Edmonton International Airport

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) serves Edmonton, Alberta's capital and Canada's northernmost major city. Located 28 km south of downtown Edmonton in the city of Leduc, it's the gateway to northern Alberta, the Canadian Rockies, and the oil sands region.

The airport has a single terminal with domestic and international operations. YEG serves as a hub for northern Canada operations and sees significant business travel related to the energy industry.

Key airlines: WestJet (largest), Air Canada, Flair Airlines, Swoop, Delta, United, American, KLM, Condor, and various northern carriers.

YEG is south of Edmonton:

• To Downtown Edmonton: 28 km, 30-45 minutes
• To West Edmonton Mall: 25 km, 25-35 minutes
• To Old Strathcona: 22 km, 25-35 minutes
• To Jasper (Rocky Mountains): 365 km, 4 hours

Alberta's highways are well-maintained; driving is straightforward.

Uber operates at YEG with pickup on the arrivals level.

• To Downtown Edmonton: CAD 55-70 (~$40-50 USD)
• To West Edmonton Mall: CAD 50-65
• To Whyte Avenue: CAD 50-65

Taxis available from the ground transportation area:

• Metered rates, similar to rideshare
• Flat rates available to some zones

Edmonton Transit (Route 747)

Route 747 connects to central Edmonton:

• Route: Airport → Century Park LRT → Downtown
• Journey time: 50-60 minutes to downtown
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes
• Cost: CAD 5 (exact change) or ETS day pass
• Hours: 04:30-00:30

1. Take Route 747 to Century Park Transit Centre
2. Transfer to LRT (Capital Line) for downtown
3. LRT takes 25 minutes to Churchill Station

Sky Shuttle

Edmonton Sky Shuttle offers direct service to downtown hotels:

• Cost: CAD 18 one-way
• Schedule: Coordinated with flights
• Booking: Recommended in advance

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Parkade (covered)	CAD 28/day	Terminal connected
Value Park	CAD 18/day	Free shuttle
EcoPark	CAD 13/day	Free shuttle, further

Book online at flyeia.com for discounts up to 25%.

YEG has good dining options:

Post-Security:

• Chartier: French-Canadian cuisine (excellent)
• Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria: Good pizza
• Original Joe's: Canadian pub food
• Tim Hortons: Canadian coffee institution
• Freshii, Subway

Best bet: Chartier for a quality pre-flight meal with Alberta ingredients.

Network: YEG Free WiFi

• Cost: Free, unlimited
• Speed: Good
• No registration required

SIM cards available from:

• Stores in the terminal
• Better selection at West Edmonton Mall or downtown

Canadian prepaid SIM: CAD 30-50 for data packages from Rogers, Bell, or Telus.

ATMs available throughout the terminal:

• RBC, TD, Scotiabank
• Currency exchange available

Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD). Approximately 1.35 CAD = 1 USD.

Post-Security:

• World Duty Free: Alcohol, perfumes
• Hudson: Books, magazines, Canadian gifts
• Alberta souvenirs: Maple products, Indigenous crafts
• Tech accessories

Plaza Premium Lounge

• Location: Post-security, domestic/international
• Access: Priority Pass, various cards, or CAD 60 walk-in
• Amenities: Hot food, drinks, WiFi, showers
• Hours: 05:00-21:00

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

• Location: Domestic departures
• Access: Air Canada Business, Star Alliance Gold
• Amenities: Full AC lounge experience

US Departures Lounge (Post-Preclearance)

• Options available for US-bound passengers

Hotels near YEG are along the Airport Road corridor:

Edmonton is a vibrant prairie city with world-class festivals, a river valley park system, and gateway access to the Canadian Rockies:

Top attractions (with travel time from airport):

• West Edmonton Mall: 30 min—one of world's largest malls, with water park, amusement park, ice rink
• River Valley Park System: 40 min—North America's largest urban park, 160 km of trails
• Royal Alberta Museum: 40 min—natural and human history of Alberta
• Old Strathcona/Whyte Avenue: 35 min—historic district, restaurants, nightlife
• Art Gallery of Alberta: 40 min—striking modern building downtown
• TELUS World of Science: 40 min—planetarium and science center

Seasonal highlights:

• Edmonton Fringe Festival (August): World's largest fringe theatre festival
• K-Days (July): Summer fair with concerts and rides
• Ice Castles (January-February): Stunning winter installation
• Northern Lights: Visible from Edmonton on clear nights, especially in winter

Gateway to the Rockies:

• Jasper National Park: 4 hours—stunning mountain park, less crowded than Banff
• Elk Island National Park: 45 minutes—bison herds, day trip from Edmonton
• Banff National Park: 4.5 hours via Icefields Parkway (scenic route)

Edmonton food & drink:

• Alberta beef: Province is famous for cattle ranching
• Ukrainian food: Large Ukrainian-Canadian population—try perogies, borscht
• Craft beer: Thriving brewery scene—Alley Kat, Sea Change, Bent Stick
• Farmers markets: Old Strathcona Farmers' Market is excellent (Saturdays)

Local tips:

• Winter is serious: Edmonton is cold (December-February averages -15°C); dress accordingly
• Summer is glorious: Long days (17+ hours of daylight in June), festivals everywhere
• West Edmonton Mall: Could spend an entire day—indoor water park and amusement rides
• Rent a car for Rocky Mountain trips
• River Valley trails: Great for cycling, running, cross-country skiing
• Edmonton is a working city more than a tourist destination—feels authentic
• University of Alberta area (Old Strathcona) has the best nightlife and restaurants
• Oil and gas industry drives the economy—you'll notice corporate presence
• Wildlife: Elk and deer common in river valley; moose occasionally spotted