Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Edmonton?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Edmonton?

Most visitors spend one to two days in Edmonton when visiting. The friendly city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the museums and landmarks, the quaint shops, and the nightlife.

Edmonton is the capital of Alberta. It runs along the North Saskatchewan River and it has grown into a cultural city with museums and other entertainment options. This is also one of the coldest cities in the world, but that doesn't slow down the people who live here.

Do you have one or two days to visit Edmonton? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Edmonton?

One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Edmonton even though it's not huge. A shorter schedule may leave you feeling like you didn't fully get to browse through museums, find the best deals at the shops, and enjoy an evening out. To genuinely appreciate the best areas of the friendly city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to two days here. After all, Edmonton is a small city with a some good sights and activities, but still hosts a fairly small number of tourists. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Edmonton

A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Edmonton, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

The public transit in Edmonton is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Edmonton?

Two days or a full weekend in Edmonton is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to two days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the museums and landmarks, the quaint shops, and the nightlife. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

How to spend 2 days in Edmonton

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Edmonton, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.

Shopping in Edmonton is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Edmonton, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

• Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Edmonton?
• Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?
• Edmonton Travel Costs
• Hotel Prices for Edmonton