Things to do in Calgary

The bustling metropolis and vibrant culture is a treat, but sightseeing in Calgary is dominated by the natural wonders that surround the city. Calgary is the gateway to Alberta's many impressive landscapes, which include mountain lakes, rolling prairies, and icy glaciers.

If you do find yourself exploring the city, there are many museums and cultural sites in Calgary worth visiting, all located within easy distance of the city centre. The Glenbow Museum is Alberta's largest history museum, with nearly 30,000 artefacts from Canada's history. It has archives onsite, along with a cafe, shop, and library.

The Tsuu T'ina Museum looks more specifically at the history of the Sarcee tribe, complete with antique headdresses and a model tepee. The Heritage Park Historic Village takes a living look at Canada's history, with an antique midway, old-fashioned bakery and candy store, and authentic steam train among the attractions. Fort Calgary is another place to explore frontier life, with 40 acres of land set up to resemble life in 1875.

Prince's Island Park brings nature into the heart of the city, with fishing sites and a network of hiking and biking trails. The park also features the Eau Claire Market, with its array of funky boutiques, restaurants, theatres, and art galleries. The Olympic Park is also a popular spot for lovers of sports. Whatever visitors enjoy, there is something for everyone in Calgary.

Glenbow Museum photo

Glenbow Museum

The Glenbow Museum is Canada's largest museum, with more than 93,000 square feet (8,640 sq metres) of exhibition space, spread over three floors. It houses more than a million obje…

Calgary Zoo photo

Calgary Zoo

Canada's second largest zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals from all over the world, as well as a variety of fish and insects in natural habitat enclosures. It also features a p…

Fort Calgary photo

Fort Calgary

This historical site chronicles Calgary's history between 1875 and the 1940s, allowing visitors to step back in time and explore the early days of the city through interactive exhi…

Columbia Icefields photo

Columbia Icefields

Consisting of eight major glaciers, this massive field of ancient ice is situated near the town of Jasper in the middle of Jasper National Park. The icefield covers 125 square mile…

Moraine Lake photo

Moraine Lake

Located within Banff National Park and close to the popular resort towns of Lake Louise and Banff, Moraine is a spectacular glacially-fed lake. Its waters are a vivid turquoise col…

Heritage Park Historical Village photo

Heritage Park Historical Village

Heritage Park is a village of living history, comprising more than 180 exhibitions that attempt to show what life was like in Alberta in the 19th and 20th centuries. Set on 127 bea…

Canada Olympic Park photo

Canada Olympic Park

Canada Olympic Park was a major venue during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and now hosts skiing and snowboarding programmes every winter. It also houses the Canadian Olympic Hall o…

Calgary Tower photo

Calgary Tower

The city's most recognisable structure looming 626 feet (191m) above the city, Calgary Tower is a must-visit landmark. The glass-floored observation deck offers spectacular 360 deg…

Calaway Park photo

Calaway Park

The kids will love visiting Calaway Park, western Canada's largest outdoor amusement park. It's the ideal destination for a fun-filled family outing, with thrilling rides and vario…

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump photo

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

A buffalo jump is a ledge or cliff traditionally used to lure stampeding buffalo to their deaths. Head-Smashed-In is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved in the world and …