A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Denver vs. Edmonton for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Denver or Edmonton?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Denver or Edmonton, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Denver

Denver is a sprawling, park-filled, and suburban city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for skiing, nightlife, and hiking. See Denver travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a authentic, friendly, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Edmonton travel costs.

Denver and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Denver or Edmonton?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Denver than Edmonton. While Edmonton is larger than Denver, Denver has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Denver is very popular for its skiing, hiking, and big city activities, while Edmonton attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and shopping. Denver is famous for serving as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and the many national parks that are in the area. It is also well known for Red Rocks Park. Edmonton is famous for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Denver different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Edmonton and Denver. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Skiing?

Denver is very good for snow skiing. However, Edmonton is not a skiing destination.

Denver is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. Although there's no skiing in the immediate area, there is a huge list of world class ski resorts within an hour or two of town. Two of the closest are Echo Mountain Resort and Loveland Ski Area.

Edmonton is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Denver or Edmonton?

Edmonton is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Denver is not a good city for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Edmonton can be an interesting and educational experience. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

While most people don't head to Denver specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Many people use Denver as a starting or ending point for their mountain and national park trip, but those who linger can visit some of the city's museums and sights. Popular museums include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the History Colorado Center, and the Forney Museum of Transportation.

Is the Food Better in Denver or Edmonton? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at reasonable restaurants in both Denver and Edmonton.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Denver. It's a pretty large city, so you'll find some nice local restaurants, but the foodie scene is still emerging in many neighborhoods. A number of restaurants offer outdoor seating, which is nice. You'll also find a growing selection of international restaurants. For something uniquely local, you should try the Bison steak and fried pickles.

Edmonton may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

Both Denver and Edmonton are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Denver. The city has come a long way with its nightlife. There's a great craft beer scene and the downtown area has really come to life. Popular bars and clubs in town include the Grizzly Rose and 54Thirty Rooftop. Many places are concentrated in the Soco Nightlife District.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Edmonton. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Hiking?

Denver is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Denver. The city is very close to many beautiful parks and hiking areas in the Rocky Mountains. It's not hard to make a day trip from town and enjoy some great hiking. Nice options include the Trading Post Trail in Red Rocks Mountain Park, Bergen Peak near Evergreen, and Chimney Gulch Trail near the town of Golden.

Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Denver or Edmonton?

Edmonton is a well-known place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

Edmonton is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

Denver has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has many outlet malls that budget shoppers appreciate. There are also weekend farmer's markets, boutique shopping areas, and all of the major chains that you'll find in most larger cities.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Families?

Denver and Edmonton are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Denver is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a family-friendly city with museums, playgrounds, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are also a few ropes courses near town that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Popular activities include the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Edmonton is a family-friendly city. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Denver and Edmonton are both nice to visit as a couple.

Denver makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many beautiful and romantic outdoor activities in the area such as parks and botanical gardens. There are also spas, including the impressive Spa at the Brown Palace, as well as upscale restaurants and fun bars and clubs to explore.

Edmonton is a good city for couples to visit. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Students?

Denver is very good for students. However, Edmonton is not popular with students.

Denver is a good city to visit for students. There are a few students in the city, but there isn't a college town vibe that you'd get at other nearby university areas.

Edmonton is not popular with students.

Is Denver or Edmonton Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Denver and Edmonton offer nice public transit options.

Denver has a few public transit options. If you're not planning to leave town, the light rail and bus systems offer good access to much of Denver.

Edmonton has some public transit options. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

Is Denver or Edmonton a more walkable city?

Edmonton is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Denver is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

Denver is not a very walkable city. While the downtown area is generally walkable, this is still a sprawling city where you'll really want to have a car to access areas outside of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Denver Worth Visiting? and Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Edmonton or Denver?

How long in Denver or Edmonton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Denver or Edmonton to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Denver than Edmonton because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Denver, and 1-2 days is enough time in Edmonton.

Families should spend more time in Edmonton than Denver. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Edmonton, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Edmonton than Denver. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Edmonton that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Denver or Edmonton?

The city of Denver offers skiing and nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Edmonton. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Denver or Edmonton?

Denver is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Denver, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Edmonton is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Denver or Edmonton?

Denver is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Edmonton. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Denver or Edmonton?

Denver is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Edmonton. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Denver and Edmonton, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Edmonton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Edmonton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Edmonton and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver than you might in Edmonton.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Denver Expensive? and Is Edmonton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Denver or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Denver. When comparing the sizes of Denver and Edmonton, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.