Calgary
Calgary, nestled in the heart of Alberta Canada, combines urban style with stunning natural surroundings. The iconic Calgary is known to offer a dynamic blend of cultural events, festivals, art scenes, and picturesque Rocky Mountains. The city of Calgary provides lots of outdoor enthusiast activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, ice skating, professional hockey games and break taking landscapes known as the iconic Banff Lake.
Airport & Transportation
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Need to Know
- As a first step in planning any trip abroad, check the Travel Advisories to receive updated Travel Advisories and Alerts, at travel.state.gov/stayingconnected
- It is important to keep in mind every country has its own laws and regulations, please be mindful of each country laws while traveling. For more information visit,
- Canada Laws/ Requirements– need to know while traveling
- Check out the U.S. Department of State: Travelers Checklist
Airports / Transportation
- Calgary Internaitonal Airport – YYC
- Transportation: Uber or Rental Car
- *Suggest Renting a Car, if you plan to do a day trip to Banff or traveling outside of Calgary to another city.
Resource Information / Passport / Visas
- Vaccinations? NO
- Do I need a Visa? NO (not required for stays under 180 days)
- Do I need a Passport? YES (make sure it’s updated and not expired)
Bloggers Disclaimer — Please Be Advised Some Tours or Locations/ Restaurants Are Subject to Change or Close. I Recommend Double Checking Available Times and Spots for All Locations Listed.
Where to Stay?
Best Known Calgary Areas
- Downtown Calgary – Ideal for travelers seeking convenience.
- Kensington- is known for its trendy vibes with a mix of boutiques, cafes, and art galleries.
- Beltline – south of downtown, known for lively nightlife, diverse dining space, and cultural attractions.
- Mission- Charming neighborhood with historic buildings, an array of cafes, restaurants, and shops. Scenic pathways along the river.
- Inglewood- Calgary’s oldest neighborhood, laid-back vibe, and easy access to main attractions like the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, and Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.
Where to Eat?
Note: Suggest booking reservations ahead of time through OpenTable App or Web (you can also, earn reward points for booking dining reservations), please note some restaurants may not be listed on the Web/App, so I suggest calling ahead to book reservations directly with restaurant before traveling.
Hotel and Restaurants
- Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant – (MUST- brunch, lunch, and dinner)
- River Café’ – (open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch)
- The Wilde on 27 – 27th floor of Dorian Hotel Calgary skyline view on the rooftop.
- Barbarella (Italian-popular)
- Buffo (house-made pastas + wine)
- Marcato Gourmet – Italian
- Major Tom – (listed the Best Restaurant in Calgary)
- Fonda Fora – Contemporary Mexican
- Flower and Wolf – Canadian Restaurant, loved for healthy
- Charbar – Canadian Neighborhood Gem
- Earls Kitchen + Bar – (varies locations)
- The Keg Steakhouse + Bar – Calgary 4th Ave (varies locations)
- Comery Block (Barbecue)
- South Block Barbecue & Brewing Co.
- UNA Pizza + Wine – (varies locations)
- Bolero (Brazilian)
- Korilla Korean BBQ
- Moxies – Calgary Downtown
- CHOP Steakhouse & Bar
BEST SPOTS
Calgary eateries, bars and more….
Bars & Lounges
- Frenchie Wine Bar
- Freestyle Social Club and Poolside
- Trolley 5 Brewpub
- Thomsons Kitchen & Bar
- Hawthorn Dining Room and Bar
- Lounge Eighteen
- UNTITLED Champagne Lounge (sushi rolls recommended + Exquisite Champagne)
- Cannibale (barbershop by day & dimly lit cocktail bar at night)
- Betty Lou’s Library (Speakeasy)
- Bridgette Bar (Unique)
- Vin Room (Tapas + Wine Bar, 3 locations and offers Happy Hour from 3-6pm daily)
- The Derrick Gin Mill & Kitchen (great for Gin Lovers)
- The Tea House (Asian-inspired craft cocktails)
- Poolside by Freestyle (Friday DJ)
Hip-Hop Bars
- The Ace Nightclub Calgary
- Music Calgary
- Habitat Loving Sound Calgary
Rooftop Bar
- The Wilde on 27– inside the Dorian Hotel on the 27th Floor, Calgary skyline view on the rooftop.
- Rooftop Bar @ Simmons – (VOTED BEST- Panoramic View of Downtown and Bow River)
- Free House (great for people watching + Food Hall in Kensington)
- Brewsters Brewing Company – McKenzie Towne
- Craft Beer Market (popular)
- The Rooftop YYC (Largest Patio- Creative + Festive)
- National (8TH Avenue and 10th Avenue locations)
- JOEY @ Chinook (dine + lively rooftop patio w/ shopping at CF Chinook Centre, offers Happy Hours)
Explore / Things to do?
Best Known Places & Buildings
- Hockey Games
- Lake Lousie & Banff Tour
- Calgary Tower (Downtown- Observation deck)
- Full Day Tour in Drumheller: Horseshoe Canyon and Tyrrell Museum
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting
- Calgary City Tour
- Devonian Gardens (botanical gardens)
- Wilder Institute/ Calgary Zoo (variety of animals)
- Banff Gondola (360 observation sky deck- enjoy meal at Sky Bistro)
- Peace Bridge- Showboat Dinner Cruise
- Nose Hill Park (Hiking Trail)
- Heritage Park (Western walking strip of Canadian History museum with working antiques and seasonal re-creations with actors).
Airbnb Experiences
Winter Season – Things to Do
- 70 Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks – Link to Map (open mid to late Dec-Feb)
- Ice Bikes Bowness Park
- Kananaskis Nordic Spa (Hot Springs 1 hour drive from Calgary)
- Canadian Rockies Hot Springs (Iconic Mountain Views)
- The WinSport Tube Park (largest)
- Sunny Tube Park at the Lake Louise Ski Resort
- Banff Gondola (360 observation sky deck- enjoy meal at Sky Bistro)
- Snowy Owl Dog Tours and Howling Dog Tours (Dog Sledding)
- Bow Cycle (Fat Biking in the Snow)
- Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary (meet the wolfdogs, 1 hour from Calgary in Alberta, Canada)
Museums
- Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (beautiful)
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights (popular)
- Glenbow Museum (art/history)
- Gasoline Alley Museum
- The Military Museums
- Telus Spark Science Centre
- The Hangar Flight Museum
- Rothney Astrophysical Observatory (want to view planets and stars)
- Royal Tyrrell Museum
- Royal Alberta Museum
- Digital Museum
- Fort Calgary (historical landmark)
MUST SEE
- Banff & Lake Lousie (best to visit in the summer for boat lake ride on the crystal clear blue lake with mountain views)
- Banff Gondola (360 observation sky deck- enjoy meal at Sky Bistro)
- Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (beautiful)
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights (popular)
Other Suggestions
- Canadian Rockies – day trips from Calgary; offers Sunshine Village, Mount Norquay Ski Resort, or Lake Louise Ski Resort (perfect for skiers/snowboarders all levels). Ski lifts open mid-November to May.
- Vancouver –Offers beautiful outdoor activities like skiing and hiking and spectacular views/ shopping.
- Quebec City – Charming city, offers the world-famous heritage site, UNESCO
- Montreal– Great night life, Cosmopolitan City with rich cultural heritage
- Toronto – Popular Diverse with lots of attractions. They host the annual _
- Victoria – more luxury and charming city
- Niagara Falls – Tourist hot spot with boat rides over the Niagara Falls, also offers lot of entertainment like casinos.
- Banff – Beautiful crystal blue lake in the summers with lots of hiking. Kind of a Resort Town in the Rocky Mountains. Think lakes and wildlife but a scenic hallmark card.
Travel Tips
- Be prepared for winters seasons, typically November to March it gets extremely cold, so dress warm
- (Coats, Beanies, Fur Coats, Boots, Chunky/Low Heel Boots, gloves, scarfs, etc).
- Warmers seasons are between June- September with the hottest month being July.
