From Deluxe Boutiques to World-Class Attractions, West Edmonton Mall Has It All

Experience Canada’s largest mall and entertainment complex

Some attractions are easy to miss on your first drive past, but let’s just say you won’t have that problem when you visit West Edmonton Mall. At a staggering 5.3 million square feet, WEM is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in Canada, with more than 800 shops and services, including two hotels and more than 100 different restaurants, all under one roof. 

“West Edmonton Mall is so much more than just a shopping mall,” says Lily Lien, WEM’s Parks and Attractions Marketing Manager. “We strive to create unforgettable memories for all guests. You can shop, play and stay, making it the ultimate must-visit destination year-round.” 

First opening to the public in 1981, WEM was constructed in four phases spanning nearly two decades. It is the brainchild of the Ghermezian family, who were inspired by the traditional bazaars in their native Iran and wanted to bring that same energy and spectacle to their new home in Canada. 

Today, with WEM being the single largest tourist attraction in Alberta, drawing more than 30 million visitors every year, it’s safe to say they succeeded in that mission.

The ultimate in retail therapy

For shopaholics, West Edmonton Mall is like a page pulled straight out of their dream journals. With more than 800 stores to choose from, you’ll find an incredible array of high-end boutiques, department stores, specialty shops and everything in between. 

No matter your budget or interests, be sure to drop by Europa Boulevard, a bright, boutique-lined avenue designed to replicate the charming streetscapes of Old Europe.

Record-setting attractions

The sheer size and scope of West Edmonton Mall is obvious from the moment you first set foot inside. But it’s the attractions that really make WEM unique. 

Thrill-seekers won’t want to miss Galaxyland Powered by Hasbro, the theme park that’s home to more than two dozen rides, many based on your favourite board games. You can also get your heart rate up at DRIVE, an indoor, multi-level go-kart race track for racers aged 18+ that is the first of its kind in North America.

Edmonton might be landlocked, but it won’t feel that way once you step inside the World Waterpark, a tropical oasis that’s home to more than a dozen waterslides, a towering zipline, and the world’s largest indoor wave pool. Prefer a watery vibe that lets you keep your hair dry? Pay a visit to the Deep Sea Adventure Lake, home to weekend sea-lion shows, paddle boat rides at the Birds of Paradise exhibit, and a large-scale replica of Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria.

When it’s time to chill out — literally — you can pop on a pair of skates and go for a whirl around the Ice Palace, an NHL-sized skating rink with a soaring glass dome overhead. Then round up your friends and head on over to Ed’s Bowling for a session of ten-pin bowling, billiards, and an alien-themed escape room.

Refuel and recharge

All that activity can really work up an appetite. Luckily, West Edmonton Mall has you covered here, too, with more than 100 places to grab a bite—from dozens of fast-food options at one of two different food courts to the many higher-end restaurants and pubs lining BRNB st., a modern reimagining of New Orleans’s famed Bourbon Street.

By the time many first-time visitors to WEM have polished off their desserts and headed up to their room at the onsite Fantasyland Hotel (which offers special themed rooms as well as regular ones), they’re so impressed they can’t wait to do it all over again the next day.

“The thing we hear most from our guests is how amazed they are at how many stores and amenities there are,” Lien says. “Ultimately, there’s so much they can do under one roof that one day is not enough!”