How to get to Edmonton from the Netherlands? What do you need to know about traveling to Canada? What about tipping in restaurants? And do they drive on the left or the right? On this page you will find all the practical tips for your vacation to Edmonton and Jasper.
KLM will fly you to Edmonton International Airport in 8.5 hours. This is the shortest flight to Western Canada. Arriving at the airport, your adventure in the Canadian Rockies can begin!
The easiest way to travel around Canada is by rental car or RV. Learn more on the Transportation and Getting Around Canada page. There you will also find information on traffic regulations.
For travel to Canada, you must have a passport that is still valid for at least 1 day after leaving Canada. Children also need their own passport and it is no longer allowed to be credited in the parents’ passport. An id card or driver’s license is not a valid travel document. For travel to Canada, it is mandatory to apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Although you can receive your visa in your e-mail within minutes, we recommend applying for it no later than a week before departure. An eTA costs $7 / €4.50. Please note that with the situation around COVID-19, different rules for applying for an eTA may apply.
↠ Learn more about and apply for an eTA
The local currency is the Canadian Dollar ($). For €1 you get about $1.55 and for $1 you get €0.64. ATMs can be found in many places in Canada, and paying with a credit card is no problem here.
It is customary in Canada to tip in restaurants. Usually, the percentage for tipping is around 15-20%. If the service is less, the percentage you tip is lower. It is not customary in Canada not to tip at all.
Canada is bilingual, English and French, but in the province of Alberta – which includes Edmonton and Jasper National Park – English is the spoken language. If you want to address people in “Canadian slang,” or local street slang, the following words are handy to have on hand. From left to right: Dutch – English – Canadian
WC – toilet/bathroom – washroom
1 Dollar – One Dollar – Loonie
2 Dollar – Two Dollars – Toonie
Hat – beanie – tuque
A Canadian – A Canadian – A Canuck
Napkin – paper napkin – serviette
Faucet – faucet – tap
If you really want to appear Canadian, say ‘eh’ at the end of your sentence every so often
The power grid in Canada operates at 110 volts. This means you need plugs with flat poles to use it.
Canada has national holidays in addition to general holidays, such as New Year’s Eve and Christmas – as well. The main national holidays in Canada are:
May 20, 2024 – Victoria Day
July 1, 2024 – Canada Day
Sept. 30, 2024 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October 14, 2024 – Thanksgiving
Nov. 11, 2024 – Remembrance Day
In addition to these official holidays, there are many fun festivals throughout the year in Edmonton. These are definitely worth visiting as well.
Geographic location
Alberta is a province in southwestern Canada and lies between provinces of British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and the U.S. state of Montana. The capital is Edmonton, which is centrally located in the province. Jasper National Park is a 4-hour drive from the city, in far western Alberta. The province has an area of 660,000 km2.
The climate in Alberta Canada
Alberta has two climates: mountain climate and continental climate. The continental climate means the winter is very cold, and the summer is hot. The mountain climate means that the temperature depends on the altitude: the higher, the lower the temperature. The coldest months are January and February when temperatures can drop significantly as low as -9℃. The biggest advantage is that in the Rockies there is a very dry air supply and very little wind. The Canadian cold is an experience in itself, and with good clothes and preparation, the cold is just fine. On average, 5 feet of snow falls in the Rocky Mountains every year between November and April. The summer months are warmer. Then the temperature can reach 22 ℃.
Time difference
The time difference from the Netherlands depends on where you are in Canada. In Alberta, it is 8 hours earlier than in the Netherlands. Daylight saving time begins on the first Sunday in April, and lasts until the last Sunday in October.
What else you can expect from these destinations
Practical information
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