Calgary

Calgary was founded as Fort Brisebois by the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1875. (The name was changed to Fort Calgary in 1876, named after Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull.) The NWMP was sent west to ensure that Canada would not have an American-style "Wild West". Grave concerns about this were raised after the Cypress Hills Massacre of natives by drunken wolf hunters in 1873. Calgary was one of several forts established in Western Canada by the NWMP to ensure a police presence before the arrival of settlers.

In 1883, the railway reached Calgary. It started to grow in every direction and became an agricultural and business hub. In 1884, Calgary was incorporated as a town in what was then the North West Territories. By 1894, Calgary's population had grown to 3900 people and it was incorporated as a city.

Alberta's first major oil and natural gas field was discovered in 1914 at Turner Valley, 60 km south of Calgary. Subsequent discoveries kept the oil and gas scene active in the Turner Valley area for the next 30 years. When the Turner Valley fields were depleted, the next major oil and gas find was at Leduc (near Edmonton) in 1947. By then, Calgary was already established as a centre of oil and gas business.

During the 1950s, oil became big in Calgary and major American oil companies started heading to Calgary and opening offices. The boom extended into the next twenty years, bringing the city to 720,000 people in the metro area by 1985. The relatively low-key low-rise downtown became filled with a sea of skyscrapers, starting with the Calgary Tower and some other towers in the 1960s. By the 1980s, Calgary's luck turned, and a drop in oil prices sent the Calgary metro economy downward. Unemployment raged, vacancies surged, and growth was slow or even negative in some years.

In 1988, Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics and brought world attention to Calgary. By the 1990s, it was on the rebound and began growing again. Calgary today has become a more cosmopolitan city of over one million inhabitants with genuine attempts to diversify its economy and expand its attractiveness to outside visitors.

Onward!, the official motto of the city, was never more apt than in the wake of the major flooding the city experienced in June 2013. A year later, the casual visitor would have been hard-pressed to find any traces of the flood.

Calgary is sunny and rather dry, with wide seasonal and daily temperature ranges. Summers tend to be sunny and mild, highs averaging about 23 °C (73 °F) in July/August, usually accompanied by short afternoon storms. June is normally the wettest month, although the Stampede in July is notorious for at least a few heavy showers, so be prepared if you plan to visit during this time. Hot weather greater than 30 °C (86 °F) is rare, occurring on average five times a year. Also, temperatures typically drop dramatically on wet days as well; there's always a couple days in the summer months that barely manage highs over 10 °C (50 °F).

Winter can also vary quite a bit. Temperatures can get extremely cold, below −20 °C (−4 °F), at times between November and March, while −30 °C (−22 °F) is possible (on average five times a year). Though average highs in January are about −2 °C (28 °F) based on a current 30-year average, there's nothing average with Calgary's weather. Because of the regular but unpredictable chinooks (warm Pacific winds), there's no guarantee of when the cold weather may strike. One of the coldest months in the last ten years was a March (about −6 °C (21 °F) for average high), while one January was very mild, +6 °C (43 °F) average high. Temperatures can swell into the 15 °C (59 °F) range one day, and drop back into the sub-zero (sub 32°F) range several days later. A typical chinook rolls in fast and is very windy. The warming effects will usually linger for several days to more than a week. In strong chinooks, you can see a chinook arch to the west: an arch of cloud with clear sky below. Calgary can be very dry in winter, with humidity as low as 20%, causing dry skin and making it challenging for contact lens wearers.

Regardless of the time of year, temperatures usually drop quickly at night. Lows in summer hover around 8 °C (46 °F), while in winter they average about −13 °C (9 °F). Because of the higher elevation and dramatic temperature drops, snow can fall as late as June and as early as September. These unseasonable snowfalls usually result in chaos in the city, as they tend to be heavy and wet, with fallen trees being a major threat. Calgary's weather can be quite unpredictable and can vary dramatically from year-to-year. Check the forecast ahead of time, because it will usually give you a good idea of what you will need to prepare for.

First-time visitors to Calgary should be careful to bring sunglasses (even in winter) as Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada, and the sun can make things quite hard on your eyes, especially in the winter as it reflects off of the snow.

• Visit Calgary website

• 🌍 Calgary International Airport (YYC  ^IATA), ☏ +1 403-735-1200, infodesk@yyc.com. The airport is spacious and modern, with all the facilities (free Wi-Fi, shopping, banking, etc) that you would expect in a major airport. The domestic terminal has three lettered concourses (A, B and C), which are also labelled as meeting places, easy points of reference. The international terminal was completed in 2016 and has Concourse D for international flights (non-US destinations) and Concourse E for US bound flights. All terminals and concourses are part of the same structure, and you can easily walk between them all landside or take the free YYC Link shuttle between the concourses. The airport is well-served by Canadian and international carriers. The airport has many "White Hat Volunteers" dressed in white cowboy hats and red vests who are friendly and more than happy to direct you and answer questions on the airport or the city. 

Direct flights to Calgary within Canada include from Edmonton (1 hour), Halifax (5.5 hours), from Jasper-Hinton (1.25 hours), from Kelowna (1 hour), from Montreal (4.5-4.75 hours), from Ottawa (4.25 hours), Prince George (1.5 hours), from Regina (1.5-1.75 hours), from Saskatoon (1.25 hours), from Toronto (4 hours), from Vancouver (1.5 hours), from Victoria (1.5-1.75 hours), from Whitehorse (2.5 hours), from Winnipeg (2 hours), and from Yellowknife (2.25-2.5 hours). Major airlines in Canada serving Calgary include:

• Air Canada, ☏ +1-514-393-3333, toll-free: +1-888-247-2262. Canada's largest airline with hubs in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. (updated Apr 2022) International destinations served by Air Canada include Seattle (seasonal), Portland (2 hours), Los Angeles (3 hours), San Francisco (2.75 hours), San Diego (3.25 hours), Phoenix (3 hours), Las Vegas (2.75 hours), Chicago (3.5 hours), New York City (5 hours), London-Heathrow, Frankfurt (9.5 hours), and Tokyo-Narita.
• Air North, toll-free: +1-800-661-0407. A regional airline operating flights within the Yukon and flights in Canada traveling to the Yukon. (updated Apr 2022)
• Air Transat, ☏ +1-514-636-3630, toll-free: +1-877-872-6728. Canada's third largest airline with some year round destinations and specializing in seasonal flights to vacation destinations (Europe in the summer and warmer, southern international destinations in the winter). (updated Apr 2022)
• Flair Airlines, toll-free: +1-833-711-2333. A new low-cost airline with flights across much of Canada. (updated Apr 2022)
• Jasper By Air, 530 8 Ave, SW, Calgary, ☏ +1 403-470-8000, toll-free: +1 888-276-6660, jasperbyair@gmail.com. A Calgary-based company offering daily scheduled flights to Calgary from Jasper-Hinton airport schedules and pricing information is available on the website. $210. (updated May 2022)
• Sunwing Airlines, toll-free: +1-877-786-9464. Low cost Canadian airline that operates some flights within Canada throughout the year and specializes in seasonal flights to warmer, southern international vacation destinations in the winter. (updated Apr 2022)

• WestJet, toll-free: +1-877-952-0100. Canada's second largest airline services with hubs in Calgary and Toronto. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. (updated Apr 2022) International destinations served by WestJet include Los Angeles (3 hours), Houston (4.25-4.5 hours), San Francisco (2.75 hours), San Diego (3.25 hours), Palm Springs (3 hours), Phoenix (3 hours), Las Vegas (2.75 hours), Orlando, and New York (5 hours).

• Aeromexico, daily flights from Mexico City
• American Airlines, multiple daily flights from Dallas/Ft. Worth (3.75 hours) and Chicago (3.5 hours)
• Alaska Airlines, multiple daily flights from Seattle (1.5 hours).
• British Airways. Daily flights to/from London Heathrow.
• Delta, daily flights from Minneapolis (2.75 hours), Salt Lake City (2.25 hours), and Seattle (1 hours).
• Horizon Airlines, multiple flights from Seattle. Owned by Alaska Airlines, but uses smaller aircraft.
• KLM. 5 weekly flights from Amsterdam (8.75 hours).
• Lufthansa. Daily flights from Frankfurt (9.5 hours) and London (8.75 hours)
• United. Several daily flights from Denver (2.5 hours), Chicago (4 hours), Houston (4.25-4.5 hours), New York City (5 hours), San Francisco (2.75 hours).

From Europe there are non-stop charter flights from London, Glasgow, Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

While the airport is connected quite well to other Canadian cities, there are fewer options for Americans in neighbouring states, with most flights to the US going to major airline hubs. In some cases, it may be better to drive from locations just across the border—especially northwestern Montana. The four closest U.S. airports that have service to Calgary are Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Minneapolis.

Since it's a major Canadian airport, Calgary International has US border pre-clearance facilities; if your flight goes from Calgary to the States, you will go through American customs and immigration immediately after check in at the International Terminal. Thus you get off the plane at your stateside destination as if you were on a domestic flight and make quicker connections there. The price for this perk is that you should budget more time when departing; most airlines recommend for you to check in at least 90 minutes before flight time when travelling to the U.S. Passengers are not permitted to access US security more than 2 hours before their flight departs.

Like most large airports, there are many options for getting into the city, which is 18 km (11 miles) south of the airport:

• Simplest: Taxi (metered, $40–45 typically) from Arrivals Doors 1, 9, and 15. Should take 20 minutes on a good day. Uber (the only airport authorized ride-share operator) can pick up pre-arranged rides on the Arrivals level at Doors 3, 12, or 15 (ensure vehicle has TNC sticker on back window, bottom left side).

• Easy: Private shuttles ($15 per person) These offer scheduled service to downtown hotels. Many airport-area hotels also have a free shuttle bus service to pick up and drop off their guests at the airport. As of September 2013, no downtown hotels have free shuttles.

• Easy: Private charter. Private service between Calgary Airport & addresses in Calgary.

• Still easy: Calgary Transit bus route 300 BRT Airport/City Centre ($3.70 adult / $2.50 youth 13–17 / free 12 and under). Both airport bus stops at the domestic terminal and international terminal have ticket machines that accept coins (no bills) and credit/debit cards, or you can pay cash to the operator (no change given), or buy a ticket with the Calgary Transit "My Fare" smartphone app (recommended). This fully accessible express bus with luggage racks leaves the airport every 30 minutes running from 5:30am to midnight daily. Board at bus bay 7 across from Arrivals Door 2 of the domestic terminal or at bus bay 32 across from Arrivals Door 15 of the international terminal. Travel time to downtown is 30–40 minutes.

• Cheapest (and slowest): Calgary Transit bus route 100 McKnight-Westwinds and C-Train (LRT/tram) route 202. ($3.70 adult / $2.50 youth 13–17 / free 12 & under, exact change on bus, or use coins (no bills)/credit/debit cards at the ticket machine at either bus bay, or buy a ticket with the Calgary Transit "My Fare" smartphone app) Take the 100 McKnight-Westwinds bus (NOT route 100 North Pointe, which travels in the opposite direction) to McKnight-Westwinds LRT station and board a downtown-bound C-Train. The bus runs every 20–30 minutes, until 1am on weekdays and earlier on the weekend. Since the train isn't designed for air travellers, there is little room for luggage, especially during rush hour. However, the bus and all stations are fully accessible and have elevators. Board the bus at bay 7 on the arrivals level of the domestic terminal, or bay 32 of the international terminal. Travel time is around 60 minutes.

• Also possible: Car rentals are also available.

For connections to other parts of the city by transit, consult the Calgary Transit website, or call their service centre at +1 403-262-1000.

It is also possible to fly into the Edmonton International Airport, a 2 1/2-hour drive from Calgary.

• 🌍 Springbank Airport (YBW ^IATA Calgary/Springbank Airport), 175 MacLaurin Dr, Rocky View County (26 km (16 mi) west of Calgary on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1)). Springbank Airport acts as a general aviation reliever for Calgary International Airport, the city's main airport. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers. There is no public transit service between Calgary and the Springbank Airport (30 minute drive). 

Calgary is roughly 90 minutes' drive east of Banff on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), and about 3 hours south of Edmonton on Queen Elizabeth II Highway, aka Highway 2. From the U.S., use the I-15 (east side) or U.S. Hwy 93 (west side) from Montana or U.S. Hwy 95 from Idaho. Calgary is about 320 km (200 miles) north of the border.

• Banff Airporter (Banff Airporter is located inside the airport on the arrivals level between exit doors 5 and 6. Please meet your driver inside the airport.), ☏ +1-403-762-3330, toll-free: +1-888-449-2901, info@banffairporter.com. To Banff, first bus departs at 10am and last departs 10:30pm. From Banff, first bus arrives at 7am and last arrives 9:30pm. Operates between Calgary Airport, Canmore, and Banff. Travel time from Calgary Airport to Canmore is 1 hour, 20 minutes and to Banff is 2 hours. Operates daily, departing every 1–2 hours. $84 one-way for adults / $76 seniors 65+ / $42 child 6–17 / free ages 5 and under, no discount for round trips (prices include 5% GST tax, do not include driver tip). Advance tickets should be bought online or by phone if possible, or at Calgary Airport desk (space permitting). (updated Jun 2023)
• Brewster Express, toll-free: +1-866-606-6700. From Banff, the first bus arrives at 8:30 am and last bus arrives at 9:45 pm. To Banff, the first bus departing leaves at 9:30 am and last bus departing leaves at 10:00 pm.. Bus service throughout the year between downtown Calgary and Lake Louise including stops at Calgary International Airport, at Kananaskis Village (some trips), in Canmore and in Banff. Some trips operate between Calgary International Airport and Banff. From May to mid-October, a trip extends beyond Lake Louise to and from Jasper. Travel time to downtown Calgary from Canmore is 2 hours, from Banff is 2.5 hours, from Lake Louise is 4.25 hours, and from Jasper is 7.25 hours. On most trips, travel to Calgary International Airport international airport is about 30 minutes shorter than traveling to downtown Calgary. Buses operate daily with the portion of the route between Calgary International Airport and Banff having buses departing throughout the day every 1.5 to 2 hours. $74 one way and $126 round trip for adults traveling between Calgary and either Banff or Canmore. Discounted rate for children. (updated May 2022)
• Cold Shot, ☏ +1 587-557-7719, support@coldshot.ca. Operates bus services primarily in Alberta with some service reaching British Columbia. (updated Feb 2021) Operates a route between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer.
• Ebus, toll-free: +1 877-769-3287. Operates several routes in British Columbia and Alberta. (updated Mar 2022) Operates a route between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Calgary from Edmonton is 5 hours and from Red Deer is 2.25 hours. Operates twice daily.
• FlixBus. Service from Edmonton and Lethbridge. (updated Apr 2024)
• Mountain Man Mike's Bus Service, ☏ +1-778-382-7729, info@mountainmanmikes.ca. Weekly service between Calgary and Kaslo with stops in Okotoks, High River, Claresholm, Lethbridge, Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Sparwood, Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, Salmo, Nelson, and Balfour. Travel time to Calgary from Lethbridge is 3 hours, from Sparwood is 5 hours, from Cranbrook is 7 hours, from Nelson is 10 hours, and from Kaslo is 11 hours. This service provider also offers a twice per week service between Kaslo and Vancouver via Nelson. (updated Mar 2022)
• Red Arrow, toll-free: +1-800-232-1958, customerservice@redarrow.ca. Operates premium service in Alberta featuring spacious seating (only three seats to a row) and workstation seats with electrical connections for business travelers and their computers. Sister brand Ebus serves most of the same destinations in standard motorcoaches for a lower fare. (updated May 2022) Operates the following routes to Calgary:
  • Between Edmonton and Calgary including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Calgary from Edmonton is 3.25-4 hours and from Red Deer is 2-2.25 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
  • Between Lethbridge and Calgary International Airport including stops in Fort Macleod, Claresholm, and downtown Calgary. Travel from Lethbridge to downtown Calgary is 3 hours and 3.75 hours to Calgary International Airport. Operates several days per week.
• Rider Express (Westbrook Mall - 1200 37 ST SW), toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Offers routes that enable passengers to travel as far west as Vancouver and as far east as Winnipeg. (updated Apr 2022)
  • Bus service along the Trans-Canada Highway between Vancouver and Calgary, operating multiple days per week. Service from Vancouver (14.25 hours), Surrey, Abbotsford (13 hours), Chilliwack, Hope (12 hours), Merritt, Kamloops (9 hours), Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm (7.5 hours), Sicamous, Revelstoke (6 hours), Golden (3.5 hours), Lake Louise (2.5 hours), Banff (1.75 hours), and Canmore.
  • Bus service between Edmonton and Calgary with a stop in Red Deer operating multiple days per week. Travel time to Calgary is 4-4.5 hours from Edmonton and 2-2.25 hours from Red Deer. From Edmonton, service is available from Saskatoon.
• The Canada Bus, ☏ +1-403-668-9600, info@thecanadabus.com. Service from Edmonton. Red Deer, Banff, and Lethbridge (updated May 2022)
• On-It. Commuter service from Cochrane and Okotoks; summer-only service from Banff and Canmore. (updated May 2022)
• J&L Shuttle, ☏ +1 403-528-8851, toll-free: +1 877-217-5577, jandlshuttle@hotmail.com. Shuttle service to Calgary from Medicine Hat. (updated Oct 2023)

• 🌍 Tower Centre. Canadian Pacific railway runs a luxury excursion tourist train as the "Royal Canadian Pacific" but service is infrequent and prices exorbitant (over $10,000 per person) as this is nostalgia, not practical transportation. 

It can be fairly easy to get to most destinations of interest by bus and/or light rail transit (LRT, trams). In the downtown core, 7th Avenue South is for public transit only.

Calgary's public transit system was established in 1909. The first leg of Calgary's LRT (tram) system was completed in 1987 as part of preparation for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Today, the LRT lines are the backbone of Calgary Transit. Calgary's LRT is called the C-Train (or CTrain) and runs reliably, frequently, and is entirely accessible, with elevators at every station. In the downtown, you can ride the C-Train for free for 14 city blocks along the length of 7th Avenue.

Information about the transit system is available on Calgary Transit's website, or by phoning their information line +1 403-262-1000 from 6AM–9PM, local time. Train times are displayed on large electronic signs at stations, using Calgary Transit's real-time information system. Next bus information can be obtained by calling Teleride at +1 403-974-4000, or texting 74000 with the bus stop number, which can be found on the bus stop sign. Both services now offer real-time information when available (e.g. the next bus).

Calgary Transit offers a real-time bus information system that displays stop and schedule information on buses.

There are two LRT lines, both of which run on 7th Ave downtown: Route 201 (red on Calgary Transit maps) will be most useful to visitors, while Route 202 (blue) is more useful for locals. Route 201 runs from Tuscany Station in the northwest to Somerset/Bridlewood station in the southern suburbs, passing through the city centre and serving attractions such as the Stampede grounds. Route 202 serves mostly residents and runs from Saddletowne station in the northeast, passes through downtown, and ends at 69th St station in the southwest. LRT platforms are labelled with reference to downtown rather than by compass direction, and the trains are well signed.

Trains run every 10 minutes during weekday off-peak hours and 5 minutes during peak hours. Train will run every 15 minutes on weekends. First trains are between 4 and 5AM, and last trains are between 1 and 2AM—slightly earlier on Sundays. During the Calgary Stampede and on New Year's Eve, the C-Train runs all night and some bus routes have extended hours of service. Check Calgary Transit's website for details if you'll be visiting at this time.

Although buses come along less often, and tend to serve commuters more than tourists, it is still possible to get around to the main places without too much difficulty. Bus routes usually service either downtown or an LRT station, and run from around 5AM–1AM. Depending on the route, frequencies can be as low as one per hour in outlying suburbs, although 20 or 30 minutes is more typical. Buses numbered in the 300–399 range are rapid buses intended to provide service like a train: they only stop at major streets and large bus terminals, and run relatively frequently. This includes four "MAX" bus routes, which are designed to be have more frequent service and less stops. Bus routes with the word "express" in their name only run during rush hour and take commuters to and from downtown. Most major bus routes use low-floor buses equipped with ramps.

As of 2024, transit tickets ($3.70/adult, $2.50/youth 13-16, 12 amd under free) permit 90 minutes of travel on trains and buses, with round trips allowed. Day passes ($11.60/adult, $8.50/youth) and books of 10 transit tickets ($37/adult, $25/youth) are also available at most convenience stores. Ticket machines at C-Train stations and platforms sell day passes and regular tickets. These machines accept coins (but not bills), credit cards, and debit cards. A monthly pass can also be purchased for unlimited usage within the pass's designated month ($115/adult $82/youth), but is not cost justified unless you intend to commute to downtown daily. The ticket machines allow you to purchase multiple tickets (e.g. multiple day passes) in one transaction but you must press the "Multiple" button before selecting the type of ticket.

The C-Train operates on a "proof of payment" honour system. This means there are no turnstiles, but inspectors (usually "peace officers" employed by Calgary Transit) randomly check for valid tickets, transfers, or passes. There is a minimum $150 fine for transit riders unable to present proof of payment. There is no charge for travel on the C-Train in the downtown free-fare zone. An automated onboard announcement is made when trains enter and leave this zone.

• Associated Cab, ☏ +1 403-299-1111. Offers app to hail their cabs. (updated Jul 2022)
• Calgary City Cabs, ☏ +1 403-605-9999. (updated Jul 2022)
• Calgary United Cabs, ☏ +1 403-777-1111. Offers an app to hail their cabs. (updated Jul 2022)
• Checker Cabs, ☏ +1 403-299-9999. Offers an app to hail their cabs. (updated Jul 2022)

• Uber. (updated Jul 2022)

It is easy to be confused by Calgary's quadrant address system at first, but it is very logical and systematic.

Streets run north-south and avenues run east-west. Centre Street and Macleod Trail divide the city into east and west, while the Bow River (west of Deerfoot Trail) and Centre Avenue and Memorial Drive (east of Deerfoot Trail) divide the city into north and south. Together these split the city into NE, NW, SE, and SW: the four quadrants. Thus any time you get an address on a numbered street, you must get whether it was NE, NW, SE, or SW. Street and avenue numbers—and thus address numbers—increase as you move away from Centre St or Centre Ave.

Many of Calgary's roads are numbered, but this is less common in the newer developments. Important roads are often named "Trails," but there are many exceptions. Newly-built neighbourhoods may not yet appear on maps, either paper or GPS. If you are travelling to these places, it may be a good idea to ask for directions beforehand.

The names of small suburban roads usually incorporate the community name at the start of the names of all roads in that community. This means that Taralake Garden, Taralea Place, Taralea Bay, Taralea Way, Taralea Green, Taralea Circle, and Taralea Crescent are all separate roads, in the same community – Taradale. It can be very confusing for tourists and locals alike to navigate an area where very small differences in street names are so important to finding your way. If travelling in the suburban communities, have a map or directions and pay attention to the full, exact name.

Calgary's downtown core is bounded by the Bow River to the north, the railway tracks to the south (between 9th Ave S and 10th Ave S), 11 St W, and 4 St E. Almost all of the roads in the downtown core are one-way, so look carefully at your map for the direction of traffic on each road when planning your trip. When driving in downtown, watch for one-way signs. 7th Avenue S in the downtown core is for Calgary Transit buses and C-Trains (trams) only; cars driving on 7th Ave may be ticketed and will definitely draw stares and glares from waiting transit commuters.

For many years, parking in downtown Calgary has been the second most expensive in North America, after New York City's. Parking fees of over $25/day are not unusual. Street parking in downtown (and many other parts of the city) is through the city's ParkPlus system. You will find a ParkPlus pay station in every block. Before you leave your parking spot, note the 4-digit ParkPlus zone number on a sign near your car. Also note your rental car's licence plate number. Go to the ParkPlus pay station, where you will need to type in that information, and pay for your parking either with a credit card or with coins ($2, $1, $0.25). If you set up a ParkPlus account before your visit, you can pay using your cell phone. The MyParking app can help you find available parking more quickly.

In general, the city's driving situation is a result of rapid, unanticipated growth, so prepare for the roads being grossly inadequate and gridlocked during rush hour. Outside of rush hour, traffic is not usually a problem. Also watch for lane reversals during peak times on weekdays (6:30AM–8:30AM and 3:30PM–6:30PM) when going in and out of downtown on some larger streets (e.g. Centre Street, Memorial Drive, 10 Street NW). This increases the traffic flow in one direction by "borrowing" a lane normally going the other way.

Winter driving is very different from driving in other seasons. Major roads are ploughed, salted, and sanded, but smaller residential streets have very little snow removal or winter maintenance. The city bans snow route parking: after a heavy snowfall priority routes in the city – marked as snow removal routes with blue snowflake street signs – become no parking zones for 72 hours; this includes some residential streets, so bear this in mind if you have parked on the street during the winter.

As confounding as driving in Calgary may be, driving is still the best way to explore and see the city.

If you need to hire a car to explore the city or head out into the surrounding area check the prices from agencies on Macleod Trail, you may get a better deal than in downtown or at the airport.

Downtown Calgary is a compact area which is easily accessible on foot. The pathway system, Eau Claire Market area and Stephen Avenue Walk (8th Avenue) are the primary walking destinations of downtown workers in the warmer months. In the wintertime, everyone navigates their way around the downtown core via the Plus 15 system, so called because the enclosed walkways joining buildings are approximately 15 feet (5 m) above ground.

With approximately 760 km of paved pathways and 260 km of on-street bikeways within its boundaries, the City of Calgary boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. Pathway are available online and are available from Calgary swimming pools and leisure centres in the warmer months.

Calgary has cycle tracks in the downtown core. (A cycle track is a bike lane that is protected from other traffic by physical barriers, such as concrete medians.)

• The 7th St SW cycle track goes from the Bow River to 8th Ave SW.
• There are cycle tracks along 5th St W, 8th Ave S-Stephen Avenue Walk-9th Ave S, and 12th Ave S.

Check the City of Calgary's cycle track map for details.

Downtown, there are many pathways along the rivers and park areas. Though Calgary can be thought of as a safe city, use common sense when biking at dusk and at night. This is particularly true on the east side of downtown along the river (close to the neighbourhood of East Village), which is a rougher end of town.

Calgary has a good network of off-street bike paths, although motorists are sometimes less than courteous. Weather is unpredictable, and snowy cycling conditions may occur any time from September to May. Some bike paths are cleared of snow in winter. Bike racks are fairly common, especially in shopping areas. Be sure to use the bike racks provided, or another solid object to lock you bike to; as simply locking your back wheel will not provide sufficient security. Calgary Transit has bike racks at C-Train stations, allows bikes on the C-Trains during off-peak hours (at no additional fee), and is in the process of adding bike racks to all buses. Cycling is not allowed on 7th Avenue SE/SW in downtown Calgary, between 1st St SE and 8th St SW. This section of 7th Avenue is reserved for Calgary Transit vehicles and emergency vehicles; offenders risk a $350 ticket. Bicycles are also prohibited from using the Deerfoot Trail freeway (Hwy 2).

Cyclists must obey the same rules of the road as other vehicles. All cyclists must have a working bell on their bike, and cyclists under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet. Only cyclists under 14 may ride on sidewalks.

Each major body of water in the city (Bow River, Elbow River, Glenmore Reservoir) has city parks with bike paths. These bike paths are heavily used during the morning rush hour to work, but can provide hours of scenic pedalling. A scenic route starts in downtown and head along the Bow River pathway as it heads south to Fish Creek Provincial Park. Here, leave the banks of the Bow River and cycle though Fish Creek park along the main cycle path path until you reach the Glenmore Reservoir (a good place for lunch). At the reservoir, as the bike path crosses the dam, leave the Bow River pathway for the Elbow River pathway. This highly scenic path will take you back to downtown. Cycle time: 4–6 hours (with lunch).

Another major pathway extends north up Nose Creek valley just east of the zoo, including two overpasses to cross Deerfoot Trail (a busy freeway). While there is a pathway that leads to the airport, connecting to it requires crossing an industrial area, which is not recommended for novice cyclists.

Lime has an e-bike dockless rental operation in Calgary. Download their app to hire.

• Calgary Tower (in City Centre). The Calgary Tower may not be quite as impressive as the CN Tower in Toronto, but it still commands a great view over the city and the surroundings. On a clear day you can see the Rockies to the west. It features a revolving gourmet restaurant, a bar, and an observation deck. The tower is best approached from 8th Avenue, as the 10th Avenue side is dominated by railway tracks, parking lots, & parkades.
• Stampede Park (in City Centre). The site of Calgary's world-famous exhibition and rodeo, the Calgary Stampede grounds are east of the Beltline in Victoria Park. Not only are the grounds the site of the excitement of every July's Calgary Stampede, they also house a conference and exhibition centre (the BMO Centre) and a casino.

• Calgary Central Library (in City Centre). Flagship branch of the Calgary Public Library, opened on November 1, 2018. 240,000-square-foot (22,000 m²) interior centres around a four-storey central atrium topped by a skylight. The lower floors contain the library's meeting spaces and activity centres, while the upper floors feature book stacks with space for 450,000 titles and a reading room. Also features a 340-seat theatre, conference rooms, and small café. Named one of the 12 Most Anticipated Buildings of 2018 by Architectural Digest.

• Calgary Zoo (in Northeast). The world-class Calgary Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals from all over the world, as well as to the Botanical Garden and a Prehistoric Park for dinosaur lovers. It is the second largest zoo in Canada.
• Fort Calgary (in City Centre). Fort Calgary, a Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP, now RCMP) fort was built in 1875 at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers (near modern Inglewood). It became the nucleus around which Calgary grew. The original fort was destroyed decades ago. Today's Fort Calgary is a museum and historic site focusing on the history of the city and of the RCMP.
• Glenbow Museum (in City Centre). Western Canada's largest museum, with over 93,000 ft² (8,600 m²) of exhibition space on three floors. More than 20 galleries are filled with artifacts from Glenbow's collection of over a million objects, emphasizing local history. Permanent exhibitions include Indigenous Cultures, Western Canadian History, Asian Art, West African Art, and Military History. The Glenbow has changed focus to be more of an art gallery, and this is reflected in the temporary exhibitions.
• Heritage Park (in Southwest). One of the largest living historical villages in North America, on 66 acres of land near the Glenmore Reservoir. Attractions include a working passenger train, 155 historical exhibits, a candy store and bakery, old fashioned amusement park, and riding on the S.S. Moyie, a paddlewheel boat. In the winter, only a few attractions are open.
• Telus Spark (in Northeast). It is a place where people of all ages and abilities can put their imagination into action. It features over 100 hands-on exhibits, four exhibit galleries, plus a travelling exhibition gallery, a Creative Kids Museum, Calgary's only HD digital Dome Theatre, and a 4 acres (1.6 hectares) outdoor park.
• The Military Museums (in Southwest)]] One of the few military museums in Western Canada, the Military Museums features 4 museums dedicated to the regiments in the Calgary area. There is also an extensive library and archives centre is in the museum which is run by the University of Calgary.

• Fish Creek Provincial Park (in Southeast). Fish Creek Provincial Park is one of North America's largest urban parks, covering 13.5 km². This natural area park stretches along the banks of Fish Creek and the Bow River in south Calgary, from roughly 14 St SW in the west to the Bow River in the east.
• Olympic Plaza (in City Centre). This public square was built as the site of medal presentations during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.
• Prince's Island Park (in City Centre). Calgary's largest inner city park is an island with a number of pleasant trails for walking and relaxing.

• Nose Hill Park (in Northwest). Nose Hill Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Canada and North America, is in the northwest quadrant of Calgary, Alberta. It is a natural environment park, commonly regarded as a retreat from city life and a place to enjoy nature. It is the second-largest park in Calgary, surpassed in size only by Fish Creek Provincial Park.

• WinSport (Canada Olympic Park) (in Northwest). Take a tour of the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, which includes going to the top of the ski jump for a fantastic view. Four runs are available for your skiing pleasure during the winter months, and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame museum is open year-round.
• Scotiabank Saddledome (City Centre). On the Stampede Grounds, Calgary's largest hockey arena plays host to the Calgary Flames (ice hockey), the Calgary Hitmen (junior ice hockey), the Calgary Roughnecks (box lacrosse), and many concerts.
• Spruce Meadows (in Southwest). Just south of the city on Highway 22X, Spruce Meadows is a world-renowned show jumping and equestrian facility. The facility also houses ATCO Field, a soccer stadium that's home to Cavalry FC, a soccer team in the Canadian Premier League.

While Calgary is no Rome, Tokyo, or Paris for architecture, Calgary does have some interesting highlights those interested in architecture. The Bow is a modern masterpiece of glass and steel and would be a shame to miss. (But really how could you? The crescent-shaped Bow building pierces through the skyline from pretty much any angle.) Stephen Avenue (8th Ave S in downtown core) and Atlantic Avenue (9th Ave S in Inglewood) both have an abundance of tightly packed, small, old commercial buildings with great architectural details; follow this link for downloadable self-guided historic walking tours. Calgary's Peace Bridge, a pedestrian bridge crossing the Bow River from the downtown core, opened in 2012. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava and is a change from the cable-stayed bridges he is known for. The Calgary Tower is a beautiful early modern tower with a minimalist design. Even if you don't care for the design, you shouldn't miss the views from the top. Talisman Centre, a large sports complex opposite the Stampede grounds just south of the downtown core, has a unique arch-shaped roofline which is the suspension point for a fabric roof. You could also stroll the construction mazes of Macleod Trail and Scarth St/1 Street SE for many beautiful modern condominiums. Out in suburbia, the pyramid-shaped Fish Creek Library (near Southcentre Mall) is a local landmark.

In date order:

• Calgary Stampede, Stampede Park (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-269-9822, toll-free: +1-800-661-1767. (July, 10 days). During Stampede Week, the whole city goes western! During "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", there are events all around the city, but the highlights are the rodeo and chuckwagon races which boast the world's richest prizes. Over the years concerns have been raised about the treatment of animals at the event. 
• 🌍 High Performance Rodeo (in City Centre). (January, 3 weeks) This unconventional international festival of theatre, dance, music, comedy, visual art, and more has been gracing Calgary venues of all sorts for over 25 years. 
• Calgary International Salsa Congress, Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre St SE (in City Centre), info@calgarysalsacongress.com. (March, 2 days) Weekend of all-night salsa parties and Latin dance performances featuring both world-class and local talent. Includes qualifiers for the World Latin Dance Cup. $50-80. 
• Calgary Spoken Word Festival (various locations). (April, 2 weeks) Canada's largest spoken word festival takes place in bars, pubs, bookshops, and an intimate theatre setting. Poetry slams, workshops, and the Golden Beret Award. 
• Calgary Expo (Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo), Stampede Park (in City Centre), info@calgaryexpo.com. (April, 3 days) Pop culture festival featuring fantasy, sci-fi, horror, gaming, comics, anime and manga. 
• FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival (various locations), ☏ +1 403-228-7888, tickets@funnyfest.com. (Late May, early June; 11 days) A festival of comedy in halls, clubs, pubs, and bars across Calgary. Free to $25. 
• Lilac Festival, 4 Street SW; between 13 Ave SW and Elbow Drive) (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-453-7424. (June, 1 day) Annual street festival features over 500 vendors such as entertainment stages, street dancing, musical talent, artisan vendors, food, and other business stalls. 
• Sled Island Festival (various locations), ☏ +1 403-229-2901, info@sledisland.com. (June, 4 days) Independent music and visual arts festival, which takes place at over 30 venues. 
• Carifest, Shaw Millennium Park (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-774-1300, admin@carifestcalgary.com. (June, 1 day) Calgary's annual festival celebrating the city's large West Indian population starts with a parade downtown to Shaw Millennium Park for the day's festivities. Free. 
• Calgary Folk Music Festival, Prince's Island Park (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-233-0904, info@calgaryfolkfest.com. (July, 4 days) An extremely broad definition of "folk music" is used for this well-established festival. In addition to seven different stages with dozens of international performers, there is an area with performances & activities for kids, a market, food, and lots more. 
• Shakespeare by the Bow, Prince's Island Park (in City Centre). (July & August, 4 weeks) Shakespeare presented in an outdoor setting, an annual co-production of Mount Royal University and Theatre Calgary. Donations welcomed. 
• Historic Calgary Week (various locations), ☏ +1 403-261-4667. (Late July & early August, 10 days) Learn about local history through talks, behind the scenes tours, and walks. Free, donations welcome. 
• Calgary International Bluesfest (various locations). (late July & early August, 4 days) Calgary's got the blues! Many performers at a variety of venues. 
• Calgary Fringe Festival (various locations), ☏ +1 403-451-9726, Info@calgaryfringe.ca. (August, 10 days) Calgary's festival of uncensored & unjuried theatre takes place at a variety of traditional and unconventional venues. 
• GlobalFest, Elliston Park - 1827 68 St SE (in Southeast), ☏ +1 403-569-9679, contactus@globalfest.ca. 6-11:30PM. (August, 5 days) Fireworks competition and multi-cultural festival at Elliston Park. There is no parking at Elliston Park, but there is a shuttle bus from Marlborough Mall for $6. $20 per night, or $75 for 5 nights (early bird pricing also available). 
• Taste of Calgary, Eau Claire Festival Plaza, 200 Barclay Parade SW (in City Centre), ☏ +1 403-293-2888, taste@tasteofcalgary.com. 11AM-9PM. (August, 4 days) Enjoy a wide variety of foods at Calgary's outdoor dining festival. Music at the Taste Stage. $1 per sampling ticket; each sample requires 2-5 tickets. 
• Dragon Boat Race and Festival, North Glenmore Park (in Southwest; catch shuttle bus from Mount Royal University). (August, 2 days) Dozens of 20-person dragon boat crews race to the beat of their drummers on Glenmore Reservoir. Kids' activities, food, and entertainment are all available in the park. Free. 
• Beakerhead (various locations), ☏ +1 587-351-7787, connect@beakerhead.com. (September, 5 days) Combines the arts/culture sectors with the science/technology sectors to encourage collaboration, innovation, and science education through interactive art exhibits, engineered installations, entertainment, and workshops. 
• WordFest (various locations). (October, 7 days) Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival includes readings, panel discussions, performances, interviews. Festival des mots in French, some programming in Spanish. 
• Marda Loop Justice Film Festival. (November). 

Individual listings can be found in Calgary's district articles

• Calaway Park, (in Northwest) (Hwy 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy) exit 169, just west of Calgary's city limits). Western Canada's largest amusement park, roughly 15 minutes west of Calgary. Gate admission pays for all rides; games, food cost extra. 
• Harvie Passage (in Southeast). The area around Calgary Bow River Weir was remade into a Class II and III white water park for paddlers. Harvie Passage is meant only for experienced canoe and kayak paddlers; all others should portage around it. Free. 

Calgary is home to a number of professional and amateur sport teams. The Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL) are the most recognized team and play at the 19,289-seat Scotiabank Saddledome, located inside Stampede Park in the City Centre. Tickets are available, but games are routinely sold out, and tickets must usually be bought from a broker at higher prices. The major junior Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) also play at the Scotiabank Saddledome, while several junior 'A' teams play in and around Calgary. Tickets to these games are available at the door.

The Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), 2018 holders of the Grey Cup (league champions), play at the 35,400 seat McMahon Stadium, located at the University of Calgary in the Northwest. Good seats can be bought in advance, but few games are sold out (a notable exception being the annual Labour Day Classic against the rival Edmonton Eskimos) and tickets can be purchased at the door. The Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) play box lacrosse at the Scotiabank Saddledome, and are holders of the 2019 Champions Cup (league champions). Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League play professional soccer at ATCO Field on the grounds of Spruce Meadows in the Southwest. There is no professional baseball in Calgary, but the collegiate Okotoks Dawgs play at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks.

For varsity athletics, the three major post-secondary institutions have comprehensive athletic programs, though not at the high profile as their American counterparts:

• Calgary Dinos, University of Calgary (in Northwest). Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), field hockey (women), Canadian football (men), basketball (men & women), rugby (women), soccer (men's & women's), swimming, track & field/x-country, volleyball (men & women), wrestling. 
• MRU Cougars, Mount Royal University (in Southwest). Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women). 
• SAIT Trojans, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) (in Northwest). Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women). 

Calgary has a very vibrant theatre scene. It seems that Calgary has live theatre for every taste: avant-garde (One Yellow Rabbit), traditional (Theatre Calgary, ATP), mystery (Vertigo), lunch breaks (Lunchbox), improv (Loose Moose), clown arts (Green Fools), and more. The two daily newspapers provide some theatre coverage. The City Centre contains Arts Commons which hosts multiple live theatre companies, as well as the Jack Singer Concert Hall, home of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Other live theatre venues are located in the City Centre, as well as the National Music Centre (Studio Bell), which features a performance hall and museum.

The Northwest is home to the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, a large concert hall and home to Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet. The Southeast contains some small live theatre venues as well as the Stage West Dinner Theatre, while Jubilations Dinner Theatre is located in the Southwest.

Starbucks and Tim Horton's are everywhere in Calgary. If you're looking for something different, try one of these.

• Analog Cafe. Local coffee chain serving Fratello coffee (sister company). Seven locations throughout Calgary.
• Good Earth Coffeehouse and Bakery. Calgary-based Good Earth has nearly 30 locations across Calgary, and others across Western Canada. Many of their cafes have patios.
• Rosso Coffee Roasters. Local coffee company with direct sourced coffee. Offers grab-and-go as well as a pour over bar. Seven locations throughout Calgary.
• Waves Coffee House. "Waves" refers both to the Vancouver origin of this coffee chain, and also to the fact that every location has free wi-fi. Nearly 10 locations across Calgary.

For emergencies, call 911

• 811 Health Link, ☏ 811, toll-free: +1-866-408-5465. 24 hours / 7 days a week. Registered nurses provide telephone advice and information about health symptoms and concerns. Health Link nurses help find appropriate services and health information. (updated Jun 2023)

All hospitals operate 24-hour emergency departments.

• 🌍 Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, ☏ +1 403-955-7211. For patients aged 17 and under. Look for the multi-coloured building near the top of the hill. Patients over age 17 should go to the Foothills Medical Centre, which is close by. 
• 🌍 Foothills Medical Centre (Foothills Hospital), 1403-29 St NW, ☏ +1 403-944-1110. For patients aged 15 and older. Patients under 15 years of age should go to Alberta Children's Hospital, which is very close to Foothills Medical Centre. 
• 🌍 Peter Lougheed Centre (Peter Lougheed Hospital), 3500-26 Ave NE (Just north of Sunridge Mall), ☏ +1 403-943-4555. 
• 🌍 Rockyview General Hospital, 7007-14 St SW, ☏ +1 403-943-3000. 
• 🌍 South Health Campus, 4448 Front St SE, ☏ +1 403-956-1111. 24-hour emergency, visiting hours 11AM-9PM. This new hospital was fully operational in July 2013. Located at southeastern edge of Calgary. 

Urgent care centres deal with issues which are not life-threatening but require attention within the same day or evening. For serious and life-threatening health concerns always go to your nearest emergency department, or call 911. Problems which urgent care centres typically deal with include broken bones, sprains, asthma, cuts, dehydration, infections, and pain.

• 🌍 South Calgary Health Centre, 31 Sunpark Plaza SE (Shawnessy district), ☏ +1 403-943-9300. 8AM-10PM. 
• 🌍 Sheldon Chumir Health Centre, 1213 4 St SW (Next to Central Memorial Park), ☏ +1 403-955-6200. 24hrs. 

There are many walk-in medical clinics across the city that deal with routine medical concerns. Medi-Centre is a chain of walk-in clinics with locations across the city, but there are also many independent walk-in clinics.

• 🌍 Calgary Main Post Office (Canada Post), 639 5th Ave SW Suite 100 (SE of the intersection of 5th Ave SW & 6th St SW). (retail counter) M-F 9AM-6PM. Postcodes for the greater Calgary area are T1Y and T1Z; and range from T2C through T2Z; and from T3C to T3Z. Neighbourhood post office branches are located within and operated by London Drug, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall Drugstores and other retail stores contracted by Canada Post. They are marked with the red "Canada Post" signage and logo.