This complete information to the perfect issues to do in Calgary, Alberta will present you the highest points of interest, festivals, and outside actions to take pleasure in all through your time in Stampede City.
Full of pioneering historical past and flanked by the Canadian Rockies, the attractive metropolis of Calgary is the place to your subsequent journey. In Alberta, Calgary is extra than simply the placement of an iconic stampede, it has an distinctive foodie scene, enjoyable vacationer points of interest, and outside adventures galore. Cut by the Bow River, it’s a metropolis of parks and recreation. Calgary can also be a terrific launch level for a visit to Banff.
Top Things to do in Calgary
When visiting Calgary, one of the best ways to see it’s to hire a automotive. We normally choose up our automotive rental on the Calgary International Airport and use it to discover the encompassing areas resembling Canmore, Banff, and Drumheller. But earlier than you begin doing day journeys from Calgary, let’s try the perfect issues to do in Calgary for a few days in downtown Calgary.
1. Go Up the Calgary Tower
As one of the crucial recognizable buildings in the town’s skyline, the Calgary Tower helps newcomers and vacationers keep their bearings as they roam the streets. Upon completion in 1968, the Calgary Tower was the tallest constructing in the town. Although it was dethroned in 1984, the tower nonetheless gives guests a few of the greatest views in Calgary.
From 626ft (191m) above the bottom, you possibly can see nicely into the encompassing mountains. One of the perfect issues to do in Calgary at night time is to head to the second commentary deck in the Tower. Sip on a cocktail at Sky 360 and benefit from the metropolis lights up from above.
2. Canada Olympic Park (WINSPORT)
Home to the 1988 Winter Olympics, the park is likely one of the high Calgary points of interest and continues to be used as a coaching floor for skilled athletes. Now referred to as WinSport, Canada Olympic Park is the place for winter sports activities fanatics to go if you need to do some snowboarding shut to the town middle, or to take pleasure in one among its many outside adventures in the summer time.
Beyond snowboarding and snowboarding, guests can take pleasure in tubing down the hills and even strive bobsledding on the unique Olympic bobsleigh monitor. Is there a greater means to head down the mountain at 100km per hour? WinSport additionally gives rides on one of many quickest zip strains in North America. There are mountain bike trails or you possibly can put your mountaineering boots to work. Read extra about it at Canada Olympic Park – Fun in Calgary Alberta
3. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Conveniently positioned in the Olympic Park, the museum is hallowed floor for the sports activities of hockey, baseball, soccer, and the Olympics. Along with studying in regards to the tons of of Canadians which have been inducted, it’s also possible to see the torch that was used to start the 1988 Winter Olympics. Later take a look at your abilities by shadowboxing in opposition to iconic boxer Lennox Lewis.
4. Bow River
With in depth pathways for walkers, bikers, and the occasional rollerblader, following the Bow River is a good way to discover Calgary. The river cuts by means of the town and the 6.1 km pathway gives welcoming entry to varied spots. Examples embrace Prince’s Island Park and the beloved Peace Bridge.
The Peace Bridge connects Memorial Drive with Eau Claire Park. We recommend renting a bicycle to discover the waterfront. Our lodge The Hotel Arts Kensington had complimentary bikes to use to discover the town.
Take a Walking Tour
One of the perfect methods to discover a brand new metropolis is to be part of a strolling tour. This 2-hour strolling tour allows you to reserve now and pay later. (simple cancellation inside 24 hours of the tour in case your plans change. It takes you thru downtown Calgary to discover its elevated walkways and historical past. Places to see in Calgary embrace the Municipal Plaza, Calgary’s East Village, and Old City Hall. You’ll additionally stroll essentially the most in depth pathway system in North America, and Chinatown.
5. Stephen Avenue
Arguably essentially the most lovely avenue in Calgary, finishing the Stephen Avenue Walk is a must-do. Placed in the town middle, the avenue is straightforward to get to and gives historic buildings, fashionable outlets, and comfortable eating places.
The magnificence goes up a notch in the summer time when the road turns into a hub of exercise. Once you’ve gotten accomplished the stroll, additionally, you will be shut to most of the high points of interest on this checklist. From the Calgary Tower to Glenbow Museum.
6. Studio Bell & the National Music Centre
Home to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Studio Bell & National Music Centre options an architectural design that’s as memorable because the reveals themselves. Inside, you’ll uncover an abundance of memorabilia and devices, that includes iconic Canadian musicians resembling Neil Young, Bryan Adams, and Oscar Peterson.
By becoming a member of the backstage tour, you possibly can discover centuries of historic devices and study native music icons. The spotlight of the tour, nonetheless, is the journey by means of the long-lasting Rolling Stones recording studio and an opportunity to play some devices alongside the journey.
7. Prince’s Island Park
On an island alongside the Bow River, Prince’s Island Park comes with 50 acres of pure house to discover. On a sunny day in Calgary, seize a picnic and calm down below the shady timber. Or you possibly can eat on the River Cafe, a advantageous eating restaurant positioned inside the park
Connected to downtown Calgary through three pedestrian bridges, you’ll uncover ample strolling and biking tracks to stretch out your legs. If you didn’t deliver a picnic, there’s a great restaurant to dine at, and you may additionally bump into reside music as you stroll the paths. Prince’s Island Park is close to the Eau Claire Market. Combine your park day by exploring the market’s collection of one-of-a-kind finds and specialty treats.
8. Calgary Folk Music Festival
Over 4 days, Prince’s Island goes to one other degree with implausible solo acts and bands lighting up the house. Boogie below the balmy Calgary solar and hear to your favourite tunes or uncover new musicians to fall in love with. Alongside the reside performances, you will see a number of workshops, arts and crafts, together with scrumptious meals distributors. When the music stops, that doesn’t imply the enjoyable ends. You are inside strolling distance of the downtown core, with loads of choices to preserve the night time rolling.
9. Expo Latino
One of the perfect festivals in Calgary is Expo Latino. Held yearly in August, Expo Latino is the most important Latin pageant in Canada. With ample reside music, room to dance, and wonderful Latin delicacies, you possibly can’t miss Expo Latino.
10. Fort Calgary
At the union of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, Fort Calgary was the primary outpost of the North West Mounted Police. To today, you possibly can nonetheless see the unique foundations of the fort whereas the Fort Calgary Museum tells the story of the town from its basis to fashionable instances. You’ll be taught of the Métis’ historical past and affect in Calgary and the way the Elbow River and Bow Rivers are important to Indigenous tradition and heritage.
11. Heritage Park Historical Village
If Fort Calgary provides a glimpse into Western Canada’s historical past on the Heritage Park Historical Village gives the complete image. The park is house to a sequence of historic buildings from the pioneer period with ample costumed interpreters to enable you to journey again in time. Fun Fact: This is Canada’s largest dwelling historical past museum!
The buildings cowl 4 key intervals in Calgary’s historical past. You’ll uncover an 1860s fur-trading fort, a city sq. from the early twentieth century together with the favored outdated steam engine. Jump on for a journey across the village. Other actions embrace a paddlewheel tour on the scenic Glenmore Reservoir and a go to to Gasoline Alley Museum. A spot filled with classic autos and interactive reveals.
12. The Military Museums
Displaying the essential efforts of Canada’s military through the First and Second World Wars, the Military Museums supply wonderful perception into this era of human historical past.
The museums go into nice element, overlaying tales of the courageous women and men who put their lives on the road. Here you possibly can be taught what it was like to be in the trenches on the Western Front, or flying a bomber throughout WWII. Your go to can even include the possibility to view varied army autos, together with tanks.
13. Glenbow Museum
If it’s a depressing day and also you’re questioning what to do in Calgary when it’s raining, then the reply is the Glenbow Museum. Within downtown Calgary, the museum focuses on artwork and tradition in Western Canada. With over 1,000,000 artifacts, artwork items, and images on show, put together to take a deep dive into modern life and tradition in this nook of the world.
The Museum additionally presents an incredible look into the values, traditions, and heritage of indigenous peoples who’ve lived alongside the Northwestern Plains for hundreds of years.
14. Calaway Park
Wondering what enjoyable issues to do in Calgary as a household? Well, you possibly can’t go mistaken with a day at Calaway Park. As the largest outside amusement park in Western Canada, Calaway Park guarantees to be a enjoyable day for everybody.
The park comes with over 30 rides, of which many will get the center pumping. For some extra relaxed enjoyable, you possibly can play nearly two dozen carnival-style video games. Better but, take pleasure in a present at Calaway Park’s very personal 3D theater.
15. Fish Creek Park
The second-largest city park in Canada has pleasant strolling trails by means of forests and alongside the famend creek. The designated pure space is house to some 200 species and is a good place to take pleasure in bird-watching.
16. Watch the Calgary Flames
Hockey is Canada’s hottest sport and by a giant margin. One of the perfect methods to get into the native spirit is to go to the Saddledome and watch the Calgary Flames tear up the ice
The aptly named Saddledome certainly appears like a saddle from the surface. From October to April, the world sells out a number of instances every week. If you’re on a finances, tickets to see the Flames might be low-cost, particularly in contrast to a Maple Leaf’s recreation in Toronto. Tickets to video games in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers might be aggressive. But watching the 2 bitter rivals face off is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Calgary.
17. Theatre Calgary
If you might be searching for one other exercise at night time in Calgary, why not go to the Theater? Theatre Calgary is an expert theatre firm and performing arts theatre that hosts Broadway productions.
18. Calgary Zoo
Zoos are usually not usually listed on our to-do checklist, however they do have a spot in conservation and schooling. Plus, the Calgary Zoo is famend for its conservation efforts serving to uncommon and endangered species. The Calgary Zoo additionally has a botanical backyard and butterfly conservatory.
19. Calgary Stampede
Over ten days in July, the world-famous Calgary Stampede takes place at Stampede Park. Locals and up to 1,000,000 vacationers descend on the occasion.
Known because the ‘greatest outdoor show on earth, guests are enthralled by rodeo events and exhibitions to stage shows and pancake breakfasts. The history of the Calgary Stampede can be traced back to the late 19th century and its reputation grows by the year. There has been a lot of controversy over the event in recent years, but one cannot deny that this is one of the top things to do in Calgary.
Where to Eat in Calgary
Calgary has an excellent foodie scene and there are plenty of places to have a delicious meal. These are a few of our favorite restaurants.
Charcut Roasthouse was voted as one of Canada’s high 10 greatest new eating places by enRoute Magazine. It’s a carnivore lovers delight at Charcut, a certain guess is to order the particular of the day from their custom-built rotisserie. When visiting Alberta, you should have Alberta Beef, and that is the place to strive it.
Model Milk is an open-concept kitchen overlooking the restaurant the place patrons can sit on the bar and watch the employees at work. The menu has a really European flare and adjustments repeatedly following what’s in season.
Day Trips from Calgary in Western Canada
Calgary is conveniently positioned on the Trans Canada Highway linking, Calgary, Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise. No go to to Alberta can be full with out seeing these lovely locations.
20. Banff National Park
One of the perfect day journeys from Calgary is Banff National Park, house to towering mountains and the storybook Lake Louise. You can attain the park in 90 minutes however the surroundings is probably going to have you ever stopping at common intervals.
After arriving in the park, proceed on to the lake. Spectacular mountain vistas encompass you at each flip, carved over millennia by the gradual motion of glaciers. The result’s the beautiful turquoise waters of Lake Louise. Head out on the lake or stroll the lakeshore path.
With mountains hovering in the direction of the heavens, Banff National Park is the definition of unforgettable. In the winter there’s world class snowboarding and snowboarding and in the summer time you possibly can go mountain biking, or mountaineering. Read extra: The Best Things to do in Banff, Alberta
21. Canmore
Canmore is positioned between Calgary and Banff and is a superb cease for a day. In reality, we’ve spent a number of days in Canmore from exploring its many mountaineering trails in the summer time to snowshoeing and cross nation snowboarding in the winter. One of the perfect issues to do is to take a helicopter tour over the Canadian Rockies to see the spectacular surroundings of Banff and Lake Louise. Read extra: The Best Things to do in Canmore, Alberta
22. Drumheller
One of our favourite day journeys from Banff is the unimaginable city of Drumheller. Take a highway journey to see the hoodoos, Royal Tyrrell Dinousaur museum and canyons of the realm. The Atlas Coal Mine is a good tour for the entire household and also you’ll even get to see the world’s largest dinosaur. Read extra: 17 Awesome Things to do in Drumheller, Alberta
23. Take The Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver
One of the world’s greatest practice journeys leaves from Calgary on its means to Vancouver. If you’ve gotten a number of days to fill in your Calgary itinerary, contemplate a once-in-a-lifetime journey on the Rocky Mountaineer.
The luxurious practice travels alongside the historic Canada Pacific Line, venturing deep into the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Along the best way, you should have the possibility to cease at Canmore, Banff National Park, or Jasper for a wide range of spectacular day journeys.
How to get to Calgary
The fundamental level of entry to Alberta’s largest metropolis is from Calgary Airport. You may have a wide range of transport choices to select from.
There is an specific bus to downtown that leaves each half hour between 5 am and midnight and prices $6.35 USD. The journey takes half-hour. A shuttle leaves from Bus Bay 8 each half hour from 8 am to midnight. The shuttle prices $12 USD and connects to most metropolis lodges. A taxi journey from the airport to downtown prices roughly $35 USD.
Best time to go to Calgary
With a stability of city and mountain adventures to embark on, there’s by no means a nasty time to go to Calgary. The winter months supply nice native snowboarding and decrease room charges. In the autumn, you’ll take pleasure in average temperatures and exquisite surroundings because the leaves flip to auburn.
However, you possibly can’t go previous summer time as the perfect time to go to Calgary. With all of the festivals and reside occasions plus the Calgary Stampede, it’s a magical time of 12 months. Book as far in advance as attainable to lower your expenses on lodging.
Where to keep in Calgary
Even as the town continues to develop, the perfect place to base your self is inside Calgary’s downtown. You shall be shut to the overwhelming majority of points of interest from the Bow River to Stephen Avenue.
Hotel Arts Kensington – Calgary
We have stayed at this boutique lodge in Calgary a number of instances and it’s excellent. The Hotel Artis is a luxurious boutique lodge that goes the additional mile. Located in the center of Kensington Village, it has a cool and funky vibe that’s nice for nightlife. They supply free bike loans on the lodge and it’s positioned alongside the pedestrian path working alongside the river. Check out costs on TripAdvisor
More Calgary Hotels
Luxury – Fairmont Palliser – You can’t go mistaken with this historic lodge. Operating for greater than 100 yeras, this luxurious lodge in the central enterprise district is close to a lot of Calgary’s high points of interest. It’s shut to the CORE procuring Centre, cultural points of interest and leisure. Budget – Best Western Plus Downtown gives visitors spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. Offering studios together with one and two-bedroom suites take pleasure in free breakfast and WiFi whereas being mere steps from the downtown enjoyable. Mid-Range – In the center of Calgary, you will see a number of mid-range lodges, together with International Hotel & Spa. The lodge gives beneficiant room sizes, complimentary continental breakfast, a health club, and a heated pool.
So, there you’ve gotten it. These are the perfect issues to do in Calgary for the entire household. Whether you might be utilizing the town as a jumping-off level to discover the Rocky Mountains or for a metropolis break, Calgary is a superb selection as probably the greatest cities in Canada to go to it doesn’t matter what the season.
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