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City in Alberta, Canada
Photo: Gorgo, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Calgary is Alberta's largest city and Canada's third-largest, and is near where the prairies end and the foothills begin. That makes it the eastern gateway to the Rocky Mountains and an important centre of trade and tourism for the western prairies. It is your best point of access for Banff and Jasper, and a worthwhile destination in its own right. Calgary is the heart of the largest metropolitan area between Toronto and Vancouver, with over 1.3 million people as of 2021 (1.5 million in the metropolitan area), making it Canada's fifth largest metropolitan area. Nicknames of Calgary include The Stampede City (for the Calgary Stampede) and YYC (for the city's airport).
Downtown Calgary, the East Village, Beltline, Mission, and Victoria Park. Attractions include Glenbow Museum, the Stampede Grounds, Olympic Plaza, Prince’s Island Park and the nightlife along 17th Ave.
The northwest quadrant of the city with the Canada Olympic Park (Winsport), Nose Hill Park and the University of Calgary. Closer to downtown is Kensington with shopping, restaurants and cafes.
Close to downtown is Bridgeland, plus the Calgary Zoo and Telus Spark science museum. Further out is Calgary International Airport and the airport hotels.
The southeast quadrant of the city with a couple of notable parks — Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Elliston Park (site of Global Fest) and Fish Creek Provincial Park. The district also includes Inglewood, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods with eclectic shops, restaurants and galleries.
Mostly suburban residential area with a few older neighbourhoods close to the city centre. It includes the Marda Loop area, Heritage Park, the Military Museums and Spruce Meadows. The area is home to shopping destinations like Chinook Mall.
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During Stampede Week, the whole city goes western! During "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", there are events all around the city, but the highlights are the rodeo and chuckwagon races which boast the world's richest prizes, as well as a performance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. Over the years concerns have been raised about the treatment of animals at the event.
(January, 3 weeks) This unconventional international festival of theatre, dance, music, comedy, visual art, and more has been gracing Calgary venues of all sorts for over 25 years.
(March, 2 days) Weekend of all-night salsa parties and Latin dance performances featuring both world-class and local talent. Includes qualifiers for the World Latin Dance Cup.
(April, 2 weeks) Canada's largest spoken word festival takes place in bars, pubs, bookshops, and an intimate theatre setting. Poetry slams, workshops, and the Golden Beret Award.
Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo
(April, 3 days) Pop culture festival featuring fantasy, sci-fi, horror, gaming, comics, anime and manga.
(Late May, early June; 11 days) A festival of comedy in halls, clubs, pubs, and bars across Calgary.
(June, 1 day) Annual street festival features over 500 vendors such as entertainment stages, street dancing, musical talent, artisan vendors, food, and other business stalls.
(June, 4 days) Independent music and visual arts festival, which takes place at over 30 venues.
(June, 1 day) Calgary's annual festival celebrating the city's large West Indian population starts with a parade downtown to Shaw Millennium Park for the day's festivities.
(July, 4 days) An extremely broad definition of "folk music" is used for this well-established festival. In addition to seven different stages with dozens of international performers, there is an area with performances & activities for kids, a market, food, and lots more.
(July & August, 4 weeks) Shakespeare presented in an outdoor setting, an annual co-production of Mount Royal University and Theatre Calgary.
(Late July & early August, 10 days) Learn about local history through talks, behind the scenes tours, and walks.
(late July & early August, 4 days) Calgary's got the blues! Many performers at a variety of venues.
(August, 10 days) Calgary's festival of uncensored & unjuried theatre takes place at a variety of traditional and unconventional venues.
(August, 5 days) Fireworks competition and multi-cultural festival at Elliston Park. There is no parking at Elliston Park, but there is a shuttle bus from Marlborough Mall for $6.
(August, 4 days) Enjoy a wide variety of foods at Calgary's outdoor dining festival. Music at the Taste Stage.
(August, 2 days) Dozens of 20-person dragon boat crews race to the beat of their drummers on Glenmore Reservoir. Kids' activities, food, and entertainment are all available in the park.
(September, 5 days) Combines the arts/culture sectors with the science/technology sectors to encourage collaboration, innovation, and science education through interactive art exhibits, engineered installations, entertainment, and workshops.
(October, 7 days) Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival includes readings, panel discussions, performances, interviews. Festival des mots in French, some programming in Spanish.
(November).
Western Canada's largest amusement park, roughly 15 minutes west of Calgary. Gate admission pays for all rides; games, food cost extra.
The area around Calgary Bow River Weir was remade into a Class II and III white water park for paddlers. Harvie Passage is meant only for experienced canoe and kayak paddlers; all others should portage around it.
Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), field hockey (women), Canadian football (men), basketball (men & women), rugby (women), soccer (men's & women's), swimming, track & field/x-country, volleyball (men & women), wrestling.
Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women).
Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women).
A Calgary-based brewery founded in 1996. Popular beers include their IPA and their Velvet Fog wheat ale.
A Calgary-based distillery showcasing Tradition, Innovation and Terroir: Brandy and Whisky Makers. Guided Tours on Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Book tour online
By car
Calgary is roughly 90 minutes' drive (130 km) east of Banff / 3 hours (300 km) west of Medicine Hat on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), and about 3 hours (300 km) south of Edmonton on Queen…
By bus
By train
No passenger services operate to Calgary from anywhere outside town.
By taxi
By ride hailing
By car
It is easy to be confused by Calgary's quadrant address system at first, but it is very logical and systematic.
On foot
Downtown Calgary is a compact area which is easily accessible on foot.
By bicycle
With approximately 760 km of paved pathways and 260 km of on-street bikeways within its boundaries, the City of Calgary boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.
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Calgary · International · YYC
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Articles and travel topics about Calgary and Canada.
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