The Best Attractions in Edmonton History Buffs, Nature Nerds, and Sci-Fi Fans Dream About
Making memories in Edmonton has never been a problem for our team, and it won’t be for you either with this article acting as your tour guide.
The city’s attractions are simply a dream come true for any traveler. There are parks alive with free-roaming bison, a village stuck in the 20s, a mall the size of a city, and a facility where the future is kept!
Get into them and more below!
Edmonton River Valley
– From edmontonrivervalley
Address: 11037 97 Ave NW
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
With a size that dwarfs NY’s Central Park 22 times over, the Edmonton River Valley isn’t your average patch of green. It’s not just its whopping 3,556 hectares that earn it bragging rights though; this place is pure postcard material.
There are over 180 kilometers of hiking and biking trails, all prim and green. Crowd favorites like Hawrelak Park and Rundle Park also provide riverfront views and primo picnic spots, which turn into snowshoeing and skating wonderlands come winter.
| Tip: Check out this map of the valley’s trails if you want to go biking or jogging. |
Royal Alberta Museum
– From royal_alberta_museum
Address: 9810 103a Ave NW
Contact Details: +1 825-468-6000
Operating Hours:
- Wed – 10 am to 4 pm
- Thu – 10 am 8 pm
- Fri to Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
The Royal Alberta Museum isn’t your regular museum; it’s a blockbuster showcase of nature’s wildest moments, from ancient to cosmic. Over 5 million artifacts are displayed here, with dinosaur fossils, meteorites, and extraordinary flora as the head-turners.
History takes center stage too, with the Human History Wall highlighting Alberta’s Indigenous stories. And for those wrangling little ones, the Children’s Gallery has plenty of hands-on exhibits and ancient critters like the Pachyrhinosaurus to keep kids wide-eyed.
| Tip: Admission prices regularly change. Check them before your visit to avoid surprises. |
University of Alberta Botanic Garden
– From uabotanicgarden
Address: 51227 AB-60, Parkland County
Contact Details: (780) 492-3050
Operating Hours: Mon, Fri to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
Sure, Edmonton has its share of picnic hangouts, but let’s be real—none compare to the 240-hectare University of Alberta Botanic Garden. Chaos-free and kaleidoscopic, its sections like the Kurimoto Japanese Garden look straight out of a Monet masterpiece.
Our current obsession, though, is the newly added, 4.8-hectare Aga Khan Garden. Its Mughal-inspired design—granite terraces, a shimmering calla pond, and 25,000 wetland plants—made our eyes pop the moment we saw it.
| Tip: The beautiful botanic garden can be rented for private events. |
Rogers Place
– From rogersplace
Address: 10220 104 Ave NW
Contact Details: (780) 414-5483
Anyone claiming Edmonton is a snoozefest hasn’t experienced the adrenaline surge at Rogers Place during an Oilers game. When a match is anticipated, over 18,500 roaring fans electrify the arena, with every reaction captured in HD by the NHL’s largest screen.
Not a hockey fan? No worries. International megastars like Bruce Springsteen and Evanescence regularly light up the arena. Roger’s Place’s sleek, curvilinear design also offers architecture enthusiasts a reason to geek out.
| Tip: Check out the arena’s event calendar. |
The Art Gallery of Alberta
– From youraga
Address: 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq
Contact Details: +1 780-422-6223
Operating Hours:
- Wed – 11 am to 5 pm
- Thu – 11 am to 7 pm
- Fri to Sun – 11 am to 5 pm
Talking about curvilinear architecture, The Art Gallery of Alberta has more waves than a beach at high tide. Jokes aside, this creative hub is a masterpiece inside and out, with over 6,000 installations and paintings to back up its attention-hooking facade.
The collection spans eras too, so you can easily lose an entire afternoon gushing over historical and contemporary pieces. And if you need a souvenir, the gallery’s shop is full of artisan houseware and jewelry, perfect for bringing a little artsy flair back home.
| Tip: If it’s temporary exhibits or events you’re after, check what’s on to avoid missing out. |
Alberta Legislature Building
– From legassemblyofab
Address: 10800 97 Ave NW
Contact Details: (780) 427-7362
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Fri – 3 am to 4 pm
- Sat to Sun – 11 am to 2 pm
Looking regal with its marble pillars and intricate detailing, the Alberta Legislature Building is a must-see for any Edmonton visit, especially if architectural eye candy is your thing.
Beyond its impressive exterior, it’s a hotspot for free tours that shed light on Edmonton’s key historic events, its art scene, and influential people. Oh, and on Canada Day, the building is electrified by free song and dance performances!
| Tip: Tours are free, but you need to call if you’re rolling with a group of 20+ people. |
Elk Island National Park
– From jordanwphotos
Address: 54401 Range Rd 203, Fort Saskatchewan
Contact Details: +1 780-922-5790
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 9 am to 6 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 8 pm
Any list of Edmonton’s top attractions that skips Elk Island National Park is incomplete. Packed with birds, elks, and those world-famous bison, this fully enclosed escape is a nature lover’s respite, with lakeside campgrounds to boot.
The park also doubles as a dark sky preserve, meaning the Northern Lights are in their full, shimmering glory here. And don’t even think the fun freezes over in winter (winter in edmonton). Snowshoeing, skiing (skiing edmonton), and skating trails keep things exciting even when the temperature calls for hot chocolate.
| Tip: Consider subscribing to their mailing list for the latest announcements. |
West Edmonton Mall
– From official_wem
Address: 8882 170 St NW
Contact Details: (780) 444-5321
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 9 pm
Saying West Edmonton Mall is huge barely scratches the surface. Spanning 490,000 m² (that’s about 48 city blocks), it’s practically a mini-metropolis of shops, eateries, and 2 ginormous attractions: World Waterpark and Galaxyland.
World Waterpark has Earth’s biggest indoor wave pool, along with 17 unique slides, heated waters, and heart-racing zip lines. Meanwhile, Galaxyland is a Hasbro-themed amusement park where toys are transformed into roller coasters or adventure courses.
| Tip: Your visit will be extra special if you swing by during an event. |
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
– From gamal.mohamed23 and ukrainian.village
Address: 195041 Highway 16 East
Contact Details: (780) 662-3640
Operating Hours: Wed to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village makes time travel a reality, minus the DeLorean. Here, 35 restored buildings, period clothing, and scenes authentically depict Alberta as it was 125 years ago.
When we visited last summer, it totally lived up to the branding. The team watched blacksmiths and bakers work their magic with old-school tools and even received a crash course on how to keep a garden the 19th-century way.
| Tip: Admission fees may change without prior notice, so it’s best to check their website or call for the most current information. |
Edmonton Valley Zoo
– From edmontonvalleyzoo
Address: 13315 Buena Vista Road &, 87 Ave NW
Contact Details: (780) 442-5311
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 10 am to 4 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 5 pm
There are over 350 animals at Edmonton Valley Zoo; if this doesn’t get you or your little one buzzing, we’re not sure what will do the trick. Seriously, the lineup isn’t your typical backyard wildlife. Bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and sea lions are just the opening acts!
There are also some wildcards, like the majestic Canada lynx and the endangered peregrine falcon. Plus, winter amps up the magic with Zoominescence, a festival of light displays and ice rinks.
| Tip: Edmonton Valley Zoo is massive. Download the map to not get lost. |
TELUS World of Science
– From twosedm
Address: 11211 142 St NW
Contact Details: +1 780-451-3344
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 5 pm
No need to be a rocket scientist to appreciate Telus World of Science. Our physics-flunking team, for example, still had a blast going full nerd over the exhibits brimming with sea creatures and robots.
The top spot for us though is the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, where mind-blowing cosmic displays stand at every corner. Close behind is CuriousCity, a mini Edmonton where our kids got to control the skies and nurture plants at a petite version of Muttart Conservatory.
| Tip: Browse through their gift shop to find cutting-edge products. |
Muttart Conservatory
– From muttartconservatory
Address: 9626 96a St NW
Contact Details: +1 780-496-8755
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 10 am to 5 pm
- Wed to Thu – 10 am to 9 pm
- Fri to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
If Telus’ replica of Muttart Conservatory turned you or your kid into a green thumb, just wait until you see the real thing. Flaunting over 700 plant species, such as dessert succulents and wild orchids, the facility stays floral no matter the season.
The headliner is the elusive Putrella (a corpse flower) with unpredictable bloom times. Sometimes it takes years or even a decade to flower. Add the 4 glass pyramids with tropical and arid biomes, and you have yourself a horticultural hotspot.
| Tip: Kids under 2 can enter for free! |
Fort Edmonton Park
– From gamal.mohamed23 and fortedmontonpark
Address: 7000 143 St NW
Contact Details: +1 780-496-7381
Operating Hours: Sat to Sun – 12 pm to 4 pm
As Canada’s largest living museum, Fort Edmonton Park isn’t your typical boring stroll through history. It’s an immersive experience with live-action performances that bring the past to life.
Furthermore, the park’s aesthetics take you from the 18th century to the roaring ’20s, complete with a vintage carnival, an old-school saloon, and general stores straight out of a sepia-toned photo. The 158-acre woodland is an attraction by itself too!
| Tip: If you want your wedding to be a standout affair, tie the knot in this park! |
Alberta Aviation Museum
– From abavmuseum
Address: 11410 Kingsway NW
Contact Details: (780) 451-1175
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Fri – 10 am to 4 pm
- Sat to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
History isn’t just grounded in Edmonton; it soars at the Alberta Aviation Museum. This 7,901 m² plane buff paradise is loaded with everything from WWII warbirds to hurray-inducing aerobatic flyers.
Among the stars of the collection is the Vickers Viking IV, the very first amphibious plane to grace Canadian skies. And for those with a taste for the horizon, simulators will let you experience flight every Saturday without ever leaving the ground.
| Tip: Become a member if you want you or your family to get major perks like free entry. |
Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market
– From strathconamarket
Address: 10310 83 Ave NW
Contact Details: +1 780-439-1844
Operating Hours: Sat – 8 am to 3 pm
Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market may not scream excitement like other attractions, but it pulses with Edmonton’s very essence. Since 1983, this bustling communal space has become the “it” destination for fresh farm produce and one-of-a-kind local creations.
Boredom is nowhere in sight here too. Almost every month promises a lively community event that ranges from cocktail festivals to colorful Mexican fiestas—proving that good times and great goods are the perfect combo.
| Tip: Familiarize yourself with the parking rates for a more convenient visit or shopping spree. |