Frequently Asked Questions

If you're looking for things to do in Calgary specific to you, reach out through one of our channels. A member of our team will be happy to chat with you and give you specific recommendations for your trip.

A few of the must-see attractions and experiences in Calgary are the Calgary Tower, Steven Avenue, Calgary Central Library, the National Music Centre, the Bow River pathway, the historic neighbourhood of Inglewood, the Peace Bridge and the Wonderland sculpture. If you're visiting Calgary during the month of July, the Calgary Stampede is also a must-see. You can save with the Calgary Attractions Pass.

If you only have a few hours in Calgary, we recommend exploring the Calgary Tower for a 360 view of the city, or one of the central neighbourhoods of Downtown Calgary, Inglewood, 17th Ave or Kensington.

If you only have one day in Calgary, we recommend starting your day exploring the historic neighbourhood of Inglewood, then taking the Bow River pathway to the Calgary Central library. Then visit the Calgary Tower and end your day on Stephen Avenue where there is public art and excellent restaurant options for dinner.

Calgary has dozens of free attractions, tours, events, and outdoor activities. Check out our list of free things to do in Calgary.

Every quadrant of Calgary has activities for family such as the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, The Military Museums, Calaway Park and the Big Box playground. We've even put them all together a big list of family-friendly activities in Calgary.

There are a lot of things to do indoors when it's raining in Calgary like the Devonian Gardens, Telus Spark, or The Hangar Flight Museum. Check out our full list of Calgary indoor attractions to find something you'd like to do.

McHugh Bluffs, Rotary Park, and Scotsman's Hill are all great spots to take photos of the Calgary skyline. For the full list of iconic spots, check out all the best places to take photos in Calgary.

Yes, there are discounts for Calgary attractions! Sign up for the Calgary Attractions pass to receive discounts on Calgary's top attractions.

It only takes 3 steps to get the Calgary Attractions Pass.

1. Sign up for the Calgary Attractions Pass

2. Open the text you received with the pass and download it to your phone.

3. Each participating attraction will provide a QR code on location for you to scan through your pass, scan and save!

No, multiple tickets can be bought with the Calgary Attractions pass, but they must be purchased on a single transaction. The one exception is Studio Bell as they admit 4 guests per one pass.

It depends on the attraction whether you can purchase tickets online ahead of time. Download the pass and look at the individual deals to determine if you can purchase tickets online with the Calgary Attractions pass.

Generally, there aren't discounts for attractions that aren't on the Calgary Attractions Pass, but we recommend reaching out to the individual attractions to confirm.

To get from Calgary International Airport to downtown Calgary, you can take transit, rent a car, use a ride-share or take a taxi. The YYC Airport Authority has made a comprehensive list of all the ways that you can get from Calgary International Airport to downtown Calgary.

You can buy Calgary transit tickets at any LRT (train/metro) platform. You can also purchase with cash on city buses. The city also offers an app called MyFare which lets you purchase passes online (passes are used through the app). As for navigating transit, you can download an app called Transit. It will give you step-by-step instructions on how to arrive to your destination.

You can park in a variety of parking lots and garages in downtown Calgary. The majority is paid parking, but lower rates apply on evenings after 6:00 p.m. and on weekends in private parking garages and lots. Street parking is free after 6:00 p.m., on Sundays, and on designated holidays. If parking on the street, check the posted signs for time limits, parking restrictions, and payment requirements before leaving your vehicle.

For someone with limited mobility, we would recommend a Calgary Bus tour. Our guide on Calgary sightseeing tours provides options for bus tours as well as walking tours if that's within your abilities.

Some attractions such as the Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo offer wheelchair rentals. To rent a wheelchair or mobility equipment for your trip in Calgary, consider Assist Health Supplies or Medical Rental Equipment.

You can get physical maps and brochures on our website in PDF format: Maps and Visitor Guides.

We suggest heading to our website for copies of maps and brochures as we provide them in PDF format: Maps and Visitor Guides. Feel free to connect with us online for more information at VisitCalgary.com.

You can visit our website Know Before You Go where you'll find a wide variety of information on things to do and see in Calgary.

You can exchange money or withdraw Canadian currency at various ICE Currency Exchange locations within Calgary International Airport. Calforex Currency Exchange in Calgary's downtown core is also a popular option.

A few of our top recommendations would be Barbarella, Modern Steak, DOPO, Calcutta Cricket Club, or Sukiyaki House. For more options, any restaurant featured in our guide on where to eat in Calgary will be excellent. Or, if you want something a little more upscale, check out our article on Fine Dining Restaurants in Calgary.

In downtown Calgary, there are dozens of restaurants located along Stephen Avenue from steakhouses to Italian to casual pub fare. Check out our guide on Downtown Calgary for a list of places to eat.

Calgary is full of incredible local restaurants like Deane House, Rouge, Caesar's Steakhouse and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery. For the full list of unique local restaurants, check out our guide on Unique Dining Experiences in Calgary. Our guide on 10 Signature Dishes to Build a Trip to Calgary Around also has great local restaurant recommendations.

Two of the most popular areas for local breweries in Calgary are Manchester or Brewery Flats. Here you can find a dozen spots to try local beer made in Calgary. For the full list, check out our guide on the Best Breweries in Calgary. Calgary also has distilleries creating craft whiskey, gin and vodka in all corners of the city, so to find one check out our guide on Distilleries in Calgary.

To find out what events are happening in Calgary today, check our Calgary Events Calendar and filter by today's date.

To find out what is happening in Calgary this week, or weekend, check out our article Calgary This Week. We update it every week on Thursday so you always know what's going on in Calgary.

To find out if there are any festivals happening during your visit to Calgary, check out our article with over 30 Calgary Festivals. To find out if a festival is happening during your specific visit dates, input those dates into our Calgary Event Calendar.

There are a lot of great places to go for live music in the city. Some examples include The King Eddy, Blues Can, Ironwood, and Palomino Smokehouse. You can also check out our Calgary Events Calendar and filter by today's date for more ideas.

To get to Stephen Avenue, you will have to take transit to 1st, 3rd or 4th Street CTrain stations or park on 9th or 6th Ave and then walk over as Stephen Avenue is a pedestrian only street.

These attractions are all within walking distance of downtown Calgary:

• Wonderland Sculpture

• Galleria Trees on Stephen Avenue

• Calgary Tower

• Contemporary Calgary

• Core Shopping Centre/Devonian Gardens

• The Peace Bridge

• Studio Bell

• Central Library

• Sam Center

For even more things to do, check out our guide on Downtown Calgary.

Calgary's +15 network is a series of 86 elevated pathways that connect over 135 buildings in Calgary's downtown core. Anyone can access the pathways, just look for a small blue sign on the exterior of the building that says +15 skywalk with an image of a person climbing up stairs. Many of the +15s can be access via escalator making them easily accessible. Please note that not all of the pathways are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

As part of the longest urban pathway network in North America with over 1000km of connected pathways, you can walk nearly anywhere along the Bow River! Scenic areas include Eau Claire / Prince's Island Park, Harvie Passage in Inglewood, and Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Yes, downtown Calgary is generally safe to walk around. The streets are all well-lit and the downtown core and inner-city neighbourhoods are very popular with pedestrians. Like any major city, be aware of your possessions and surroundings, especially at night.

You can learn about Indigenous history and culture at Calgary attractions like the Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, Heritage Park, or the Calgary Stampede when it's on in July.

If you'd like to participate in an Indigenous tourism experience while in Calgary, try beadwork at Moonstone Creation or a workshop with Loretta's Wellness Circle. Our guide on Indigenous experiences in and Around Calgary also features experiences such as powwows, museums and guided tours.

To find out what is happening at the Calgary Stampede today, visit the Calgary Stampede Schedule page and select today's date.

When the Calgary Stampede isn't happening, Stampede Park is primarily used for conventions, meetings and festivals. As an alternative, you can visit the Calgary Stampede Museum, the Sam Centre, to learn more about the history and legacy of the Stampede. To find out what's happening at Stampede Park during your visit to Calgary, check out the, check out the Calgary Stampede event calendar.

If you're looking for a Western or cowboy experience in Calgary, you can check out the Sam Centre to learn about the history of the Calgary Stampede, shop for Western wear at Alberta Boot Co, or visit Smithbilt Hats to get an iconic white cowboy hat.

You can get from Calgary to Banff by:

• Driving in a rental car

• Taking a shuttle bus from the airport or downtown Calgary

• Going on a tour

Yes, you can visit Banff without a car. Check out our article on the best ways to explore Banff without a car.

Yes, we have information, maps and brochures for Banff and Jasper National Parks. Please visit our website at visitcalgary.com for more information and helpful resources.

You can buy a National Parks Pass from:

• The Banff East Park entry gate along highway 1

• The Calgary airport domestic information desk

• Any local Alberta AMA location

• Any National Parks visitor centre

Yes, you can check out our article on campgrounds and RV parks near Calgary for a list of campgrounds in Kananaskis, Banff and the Badlands.

No, unfortunately, there are no campgrounds near Calgary that offer transportation or transit access into the city.

Yes, you can park an RV in downtown Calgary, but you will be limited to street parking or select surface lots as many parkades will have a height restrictions. Alternatively, various Park and Rides at LRT stations allow you to park an RV for a day while you take transit into downtown.

You can park your RV overnight for one (1) night at the CrossIron Mills parking lot, provided you get permission from security inside the mall. You cannot park your RV overnight at a Walmart in Calgary.