Getting Around Edmonton
Edmonton has a very useful public transportation system that can help people get around town efficiently. It is run by the Edmonton Transit Authority (ETS). It features a modern light rail system and bus services that serve the entire Edmonton metropolitan area. In fact, Edmonton's public transportation system is so efficient that most visitors can leave their vehicles inside their hotel's parking garage.
To see why this is the case, here is a brief traveler's guide that can help visitors use Edmonton's public transportation system to travel to local restaurants, shops and attractions.
Edmonton's light rail service makes stops near most of Edmonton's major attractions.
Edmonton's Light Rail Transit service runs every day from about 5 AM to 1 AM the next day every day. Trains make 15 stops that cover Edmonton's City Centre, Century Park, the University Area, Southgate and other tourist hubs. These stops are also major stops for the city's busses. As a result, travelers can use Edmonton's light rail line to travel to such attractions as the Muttart Conservatory, the City Centre's shopping district and the Royal Alberta Museum quite easily by train or bus.
In addition, passengers can find more information and ticket kiosks at the City Centre station, the Southgate station and at over 100 area stores and shops that have the ETS logo on their front windows.
Edmonton's bus service also makes several stops to area attractions.
Edmonton's bus service runs every day from about 5 AM to 1 AM the next day. Most buses stop every 5-10 minutes during the week and at least every 15 minutes during weekends and holidays. It features over 170 routes that crisscross the area along one of five transit districts. These districts include the downtown area, the Northwest District, the Southeast District, the Southwest District and the Southeast District. Passengers can purchase bus passes and fare tickets at over 200 area stores and shops that have an ETS logo on their doors.
Travelers who would like to visit Edmonton's stores, restaurants and attractions should try to catch busses that serve the downtown area and the northern part of the city because most of the area's attractions are concentrated along the northern part of town. Here are some of the routes that people can use to get to these locations:
Downtown: Routes 1, 2,5,7,60,65.
Northwest District: 33, 69, 81.
Northeast District: 33, 54, 63, 69, 81.
As you can see, Edmonton's public transportation system is efficient and easy to use. So what are you waiting for? Why not try it out the next you're in Edmonton?