A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Edmonton vs. Vernon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Edmonton or Vernon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Edmonton and Vernon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Vernon

Vernon is a peaceful, relaxing, and quiet town. It's also known for food, hiking, and shopping. See Vernon travel costs.

Edmonton and Vernon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Edmonton or Vernon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Vernon than Edmonton, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Vernon is better known for its food and hiking, while Edmonton is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Vernon is more touristy than Edmonton and is known for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails. Also, Vernon is famous for Davison Orchards Country Village. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Edmonton different from Vernon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vernon and Edmonton. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Edmonton or Vernon?

Edmonton is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Edmonton can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Vernon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

Is the Food Better in Edmonton or Vernon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Vernon is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Vernon offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Edmonton or Vernon Better for Nightlife?

Edmonton is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Vernon is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Edmonton. 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Vernon. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.

Is Edmonton or Vernon Better for Hiking?

Vernon is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Vernon is a popular spot for hiking. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.

Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Edmonton or Vernon?

Edmonton is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Edmonton. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Vernon. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.

Is Edmonton or Vernon Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Edmonton or Vernon.

Edmonton is a family-friendly place to visit. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Vernon is a family-friendly city. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.

Is Edmonton or Vernon Better for Couples?

Both Edmonton and Vernon are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Vernon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.

Is Edmonton or Vernon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Edmonton is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Vernon is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Edmonton has a few public transit options. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Public transit is mostly limited in Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Edmonton or Vernon a more walkable city?

Edmonton is a nice place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Vernon is not a good town for its walkability.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

Vernon is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.

For even more information, also check out Is Edmonton Worth Visiting? and Is Vernon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Vernon or Edmonton?

How long in Edmonton or Vernon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Edmonton and Vernon. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Vernon than in Edmonton. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Edmonton, and 1-3 days is enough time in Vernon.

Families should spend more time in Edmonton than Vernon. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Edmonton, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Edmonton than Vernon. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Edmonton that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edmonton than Vernon if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Edmonton.

One day in Edmonton or Vernon?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Edmonton. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The town of Vernon offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Edmonton or Vernon?

Edmonton is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Vernon is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Vernon, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Edmonton or Vernon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Edmonton. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Vernon is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Edmonton or Vernon?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Edmonton. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Vernon is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edmonton and Vernon, we can see that Edmonton is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Edmonton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edmonton than you might in Vernon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edmonton Expensive? and Is Vernon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Edmonton or Vernon?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of Edmonton and Vernon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.