Holiday in Edmonton

What makes Edmonton special as a destination?

Edmonton is the gateway to the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the northernmost major city in North America with over a million residents — a city that shines with surprising liveliness and a dense festival program despite its extreme winters, earning it the nickname Festival City. As the capital of the oil-rich province of Alberta, Edmonton combines economic strength with a cultural offering that makes cities twice its size envious. The North Saskatchewan River Valley forms the green heart of the city: at 7,284 hectares, it is the largest contiguous urban park system in North America — 22 times larger than Central Park in New York. Over 150 kilometers of hiking and biking trails wind along the riverbank through forests, gorges, and over historic bridges. In winter, the paths transform into cross-country ski trails and the slopes into sledding hills. The West Edmonton Mall was the largest shopping mall in the world when it opened in 1981 and is still one of the largest malls on the planet: over 800 stores, an indoor water park (World Waterpark with the largest indoor wave), an NHL-sized ice rink, an amusement park with roller coasters, and even a Sea-Life aquarium can be found under one roof. In winter (September to March), the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) regularly dance across the sky of Edmonton — the city is far enough north (53rd latitude) to observe the phenomenon directly from the city. Elk Island National Park, just 40 minutes east, offers even better conditions as a Dark Sky Preserve along with free-roaming bison herds. Jasper National Park, one of the most spectacular national parks in the Rocky Mountains, is only a 3.5-hour drive away: turquoise lakes, glaciers, grizzly bears, and the Icefields Parkway (one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world) make a day trip or weekend adventure from Edmonton a must.