River Valley park system provides a natural corridor for all-season recreation and relaxation. The river valley is the longest expanse of urban parkland in North America at 7,400 hectares – 22 times the size of New York’s Central Park – with golf courses, 22 major parks and over 160 kilometres of maintained multi-use trails for walking, cross-country skiing, cycling, and more. Several attractions are located along the river valley including Fort Edmonton Park, the Valley Zoo, and the Muttart Conservatory.

One of the most popular river valley parks is Hawrelak Park, located just west of Groat Road near the University of Alberta. It encircles a large pond, summer home to a variety of ducks and geese. It's the site of several Edmonton festivals, including Shakespeare in the Park and Symphony Under the Sky. In winter it is a popular venue for outdoor ice skating and cross-country skiing.

Edmonton has a vibrant performing arts community with notable accomplishments in live theatre and live music. The central area contains the Winspear or Francis Winspear Centre for Music, a new concert hall with stellar acoustics, and the Citadel Theatre, which has hosted major live theatre performances for over forty years.

South Central area is home to the theatre district with a number of venues, and the Jubilee Auditorium, a large concert hall. The west end has two dinner theatres, Jubilation's and Mayfield.

Edmonton's river valley and Mill Creek area have an extensive network of trails, good for walking, biking, and cross-country skiing. At many points in the extensive ravines and forested areas in the river valley, you can't even tell you're in a city. Maps of walking and cross-country skiing trails are available at City Hall, Edmonton Tourism's Visitor Information Centres, and many bicycle and ski shops.

The Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society (EBC), a non-profit bicycle co-op, operates a staffed drop-in DIY workshop where rental bicycles are available. During the summer months, River Valley Adventure rents bicycles and operates Segway tours. Fun group rides occur during the summer, mostly organized by the Edmonton Bicycle and Touring Club (EBTC) and EBC. Most commercial bike shops organize training rides for those road cyclists who are interested in higher intensity workouts. Larger commercial bike shops include United Cycle, Western Cycle, and Revolution Cycle. Smaller ones include Velocity Cycle, Redbike, Hardcore Mountain Bikes, PedalHead Bikes, and Transition BMX.

The Edmonton Squash Club, 15330 111 Ave NW, ☏ +1 780-306-2395. M−F 4PM−10PM, Sa Su 10AM−6PM. (updated Sep 2024) is open to visitors for a drop−in fee.

Edmonton has small downhill ski hills in or near the city, including Edmonton Ski, Sunridge Ski Area, and Snow Valley. Natural and artificial snow cover their slopes from early winter to early spring, offering city skiers an easy way to learn, amuse families, and tone up for the big Rocky Mountain ski opportunities in Jasper and Banff.

There are over 70 golf courses located in the Edmonton region. Albertans are keen golfers, based on the province's sunny summers, large number of developed courses, and relatively low prices. Within city limits, the City of Edmonton operates three public courses, including Canada's oldest municipal golf course: Victoria (central), Riverside (South) both of which are located close to downtown, and the par-three Rundle Park on the east end of the city (Edmonton/North).

Edmonton is home to a number of professional and amateur sport teams. The Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League are the most recognized team and have won five Stanley Cups. Since 2016, they have played at the 18,641-seat Rogers Place, located at the north edge of downtown. This arena replaced the Northlands Coliseum (known from 2003 to 2016 as Rexall Place), which had been home to the team since 1974. Tickets are available, but games are routinely sold out, and tickets must usually be bought from a broker at higher prices. Minor league hockey is also part of the Edmonton sports scene: the major junior Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League also moved to Rogers Place from Northlands Coliseum, while several junior 'A' and senior 'AAA' teams play in metro Edmonton. Tickets to these games are available at the door.

Edmonton is also home to the Edmonton Elks (formerly Edmonton Eskimos) of the Canadian Football League. The team has won 13 Grey Cups and plays at the 60,000 seat Commonwealth Stadium. Good seats can be bought in advance, but few games are sold out and tickets can be purchased at the door. There is no professional baseball in Edmonton, but the collegiate Edmonton Riverhawks play at Re/Max Field in the summer.

The University of Alberta Golden Bears (men's teams) and Pandas (women's teams) participate in a number of sports including hockey, basketball, volleyball, soccer, football (men only), rugby, and track and field at venues on both the main and south campuses. Smaller universities and colleges in Edmonton also have teams and athletes that compete in a variety of sports.

Edmonton, hailed as "Canada's Festival City", is home to over 30 annual festivals and special events throughout the year.

Attracting over 500,000 visitors each year, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is the largest in North America, second largest in the world, offering some 1,000 performances, primarily in venues in Old Strathcona. The Works Art & Design Festival features new works of painting, drawing, sculpture and other arts. The Whyte Ave Artwalk lets viewers stroll the avenue looking at local art. There is also the Canoe Fest which tells stories about morals and history. For music, Symphony Under the Sky is a nice way to listen to some fine music in the great outdoors. One of the world’s leading Folk festivals, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is a four-day outdoor music extravaganza that attracts more than 80,000 music lovers. Situated in Gallagher Park in Edmonton's scenic river valley, the festival offers an eclectic mix of music for all tastes. The more popular festivals often sell out, particularly the Folk Festival and many Fringe performances, sometimes well in advance, so visitors should make arrangements for tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

For culture, Edmonton rolls out the red carpet. Edmonton Pride Festival is a large LGBTQ festival celebrating LGBTQ culture; although it is centred in Old Strathcona and Whyte Ave, festivities take place throughout the city.

Ethnic festivals are numerous here, due to Canada's policy of supporting multiculturalism, notably the Ufest: Edmonton Ukrainian Festival (Borden Park, May), Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival (Ukrainian, French, Indigenous, African; Alberta Avenue, January), Flying Canoë Volant (French and Indigenous, Mill Creek Ravine, February); Edmonton Cariwest (Caribbean, Churchill Square, June). To see all the cultures in one place, the biggest cultural festival of all is Heritage Festival (popularly called "Heritage Days") where each of more than 60 countries and cultures hosts its own pavilion filled with food, dance, and local goods.

In food, Edmonton has some festivals to keep you salivating. One of the most popular is A Taste of Edmonton. Purchase tickets and sample culinary delights from 40 of Edmonton’s leading restaurants at Sir Winston Churchill Square.

The Edmonton area has seven large casinos: Pure Casino Yellowhead, Pure Casino Edmonton, Grand Villa Casino, Starlight Casino, Century Casino, Century Casino St. Albert, and River Cree Resort & Casino. Century Mile is a casino and horse racing track located at the Edmonton International Airport.

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). Some of the most popular in Old Strathcona include Hudson's', Filthy McNasty's, Tavern on Whyte and O'Byrne's.

For those looking for a more indie experience should journey to Black Dog Pub and The Buckingham who provide visitors with a less mainstream outing.

Downtown you will find a range of places to serve your drinking desires. Contemporary resto-lounges, such as Sherlock Holmes, Red Star Pub, and The Pint.

A variety of dance clubs can be located in the downtown area and these include: Vinyl Retro Dance Lounge (Retro Classics/Top 40), Oil City Roadhouse (Country), Treasury Vodka Bar (Top 40/Electronic), and Warehouse (Top 40)

Edmonton also has a prominent LGBT community and offers several establishments that cater to this particular group, including The Grindstone and Evolution Wonderlounge.

Further afield Edmonton also offers nighttime spots in less centralized locations. Midway Music Hall is a live music nightclub located in South Edmonton at 6107 104 Street. West Edmonton Mall located in West Edmonton provides visitors with a number of bars including Empire Ballroom a large vegas-style club, Whisky Jack's Urban Saloon yet another country music club, and Hudson's, the west end location of the Edmonton pub chain.

Most of the budget hotels in the city are concentrated in and around the south (e.g. Derrick Hotel) end of the city or in the deep east central area. Staying near the airport can often be less expensive than in the city, see Leduc#Sleep.

There are also hostels located downtown, by Jekyll & Hyde's Pub, and just off of Whyte Avenue.

Closer to the core, Holiday Inn Express Downtown and the Comfort Inn & Suites are good options. These two offer great views along with easy access to the benefits of downtown. In the north end, the Prospector's Gaming Room and North Inn and Suites are some great examples of some modern and simple good priced hotels at that part of the city. In the West End, with the closeness of West Edmonton Mall, there are a ton of hotels to choose from, most of which are on 100 Ave.

South of the river, in Old Strathcona-University the Campus Suites is a great option for nice service and its proximity to the University. Days Inn Edmonton South in Old Strathcona is just a few blocks off Whyte Avenue. Also on Gateway Boulevard there are a lot of hotels like Greenwood Inn & Suites, Ramada South, Ramada Edmonton, Mayfield Inn, Travelodge South, Econo Lodge, Sawridge Inn Edmonton South and Cedar Park Inn are the highest quality. In the east, there is a lovely Four Points hotel with easy access to the city.

Edmonton has a good variety of high end hotels in different locations in the city. Some of the most popular locations are:

• Downtown Edmonton – It has the most high end hotels in the city. One can choose from hotels with river valley views including Chateau Lacombe and the Courtyard Marriott and ones that have good views of the city such as the Sutton Place Hotel and the Westin Edmonton. There are also beautiful boutique hotels like Matrix Hotel and the Union Bank Inn. Either way, all of these posh empires have good access to downtown, friendly service, nice architecture, and luxury suites. For the extravagant traveller, the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is a classic, chateau-like building built in 1912 and is the most expensive in the city, overlooking the river valley in elegant style.

• West Edmonton – The area is full of higher-class hotels due to the proximity of West Edmonton Mall. One can choose from Fantasyland Hotel that's right in the mall or further out ones like Hampton Inn & Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn.

Navigation in Edmonton is made easier by city's street grid and relative lack of traffic compared to most other major North American cities. Additional hazards are presented by winter driving in the city, especially during and after the first few snowfalls of the winter. Ice can be a problem, especially on bridges. Ice on roadways can be almost invisible, which is where the commonly used – and dreaded – term "black ice" comes from. Stay tuned to local radio stations, several of which have regular road reports, and be prepared to find alternate routes should weather conditions or accidents shut down some routes.

• Edmonton Journal The city's newspaper of record, a broadsheet with a reasonable sprinkling of national and international news. Available in news stands and paper boxes throughout the city.
• Edmonton Sun A tabloid newspaper focusing primarily on Edmonton and area. Same availability as the Journal.

Dial 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Call Health Link Alberta at 811 for immediate advice if you are unsure whether or not to go to Emergency. If you are certain you have a non-emergency situation but would still like to go to Emergency, consider the wait times at the Alberta Health Services website which may be upwards of four hours for the least urgent. Parking at hospitals in Alberta is always for a fee.

• University of Alberta Hospital, 8440 112 Street NW (LRT: Health Sciences/Jubilee), ☏ +1 780-407-8822. 24 hours. Major trauma centre for half the province and most comprehensive, with the flipside being longest wait times for non-emergencies. (updated Mar 2019)
• Royal Alexandra Hospital, 10240 Kingsway NW (LRT: Royal Alex/Kingsway), ☏ +1 780-735-4111. 24 hours. (updated Mar 2019)
• Misericordia Community Hospital, 16940 87 Avenue NW, ☏ +1 780-735-2000. 24 hours. (updated Mar 2019)
• Grey Nuns Community Hospital, 2927 66 Street NW, ☏ +1 780-735-7000. 24 hours. Built in 1988, the newest of Edmonton's hospitals. (updated Mar 2019)
• Stollery Children's Hospital, 8440 112 Street NW (LRT: Health Sciences/Jubilee), ☏ +1 780-407-8822. 24 hours. Emergency room for those 17 and under. Attached to University Hospital. (updated Mar 2019)
• Northeast Community Health Centre, 14007 50 Street NW, ☏ +1 780-342-4000. 24 hours. Though not a hospital, this complex has a fully functional emergency department. (updated Mar 2019)
• East Edmonton Health Centre, 7910 112 Avenue NW, ☏ +1 780-342-4740. M-F 5-10:30PM, Sa Su holidays 3-10:30PM. Open only during evenings, this Urgent Care Centre is a good choice for problems that need same-day attention but aren't life threatening. (updated Mar 2019)

Edmonton is patrolled by the Edmonton Police Service. In addition to the Police Headquarters/Downtown Division located east of City Hall, the EPS is separated into five operational Divisions (the name in brackets denotes the neighbourhood in which the Division station is located):

• Downtown Division (Boyle Street)
• Northeast Division (Miller)
• Northwest Division (Rural North West, just north of Anthony Henday Drive on 127 Street)
• Southeast Division (Tawa)
• Southwest Division (Windermere)
• West Division (Glenwood)