Calgary is a beautiful city, located just a stone's throw from the Canadian Rockies, and we take pride in calling it home. However, many people use Calgary as merely a gateway to the Rockies, passing through without truly experiencing it. Don't get me wrong - Banff National Park is one of the most visited places in the world for good reason. But if time allows, we highly recommend spending a couple of days in Calgary before heading to the mountains. This will give you the chance to experience the city's unique blend of modern vibrancy and its cowboy and prairie heritage.
As a family who has called Calgary home since 2012, we’ve had the privilege of exploring this great city slowly, accumulating a wealth of experiences and recommendations for things to do in Calgary.
We’ve crafted this jam packed itinerary so that you can get the absolute most out of your time in Calgary! On the first day there is a fair bit of walking (which in our opinion is the best way to see any city) but the second day you have various options depending on how much you want to do.
CALGARY TWO DAY ITINERARY OVERVIEW
To jump ahead to a certain section, click the links below:
So without further ado, here is our two day itinerary for visiting Calgary, starting with a map to show you the walking route for Day 1 of this itinerary.
MAP OF ATTRACTIONS IN CALGARY
Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualize locations and create efficient itineraries. We’ve added all the sights and attractions to the map below to help you see where everything is and plan your own itinerary.
To use this map, click the tab in the top left corner to toggle between layers and for more details about each attraction. To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”
BREAKFAST & COFFEE
Before starting with this itinerary, we wanted to give you some of our favourite coffee and breakfast spots in Downtown Calgary:
Where to Find Good Coffee
If you are anything like me, I like to get up pretty early and find my morning coffee from an local coffee shop. It’s a great way to get your bearings for first time visitors! There are some great options scattered around downtown, but especially close to 4th Avenue between 2nd St SW and Centre street. These include Phil & Sebastian, Analog Coffee and Monogram Coffee. There is also a Rosso Coffee near Olympic Plaza and a Phil & Sebastian at East Village if you are staying out East. Trust me, you won't be disappointed with any of these options.
Places to eat Breakfast / Brunch
Calgarians love brunch and there is no shortage of great brunch spots around town. One of our favourites in downtown is OEB - the Montreal smoked brisket eggs benny is out of this world. Other good options are Namo Cafe in the Beltline area, Maven on 17th Ave, the Park by Sidewalk Citizen on 13th by Central Memorial Park and Yellow Door that is just around the corner from the Calgary tower.
Another option for a first time visitor is eating at the Sky 360 restaurant in the Calgary Tower, which we actually include in our itinerary below. The food is ok (it’s not as good as the other options listed) but on a clear day the views more than make up for it.
CALGARY ITINERARY - DAY ONE
The Calgary Tower
First stop on this itinerary is the iconic Calgary Tower. As you stroll through the city, you'll catch glimpses of the tower peeking through the buildings. In our opinion the two best spots for photographing the tower are Centre Street and the corner of 1st St SW and 9th Ave (near the Edison building).
On a clear day, going up the Calgary Tower is one of the best things to do in Calgary, as you can experience spectacular 360° views of the city below and the Rocky Mountains.
The Observation Deck is 191 meters high, and not only that, but the deck itself has a glass floor, so you have very little choice but to look straight down to the downtown streets below!
The observation deck isn't cheap, but you can go up the tower for free by going for brunch at the SKY 360 restaurant instead. This restaurant is 155m high and revolves once every hour, so you get similar amazing views of the city and mountains. Don’t worry, it goes round slowly so you don’t feel like you are spinning.
Stephen Avenue
After the Calgary Tower, head West along 9th Avenue and join the pedestrian-only Stephen Avenue by the Bankers Hall Shopping Mall. As you walk East, you'll pass some of the city’s oldest and most beautiful buildings. Stephen Ave is one of Calgary’s most popular shopping streets, especially when festivals and concerts are in town. It has a great mix of department stores (like Hudson's Bay) but also smaller shops selling souvenirs; plus plenty of bars and restaurants. If you want to pick up a ‘the bear, the moose and the beaver’ t-shirt, this is where you will find it.
Olympic Plaza
Towards the eastern end of Stephen Ave, you’ll arrive at Olympic Plaza. This plaza was built for the 1988 Olympics, and was the site where the medal ceremonies were held. It’s also home to the “Famous Five” statues, which honor the five women who fought for women's rights in Canada.
In winter, it’s one of the best places to skate in downtown Calgary, and there is a skate rental hut conveniently located nearby called the Skate Hut. In the summer, the plaza transforms into a large wading pool with fountains, making it a fantastic place for kids to splash around.
Calgary Central Library
The Calgary Central Library is just two blocks away from the Olympic Plaza, and it's worth stopping by (even if just for a few minutes) to look at the amazing design of the building. The library was built in 2018 and is one of Calgary's most architecturally impressive buildings. Last year we took a free walking tour and the guide explained that the interior design is meant to represent a candle, honoring the strong links to the first nations people and Calgary’s heritage. If you enjoy photography, you could spend a few hours here crafting the perfect shot!
East Village & St Patrick’s Island
From here, it’s a quick 5-10 minute walk to East Village, a perfect place to grab a coffee and a snack. The Simmons Building is a beautifully restored bedding factory from 1912, that houses Phil & Sebastian and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery; both of which are among the best places to eat in town.
On a nice day, it's just a short walk across the bridge to get to St. Patrick’s Island, where you'll find a family-friendly cove, walking paths, and a playground. The cove in particular is great fun for the kids on a hot day!
East Village is also a perfect place to join the Bow River Pathway, a beautiful biking and walking pathway.... so that's what we're going to do! Take the pathway back towards downtown and take in the amazing views of downtown.
China Town
As you approach downtown, it's worth taking a quick detour into China Town. It's an interesting place to walk around, and has some of the most interesting buildings in the city. The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre has a 70 foot high multicolored ceiling, that was inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and has a free museum that showcases the history of Chinese Canadians, and various Chinese artwork.
It probably goes without saying, but there are plenty of great food spots to try, and the Silver Dragon is one of the most famous. It’s a great place to try Ginger Beef, a dish that originated in Calgary and is one of our top recommendations for foods to try when visiting Calgary.
Prince's Island Park
Nest stop is Prince’s Island Park, one of Calgary's most beautiful parks. It's a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, while enjoying amazing views of downtown. It's one of my favourite places to go when fall comes around the the leaves change colour. It's fun in winter too as you can even skate on the lagoon!
Prince's Island Park is home to the River Café which serves amazing locally sourced food and is one of our favourite restaurants in Calgary. It was actually the first place we ate at when we arrived in Calgary in 2012, and we've been back many times since.
The park is right next to a beautifully designed bridge called the Peace Bridge. It’s an amazing design and is one of the most Instagram worthy photo spots in the city so well worth a visit if you have time.
Devonian Gardens
By this point you'll have done plenty of walking, but the Devonian Gardens in The CORE Shopping Centre is a great place to take a moment to relax after a busy day sightseeing. It's not a bad place for some retail therapy either!
The fourth floor of the CORE is almost entirely taken up by the beautiful Devonian Gardens, which includes over 500 trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900 sq. ft. living wall, fountains and fish ponds. It’s a popular lunchtime escape for downtown workers looking to relax, and there’s even a dedicated kids’ play area with a climbing wall.
That wraps up your first day! For dinner ideas, be sure to check out our post on Things to Eat in Calgary for some excellent recommendations.
CALGARY ITINERARY - DAY TWO
Yesterday you saw the best things to see in downtown Calgary. For your second day we recommend venturing a little further from downtown to visit one or two of Calgary’s most popular attractions - we’ll give you a few options so you can choose based on your interests.
Breakfast in Kensington
Before you start your day, we’d recommend heading to Kensington for a hearty breakfast. Kensington is a vibrant neighborhood that is located just across the Bow River to the North West of downtown. It’s easy to get to by car and depending on where you are staying in downtown it’s a lovely walk across the river.
Kensington is quite an artsy place and has plenty of coffee shops, so you’ll not be short of options. Higher Ground coffee a bit of a Kensington institution, and Red’s Diner is famous for it’s all day breakfasts. If you are a cat lover you can book a 30 minute spot at the Regal Cat Cafe and enjoy stroking a cat with your coffee! (this was the place where we found out Evelyn is allergic to cats!)
After breakfast, we recommend selecting one or two of the following activities based on your interests. Don’t forget to refer to our map below to see where these attractions are located; the zoo and the Telus Spark Centre are right next to each other!
To use this map, click the tab in the top left corner to toggle between layers and for more details about each attraction. To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”
Option 1: The Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is one of our families favourite places to visit in Calgary. It's located just north of downtown, so easily accessible by car, C-train, or even walking depending on where you are staying. The zoo has a great selection of animals to see! Some of our kids' favourites are the giraffes, hippos, red pandas, gorillas and the polar bears.
However the stars of the show are definitely the penguins! From early January until mid March the penguins go for a daily ‘Penguin Walk’ around the zoo (it’s worth noting that they don’t have to go, they can choose to stay in the enclosure too). It's great fun seeing them all waddle past!
Over the Christmas period (mid-November until early January) the zoo puts on a famous Calgary winter tradition called the zoolights, where the zoo is lit up with thousands of winter lights. It’s one of the best winter attractions in Calgary and is a winter tradition for many families.
Option 2: The Telus Spark
The TELUS Spark is hands down one of the best indoor attractions for kids in Calgary. It's a really hands-on science center with tons of interactive exhibits. Whether it’s experimenting with robotics, or experiencing virtual reality for the first time, there are lots of different things for kids to try!
One of the biggest draws though is the dome theatre, which is a huge HD digital dome screen that envelopes the entire theatre’s circumference. It’s a completely different experience to a regular cinema so well worth giving it a go. There are four different shows that play each day, so check to see which one you are interested in as there are often large lineups to get in (there are no tickets and it’s first come first served).
The TELUS Spark is located next door to the zoo, making it a great option to combine with a visit to the zoo if you're looking to squeeze in two activities. If you're driving, you can park at one and walk to the other to save on parking costs.
Option 3: Calgary Olympic Park
The Canada Olympic Park was built as part of the 1988 Winter Olympics, and has since been turned into a training centre for future Olympians, as well as a year round activity centre.
In summer, visitors can race down the hill on mountain bikes or enjoy the Skyline Luge, a thrilling go-kart ride down a 1,800-meter track with 50 turns. While pre-booking won't eliminate the need to queue for the ride itself, it's still worth doing to skip the long lines for ticket purchase and get straight to the fun.
In winter, the COP is a great place to hone your skiing and snowboarding skills, as there are 11 trails covering all skill levels, two chair lifts, and a world-class superpipe. You can either purchase a lift pass and ride at your own pace or sign up for private or group lessons.
If skiing or boarding isn't your thing, then you can always try snow tubing or ice skating instead. Unfortunately, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, which was previously located at the COP, closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened.
Option 4: Heritage Park
Heritage Park is a bit farther from downtown than the other options, and you’ll need a car to reach it. However, it’s a fantastic choice if you’re interested in learning about Calgary’s history. You can stroll through a replica 1910 pioneer town, featuring a main street lined with historic buildings like a post office, school, police station, and candy store.
It’s an excellent spot for families, as kids love the old-fashioned fairground with turn-of-the-century rides, including a Ferris wheel, carousel, and swings. The park also features a vintage steam train for rides, along with the SS Moyie, a paddlewheel ferry that offers lovely views of the Glenmore Reservoir. Additionally, there’s a museum showcasing vintage vehicles and petroleum memorabilia, which is the only part of the park open during the winter.
Option 5: Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary
The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is located slightly outside of Calgary (in Cochrane), but its such an incredible experience I had to include it on this list. This non-profit sanctuary offers three tours options, although it’s worth mentioning that you have to be at least 6 years old to enter the facility (no exceptions).
Each of the tours have different minimum ages though so please check before you go. You can take a self guided Sanctuary Walk, where you can stroll around the enclosures at your leisure and watch the wolfdogs from behind a fence. The Intro Tour is a guided tour where you can view the wolfdogs from a viewing platform. Then there is the Interactive Tour, where you can even go inside the enclosure with the wolfdogs for a one of kind experience!
Dinner in the Beltline / 17th Avenue Area
After a long day of sightseeing, head to Calgary’s Beltline for the perfect mix of dining and shopping. This area, located between 9th and 17th Avenues, is packed with trendy restaurants and lively bars, perfect for unwinding in the evening. For food, some of our favorites are Model Milk, Major Tom (some of the best views of downtown) and Bridgette Bar. If you are looking for somewhere to go for drinks, then there are lots of options on 17th Ave, as it's the most popular street in Calgary for nightlife.
If you're in need of outdoor gear, the Beltline also has some great shops like MEC and Atmosphere, perfect for picking up anything you need for a trip to the mountains.
Throughout the Beltline, you’ll find buildings covered in murals. If you enjoy street art or are looking for unique Instagram backdrops, check out the Beltline Urban Mural Project (BUMP), a community-led initiative that has over 100 murals throughout the area! They have a website with a map and info on each artist to help you create your own self-guided tour.
After dinner, consider visiting the Chinook Arc sculpture in Barb Scott Park. It’s especially fun after dark when it lights up and changes color by waving your hand or holding your phone up to the sensor. Our kids loved it!
Watch a Calgary Flames Game
This really depends on the time of year (or the specific days) you’re visiting, but…
Hockey is a major part of life in Canada, so if you’re in town during the NHL season, it’s worth trying to catch a game if you can. Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, it’s an unforgettable experience and is about as Canadian as you can get!
Ticket prices vary, starting around $30 for the budget-friendly seats and going up to $300+ for the best seats in the house. You can buy tickets here.
STAYING LONGER? HERE ARE MORE IDEAS
If you are planning on spending longer in Calgary, or perhaps some of the items above don't interest you, we've written a blog post covering our recommendations for the 40 best things to do in Calgary, but here are some of the most popular:
The Calgary Stampede: If you're visiting in July, the Calgary Stampede is a must-see for its thrilling rodeo events, live music, and vibrant atmosphere celebrating western heritage.
The Studio Bell National Music Centre: This interactive museum is a great choice for music lovers. You can try your hand at playing musical instruments and even watch live performances.
The Military Museums: A great place to visit for history buffs, it offers an in-depth look at Canada's military history through engaging exhibits and artifacts. It's actually a much better museum than I expected it to be!
Fish Creek Park: One of Calgary’s largest urban parks, Fish Creek is ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, or simply relaxing in nature. It's a little further south so you'll likely need a car.
The Wonderland Sculpture: This iconic public art piece is a fun photo spot, featuring a giant head by the bow building. You could definitely add this in to your itinerary on the first day without too much effort.
Float down the Bow River: A fun and relaxing way to explore Calgary on a warm summers day, floating down the Bow River offers great views of the city.
WHERE TO STAY IN CALGARY
Luxury Hotels in Calgary
The Fairmont Palliser - For a luxurious experience in the heart of Calgary, look no further than the Fairmont Palliser. This historic hotel is located about 100 meters away from the Calgary Tower, so you are right in the thick of things!
Another high end option is Le Germain Hotel, which is across the road from the Palliser, and just steps away from many of the sights and attractions in the city. It's a modern hotel, so a different experience compared to the Palliser, so it really comes down to your personal preference.
Mid Range Hotels in Calgary
Hotel Arts is one of our favourite spots in downtown for a quick staycation! We’ve actually stayed here twice for weddings and have always enjoyed ourselves. The outdoor pool is a bit of a place to be seen with the younger crowd in the summer. Plus, it’s just around the corner from 10 Foot Henry, which is one of my go-to restaurants! Another great mid-range option is the Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Downtown.
Budget Hotels in Calgary
A great budget (ish) option is the Alt Hotel which is located in East Village. This trendy neighborhood is just a short walk from St. Patrick's Island and the Confluence (Fort Calgary). While it's a bit further from attractions like the Calgary Tower, it’s still only a 20-minute walk. Plus, it’s close to the Simmons Building, home to Sidewalk Citizen Bakery, known for some of the best coffee in the city.
Hostels in Calgary
HI Calgary City Centre Hostel is a popular choice for budget travelers, and is also located in East Village. This hostel offers a variety of dormitory-style and private rooms, known for its friendly atmosphere and communal kitchen, making it a welcoming spot for those looking to connect with fellow travelers.
HOW TO GET AROUND
From the Airport
If you're arriving at Calgary International Airport (YYC), getting to downtown isn’t as straightforward as in some other cities. There’s no train service connecting the airport to the city, so you’ll need to consider your options: renting a car, taking a bus, or using a taxi or rideshare service to reach your hotel.
While we typically don’t use the bus, there are services available. You can connect to the CTrain at certain stops or catch a direct bus to downtown. For detailed route information, check the Calgary Transit website. Additionally, many hotels offer shuttle services, so it’s worth checking if yours provides this option.
For taxis to downtown, you have a couple of choices: standard cabs like Checker Cabs or a more luxurious sedan service. Expect to pay around CAD 40 to CAD 50 for a taxi ride into downtown and about CAD 70 to CAD 80 for a sedan.
I’ve found Uber to be pretty reliable, quick, and almost always cheaper than the taxis as they don't have to pay the pickup fee that taxis do.
Getting Around Downtown
Once you're in downtown Calgary, getting around is quite easy. The downtown area is compact, so many attractions are within walking distance of each other. Like many cities, Calgary has plenty of e-bike and e-scooters that you can easily rent (with a quick tap of the credit card) to get around.
You can also take advantage of the CTrain, which has several stops throughout downtown. It's worth noting that travel is free on the CTrain between the City Hall and 8th Street stations, making it a quick and cost-effective way to explore that part of the city.
Plus 15 Network
Another unique feature of Calgary is the Plus 15, which is a network of elevated walkways that connect various downtown buildings, shopping centers, and transit stations. These walkways are 15ft off the ground (thus the +15 name). In the winter, I can assure you that this is welcomed, as you can walk around almost all of downtown without ever having to venture outside into the -30°C weather!
Hiring a Car
If you plan on exploring outside of downtown Calgary, venturing into the surrounding areas, or taking a road trip to the stunning Canadian Rockies, you are probably going to want to rent a car. Having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to set your own itinerary and discover the breathtaking landscapes at your own pace.
We tend to stick with the big guys when it comes to car hire, so tend to use one of either Avis, Enterprise or Hertz. However recently we've been finding we actually get a cheaper price through discovercars.com so tend to use them to find the best deals.
ENJOY YOUR VISIT TO CALGARY
We hope that this itinerary gives you some ideas to help you plan a few days in Calgary. As always, if you have any questions about Calgary, feel free to reach out to us - we're always happy to help.
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