The 15 Best Things to Do Alone in Edmonton: Chase Ghosts and Fire Rockets!
Not everyone is keen on dragging a mob of kids or a squad around a museum. Sometimes, a trip is better when it’s just you—especially when you’re in Edmonton.
Lone wolves, whether just for the day or longer, love our city. And who could blame them? From eerie ghost tours to pints at the pub (pubs edmonton), Edmonton is quite the complete package!
Our team’s personal faves are listed below. We even tossed in a few tips so your solo adventures don’t go sideways.
Take a stroll through the 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
The Alberta Legislature isn’t just about suits and debates. Surrounded by the North Saskatchewan River and flaunting grand, marbled pillars, this building delivers, even if you’re alone.
Tours are also a go here, and they’re free! You can even hop into a guided one to learn more about Alberta’s political history, with tidbits about bigwigs like the speaker and lieutenant governor.
| Tip: Watch their video tour for a taste of what’s offered here. |
Unwind at the 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
Going solo suits the University of Alberta Botanic Garden just fine. For instance, the Aga Khan Garden stole our hearts, thanks to its Mughal-inspired layout with waterfalls, 25,000 trees, and sneaky forest pathways.
Lately, though, the Kurimoto Japanese Garden has been our solo wanderers’ favourite destination. And why won’t it be? The 5-acre slice of Japan boasts pagoda gates, lanterns, and a strolling garden-inspired design.
| Tip: Buy tickets early to score discounts. |
Dive into history at the 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
At the Royal Alberta Museum, curiosity will be your travel mates. Each room packs surprises, from the Natural History Hall’s ancient beasts to the Bug Gallery’s creepy crawlies.
Alberta’s Indigenous stories also spring to life with interactive displays. And the highlight? The sacred Manitou Asinîy meteorite revered by several Indigenous communities.
| Tip: You can grab merch, like cards and books, from their shop even without visiting the museum. |
Sip a cold one at The Black Dog Freehouse
– From blackdogonwhyte
Address: 10425 82 Ave NW
Contact Details: (780) 439-1082
Operating Hours: Daily – 2 pm to 2 am
Black Dog Freehouse nails the solo scene, as it’s a spot for people from all walks of life. The breezy patio, live tunes, and low-key atmosphere add to its lone wolf-friendly pros.
Personally, our folks love this local legend for its overflowing beer lineup; think fruity Kronenbourg imports or local Blindman brews with citrusy notes. Prices won’t shock your wallet either, especially on weekdays when pints go for $4 to $5 each.
| Tip: Events are announced on their Facebook first. |
See world-class artworks at 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
Art hits differently when flying solo, and the Art Gallery of Alberta proves it. Here, you’ll browse 6 gallery spaces and over 6,000 pieces, mostly made by fresh talent and masters like Alex Janvier and Daphne Odjig.
Most permanent paintings and sculptures are contemporary, historical, and abstract, but you can also visit temporary exhibitions. Ekow Nimako’s futuristic reimagining of African kingdoms (Jan 18, 2025, to Apr 13, 2025), for instance, is among the most anticipated.
| Tip: Members get discounts on tours and zero admission fees. |
Catch stunning river views at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
– From edmontonforyou
Address: 9999 Grierson Hill NW
Contact Details: (780) 442-5311
Operating Hours: Daily – 5 am to 11 pm
Downtown Edmonton’s Louise McKinney Riverfront Park may be the main reason one-man explorers frequent the city. Hugging the river, its 500 meters of water views make every lone stroll a treat.
Moreover, a 2.4-km riverfront trail surrounds the park (among the many in the city), offering a peaceful 33-minute trek with birdsong and tucked-away spots. Washrooms also line the pathways, so leaving the peace and quiet is unnecessary just to wash your face.
| Tip: The best time to visit is after 7 pm, as it’s the quietest period. |
Discover rare plants at the 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
Nature is alive and thriving at the Muttart Conservatory, even the rare stuff. Inside its futuristic glass pyramids, you’ll find blooms not in your everyday yard, like corpse flowers, tropical orchids, and Australian pampas grass.
If you ask us, the Arid Pyramid is the must-see; we’re just suckers for desert roses. That said, the tropical, temperate, and feature (seasonal) biomes are just as stunning, combining over 700 flora to flex.
| Tip: From dinner events to flower sales, there’s always something happening here. Visiting during one of these events will give you an even better experience. |
Cruise the city with River Valley Urban Co
– From rivervalleyadventureyeg
Address: 9731 Grierson Hill NW
Contact Details: +1 780-995-7347
Operating Hours:
- Mon, Thu – 12 pm to 6 pm
- Fri to Sun – 11 am to 7 pm
River Valley Urban Co keeps lone wolves rolling with style. With them, you can do a summer cruise through the river valley on a mountain bike or go fat biking when winter kicks in.
Their Segway rentals are also all the rage these days, which isn’t a shocker, honestly. The self-balancing rides let you zip around North America’s largest parkland and its sights—minus the cramps.
| Tip: Mountain bikes here are usually sold cheap. Think about buying one! |
Get artsy at The Paint Spot’s workshops
– From thepaintspot
Address: 10032 81 Ave NW
Contact Details: +1 780-432-0240
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 9:30 am to 6 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 5 pm
Why bother envying other people’s masterpieces when you can create your own at The Paint Stop? That’s right. This place lets you live your Picasso dreams with art classes that won’t drain funds!
Single session or multi-class, the choice is yours. What’s even sweeter is that the classes are totally beginner-friendly, with materials like pastel, acrylic, and watercolour to keep things multidimensional.
| Tip: Grab some of their quality products. Orders over $150 come with free shipping! |
Open a good read at the Edmonton Public Library – Strathcona
– From strathconaleague
Address: 8331 104 St NW
Contact Details: +1 780-496-1828
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10 am to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 10 am to 6 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
If you plan to go the classic introverted route of reading books in a library, you might as well do it at the cozy nook on Strathcona. It’s less crowded, and the building adds charm and history, having opened way back in 1913.
But obviously, it’s the books that pull bibliophiles here. And since this place is part of the Edmonton Public Library system, you have about 3 million digital and physical books to choose from, most of which fall under fiction and non-fiction.
| Tip: Call the number above if you want to join an event related to language and education, like a vocab-building class or literacy program. |
Master the kitchen at Get Cooking
– From getcookingcanada
Address: MacEwan Residence, 11050 104 Ave NW
Contact Details: +1 780-566-2106
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Sat – 11 am to 7 pm
- Sun – 1 pm to 6 pm
For those who’ve heard “It’s raw!” one too many times, Get Cooking is your salvation. Classes and coaches here are approachable and easy to follow, resulting in laid-back sessions participants of Hell’s Kitchen would die for.
The best bit is they don’t just slap together sandwiches. These classes, both in person and online, are high-quality and diverse. In fact, we’re already booked for the Indian, pasta, and Cajun sessions—and these are just tiny slices of the 20+ others on offer.
| Tip: Book the in-person classes ASAP. They fill up fast! |
Catch a performance at the Winspear Centre
– From winspearcentre
Address: 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square Northwest & Corner of 99 Street &, 102 Ave NW
Contact Details: +1 780-428-1414
The Winspear Center in downtown Edmonton is a world-class spot to catch performances. From Christmas carols to Mozart’s finest, the acoustics and micro-textured walls here amp up the clarity, so every note hits harder and clearer.
Beyond that, the stage’s proximity to the audience gives the whole experience a cozy, “you’re part of the show” feel. Add the curved balconies, terraces, and the 3-story Davis Concert Organ, and you’ll also get grand eye candies.
| Tip: Check out their holiday gift guide for discounted tickets and special deals like getting free wine at a concert. |
Go on a ghost hunt in Old Strathcona with Edmonton Ghost Tours
– From edmontonghosttours
Address: 10322 83 Ave NW
Contact Details: +1 780-289-2005
Operating Hours: Daily – 7 pm to 8 pm
If you’re the type who loves a good scare paired with history lessons, joining Edmonton Ghost Tours is a no-brainer. Yeah, it’s a group thing, but you can go solo or sneak off for a mini adventure. Just don’t get lost; Old Strathcona has its fair share of spooks!
Places like Strathcona High School and the Princess Theater are the creepiest spots you’ll stop by. Stories of murders and hauntings have plagued such haunts for years—better keep your wits about.
| Tip: For updates on the next season, head to their Facebook. |
Join an adult-only event at 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
Aside from getting up close with a real moon rock or pretending to be an astronaut by driving a Mars rover and launching rockets, Telus World of Science is also the perfect spot for just kicking back.
Yup, we’re talking about their Sip & Science event where you can nerd out over science stuff, all while sipping on beer and wine. Plus, if you want to mingle, there’s carbon capture pinball for some social shenanigans.
| Tip: Prices change a lot, so check their website for the latest fees. |
Game at Beercade with retro classics
– From beercadewhyte
Address: 10544 82 Ave NW
Contact Details: (780) 699-2383
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 5 pm to 2 am
Beercade is an Edmonton pub that’s virtually different from others. The gaming section is simply perfect for losing yourself for hours, all while downing Guinness pints and pub bites like fries in smoky mustard.
What games are on the table, you ask? A solid mix of retro classics like Mario Kart, Street Fighter, and Donkey Kong. To top it off, there’s action-packed air hockey and skeeball if you prefer stand-up gaming.
| Tip: Weekdays have more discounts and special deals, like the $5 highballs on Tuesday and 50% off pizza slices on Thursdays. |