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

Should you visit Richmond or Edmonton?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Richmond and Edmonton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Richmond

Richmond is a historical, growing, and friendly city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Richmond travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Richmond and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Richmond or Edmonton?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Richmond than Edmonton. While Edmonton is larger than Richmond, Richmond has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Richmond is better known for its food, while Edmonton is more popular for its shopping. Richmond is more touristy than Edmonton and is known for its cultural and historical sights. Also, Richmond is famous for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Richmond different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Richmond or Edmonton.

Many visitors head to Richmond specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has a long history which you can learn about at one of the many museums. There's the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, and the Black History Museum. There are also landmarks and historical homes.

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.

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

Richmond is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Richmond offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing around town, and there are food halls and local restaurants that serve diverse and interesting dishes. You'll find Indian, Asian, and European restaurants in addition to local classics.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Richmond or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are notable in both Richmond and Edmonton.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Richmond. You'll find diverse bars and clubs around town. Pubs are usually laid back with a relaxed atmosphere. You'll also find live music that includes bluegrass, country, and jazz.

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 the Shopping Better in Richmond or Edmonton?

Edmonton is notable for its shopping areas. Also, Richmond is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Edmonton. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Richmond. You'll find shopping malls and shopping centers around town, but there are also eclectic shopping streets and boutique outlets.

Is Richmond or Edmonton Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Richmond or Edmonton.

Richmond is a family-friendly place to visit. The Children's Museum of Richmond offers hands-on exhibits that will keep young ones entertained. Another fun option is the Science Museum of Virginia. The city also has parks and outdoor places to explore as well as playgrounds and kid-friendly restaurants.

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 Richmond or Edmonton Better for Couples?

Both Richmond and Edmonton are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Richmond is a good city for couples to visit. Kayaking or tubing on the James River is a great activity for couples. There are also museums and many restaurants that are perfect for a date night.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. 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 Richmond or Edmonton Better for Students?

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

Richmond is a good city to visit for students. There are a couple of colleges and universities in town such as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Edmonton is not popular with students.

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

Edmonton is very good for its public transit. However, Richmond is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Richmond. There are buses around town, but the availability and reliability is limited.

Is Richmond or Edmonton a more walkable city?

Richmond and Edmonton both are notable when exploring on foot.

Richmond is a somewhat walkable city. There are some walkable neighborhoods such as the Fan and Museum District, but most people prefer to get around by car.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Edmonton or Richmond?

How long in Richmond or Edmonton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Richmond or Edmonton to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Edmonton than Richmond. 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 Richmond or Edmonton?

The city of Richmond offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The city of Edmonton offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Richmond or Edmonton?

Richmond 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 Richmond, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Edmonton 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 Edmonton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Richmond or Edmonton?

Richmond 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.

Edmonton 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.

A week in Richmond or Edmonton?

Richmond 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.

Edmonton 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Richmond and Edmonton, we can see that Edmonton is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Richmond or Edmonton?

Edmonton has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the sizes of Richmond 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.