Things to do in and around Calgary
We encourage you to explore some of the eclectic attractions you can find in Calgary and the surrounding area.
Learn all about the unforgettable experiences you can have on your trip at VisitCalgary.com and TravelAlberta.com, or keep scrolling to read about some of our favourite spots.
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In the city
Friday afternoon tours of central Calgary
Street Art + Craft Beer Tasting Tour
- Friday 2 p.m.
- 3 hours
- $99 USD / $130 CAD
- Tour starts at Bottlescrew Bills (140 10 Ave SW)
Free (gratuity-based) Downtown Tour
- Friday 2 p.m.
- 3 hours
- FREE
- Tour starts at Calgary Tower (101 9 Ave SW)
- Friday 1:30 p.m.
- 17 km / 11 miles
- 3 hours
- $99 USD / $130 CAD (add ebike upgrade for $50 USD)
- Tour starts at the Sandman Signature Hotel (888 7 Ave SW)
Tip: Try the code “ilovecalgary” for 25% off!
Calgary Tower
Experience the Calgary Tower and dine at the renowned rotating restaurant at the top, Sky 360. Take in the best view of the city as the restaurant completes a full rotation every 45-60 minutes, depending on the time of day.calgarytower.com
Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is home to nearly 1,000 creatures across 119 species and is one of the city’s favourite family destinations. More than just a place to see cute animals (though there are plenty of those!), their mission is to become Canada’s leader in wildlife conservation, operating a Centre for Conservation Research where biologists have earned international recognition in the science of species recovery and reintroduction.calgaryzoo.com
Calgary Central Library
Curious minds, families, bookworms, art lovers, audiophiles, locals and visitors alike love the architectural and cultural gem nestled in the heart of Calgary’s East Village – the Central Library. This four-story landmark is brimming with spectacular artwork, with a wide array of programming for all ages and nearly half a million items spanning its collection.
calgarylibrary.ca
Heritage Park Historical Village
and antique automobile museum
Guests are transported to the past when they visit at Canada’s largest living history museum – Heritage Park. Exhibits span the early 1860s fur trade to the petroleum and automobile-dominated 1950s, including one of the world’s largest public collections of antique vehicles. Costumed characters create an immersive experience, presenting historically based vignettes and interacting with visitors.
heritagepark.ca
Spruce Meadows 'Masters'
world-renowned equestrian tournament
The top equestrian athletes from across the globe gather in Calgary each September for the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, competing Wednesday to Sunday to win some of show jumping’s most coveted events and international recognition. Prizes at stake total over $4 million USD, making it the richest show jumping event in the world. In addition to world-class showjumping, this year the tournament will host the Blacksmith World Championships.
Visitors can also check out the shopping at MARKT, featuring an array of top-tier vendors with everything from the finest equestrian tack to fine art.
sprucemeadows.com
Venture outside the city (day trips)
If you plan to visit a national park such as Banff, Jasper, or Waterton, you are required to purchase a park pass. Most tour companies include the park pass in their price but if you’re travelling independently, be sure to stop at the national park gates to buy your pass and display it in your windshield.
National Park Day Pass Fees
Adults: $11 CAD
Seniors: $9.50 CAD
Family or Group: $22 CAD for up to seven people travelling in the same vehicle
Where to buy your National Park Pass
- At park gate on the highway
- Online from banfflakelouse.com
- Local tip: Avoid the line at the park gate by purchasing at the Husky gas station in Deadman Flats, along the Trans-Canada Highway shortly before Canmore.
Banff, Lake Louise & Moraine Lake
day trip in the mountains
From the iconic turquoise waters to the majestic mountain backdrops, this tour promises an unforgettable experience in the Canadian Rockies.
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8 a.m. tour bus pickup from downtown Calgary at the Delta hotel (about an 8-minute walk from the Hyatt hotel)
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Return to downtown Calgary around 5:00-6:00 p.m.
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$155-$175 CAD (approx. $115-$130 USD) + tip
Moraine Lake, Banff National Park
Banff Icefields Parkway
in VIP Comfort
You'll see glaciers, lakes, wildlife, and mountains on one of the most beautiful drives in the world. This tour hits many of the best spots in Calgary’s mountainous backyard, including Canmore, Lake Louise, Peyto Lake Lookout, Bow Lake, Moraine Lake, and the Town of Banff.
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Small tour group of up to 10 people
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Bus pickup in downtown Calgary
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Two start time options: 8 a.m. (return at 7 p.m.), or 10 a.m. (return at 9 p.m.)
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$197 CAD (approx. $145 USD) + tip
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
About two hours south from downtown Calgary is an awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the oldest buffalo jumps in North America, for more than 6,000 years the Blackfoot people hunted buffalo by luring them to the jump, using the position of the sun and other strategies to blind them and ultimately drive the herd off the cliffs. These communal bison traps were one of the greatest food-getting methods in human history.
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7:00 a.m. pickup from in front of the Calgary Tower (5-minute walk from the Hyatt hotel)
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Return to same location around 5:00 p.m.
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Private tour, cost lower with more people in your group.
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1 person - $420 CAD (approx. $310 USD)
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2 people - $450 CAD (approx. $330 USD) | $225 CAD ($165 USD) per person
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3 people - $615 CAD (approx. $450 USD) | $205 CAD ($150 USD) per person
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4-7 people - $185 CAD (approx. $135) per person
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Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
Drumheller dinosaur fossil museum
and Alberta Badlands tour
Experience the unique landscape of the Drumheller Valley on a day tour from Calgary. Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology to dig into one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs with more than 13,000 fossils.
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7:30 a.m. pickup from in front of the Calgary Tower (5-minute walk from the Hyatt hotel)
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Return to same location around 6:30 p.m.
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Includes a picnic lunch provided for you!
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$290 CAD (approx. $210 USD) +tip
Waterton Lakes National Park Tour
Wind along lakeside roads that weave around craggy peaks. See the saturated strata in colorful canyons and get up-close looks at herds of bison in open grasslands. Dive into the rugged landscapes around Waterton Lakes National Park on this full-day excursion.
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8:00 a.m. pickup from Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel (610 4 Ave SW), about a 16-minute walk from the Hyatt hotel
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Return to downtown Calgary approx. 6:30-7:30 p.m.
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$202 CAD (approx. $150 USD) +tip
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
The Columbia Icefield
and drink water from the Athabasca Glacier
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies, exploring one of the most accessible expanses of glacial ice in North America.
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It’s worth it to upgrade to include admission for the Columbia Ice Field Explorer tour and Skywalk experience.
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7:45 a.m. pickup at Holiday Inn Express NW (University Area) – about a 16-minute C-Train ride from near the Hyatt hotel. If 5+ people book, your group can request a tour pickup at the Hyatt.
Tip: Book in groups of 2 or more to get a better price:
$562 CAD (about $409 USD) +tip for 1 person
$747 CAD (about $545 USD) +tip for 2 people, more than 30% savings!
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