Overview
Take a trip to Calgary on your Canada Vacation
Located at the foot of the Canadian Rockies, the Bow and Elbow Rivers converge to meet in the Western metropolis that is Calgary. While the city is a bustling urban centre, it manages to maintain a country feel with friendly neighbours and a vast backyard that opens to prairies and mountains alike.
The city comes alive in the summer during the iconic Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo festival that puts Canada’s Western heritage on full display with food, concerts, shows, bucking broncos, and more. Take in sweeping vistas of the city year-round from the Calgary Tower and its revolving restaurant, noting how its financial centre contrasts against the greenery off in the distance.
The trendy East Village neighbourhood is home to underground music venues, happening eateries, and boutiques housed in converted warehouses and other unconventional locations, making it a great place to explore the city’s cultural persona. Nearby in the downtown core, Calgary boasts a lively theatre scene containing a number of performing art venues and galleries just outside of Olympic Plaza, the 1988 Winter Games venue turned public park.
Calgary has long attracted nature lovers for a number of activities including whitewater rafting, ice fishing, birdwatching, and more. Banff and Canmore provide plenty of hiking opportunities just outside of city limits with their craggly peaks, and bodies of water like the sparkling Lake Louise make for an unforgettable day trip.
Languages
English, FrenchCurrency
Canadian Dollar (CAD)What do the experts say?
Try and visit the Quebec Winter Carnival. It’s one of the biggest and most famous winter festivals in the world, with snow sculptures, ice canoe races, night parades, and plenty of traditional Quebecois food and music.
Visitors to Canada just do not understand how different each region can feel, it’s almost like visiting several countries in one. Beyond the big cities and famous sights, there are countless small towns, Indigenous communities, and local traditions that give you a whole new perspective on the country.
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Canada
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.