The Cree refer to the Northern Lights as a dance of ghosts, and here in Yellowknife, picturesque capital of the Northwest Territories, the ballet of blazing lights takes centre stage. For 200 nights a year, glowing beams twist and twirl across the northern sky, illuminating an intimidating landscape of sprawling tundra, rushing, cliff-circled waterfalls and deep river canyons. Come snow or sun, Yellowknife exceeds your wildest expectations.
Visit Yellowknife: get started
Beyond the light show, lock in top northern activities during your vacation to Yellowknife! Go dogsledding or drive up the ice roads in winter, and hike or fish around Great Slave Lake during summer. Make time for Yellowknife attractions like the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Old Town and the Yellowknife Golf Club. Your adventure starts with our Yellowknife hotels or Northern Canada vacation packages!
Yellowknife travel guide
Destination facts
Language
English, French and 9 indigenous languages including Inuktitut (The Northwest Territories recognize 11 official languages).
What to bring back
Pictures of the Northern Lights, Northern literature from the Yellowknife Book Cellar, traditional crafts from the Gallery of the Midnight Sun or the Aurora Emporium Art Gallery, sandblasted glass souvenirs from Old Town Glassworks and craft beers from the NWT Brewing Company.
What to eat
Fresh fish like Arctic char, Great Northern pike or lake trout, First Nations staples like bannock or bison, anything topped with birch syrup, a meal at the quirky Bullock’s Bistro or at Yellowknife’s oldest restaurant, the Wildcat Café.
Fun fact
Yellowknife is one of the best places in the world to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). The ideal time to do so is either between November and April or August and October. Pro-tip: try to stray from streetlights—drive or walk up the Dettah Ice Road, take the stairs to the Pilots Monument or head out of town via Ingraham Trail for amazing lakeside views.
Important info
For more information on all necessary travel documents and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page.
