Calgary, Alberta’s largest metropolis, is a growing hub located at the intersection of the Elbow and Bow Rivers. Being only about an hour away from Banff National Park, Calgary is often seen as the most convenient international airport to get tourists into Banff. However, there is a lot to see and do in Calgary without packing up for the mountains — although that is a great perk of living here.
As a born and raised Calgarian, these are my top recommendations of things to do while visiting the city.
What’s in this guide?
- Local Restaurants and Cafés
- Walk down 17th Ave
- Visit Calgary’s Parks
- Spend a Day at the Zoo
- Explore Downtown
- Take a Day Trip to a Nearby Town
- Discover Calgary’s Arts and Culture
- Attend the Calgary Stampede
- Sink into Calgary’s History
- Bonus
- Map of Calgary Locations to Visit
1. Local Restaurants and Cafes
Calgary is a huge city, covering 825.3 square kilometres. That means Calgary covers a greater distance than Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver do. Because of its size, hidden gems and best kept secrets can evade much of the population. I’ve done my best to collect some of the best restaurants and cafés from all quadrants of the city.
North Calgary Locations
If you’re in the north, you have to try Hearts Choice Cafe Market or Nan’s Noodle House for some fantastic vegan dishes. Even my carnivore brother enjoyed a meal here, so you know it’s really good! Also on Edmonton Trail you can find one of two Boogie’s Burgers locations (the other is in Marda Loop). This is hands down the best local burger joint in the city. You also need to visit Tacos Mexico Memorial. You can’t make a reservation here, but it’s worth the wait! This is the most authentic Mexican restaurant I’ve visited in Calgary, but they have veggie options as well. Go for lunch or an early dinner to avoid the rush.
For cafés in the north, check out the Lazy Loaf and Kettle in Parkdale. This has been a community staple for the last 30 years. Another personal favourite of mine is Euphoria Café in Varsity where I spent many afternoons at their old location in high school. They have a new space in The Groves of Varisty which is accessible from the Red Line LRT. Finally, Xin Chao Coffee near Sunridge is a hidden gem serving Vietnamese coffee, tea, and small eats.
South Calgary
In the south, check out Namo off Macleod Trail for brunch. They have a unique twist on some classics and the food is great. The south is also super lucky as its home to both the original Calgary Farmers Market location and the Avenida Food Hall and Fresh Market. Both markets have a large variety of local vendors and a great diversity of cuisines to choose from. If you only have time for one, I’d suggest Avenida because it is almost entirely ready-to-eat food while the Farmers Market has a bigger mix of prepared foods and other products.
For cafés in the south, I’d recommend Neighbour Coffee in Altadore, which serves nice drinks and great food. Their breakfast sandwich is delicious. You should also visit Café Jindo at Hertiage Plaza and Good Bread, a cafe and bakery at Acadia Shopping Centre.
2. Take a Stroll Down 17th Avenue and 4th Street SW
Calgary’s 17th Avenue and 4th Street SW sit on the edge of the trendy neighbourhood of Mission. This area is home to local shops, restaurants, and cafés and is always buzzing. Come here for a bite to eat or to bar hop. Some of the top restaurants here include Carino, Mercato, Aida’s Bistro, the ever-popular Class Clown Burgers, Cleaver, and Buon Giorno.
17th is also home to some popular local bars and speakeasies such as Trolley 5, Prohibition Lounge, and Betty Lou’s Library. After an evening out, I like to stop by Amato Gelato or Made by Marcus for some dessert.
17th is also known for its shops, with boutiques, consignment shops, bridal stores, and niche stores such as Earth Gems and Rite of Ritual. It is fun to just wander down the block and window shop. If you get bored of shopping, walk south on 4th Street until you reach the Elbow River. Here you can connect to many local parks and pathways.
3. Walk or Bike around Calgary’s Parks
Speaking of local parks, Calgary is home to the largest pathway network in North America. With over 1000 km of paved and gravel trails to follow, cyclists and explorers can spend hours navigating the city’s more natural landscapes. Some parks also include swimming areas, boating, fishing, and playgrounds for children.
From the large parks like Fish Creek and Nose Hill to the riverside gems like Bowness and Sandy Beach, there’s a park for everyone.
4. Visit the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is located off Memorial Drive with the main parking lot off St. Georges Drive NE (Calgary Zoo North Lot) and a smaller, secondary lot open in the summer on St. Patrick’s Island (Calgary Zoo West Lot). Parking is paid (about $13.00 per day) or visitors can use the LRT and get off the Blue Line at Zoo Station.
The Calgary Zoo is accredited by the Associate of Zoos and Aquariums and partners with different wildlife conservation projects in the region and globally. The recently expanded Canadian Wilds exhibit includes mountain goats, bighorn sheep, caribou, bison, muskoxen, bears, otters, and more. The zoo also includes African Savannah and Rainforest animals like giraffes, gorillas, lions, and lemurs. In Exploration Asia, visitors will see red pandas, camels, tigers, gibbons, and komodo dragons among others.
The Zoo makes for a great day trip with or without kids. I went 5 times in the last two years both for the zoo and for other events hosted here. In the winter you can also visit for Zoo Lights, a holiday tradition in which the entire zoo is lit up and visitors can enjoy activites like skating, axe throwing, warm fires, visiting Santa, and drinking hot chocolate.
5. Explore Downtown
Calgary’s downtown, or city centre is considered everything north of the railway line (i.e., 9th Avenue SW) to the Bow River and between 14th Street SW and the Confluence Historic Site. The downtown core is a hub for business, arts, culture, and urban living. The Red and Blue Lines intersect along 7th Avenue SW, providing easy access to and from the city centre. It is also free to take the C-train (LRT) within downtown.
Some of my favourite spots to visit in downtown are the Calgary Central Library, a beautiful and unique architectural feat on the east side, the Devonian Gardens and CORE mall (as well as Stephen Avenue which runs alongside it), and Chinatown and the nearby Riverwalk.
Downtown Calgary Itinerary
If you’re interested in following an itinerary through downtown, I’d recommend starting at the mall. Get off the train at 3rd or 4th Street stations (depending on which direction you’re coming from). Then enter the mall. The Devonian Gardens are on the fourth floor. It’s nice to grab a coffee and go for a little walk around the gardens. If you enjoy shopping, spend some time exploring the mall.
Afterwards, make your way to Stephen Avenue (8th Ave). This central walk has many shops as well as restaurants and bars. It gets busy in the summer evenings as Calgarians flock to the patios after work. From Stephen Avenue, make your way to the Central Library. Be quiet and restful of the patrons, but feel free to tour the building.
After the library, your next stop is East Village. This new neighbourhood is home to many cafés and restaurants. Maybe grab a bite to eat here. Then, connect to the Riverwalk along the Bow and follow it west towards Chinatown. There are so many good food and drink spots here. This is definitely the place to stop if you like bubble tea, because there is a boba shop on every corner.
On 1st Street SW you’ll find the Chinese Cultural Centre which is open to the public. The building is gorgeous and there is also a museum and restaurant inside. This would be the last stop in my downtown Calgary tour, I hope you enjoy it!
6. Take a Day Trip to a Nearby Small Town
Calgary is a prime location to visit other places in Southern Alberta. Many surrounding towns make for a great day trip, each with their own charm and draw. Some of my favourite nearby towns include Cochrane and Bragg Creek to the west, Drumheller and the Badlands to the east, and Nanton or Diamond Valley to the south. Taking a day trip outside of Calgary will give you a better feel for small town Albertan culture and prairie life.
7. Discover Calgary’s Arts and Culture
Calgary has many different organizations, galleries, and foundations dedicated to encouraging a vibrant arts and culture scene. Some of these include the Esker Foundation, a contemporary art gallery in Inglewood with free admission; Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in the East Village; and the Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre, an outdoor sculpture park just off Springbank Road.
Calgary also holds many performances throughout the year with local professionals such as the Calgary Philharmonica Orchestra, Theatre Calgary, and the Alberta Ballet. Visitors may also be interested in attending a screening at one of the local independent movie theatres: the Globe Cinema on Stephen Avenue or the Plaza Theatre in Kensington. The Globe is known for showcasing art-house movies and hosting local film festivals. The Plaza screens both new releases and classic films.
8. Attend the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is a ten day festival that is the city’s most famous event. It starts on the first Friday of July and continues until the Sunday of the following week. While the major events occur at the Stampede Grounds, many other events occur across Calgary during this week. This western-themed week digs deep into Calgary’s roots and celebrates the ranching, argicultural, and Indigenous histories that formed the city.
Visitors to the stampede can ride the midway, marvel at local art, eat outrageous foods, and attend the rodeo, a powwow, or concert. Outside the stampede grounds, Calgarians celebrate the festival with free stampede breakfasts (pancakes with sausage or bacon), concerts and entertainment, and stampede-themed decor on every street, bar, shop, or restaurant.
If you are visiting Calgary at a different time of year, the city has many other festivals:
- Chinook Blast (February)
- Sled Island Music & Arts Festival (mid-June)
- Calgary Folk Music Festival (Late July)
- Taste of Calgary (5 days over August Long Weekend)
- Global Fest (mid-August)
- Calgary International Film Festival (mid-to-late September)
- And more
9. Sink into Calgary’s History
Calgary has a number of unique museums and heritage sites that share and preserve the history of the region. From Heritage Park to the Confluence Historic Site, or the Glenbow Museum to the Lougheed House, there’s a site tailored to everyone’s interests.
Heritage Park is a great destination for families. It functions as both an amusement park and an open air museum, preserving culture and history of the early homesteaders and Indigenous Peoples in Southern Alberta.
The Confluence Historic Site was renamed as such in 2024. It was previously known as Fort Calgary, but rebranded in order to expand its history to be more inclusive of the complex stories that unfolded on this land. It sits at the meeting of the Elbow and Bow Rivers, named Moh’kins’tsis by the Blackfoot Peoples. This place is the origin of Calgary as we know it, and the Confluence is a great place to start learning about the history.
Calgarians are eagerly awaiting the new Glenbow Museum which will open its doors in 2026. The museum is a centre point in downtown and will be reopening with free general admission! It will open with 44 exhibits across 8 floors on Stephen Avenue (8th Ave and 1st Street SE).
Other popular historic sites include the Lougheed House, Beaulieu Gardens, Calgary’s City Hall, and the Calgary Public Building.
Bonus: Visit Kananaskis, Canmore, or Banff
A trip to Calgary isn’t complete without stopping at the mountains at least once. If you are planning a trip to Calgary and have not considered the mountains, here is where I would suggest you go.
For hiking, picnicking, or other outdoor activities, rent a car and drive to Kananaskis. I’d recommend picnicking at Barrier Lake or Forget-Me-Not Pond, trying an easy hike, and visiting Kananaskis Village itself.
Visitors can drive to Banff or take a bus. Both Red Arrow and Flix Bus have options around $15-20 per trip and other private tour companies offer transportation as well. I’d highly recommend stopping in Canmore, this little mountain town sits in the shadow of nearby Banff’s popularity, but I think I love it more. There is also Roam Public Transit which offers transportation between Banff and Canmore, as well as to some of Banff’s most famous sites.
My Map of Calgary
See the map of my recommended locations below. Subscribers will also get a link to the map in the June Newsletter.