The 11 essential things to do in Calgary

Are you spending your holidays in Canada and wondering what to do in Calgary? Discover with us the 11 must-sees of the city and its surroundings!

Calgary is located in the province of Alberta, in the inner plains and at the foot of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. With 1.2 million inhabitants in 2014, this is the third largest city in the country. Its economy is based mainly on the oil industry, but also on high technologies and tourism. Indeed, Calgary experienced a major rise in the oil boom 1940s and 1950s. Nevertheless, the city has been able to remain very nature and now turns to winter sports and ecotourism.

Calgary is full of places to visit, modern and historical. If you walk away from the city centre, you will be able to hike in the surrounding mountains. Want to go to Calgary and discover the wonders of this city? So here we present the 11 essential things to do in Calgary!

1. Calgary

What better when you arrive in an unknown city than discovering it by taking height! At 190 metres above, enjoy the 360-degree panorama to spot Calgary’s different points of interest. Parks, neighbourhoods and monuments will be visible as well as plains and rocks away. If you want to eat or have a drink, then you can find two restaurants.

2. Glenbow Museum

Located close to the Calgary Tower, the Glenbow Museum retraces the history of the city and its region. With more than 33,000 works of art, it is the largest museum in Western Canada. Then go back to this building to discover the life of the Plain Indians.

3. Calgary Stampede

The United States does not have the monopoly of cowboys. Before being a modern city, Calgary was a village in the Canadian Far West. She was nicknamed Cowtown , more than a hundred years ago. It was at that time that an American lasso specialist had the idea of creating a great fair, the Calgary Stampede. As a result, you can attend rodeo shows, livestock fairs, races, Indian village reconstruction, agricultural competitions, etc.

In addition, in the evening, attend on site or in the many saloon-style bars at country music concerts. Also, don’t hesitate to join country dances. In the early morning for breakfast, pancakes are free on the stands in town.

This festival takes place for ten days in July. In fact, more than a million visitors benefit from this major event in Canada each year.

4. Heritage Park Historical Village

With an area of fifty-one hectares, it is Canada’s largest historic village. Discover the history of Western Canada from the 1860s to 1950s through the great family homes of the time. And don’t forget the heritage buildings and the old vehicles. In addition, you can even be strolled by a steam train and a ship with aubes.

5. Saint Patrick’s Island and Prince’s Island Park

If you visit Calgary, you will notice that the city is crossed by the Bow River. As a result, many islands emerge from its current, and the largest ones were able to be built. This is the case of Saint Patrick’s Island and Prince’s Island. You can take a walk, cycling, and even cross-country skiing in winter. Canoes and bathing areas are also accessible, before or after you are restored to the picnic areas. Finally, shows and festivals take place on these two islands appreciated by all.

6. Nose Hill Park

Located on the high plains of the city, Nose Hill Park is ideal for a walk. You can do it on foot or by bike, while having a dominant view of the city centre. Very large, it is one of the largest urban parks in the world.

7. Olympic Park of Canada

The City of Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. On this occasion, the world was able to discover Bobsleigh’s Jamaican team. Now, this Olympic park remains a training place for athletes. Nevertheless, it also opens its doors to the public.

On the programme according to the seasons: ski and snowboarding, skating, zipline, bicycle, miniature golf, adventure course, bobsleigh and sledge. Also stop at the Canadian Sports Hall and its athletes to see their achievements interactively.

8. The Royal Tirell Museum and the Dinosaur Provincial Park

The surroundings of Calgary are renowned for paleontology, especially in the east of the city. The Royal Tirell Museum is located in Drumheller, 1h30 drive from Calgary. This museum has about forty complete skeletons of dinosaurs. Then follow the arrows and let yourself be guided in the various museum rooms.

Further further away, Dinosaur Provincial Park is located in Badlands, southeast of Calgary. Many fossils have been discovered on this UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition, discoveries will still be made and you will be able to visit search sites that are still active. Also, you can hike and camp in the areas planned for this purpose.

9. Banff and Jasper National Parks

Enjoy visiting Calgary to take the direction of the West and the Rocky Mountains, for the entrance to Banff National Park. This park is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and lakes. They are perfect for sublime photos that will fill your memory card. Continue north towards Jasper National Park, passing through the glacier route.

10. The Rocky Mountaineer train

Why not join Vancouver in luxury train? Rocky Mountaineer takes the historic Canadian Pacific Railway. Hop in the restaurant car at tables covered with linen and fine porcelain. From your seat, or from the glass dome with panoramic view, admire the landscape. In particular, you can see Lake Louise and the surrounding glaciers.

11. Scotiabank Saddledome

It’s impossible to visit Calgary or any other Canadian metropolis without an interest in ice hockey. Winter sport is a true religion there. The Scotiabank Saddledome, the city's omnisport hall, is the Calgary Flame House, the hockey franchise in the NHL (National Hockey League, NHL in English). The franchise won the Stanley Cup (the name of the trophy awarded to the championship winner) during the 1988-1989 season.

If you are passing outside the hockey season, it is possible to make a guided tour of the room. The Arena also hosts international shows and concerts.

How to get to Calgary?

By plane Calgary has an international airport. Westjet offers a direct flight from Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport.

Count 9 hours of direct flight. If you stop somewhere, the total duration of the journey can sometimes exceed 14h. To find the best flights and reduce the total duration of your trips, do not hesitate to help you with flight comparisons such as Ulysses .

By bus If you come from another North American destination, the city has a bus station. Many bus companies offer routes ending in Calgary.

By car The city is served by Highway 1, so it is easy to reach the city from the road network. Also know that Canadian highways are free .

Where to stay in Calgary?

The points of interest that must be visited in Calgary being close to each other, it is in the hypercentre that we advise you to stay. In addition, hotels and Airbnb are numerous, with a wide range of quality and services at all prices. Feel free to go to the sites Compare hotels to decide, especially according to your preferred dates and options.

That's it, you're ready to visit Calgary. You only have to take advantage of the city and marvel at all its riches! Have you ever visited Calgary? Tell us your stay in comment!