Itineraries for Your Trip to Calgary
2 Days in Calgary for First Timers
When I lived in Western New York, Canada was practically visible from my house (or, it would have been if I’d lived in a taller building). But the nearest city was Toronto, a Great Lakes metropolis a world away from Calgary, where Alberta’s prairies meet the Rocky Mountains. Itching to experience more of our neighbor to the north (and seizing every opportunity to be reimmersed in the metric system), I visited Banff one summer, and passed through Calgary en route, as many travelers do.
Two days is an ideal amount of time in Calgary for first timers as you’ll have the chance to experience its highlights before moving on to the mountains. Here’s how to spend two days in Calgary.
Calgary’s winters are very cold and snowy, so only visit then if you’re heading to the ski fields; otherwise, come during the warm summer—the Calgary Stampede is in July.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a stroll along the Bow River, which begins in the Rocky Mountains and flows through Calgary.
Get your bearings in Calgary this morning by joining a walking tour, or take a bike tour to cover more ground. The city is mostly flat (it sits at around 3,500 feet/1,050 meters, between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains) so it’s accessible to most travelers. Check out highlights including the Calgary Tower, Wonderland Sculpture, Prince’s Island Park, Peace Bridge, Bow River, and more.
To learn more about Calgary’s heritage, including the role of First Nations people in the city’s past and present, head to the highly recommended Heritage Park Historical Village in the afternoon. The large living history museum contains pre-1915 buildings, a steam train, horse-drawn wagon rides for kids, and staff dressed in period costume. Buy tickets in advance to save time later.
While many travelers head to Banff or Jasper after Calgary, if you’re short on time, make the most of Calgary’s convenient location with an evening tour to the Rockies from the city. A sunset tour to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake picks you up from Calgary in the early evening and takes you to these gotta-see-’em-to-believe-’em beauty spots in time to admire the sunset. They’re about two hours from Calgary.
Animal lovers should check out the Calgary Zoo this morning, a nearly 100-year-old zoo surrounded by botanical gardens. Canadian species—including bears, wolves, moose, and bison—are arguably the stars of the show, but the Calgary Zoo also features species from across Asia, Africa, and beyond. More into sports than wildlife? Head to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame instead, which (perhaps surprisingly) celebrates more than just ice hockey players.
Canadian drinks extend far beyond the infamous Caesar cocktail (clam juice and vodka, anyone? No?) Delve into Calgary’s craft beer scene on an afternoon tour that includes locally sourced tastings and ends at a brewery. You’ll also visit the Beltline Urban Mural Project to see some vibrant street art made by local artists.
Keep the party going into the evening with new friends from your afternoon tour, or gravitate toward the Beltline, a hip neighborhood near downtown Calgary that’s known for its great nightlife and live music. If you’re after something fancy, head up the Calgary Tower to dine at the revolving Sky 360 restaurant. Or, if you’re visiting Calgary on your way to the mountains, perhaps take an evening shuttle to save yourself a travel day.
