Calgary

Travel Guide
Scotiabank Saddledome featuring a park, a sunset and landscape views
Home to one of the largest rodeos in the world, this city is alive with art, festivals, pioneer history and wintersports and is a gateway to the Canadian Rockies.

Once a farming and ranching town, Calgary has experienced expansive growth thanks to the escalating price of its richest resource: oil. Now Calgary is Canada’s third largest municipality, offering a modern urban culture that embraces its pioneer past. It’s easy to discover Calgary’s attractions: The well-planned city is laid out in a grid and has an excellent public transportation system. Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the observation deck of the Calgary Tower.

The Calgary Stampede is the city’s most well-known event, attracting over a million visitors with its 10-day line-up of rodeos, music and agricultural displays. Cheer with the crowd for the displays of horsemanship in the chuck wagon derby and hold your breath at the competitive bareback bull riding.  

When the stampede’s not in town, you can still see animal life at the Calgary Zoo where you’ll be immersed in habitats from Canada and beyond, as well as from the past! The zoo features a Prehistoric Park, where life-size replicas of dinosaurs roam through ancient landscapes. In the Drumheller Valley, around 85 miles (135 kilometers) from Calgary, you’ll find the fossils these replicas are based on at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

If you’re visiting in winter, there’s plenty of skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding and ice skating on offer at Canada Olympic Park. If you’re an indoor type, check out the art galleries south of downtown on Stephen Avenue and the Glenbow Museum downtown.

In the evening, head to downtown Jubilee Auditorium for a Broadway musical, an opera or a ballet. Or, try one of the multicultural restaurants across the Bow River at 17th Avenue Southeast, also known as International Avenue. Here you’ll find diverse flavors from Ethiopia, Portugal, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong and more. Foodies will love the gourmet tours of this area!

Calgary is also the gateway to ski villages such as Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis. It’s also close to the Alberta Badlands, a photogenic wonderland of strange rock formations, paleontological finds and ghost towns.

Where to stay in Calgary

Prince\'s Island Park featuring a city, a high rise building and street scenes

Downtown Calgary

4.5/5(394 area reviews)

TD Square and CORE Shopping Centre are top sights in Downtown Calgary, and you should be sure to explore the popular shops. Hop aboard the metro at 3rd Street SW Station or 4th Street SW Station to see more sights in the area.

Downtown Calgary
17 Avenue SW which includes outdoor art

Southwest Calgary

4.5/5(9 area reviews)

Southwest Calgary is a destination travelers like for its river views, and you might hop aboard the metro at Southland Station or Anderson Station to explore sights like Stampede Park.

Southwest Calgary
Inglewood featuring a small town or village

Southeast Calgary

4/5(64 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Southeast Calgary, check out sights like Deerfoot Casino or Eaglequest Douglasdale Golf Course and hop on the metro to see more the city at Chinook Station or 39th Avenue Station.

Southeast Calgary
Peace Bridge showing a city, a bridge and a river or creek

Northwest Calgary

4/5(23 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Northwest Calgary, check out sights like Market Mall or Nose Hill Park and hop on the metro to see more the city at Dalhousie Station or Crowfoot Station.

Northwest Calgary
Calgary Tower showing a city and street scenes as well as an individual male

Beltline

4.5/5(102 area reviews)

Take time in Beltline to visit attractions like Stampede Park and Cowboys Casino. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at Victoria Park - Stampede Station to see more of the city.

Beltline
Default Image

University District

4/5(68 area reviews)

Take time in University District to visit attractions like Olympic Oval and Trans Canada Pipeline Arch. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at Banff Trail Station to see more of the city.

University District
Divya Sutra Plaza and Conference Centre Calgary Airport
Divya Sutra Plaza and Conference Centre Calgary Airport
3 out of 5
3515 - 26 Street NE, Calgary, AB
The price is NT$1,621 per night from Apr 2 to Apr 3
NT$1,621
per night
Apr 2 - Apr 3
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Calgary. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the restaurant and the clean rooms ...
6.8/10 (3,829 reviews)
"Great place"

Reviewed on 2024/3/26

Divya Sutra Plaza and Conference Centre Calgary Airport
Acclaim Hotel By CLIQUE
Acclaim Hotel By CLIQUE
4 out of 5
123 Freeport Blvd NE, Calgary, AB
The price is NT$3,148 per night from Apr 2 to Apr 3
NT$3,148
per night
Apr 2 - Apr 3
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 spa tubs. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (5,354 reviews)
"nice and convenient"

Reviewed on 2024/3/25

Acclaim Hotel By CLIQUE
Holiday Inn Calgary-Airport, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Calgary-Airport, an IHG Hotel
3.5 out of 5
1250 Mckinnon Dr NE, Calgary, AB
The price is NT$2,312 per night from Apr 3 to Apr 4
NT$2,312
per night
Apr 3 - Apr 4
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,829 reviews)
"Quick overnight room was recently renovated, nice stay with restaurant on site."

Reviewed on 2024/3/25

Holiday Inn Calgary-Airport, an IHG Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
New Apartments in Cranston by GLOBALSTAY
New Apartments in Cranston by GLOBALSTAY
4 out of 5
Cranbrook Square SE, Calgary, AB
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly apartment in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Seton Cineplex Cinemas ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (14 reviews)
"The property fit our needs perfectly for a 3 night stay for a family of 4 and a dog. The place was clean and kitchen had everything we needed. The area is very nice as well to go walking. Checking was a bit confusing as it just says to contact them to be let in but didn't provide the number (I just ..."

Reviewed on 2024/3/12

New Apartments in Cranston by GLOBALSTAY
GLOBALSTAY. Modern Downtown Condos. Free parking
GLOBALSTAY. Modern Downtown Condos. Free parking
4 out of 5
1320 1 St SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, AB
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly condo in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Stampede Park and Elbow River ...
7/10 Good! (120 reviews)
"Helpful front desk, security"

Reviewed on 2024/3/6

GLOBALSTAY. Modern Downtown Condos. Free parking
2 Bedrom 3 Beds Suite
2 Bedrom 3 Beds Suite
4 out of 5
Lucas Terrace NW, Calgary, AB
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and Netflix. Popular attractions Country Hills Golf Club and Cross Iron Mills ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (20 reviews)
"Clean, cozy, easy to find. A really nice little place to stay. We had a lovely evening in playing games and chilling. Our host was great at keeping in touch an answered all our questions very quickly."

Reviewed on 2024/2/20

2 Bedrom 3 Beds Suite
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Calgary

4.3
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
571
" "5 - Excellent 44.43579766536965%
4 - Good
550
" "4 - Good 42.80155642023346%
3 - Okay
140
" "3 - Okay 10.894941634241246%
2 - Disappointing
16
" "2 - Disappointing 1.245136186770428%
1 - Terrible
8
" "1 - Terrible 0.622568093385214%

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveler
Apr 2, 2020

There’s nothing to do here

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Mar 19, 2020

We enjoyed Banff & Lake Louis more than Calgary, but it was winter. The Zoo was Awesome! The hockey game would have been walkable from apartment had Covid-19 not shut it down. Can’t wait to visit again.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Mar 13, 2020

Just passing through.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 4, 2020

beats Detroit!

4/5 - Good

Wong-LA
Feb 22, 2020

Clean and small city with much attractions except going to Banff.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 12, 2020

Great. Winter sports lover will enjoy during the season. Summer time also great for outdoor activity. Banff is nearby.

Cities near Calgary