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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Whitehorse
Give Whitehorse 2–3 nights: one for the city and the river, one for a day trip, one spare for weather. Skip it only if you are driving straight to Dawson City.
Whitehorse is the Yukon's capital and its only real city, holding roughly three-quarters of the territory's people on the banks of the Yukon River. It is Canada's driest city, sitting in a rain shadow, so summer days are long and clear and winter is cold but milder than Yellowknife. Most travellers use it as a base: the city itself takes a day, and the surrounding lakes, canyons and hot springs fill the rest. It is also the road and air hub for the territory, which makes it the natural first stop on any Yukon trip.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Aug for midnight sun and hiking; late Feb–Mar for aurora and winter festivals
- Avoid
- Nov (dark, slushy, few tours); late Sep–Oct for shoulder-season closures
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–240 excl. bed · High C$260+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire and ambulance 911 · Health advice line 811
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee and a bakery breakfast | C$8–15 |
| Lunch main (soup, sandwich or bowl) | C$15–25 |
| Dinner main in a downtown restaurant | C$22–38 |
| Draught beer at a brewpub | C$7–10 |
| Museum entry (MacBride, Beringia, transportation museum) | C$6–12 |
| Taxi, downtown to airport | About C$18 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YXY · Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport
- About 10 min by taxi from downtown; Air North and Air Canada serve it year-round.
Typical fares
- Taxi downtown → airport
- about C$18, 10 min (check)
- Whitehorse Transit cash fare
- C$2.50 with a free 90-min transfer (check)
- Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs entry
- about C$19, 19+ only (check)
Get around
Downtown is walkable and the riverfront trail connects the main sights. Whitehorse Transit runs eight bus routes with a $2.50 cash fare and a free 90-minute transfer. Taxis are metered; downtown to the airport runs about $18. A car is worth it for Miles Canyon, the hot springs and the highway stops.
See and do
Known for
- S.S. Klondike sternwheeler
- Miles Canyon and the Yukon River
- Northern lights in winter
- Klondike Gold Rush history
- Beringia and the ice-age crossing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Canyon and the Yukon River loop | City bus or a 10-min drive south, then walk the canyon rim trail | About 2–3 h |
| Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs | Drive the Alaska Highway north, exit onto the Klondike Highway, then Takhini Hot Springs Road | About 45 min each way |
| Carcross and Emerald Lake | Drive the South Klondike Highway, about 75 kmDrive the South Klondike Highway, about 47 mi | About 1 h each way |
| Dawson City | Drive the Klondike Highway, about 530 km; or the seasonal Husky Bus, about 7 hDrive the Klondike Highway, about 329 mi; or the seasonal Husky Bus, about 7 h | 6–7 h |
Sleep
- Downtown (Main St and Front St)
- Walk to museums, the S.S. Klondike and most restaurants; best for a short stay without a car.
- Riverdale
- Quieter residential area across the river; cheaper rooms, 15–20 min walk or a short drive to downtown.
- Alaska Highway strip and airport area
- Motels and chain hotels with parking; useful if you arrive late or leave early by car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank youEnglish is the main language; some Yukon First Nations languages are also spoken |
| Where is the bus stop? | Where is the bus stop?ask at the visitor centre on Main Street |
| Is the road open? | Is the road open?check 511 Yukon before driving |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?cards are accepted almost everywhere |
| Do you have a table for two? | Do you have a table for two?book ahead in July and August |
| Where can I see the northern lights? | Where can I see the northern lights?ask about aurora tours from September |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter temperatures drop below −20 °C: layers, gloves and a hat are not optional.
- Distances between Yukon towns are long and fuel stops are sparse: fill up before leaving Whitehorse.
- Some attractions and tours run only late May to early September: check dates before you build a plan around them.
- Summer accommodation books out weeks ahead; the same is true for aurora season in February and March.
Whitehorse is a small, safe city and the main risks are environmental: winter cold, long empty highway drives and wildlife on the road. Downtown has some late-night disorder around the bars; keep to lit streets and use a taxi after midnight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Whitehorse yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- S.S. Klondike sternwheeler
- Miles Canyon and the Yukon River
- Northern lights in winter
- Klondike Gold Rush history
- Beringia and the ice-age crossing
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Whitehorse: www.whitehorse.ca/
- Whitehorse Transit: www.whitehorse.ca/living-in-whitehorse/transit/
- Yukon — Whitehorse airport: yukon.ca/en/driving-and-transportation/whitehorse-airport
- Parks Canada — S.S. Klondike National Historic Site: parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/ssklondike
- Travel Yukon: www.travelyukon.com/
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Whitehorse climate normals: climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnName_1991&txtStationName_1991=whitehorse&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=440000000&dispBack=1
- Wikivoyage: Whitehorse, revision 5321899 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5321899
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Whitehorse
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Whitehorse; the US, UK and other missions are in Ottawa or Vancouver. Check your own country's consular list before you travel.
Tipping is expected in Canada: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/whitehorse). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.