Out-of-Town Visitors? Find the Best Places to Visit in Calgary!

We all have our favourite places to visit in Calgary, from everyday life to special occasions. But when you have out-of-town visitors or someone asks your advice on the best places to visit in Calgary for a few days, what do you tell them?

Well, we have mulled that question over and created a list with our top picks for every kind of visitor to Calgary! Whether your sister is coming with her posse of kids or you have an old college friend who has remained impossibly chic, there’s something for everyone.

Of course, Calgary has tons of special events, concerts, theatre, dance performances, and festivals, so be sure to check the calendar or our Weekend Guide to see what’s happening. And what you do in Calgary depends on what season it is, but there is something to enjoy even on the coldest days. (You might be lucky enough to experience one of our legendary chinooks!)

Calgary is the fourth largest city in Canada, surrounded by the vast open spaces of the southern Albertan prairies and proprietarily close to the Rocky Mountains. It is probably most well-known for the Calgary Stampede which takes place every July, with ten days of western heritage fun, highlighted by rodeo events, concerts, and midway rides.

Do you have a few days in Calgary? Then come with us as we find the best places to visit!

For the Urbanite

Want to experience downtown Calgary?

Find an urban world to explore, navigating through the +15 pedestrian skywalk network, so named as they are 15 feet above street level. They connect businesses and services downtown through a series of indoor bridges and walkways.

You can stroll down Stephen Avenue Walk, taking in the atmosphere, finding unique restaurants, and enjoying seasonal live entertainment. Stop by Olympic Plaza, an urban park that was the venue for the medal ceremonies in the 1988 Winter Olympics. It’s a lovely space to relax in the summer and skate in the winter.

If it’s too chilly to stay outside, head to the Core, Calgary’s downtown shopping centre, and home of Devonian Gardens, an indoor oasis, with nearly two and a half acres of botanical gardens, fish ponds, and a playground.

Be sure to head up the Calgary Tower for a view of the city and take in the gorgeous mountains in the distance. Stop for lunch at the revolving restaurant for the full experience.

For the Museum Lovers

Calgary is filled with a huge variety of interesting museums.

Although currently closed for a massive renovation, no account of Calgary’s museums can be complete without the Glenbow Museum, an art and history museum focusing on Western Canada.

Also downtown, you’ll find Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre and a monument to all things music with five floors of fascinating exhibitions and interactive displays, four Canadian music halls of fame, live performance spaces, and recording studios.

The Hangar Flight Museum is the place to learn about Western Canada’s aviation history. Located in a drill hall built as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War, this is where aviation history comes to life, especially for anyone with dreams of flight.

The Military Museums’ award-winning facility in Calgary’s southwest is dedicated to representing Canada’s Army, Air Force, and Navy and educating the public about Canada’s military.

And we can’t forget Heritage Park Historical Village. Open from May to September, Heritage Park Historical Village is one of Calgary’s top tourist attractions. Here you can interact with nearly 100 years of history, from the 1860s to the 1950s. Tour the Park on the authentic steam train, experience the excitement of an antique midway, and visit homes, shops, churches, and a First Nations settlement. Heritage Park’s friendly, costumed interpreters and roving townsfolk bring Western Canada’s distinctive history to life.

For the Sports Lover

The 1988 Winter Olympics were held in Calgary and since then, Calgary has been a training home for top-level athletes from around the world.

No matter the season, sports lovers can head to WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. From tubing and downhill skiing in the winter to biking, downhill karting, and mini golf in the summer, WinSport is the place to get active in Calgary.

Summer visitors to Calgary might also want to head to the river, where you can go kayaking and paddle boarding or enjoy an afternoon with a relaxing rafting trip down the river.

Of course, Calgary has several sports teams to watch, too. If you love hockey, catch a game at the Scotiabank Saddledome with the Calgary Flames (NHL), the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), or the Calgary Hitmen (WHL). The Calgary Roughnecks play lacrosse at the Saddledome, the Calgary Stampeders play football at McMahon Stadium, and the Cavalry FC play soccer at Spruce Meadows.

Speaking of Spruce Meadows, you might want to check out the horse jumping. They have competions all year, but their summer events boast tons of extra entertainment.

For the Outdoors Lover

Calgarians love to play outside and thankfully, there are many options, as Calgary is filled with parks, green spaces, and pathways.

Fish Creek Provincial Park is the second largest urban park in Calgary (after Rouge National Urban Park in the Greater Toronto Area) and an excellent place to walk, bike, and enjoy the outdoors.

You could head to Edworthy Park to walk through a Douglas Fir forest or Griffith Woods, a natural park nestled along the banks of the Elbow River, where you can enjoy one of only two large stands of White Spruce in the city’s park system. Enjoy parks on Prince’s Island and St. Patrick’s Island and if you hike Nose Hill Park, you’ll be treated to an amazing view of the city.

Many visitors to Calgary come to see the Rocky Mountains. Canmore and Banff are easily accessible and offer everything from a quaint mountain resort town experience to great food and outdoor adventures.

Anyone looking for a unique mountain experience should check out Canmore Cave Tours for an opportunity to head inside Grotto Mountain. No previous caving experience is necessary and only a moderate level of fitness is required (but kids need to be at least age 10). Just bring your sense of adventure and you’ll be treated to an unforgettable, otherworldly, underground experience!

For the Kid in Everyone

Of course, kids will enjoy nearly everything we’ve mentioned so far, but a few places are especially fun for the kid in all of us and shouldn’t be missed!

Calaway Park is Western Canada’s largest outdoor amusement park, open from May to October, and your ticket will bring you a full day’s worth of fun, with rides, shows, and special treats.

TELUS Spark is Calgary’s science centre, filled with discovery, wonder, and hands-on fun for all ages. The Creative Children’s Museum is a fabulous place to explore and burn off some energy and there’s also the Brainasium, an epic, outdoor playground that will even entice the adults. With shows, science demonstrations, exhibits, and great food, it’s a fascinating place to spend the day.

Travel the animal world at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, where you can visit over 1000 animals, from penguins to gorillas to giraffes. Visitors to Canada will want to stop by the Canadian Wilds to see species native here, like the polar bears.

Only have a few days in Calgary? Create your perfect itinerary here! There’s so much to love about this amazing city.