Everything you need to know about living, working and studying in Edmonton

Getting to Edmonton

There are few, if any, direct flights to Edmonton, so you will most likely need to make a stopover. In general, you’ll transit either through Montreal, Vancouver or Toronto. It is also possible to layover in Calgary. If you don’t want to take a second flight, Calgary is only a three-hour drive from Edmonton, so it is possible to travel onwards by land instead of air.

Getting from the airport to the city centre

Once at Edmonton International Airport, you have two main ways to reach the city:

• Taxis or rideshares. It costs about $60 + tip. Check the fare map on the airport website.
• Bus. Alternatively, you can catch the 747 bus, which will take you to the LRT train terminal. From there, you can take the LRT to various downtown stations. Public transport will cost about $10.

Getting around Edmonton

You are in Canada, so cars are the most popular transportation method. Indeed, it is almost impossible to go without one in Alberta. Depending on your budget, however, you may have no choice but to take public transport, at least at first.

Edmonton has a fairly good public transport system, but it’s not the best. Even locals find the network not up to par, with some areas experiencing poor service and frequent delays.

In addition, pedestrians can have a hard time walking in certain places where there are no crosswalks or sidewalks.

If you need a free city map, which includes bus and metro lines, you can look for one behind the driver on the buses, or in the libraries.

Buying a car and driving in Edmonton

If you are interested in buying a car and not sure where to start,make sure you read our guide to buying a car in Canada.

Here are a few Alberta-specific tips:

• In Edmonton, it is highly recommended to buy a vehicle with a heater for the engine when it is cold, so that the fluids in your car don’t freeze.
• In Alberta, it is possible to personalise your licence plate for a higher fee.
• It is not mandatory to change your tyres depending on the season in Edmonton. However, this may be required if you want to spend time in the mountains during winter.
• Edmonton uses gravel rather than salt to grit the roads in the colder months. You can run into problems with gravel hitting the windshield, so make sure you get good insurance coverage!
• You must change your home country driving licence for an Alberta licence within 90 days of moving to the province.

If you don’t want to buy a car, there is also the option to rent. Edmonton has all the usual rental car companies available (Hertz, Thrifty, Alamo, Enterprise, etc.). You can also use peer-to-peer car-sharing apps like Turo.

Public transport

Public transport is managed by Edmonton Transit Service (ETS). They are divided into two categories: buses and Light Rail Transit (LRT). Neighbouring communities, like St Albert and Sherwood Park, have their own buses, which can be identified by their different colours (Edmonton’s are blue).

Buses

There are many bus lines; the problem is the punctuality of the buses and understanding where the bus is going. More popular lines have a higher frequency with a bus every 10 to 20 minutes.

LRT

Edmonton has three train lines:

• Capital Line
• Metro Line
• Valley Line

There can be infrastructure problems and closures on the LRT lines.

Stop Request service

The city makes sure to run buses and LRT even in very cold weather (-30°C and below). If the temperature is below -20°C (either in actual temperature or with the wind factor), drivers are instructed to follow a “Stop Request” service along their route. Some drivers even make a small detour if it is technically possible.

The service allows passengers to ask the driver to stop between two designated bus stops. This is not normally possible for reasons like traffic flow, insurance and organisational issues. However, when it is cold, Stop Request is allowed after 6pm for customer safety. If the bus is stuck in traffic or is stopped at a light, it must let you get on. If it is not possible for it to do so and the next stop is nearby, it will wait for you to catch up.

Cost of public transport

You will have several choices of how to pay:

• Cash (coins for $3.50/trip)
• Pack of 10 adult transport tickets ($27.75)
• ARC card ($2.75/trip)
• Monthly pass ($100/month)

Learn more at Fares and Passes.

Depending on the number of trips you make, the most sensible option is the ARC card or, if you travel a lot, the monthly pass. In some cases, your travel pass may be partially reimbursed by your company, so make sure you check with your employer.

The ARC card is free to get, and it allows you to pay less for your transportation: $2.75 per trip, instead of $3.50.

The drivers don’t give change, as they have no access to cash on board. If you don’t have the exact change, they might let you on the bus for free, but it’s up to their discretion.

Cycling in Edmonton

Cyclists have reserved cycle paths, although many are under construction or still being planned. In the absence of cycle paths, cyclists use the sidewalks, which generates conflicts with pedestrians. Learn more about Edmonton’s bike lanes and regulations on the city website.

Caution is advised with this mode of transport, as local drivers are not considered the best in Canada!

If you want to buy a bike, you always have the options of Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. Decathlon is another good option; the store is based in Calgary, but does offer delivery. You also have Sport Chek, Canadian Tire, Walmart, United Sport & Cycle, and many other stores to find a reasonably priced bike.

Make sure you have a cycle helmet and adequate lighting to keep yourself safe, especially at night. Put at least two locks on your bike, or it will disappear quickly; even your saddle is not safe!

If you don’t want to purchase a bike, you will find e-scooters and e-bikes around the city. See Shared Micromobility Program to learn more.

Stay alert and safe

The LRT stops at 1am. If you take the bus or LRT at night, be careful. If possible, avoid taking it alone, or use another means of transport (scooter, taxi, Uber, etc.). Incidents are frequent and sometimes happen for no reason. Learn more.