Your guide to Yellowknife

Set on the edge of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife combines remote wilderness with a strong Indigenous and frontier identity. Winter brings frozen landscapes and some of the world’s best Northern Lights viewing, while warmer months reveal forests, lakes and long daylight hours shaped by life in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Our Yellowknife travel guide explores the outdoor adventures, local culture and far-north atmosphere that define the city.

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Yellowknife highlights

Night lights

Many visit Yellowknife for the Aurora Borealis, which paints the night sky in shades of green and purple. You’ll find the aurora is highly visible here from mid-August to September and mid-November to April — ‘Northern Lighthouses’ flash red when a good display is predicted. Aurora chasers can choose from a variety of viewing experiences, from a dark lakeshore to a swift dogsled.

Frontier spirit

Yellowknife buzzes with the energy of people who thrive in extreme weather and live close to nature. Visit the hilltop Bush Pilot’s Monument — dedicated to those who delivered supplies by plane to the fledgling Yellowknife — for the best view in town. Stroll the lakeshore to observe colourful houseboats and locals who commute by canoe. And in winter explore an enormous, volunteer-built snow castle.

Where to stay

Commerce in Yellowknife clusters around downtown, so stay in the heart of it for easy walks to restaurants, shopping and cultural sites. For funkier vibes, book lodging in the nearby Old Town neighbourhood. To commune with nature, stay at lodges outside of town that focus on outdoor activities, especially aurora chasing.

Yellowknife: Know before you go

Language	English, French
Currency	Canadian dollar ($)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST) and UTC-6 (MDT)
High season	December - March
Low season	April - May

Things to do in Yellowknife

Places to eat

As remote as Yellowknife might seem, its food scene is incredibly accessible. You can eat your way around the world in the city’s restaurants, from injera bread at a family-run Ethiopian spot to German schnitzel to a number of traditional sushi joints. You’ll also find plenty of bistros where you can sample locally caught fish and wild elk.

Shopping

Some of the best souvenirs in Yellowknife come from the city’s thriving community of artists, many of whom sell their creations in galleries around Old Town. Original paintings, glasswork and Indigenous craftwork — from sculpture to intricate beadwork to moosehide moccasins — can be found here. Look for the NWT Arts logo to identify authentic works.

Take in the culture

Don’t pass over the historical museums in Yellowknife. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre boasts objects from the Northwest Territories as diverse as biplanes and a mooseskin boat to an Ice Age bison skull and mineral samples. The Yellowknife Historical Museum documents the city’s mining culture in over 1,300 artefacts — including a shuffleboard court once used by miners.

FAQs about visiting Yellowknife

What language is spoken in Yellowknife?

During your city break in Yellowknife, you'll hear the locals mostly speaking in English and French.

What is the hottest month in Yellowknife?

With temperatures peaking at 24ºC (75ºF), July is the hottest month in Yellowknife.

Is Yellowknife a good place to visit?

Old Town and Fred Henne Territorial Park are only the tip of the iceberg of what's waiting for you here. Check out the list of things to do in Yellowknife and find out why it should be your next stop.

What is the coldest month in Yellowknife?

January offers the coolest conditions for a visit to Yellowknife. Go during this time and you'll experience lows of -32°C (-26°F).

What currency is used in Yellowknife?

While in Yellowknife, you'll be using the Canadian dollar (CAD) for all your expenses. You may find it helpful to carry a mix of cards and cash for more flexibility when paying.

Is it safe to visit Yellowknife?

Your stay in Yellowknife should be a smooth experience, as the city is generally considered safe. Even so, you'll want to take a few commonsense precautions. Remain alert in busy areas and ensure valuables like your credit cards and phone are safely stored away. An anti-theft bag or money belt is a smart travel essential wherever you go.

What is the rainiest month in Yellowknife?

With an average rainfall of 50 millimetres, August is the wettest month to visit Yellowknife. When the clouds roll in, venture indoors and enjoy the city's shops, museums, cafes and more.

How many days do you need for a visit to Yellowknife?

You may have travelled a fair distance to trip to Yellowknife. Make the most of the journey by allowing several days — a week would be ideal — to explore the city of Yellowknife, experience the vast landscape and maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

When is the best time to visit Yellowknife?

For snow sports and aurora viewing, autumn and winter are the best times to take a trip to Yellowknife. Travel in summer to enjoy hiking, kayaking, extra-long days and events like the popular Folk on the Rocks music festival that takes place in July.

How expensive is a trip to Yellowknife?

Flights and hotels to Yellowknife can be pricey, as is dining out. But many of the museums and sites of interest are free. Summer affords more opportunities for free outdoor activities, as winter excursions are often best tackled with a paid guide and transport.