How to Spend a Weekend in Edmonton

Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city, is a cosmopolitan city with endless opportunities for fun, adventure and cultural experiences. If you’re planning a weekend in Edmonton, take a look at this suggested itinerary and ideas for spending 2 or 3 days in Edmonton to find inspiration for how to enjoy an exciting weekend in the city.

Friday Evening

Friday evening begins your 72 hours in Edmonton. Start with dinner at Biera, a fine restaurant with a beer-garden feel and creative shared plates, such as Old Amsterdam cheese with beer honey and seeded crackers. You’ll also like RGE RD, a Canadian restaurant with local farmer produce and dishes that reflect Canada’s culinary culture, such as Scotch egg with chervil aioli and greens.

After dinner, get a feel for the history and culture of Edmonton with a historic tour to see all the important monuments and landmarks in the city. You could also visit the Telus World of Science for adult-only movie screenings or science demonstrations with alcoholic beverages. Sir Winston Churchill Square, a vibrant city square with boutiques and nightlife, has plenty of events and festivals going on year-round. This is also a good time to check out the Neon Sign Museum, an outdoor museum with a vast collection of vibrant neon signs.

Saturday Morning

On Saturday morning, you’ll have 48 hours to sightsee in Edmonton. Begin with a hearty breakfast at Sugar Bowl Café, a full-service bistro with a range of breakfast and brunch options. If you want a more classic breakfast, visit the Highlevel Diner for morning staples like eggs and bacon or cinnamon buns.

If you’re bringing the kids, take them to World Waterpark for a fun day out. The waterpark features a massive wave pool and many waterslides and pools, as well as games and refreshments. Kids will also like Galaxyland, a large amusement park with an array of thrill rides and kiddie rides.

For lunch, enjoy a classic Deep-South barbecue meal at MEAT. The smokehouse offers a Texas-style barbecue experience with homemade sauces, hearty sides and precisely prepared meats for a satisfying meal. You’ll also like Rostizado, a fine restaurant with fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine. Evolving from food trucks, the restaurant features modern Mexican food with local ingredients, such as duck carnitas with salsa.

Saturday Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, head to the Edmonton Valley Zoo to check out the collection of wildlife and learn about the unique animals in their care. You can also visit Fort Edmonton Park to check out historic recreations of the streets and streetcars to get a glimpse of life in the city in the past.

Saturday night in Edmonton is when things start to heat up. Begin with a delicious dinner at Bündok, an inventive restaurant with dishes like beef carpaccio with onions and radishes and sea bream crudo with Thai spices.

After dinner, you can take an Edmonton River Boat cruise to experience the city with a different perspective. The tour company offers general sightseeing cruises, but you can also see about concert cruises, romantic cruises and other speciality offerings during your stay. For a fun night out, visit an escape room like Breakout entertainment or Edmonton Escape to try your luck at challenging puzzles and games.

Sunday Morning

On Sunday morning in Edmonton, you’ll have 24 hours left to see anything you may have missed. For breakfast, visit the Blue Plate Diner for traditional breakfast foods with simple but skilled preparation, or Canteen, a conventional diner with a rotating menu of breakfast concoctions.

To work off your meal, you can explore some of the city’s most fascinating museums. The Royal Alberta Museum is a must-see attraction with incredible artefacts that span from prehistory to the modern day. You’ll also like the Art Gallery of Alberta, an iconic museum with a vast collection of artwork from prominent artists.

For lunch, try some Italian at Uccellino, a beautiful restaurant with simple dishes bursting with flavour. Modelled after a trattoria, Uccellino features delicious Italian staples with a wide selection of fine Italian wines for a cultural experience.

Sunday Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, take some time to relax with a visit to the Muttart Conservatory, a large botanical garden within a pyramidal biome that boasts a wide variety of spectacular plant life. You might also enjoy the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, a diverse garden with indoor and outdoor spaces for various plant and flower specimens.

For dinner, try Café Linnea, a restaurant that combines tradition and contemporary culinary culture with classic dishes and local flavours. Much of the menu is inspired by Scandinavian and French dishes that rotate with the season, such as shrimp tartine. If you’re looking for something more upscale, you can try Clementine, a stunning restaurant with a varied cocktail menu and creative recipes with smoked, pickled or fermented ingredients.

To wrap up your Sunday night in Edmonton, head to the West Edmonton Mall for an array of fun experiences. The mall has an IMAX theatre, a recreation room, an arcade, nightlife spots and theme parks with spectacular thrill rides, so you really have it all in one place.

Ready for the perfect weekend getaway?

With its iconic landmark, fascinating culture and array of activities and attractions for all ages, Edmonton is ideal for a memorable trip. If you’re planning a weekend city break, visit Expedia to check out Edmonton vacations and make the most of your time in the city!