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Brief overview Calgary
That somewhere as modern and prosperous as Calgary should have the nickname ‘Cowtown’ says plenty about the city’s two different faces. On the one hand, it’s a prairie town just an hour or so away from the Rockies, a settlement best known for being home to the 10-day cowboy carnival known as the Calgary Stampede.
On the other hand, it’s a flash metropolis made wealthy on decades of oil riches, a city defined by shiny towers, top-notch restaurants and a general air of 21st-century living. But whether you’re passing through to the mountains or staying put for a few days, it offers plenty to entertain.
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Top 10 sights in Calgary

Glenbow Museum
T2G 0P3 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 268 4100
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Opening times:
Tue-Thurs 0900-1700
Fri 1130-1930
Sat 0900-1700
Sun 1200-1700
An excellent art and history museum which tells the story of the region as well as hosting high-quality exhibitions. It has the largest art collection in western Canada.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
T3B 6B7 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 776 1040
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Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1700
An entertaining interactive museum-cum-attraction at the Olympic Park, letting you shadow-box with Lennox Lewis, hone your ice hockey skills or even try your hand at wheelchair racing.
Calaway Park
T3Z 2E9 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 240 3822
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Opening times:
Daily 1000-1900 (Jul-Aug)
Sat-Sun 1000-1900 (May-Jun and Sep-mid Oct)
The region’s largest outdoor family amusement park has been going strong for more than three decades and offers a winning mix of rides.
TELUS Spark Science Centre
T2E 5T2 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 817 6800
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Opening times:
Sun-Fri 1000-1600
Sat 1000-1700 (until 2200 second Thurs of the month)
This purpose-built new science centre opened in 2011 and has been wowing kids and adults ever since. Focusing on creativity, technology and science, it has a good mix of the serious and the fun.
Calgary Zoo
T2E 7V6 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 232 9300
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Opening times:
Daily 0900-1700 (mid Mar-Oct)
If you’re unlikely to see a grizzly bear elsewhere on your Canadian travels, a trip here gives you the chance – it also houses more than 1,000 different animals from around the world.
Lougheed House
T2R 0K8 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 244 6333
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Opening times:
Wed-Fri 1100-1600
Sat-Sun 1000-1600
A National Historic Site dating back to 1891, this stately home is set in its own estate and makes for an enjoyable place to tour the house and gardens.
Calgary Tower
T2P 1J9 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 266 7171
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Opening times:
Daily 0900-2200 (Jul-Aug)
0900-2100 (Sep-Jun)
It’s no longer the tallest structure in town, but the tower still grants a spectacular view across Calgary, and a glass-floor section adds an extra element of fun.
Fort Calgary Historical Park
T2G 5E1 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 290 1875
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Opening times:
Daily 0900-1700
A vivid look at the Calgary of days gone by, with a replica of the barracks as they used to be and all manner of interactive family fun.
Heritage Park Historical Village
T2V 2X3 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 268 8500
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Opening times:
Daily 0930-1700 (mid May-mid Oct)
0930-1600 (Jan-mid May)
A living history museum that’s now been open for 50 years, covering Calgary’s story from the days of the fur trade to the oil boom.
Big Rock Brewery
T2C 4L8 Calgary
Canada
Tel: +1 403 720 3239
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Opening times:
Tue-Sat 1330-1730
This is one of Alberta’s top breweries and offers hour-long tours, giving visitors a look at the brewing process – and a taste of the end results.
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Country information
Country overview
Canada is a rich and diverse travel destination. Enjoy outdoor sports such as skiing, canoeing and sailing alongside museums and theater – this enormous country offers a wide range of activities for every taste and interest. The west of Canada is mainly famous for its breathtaking landscapes, while the east is a blend of European charm and North American bustle.
The north is the best place for observing wild animals. If solitude is what you seek, the wide-open spaces are the place for you. Most Canadians live in large cities like Vancouver in the west or Quebec, Montreal or Toronto in the east.
Geography
Canada covers the northern part of the North American continent, with the exception of Alaska in the northwest, which is a US state. Greenland is off the coast of Canada in the northeast; to the west is the Pacific Ocean, and to the east the Atlantic. In the south, the 48th parallel forms the border with the USA. After Russia, Canada is the largest country in the world by land mass, but it only has 37 million residents.
Most of the middle of the country consists of the breadbasket region of the Laurentian Plateau. The Rocky Mountains are to the west, and to the southeast are the Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence River and Niagara Falls.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 37.06 million (2018 estimate)
Capital: Ottawa
Language
English and French are the official languages.
Currency
1 Canadian dollar = 100 cents.
Currency abbreviation: C$, CAD (ISO code). Bank notes come in values of 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 C$, and coins have face values of 2 and 1 C$, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
Electricity
110 V/120 V, 60 Hz. Two-pronged flat plugs. Adapters are required for European plugs.
Public holidays
National holidays between January 2020 and December 2021 are listed below.
Some provinces of Canada also observe additional holidays.
* not in all provinces
2020
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2020
Good Friday: 10 April 2020
Victoria Day: 18 May 2020*
Canada Day (Republic Day): 1 July 2020
Labor Day: 7 September 2020
Thanksgiving Day: 12 October 2020*
Remembrance Day: 11 November 2020*
Christmas Day: 25 December 2020
2021
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2021
Good Friday: 2 April 2021
Victoria Day: 24 May 2021*
Canada Day (Republic Day): 1 July 2021
Labor Day: 6 September 2021
Thanksgiving Day: 11 October 2021*
Remembrance Day: 11 November 2021*
Christmas Day: 25 December 2021
All information subject to change.
Flight and accommodation
Nightlife in Calgary
Whether you’re looking to raise a beer to the spirit of the Stampede, go wild on the dance floor or settle into a classy wine bar for the night, Calgary has plenty to offer for all tastes.
Cowboys Nightclub
T2G 1A5 Calgary
Canada
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A legendary mega-bar that has become something of a Calgary institution, offering line-dancing lessons, live country music and more.
Laugh Shop Comedy Club
T2H 2B5 Calgary
Canada
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The best place in town to catch touring comedians, including some of the biggest names on the circuit.
Roadhouse
T2P 0L9 Calgary
Canada
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An 800-capacity nightclub with resident DJs, five bars and a party spirit.
HiFi Club
T2R OA4 Calgary
Canada
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An arty place in the Beltline district serving up eclectic music and a regular roster of strong live acts.
Flight and accommodation
Restaurants in Calgary
From top-level gastronomy to resistance-slaying street food, Calgary runs the full gamut of options and gives the chance to sample some of Canada’s best dishes and ingredients.
The Rimrock
T2P 2M3 Calgary
Canada
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Price: Expensive
Set in the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, specialising in classic dining and a high-class atmosphere.
Rouge
T2G 0M7 Calgary
Canada
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Price: Expensive
Fine dining with an emphasis on local produce and an extensive wine list.
NOtaBLE
T3B 0B2 Calgary
Canada
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Price: Moderate
Fresh and funky, this ‘gourmet casual’ restaurant serves inventive dishes from chef Michael Noble.
Blue Star Diner
T2E 0C2 Calgary
Canada
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Price: Moderate
A quality independent diner in Bridgeland with a commitment to Canadian produce and a mix of new and traditional recipes.
Gaga Pizza
T3C 1A7 Calgary
Canada
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Price: Cheap
Locally revered pizza joint using organic flour and offering a friendly welcome. Great for a touch of local character.
Flight and accommodation
Calendar of events
High Performance Rodeo
Calgary’s international arts festival is, rather unusually, held in midwinter. International and Canadian acts stage experimental theatre, avant-garde dance shows, poetry readings and musical performances. One of the highlights is the annual 10-Minute Play Festival in which local up-and-coming theatre groups perform 10-minute plays with just 24 hours’ notice, the only inspiration being a prop and one line of dialogue.
FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival
Bringing laughs to Calgary since 2001, FunnyFest aims to improve your mental and physical well-being through stand-up comedy. Each year, Western Canada’s largest comedy festival hosts around 70 acts, many of them Albertan born and bred, and claims to deliver over 11,000 punchlines. Shows generally last around one and a half to two hours during which you’re guaranteed to see at least six performers.
Calgary Stampede
Each July, for 10 days, Calgary hosts one of the grandest celebrations of cowboy culture in the world. Over one million visitors, most of them in cowboy hats and boots, descend on the city for a week and a half of chuck wagon races, rodeos (the roughest in North America), parades, square dancing and free pancake breakfasts. By night, there is music, cabarets, dancing, fireworks and a lively bar scene. The main venue for the Calgary Stampede is Stampede Park (complete with an amusement park, concert halls, bars, restaurants, animal displays and a range of stalls), although the festive atmosphere infects the entire city.
Calgary International Blues Festival
Spread out a picnic blanket in Shaw Millennium Park to enjoy the best of North America’s blues artists. Several acts take to the outdoor stage each day, then the partying continues with late-night dancing at the nearby Kerby Centre. Aspiring blues musicians can sign up to singer-songwriter and instrumental workshops. The organisers also run a Midwinter Bluesfest in late February.
Calgary Fringe Festival
Inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this steadily growing indoor theatre celebration presents local, national and international acts, some experienced, others new to the fringe scene. There’s a vibrant assortment of music, dance, theatre, kids’ productions and comedy. What makes this festival especially intriguing is that performers are selected by lottery, so expect the unexpected. All shows take place in the historic neighbourhood of Inglewood, with venues a short walk from one another.
GlobalFest
Thousands throng to Elliston Park to watch Calgary’s late-summer skies light up in this international fireworks competition, with several countries competing for the ‘Best Of’ and ‘People’s Choice’ awards. As well as extraordinary pyrotechnic displays, there are live musical performances, cultural pavilions reflecting Alberta’s diverse ethnic communities, a café serving international specialities, a night market and a kiddie zone with bouncy castle, story area and crafts.
Calgary International Film Festival
Established in 1999, Calgary’s film festival is fast becoming one of Canada’s largest. The event screens more than 200 films from over 60 countries in 12 days. There’s every genre imaginable, from aboriginal, action and animation to family, fantasy and food. The most outstanding films are selected by juries, with glitzy award presentations and gala evenings all part of the fun.
WordFest
Calgary shares this respected literary festival with nearby mountain town Banff. An impressive line-up of over 70 authors arrives in Alberta each October, leading an exciting range of discussions, debates and readings in both English and French. Previous participating writers have included Margaret Atwood, Annie Proulx, John Irving and Alexander McCall Smith. At WordFeast, you can join top authors for dinner in one of the city’s best restaurants.
Once Upon A Christmas at Heritage Park
November – December 2020
Venue: Heritage Park Historical Village
Heritage Park opens up for weekends in the run-up to Christmas with an old-fashioned, winter wonderland-themed event. This is a real family affair, with horse-drawn carriage rides, carol singing in the church and live historical theatre. Children (and grown-up kids too) can pass on their requests to Santa Claus and pat his reindeer. The Haskayne Mercantile Block is also open for a spot of Christmas shopping.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Flight and accommodation
Hotels in Calgary
The city’s stature in the corporate world means it has plenty in the way of business-oriented hotels – some of them superb – but you’ll also find some great independent places to stay and, if you head slightly out of town, even guest ranches too.
Sheraton Suites Eau Claire
T2P 5C2 Calgary
Canada
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Category: Expensive
A sophisticated business hotel that also suits well-heeled leisure visitors.
Hyatt Regency Calgary
T2G 5P6 Calgary
Canada
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Category: Expensive
A luxurious business hotel with a large collection of Western Canadian objets d’art.
Hotel le Germain
T2G 1B8 Calgary
Canada
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Category: Moderate
A stylish boutique property now also featuring a spa.
Flight and accommodation
Best time to visit
Today: Friday, 15.01.2021 03:00 UTC

sunny
temperature
-6°C
wind direction
northwind speed
6.875 mph7 days forecast
Saturday
16.01.2021
6°C /
Sunday
17.01.2021
4°C /
Monday
18.01.2021
4°C / -1°C
Tuesday
19.01.2021
2°C / -1°C
Wednesday
20.01.2021
-3°C
Thursday
21.01.2021
-2°C / -6°C
Friday
22.01.2021
-4°C / -9°C
Climate & best time to visit Canada
If you’re planning on skiing or enjoying winter sports, the best time to visit Canada is between December and April, though some resorts open as early as November and extend their seasons as late as June (or even July on Whistler’s glacier). If you want to enjoy the great outdoors without the snow, travel between May and September. Be aware however, that if there’s been heavy snowfall during the winter, some high-altitude hiking trails may be closed well into July. May, June and September are typically cheaper than July and August, but you’ll get the best of the weather in the latter two months.
Summer thunderstorms are common throughout Canada. Occasionally, these may become severe. Tornados also occur throughout Canada, with May to September being prime months. The peak season is June and early July in southern Ontario, Alberta, southeastern Quebec, and a band stretching from southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, through to Thunder Bay. The interior of British Columbia and western New Brunswick are also tornado zones. Earth tremors occur in the western mountains. Forest fires can occur at any time, regardless of the season, particularly in the grasslands and forests of western Canada.
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absolute max | absolute min | Ø absolute max | Ø absolute min | relative humidity | Ø precipitation | days with deposit > 1mm | sunshine duration | |
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Jan | 16 °C | -44 °C | -3 °C | -15 °C | 71 % | 16 mm | 6 | 3.4 h |
Feb | 18 °C | -45 °C | 0 °C | -12 °C | 72 % | 17 mm | 4 | 4.2 h |
Mar | 22 °C | -37 °C | 3 °C | -8 °C | 68 % | 19 mm | 6 | 4.7 h |
Apr | 29 °C | -30 °C | 10 °C | -2 °C | 58 % | 28 mm | 6 | 6.1 h |
May | 32 °C | -16 °C | 16 °C | 3 °C | 53 % | 51 mm | 8 | 7.7 h |
Jun | 35 °C | -3 °C | 20 °C | 7 °C | 58 % | 88 mm | 9 | 7.8 h |
Jul | 36 °C | 0 °C | 23 °C | 9 °C | 57 % | 69 mm | 8 | 10.2 h |
Aug | 35 °C | -2 °C | 22 °C | 8 °C | 58 % | 54 mm | 8 | 8.8 h |
Sep | 33 °C | -13 °C | 17 °C | 3 °C | 58 % | 39 mm | 6 | 6.2 h |
Oct | 29 °C | -25 °C | 12 °C | -1 °C | 54 % | 18 mm | 4 | 5.1 h |
Nov | 22 °C | -35 °C | 2 °C | -9 °C | 69 % | 15 mm | 4 | 3.7 h |
Dec | 19 °C | -42 °C | -2 °C | -14 °C | 69 % | 14 mm | 6 | 2.9 h |
year | 36 °C | -45 °C | 10 °C | -2 °C | 62 % | 428 mm | 74 | 5.9 h |
Flight and accommodation
Phone calls & Internet
Country code: +1
Telephone
Public telephones are now rare, but a few of them still exist. They are operated with coins, phone cards or credit cards.
Mobile phone
CDMA and GSM (800, 850, and 1900 MHz). Not all European mobile phones will work in Canadian networks. Mobile phone coverage can be spotty outside of densely populated areas. The Canadian mobile phone network is organized regionally. Providers include Bell Canada (bell.ca), Telus (telus.com), and Rogers (rogers.com). Renting mobile phones locally, or doing so online in advance of your trip, is cheap and easy.
Internet
There are internet cafés in larger cities, but their numbers are dwindling as more and more cafés and restaurants are offering their guests free Wi-Fi access. Wi-Fi is often available at popular tourist attractions. A map of free Wi-Fi hot spots is available for Montreal from Zap (zapwifipublic.ca).
Flight and accommodation
Shopping in Calgary
Key Areas
Downtown Calgary isn’t short on places to shop, with notable districts including 4th Street SW, the pedestrianised Stephen Avenue and 8th Avenue SW. Even the city’s oldest neighbourhood, Inglewood, has these days been regenerated into somewhere full of shops and businesses. Calgary’s atmospheric Chinatown is the second largest in Canada.
Markets
The Calgary Farmers Market (510 77th Avenue SE) serves up fresh local produce – and a range of arts and crafts – in a lively environment, and there are further treats to be had at the city’s largest year-round collection of stalls, Crossroads Market (1235 26th Avenue).
Shopping Centres
The CORE (751 3rd Street SW) is the key downtown mall, with around 160 stores and a sizeable food court, but other good options around the city include the Chinook Centre (6455 Macleod Trail SW) and Bankers Hall (315 8th Avenue SW), both of which are good for fashion buys.
Flight and accommodation
Traveller etiquette
Conduct: Dos and don’ts
Canadians shake hands to greet each other. In the French-speaking areas of the country, they sometimes greet each other with a light kiss on each cheek (bises). Typical rules of politeness apply when visiting someone’s home. Formal clothing is expected in elegant clubs, restaurants and at the theater.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in public buildings and restaurants. Some places may have designated smoking areas.
Tipping
Service generally is not included in hotel and restaurant bills. A customary tip is 10 to 15 percent of the total bill (before GST/VAT). Taxi drivers also expect about 15 percent. Baggage porters should be tipped 1 C$ per piece of luggage, and hotel staff generally expect a tip of 1-2 C$ per day of your stay when you depart.
Flight and accommodation
Health
Main emergency number: 911
Food & Drink
Tap water is safe to drink and food safety standards are high. If camping in the backcountry, you should be aware of the risks of giardia, where water in streams or lakes has been contaminated by animal waste. This can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and headaches. Ensure you boil, filter or purify water first; purification tablets are easy to buy in any outdoor equipment store. You should also be aware of the dangers of eating shellfish directly from the sea, which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, resulting in illness or death. Check locally before you travel.
Other Risks
Summer can bring extremely high temperatures, so you should guard against the problems of heat and sunstroke. Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn, particularly on days when the widely publicised UV rating is high. (Remember that sunburn can be a risk in winter too, especially if you’re skiing, when the high altitude and reflection from the snow can be a potent combination.) In winter, on the other hand, temperatures can be bitterly cold and frostbite is a real risk; ensure you wear multiple layers and a hat, and cover your face when outdoors.
Rabies is present in animals. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
An outbreak of hepatitis A was reported in Vancouver Island in 2011, but most cases have been confined to one cultural group on the island. Vaccination against hepatitis A is not advised unless you’re visiting the outbreak area.
If walking in tick-infested woodland and brush areas, you should be aware of the risk of Lyme disease. Ensure you cover bare skin (tucking in all clothes), use insect repellent containing DEET and remove any attached ticks using tweezers. The disease is transmitted from the bites of the western blacklegged tick in British Columbia and the blacklegged or deer tick in other parts of Canada. Since 2010, there has been an increased risk in southern Quebec due to newly discovered populations of ticks carrying the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The first symptom is usually a circular rash, accompanied by fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. You should seek treatment as soon as possible as symptoms can worsen if left untreated, though fatalities are rare.
Flight and accommodation
Visa & Immigration
IATA Travel Centre
The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.