Yellowknife is a subarctic city set on the shores of cobalt-blue Great Slave Lake. It has a frontier spirit and is a gateway to Canada's wild and remote Northwest Territories, where you can discover Inuit heritage and view the mesmerising Northern Lights.
Things to do in Yellowknife
Yellowknife is anchored by a characterful Old Town that dates back to the mid-1930s. Many of the buildings were built during the gold-rush era, including colourful log cabins and ramshackle fish shacks. Today they house shops, cosy cafes and art galleries.
Yellowknife offers a unique opportunity to view the Northern Lights, a mesmerising display caused by magnetic storms. Guided tours take you out into the wilderness to find zero light pollution and the best chances of viewing the Aurora Borealis. You can also sign up for arctic experiences like husky sledding, snowmobiling and ice-road 4WD adventures.
Dive into Yellowknife's history at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, a well-curated museum on Frame Lake. Inside you'll find displays on diamond mining, natural history, aviation and Inuit culture. After touring the museum, enjoy refreshments at the on-site cafe.
Seafood lovers can head to Bullocks Bistro, a legendary restaurant serving enormous slabs of locally-caught arctic char, creamy fish chowder, buffalo ribeye and reindeer stew. The walls are adorned with colourful bumper stickers and graffiti. On Tuesday evenings the Yellowknife Farmers Market sells organic produce, artisan cheese and fresh seafood.
Getting around Yellowknife
Downtown Yellowknife and the Old Town are easy to get around on foot, while buses and taxis are also available. In summer, bikes are available from the visitor centre. Yellowknife Airport is two kilometres from the city centre.