The second biggest in North America by square-footage, West Edmonton Mall is 5.3 million square feet. It’s “home to more than 800 stores and services including sixteen world-class attractions, two hotels, over 100 dining venues, the widest variety of one-of-a-kind retailers, and entertainment for all ages”. 

As big as LAX or about 16 football fields, the hub is inspired by urban bazaars. WEM incorporates theme parks aspects to create an incredible destination for tourism, and an endless supply of entertainment options for locals. 

If it’s your first time visiting, grab one of the multi-park passes to make the most out of your time. Most of the stores and venues are open from 10 AM to 9 PM each day, but you’ll want to check attraction hours ahead to help plan your time.

1. Visit at least one featured attraction

• World Waterpark 💦

17 slides, 1 giant wave pool, 31 degree C water temperature, and 12 cabanas and party spaces, the waterpark is a great time for families, events, and even surf club members. 

• Hasbro Galaxyland 🎢

Featuring characters such as Mr. Potato Head and the Monopoly Man, this park has a Hungry Hungry Hippos ride and a Chutes and Ladders climb and slide zone. 

• Ice Palace ⛸️

Drop-in figure and public skating, hockey, and private events and concerts all take place at this indoor rink.

• Marine life 🐧

Experience sea lion shows, penguin meet-and-greets, educational tours, and over 100 species of marine animals at this full-scale zoo.

• DRIVE 🚗

Go-karting on a street art-themed track with state of the art electric rides. Two levels of high-speed racing are available for individuals, families, and parties. 

• Ed’s Bowling 🎳

In addition to lanes and shoe rental, this alley has billiards, an arcade, karaoke, and an escape room. Food and drinks will help you last long enough to try it all out.

2. Shop on one or more of the themed streets

BRBN St. is inspired by Bourbon Street in New Orleans, and features many of the nicer restaurants in the mall, plus a comedy club and a dive bar. Europa Blvd 🛍️is designed to look like a charming and architectural European thoroughfare. This street is full of fashion retailers both famous and niche. Chinatown also utilizes architecture and art installations to simulate Chinese culture. This street features restaurants, tea shops, and a T&T supermarket.

3. Try another attraction or entertainment experience

Dragon’s Tale is a colorful glow-in-the dark mini golf course. There is also a connected fun house, which hosts a labyrinth of mirrors. The Ship 🏴‍☠️ is an attraction found at the centre of the mall, with a full-sized sailboat available to climb onboard across a green-boat moat. You can reserve the Ship’s deck for events, or rent a swan-shaped pedal boat in the water below. At Infinity Experiences, you can go on an immersive journey set in a breath-taking location with the help of new VR technology. Splatterverse is another fun place to go with friends to blow off steam, create, and have a one-of-a-kind experience. Inside, you’ll decorate a canvas with glow-in-the dark colours, and then use the remaining paint to decorate one another!

4. Stay the night in the themed hotel

Complete with a grill and lounge to wind down in, the Fantasyland hotel has themed rooms that keep the magic alive, even from the comfort of your own personal space. Rooms are inspired by different parts of the world, periods of history, sports and movies, fantasy settings, and outer space. There are a number of special packages and promotions available to make the experience an even more special one, that can be found here.

5. Bring home a memory

If you’re looking for a way to remember the experience, consider finding yourself a unique souvenir. It could be a picture of you and your crew dressed up in period clothing from the antique photo parlour, a new stuffed animal from Build-a-Bear Workshop, or even simply a ticket stub from a movie at the Scotiabank Theatre.

There’s no way to fully experience the vastness of West Edmonton Mall in just one day, but hopefully with knowledge of the big things to see and do, you’ll spend less time saying “what next?”, and more time enjoying the fun.

• Share :