Calgary

Travel Guide

Scotiabank Saddledome featuring a park, a sunset and landscape views
East Village which includes railway items and a city
Bow River showing a city, a river or creek and boating
Inglewood
Calgary featuring landscape views and a city
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)

Dense urban district with a mix of residential, commercial, and corporate areas, Downtown Calgary offers shopping and dining along the pedestrian-friendly Stephen Avenue Walk. Explore attractions like the Devonian Gardens, Calgary Tower, and Glenbow Museum, or take advantage of the free CTrain light rail along 7th Avenue S.

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
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 The Hamptons Golf Club or Market Mall and hop on the metro to see more the city at Dalhousie Station or Crowfoot Station.

Northwest 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 Calgary Zoo or Deerfoot Casino and hop on the metro to see more the city at Chinook Station or 39th Avenue Station.

Southeast Calgary
Default Image

Banff Trail

If you're passing through Banff Trail, you may want to check out its live music. From there, jump on the metro at Banff Trail Station to see more of the area.

Banff Trail
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 Scotiabank Saddledome. 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
Acclaim Hotel By CLIQUE
Acclaim Hotel By CLIQUE
4 out of 5
123 Freeport Blvd NE, Calgary, AB
The price is NT$4,710 per night from Jun 26 to Jun 27
NT$4,710
NT$5,442 total
Jun 26 - Jun 27
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 hot tubs. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (8,827 reviews)
"Restaurant was amazing!"

Reviewed on 2025/6/22

Acclaim Hotel By CLIQUE
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
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
7.4/10 Good! (3,788 reviews)
"Room was clean. Bed was comfy"

Reviewed on 2025/6/22

Divya Sutra Plaza and Conference Centre Calgary Airport
Best Western Plus Port O'Call Hotel
Best Western Plus Port O'Call Hotel
3 out of 5
1935 McKnight Blvd NE, Calgary, AB
The price is NT$4,391 per night from Jul 23 to Jul 24
NT$4,391
NT$4,786 total
Jul 23 - Jul 24
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Calgary. Enjoy free parking, 2 indoor pools, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,998 reviews)
"It was a good stay"

Reviewed on 2025/6/23

Best Western Plus Port O'Call 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! (72 reviews)
"This is the second time I stayed at a GlobalStay furnished condo. This particular property was very clean and quiet. However it is very far from Calgary downtown offices and amenities. Definitely need a car to get to anywhere."

Reviewed on 2025/6/24

New Apartments in Cranston by GLOBALSTAY
Navii Estates - Vacations Elevated, Homes Perfected
Navii Estates - Vacations Elevated, Homes Perfected
4 out of 5
96 Belmont Villas SW, Calgary, AB
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Calgary. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Spruce Meadows and Shawnessy Shopping Centre ...
Nice get away!
"Ivan was very informative and easy to work with. The property was quaint, cozy, and comfortable. Wish we stayed longer! Its in a newer, still developing area ~35 minutes from downtown. That works well if your trying to get away from the hustle and bustle. Can’t wait to come back!"

Reviewed on 2024/11/11

Navii Estates - Vacations Elevated, Homes Perfected
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 Scotiabank ...
7/10 Good! (172 reviews)
"Nice little condo with a full kitchen an washer dryer. Leaving was a bit of a pain because I had to leave the keys and parkade fob in the room but I needed the fob to access the parkade. Had to move my car out of the parkade, park on the street, and go back into the condo to leave the keys and fob. ..."

Reviewed on 2025/4/27

GLOBALSTAY. Modern Downtown Condos. Free parking
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%
4 - Good
550
4 - Good 43%
3 - Okay
140
3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
16
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
8
1 - Terrible 1%

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveler

There’s nothing to do here

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

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

Just passing through.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

beats Detroit!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

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

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Cities near Calgary