According to one popular website, there are more than 240 things to do in Calgary. To someone visiting Calgary, that might sound crazy (and, to be honest, to a local person it also sounds a little crazy!). Fortunately, you don’t have to hit up all 240 Calgary tourist attractions to have an amazing visit to Calgary… you just need to leave time in your itinerary for these nine Calgary hotspots, ranging from architectural landmarks to spectacular natural areas.
#1 – Calgary Tower
Built in 1968 to celebrate Calgary’s one hundredth birthday, Calgary Tower is such a striking silhouette on the city’s skyline that you couldn’t miss seeing it if you tried! Standing 190.8 meters, the tower features a 360° view of downtown Calgary, the surrounding neighborhoods and even the Rocky Mountains. Some sections of the floor are glass, making it feel like you’re floating in the air, high above the streets below. A new addition to the viewing deck is the collection of multimedia exhibits, available in seven languages, that explain the tower, the city and the future of Calgary.
The Calgary Tower also has a rotating restaurant, called Sky 360, at the 155-meter mark. Every forty-five minutes the restaurant does a complete, 360° rotation, allowing you to take in all the views while you dine. I ate at the restaurant several years ago and enjoyed my meal. It was definitely an added bonus that admission to the observation deck is free as long as you order an entree!
Try to visit the Calgary Tower on a clear day for the best views. While it’s rarely packed with people, you can beat the crowds by visiting on a weekday, either in the morning or the late afternoon.
⭐ Check out my complete guide to visiting the Calgary Tower. ⭐
#2 – Heritage Park
Calgary is proud of its pioneer heritage, and that side of the city’s history comes to life at Heritage Park. Billing itself as “Canada’s Largest Living History Museum”, Heritage Park is a 127-acre celebration of the settlement of Western Canada.
The park is at its best in the late spring and summer months, when all of the exhibits are fully operational. At this time, you’ll have access to the entire grounds, including the reconstructed historical town center, the classic midway amusement park, the traditional rodeo grounds and the olde trading post. The park is staffed by actors who take on the roles of historical characters and bring Western Canadian history to life.
The historical reconstructions are closed during Calgary’s cold winter months. During these months, visitors can still check out the Gasoline Alley Museum, which is a collection of antique cars, retro gasoline pumps and memorabilia from the early days of Alberta’s petroleum industry. As well, some special events are offered throughout the winter months.
No matter what time of year you visit Heritage Park, you’ll want to check their website first to confirm opening hours and operational exhibits. Since the park is quite large and mostly outdoors, you’ll want to wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
Heritage Park Website: Click Here
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#3 – The Calgary Zoo
Without a doubt, the Calgary Zoo is the best year-round Calgary tourist attraction for families with children. This not-for-profit attraction is home to almost 1,000 animals from 120 species, including penguins, pandas, gorillas and bears. The zoo is continually revitalizing and constructing animal habitats, meaning that in general, there is ample room for animals to live their lives and there are many opportunities for the animals to explore and interact.
The Calgary Zoo is divided into distinct sections, each focusing on a unique geographical region. Highlights include:
- The Canadian Wilds (bears, moose, cougars, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, etc.)
- Destination Africa (lions, giraffes, hippos, gorillas, etc.)
- Eurasia (tigers, red pandas, snow leopards, etc.)
- Penguin Plunge
- Panda Passage
It will take between two and four hours to see the entire zoo, and longer if you stop to participate in any of the daily activities (like the penguin walk, where the penguins leave their enclosure and waddle around the zoo grounds!). There are several fast food stalls and coffee shops around the zoo, along with Kitamba Café, a self-service cafeteria-style restaurant.
If you plan to visit the Calgary Zoo two or more times in a calendar year, it is cheaper to buy an annual pass than individual tickets. There is a C-Train station at the zoo with easy transportation connections to the city center.
Calgary Zoo Website: Click Here
#4 – Prince’s Island Park
While the last two Calgary tourist attractions were outside the city center, Prince’s Island Park takes us right back to downtown Calgary, right in the middle of the Bow River. Just a few blocks away from the Calgary Tower and other downtown tourist attractions, Prince’s Island Park is a little slice of nature in the middle of urban Calgary.
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The island is twenty hectares in size and features a network of walking and cycling paths. In the winter, the City of Calgary operates an outdoor skating rink on the island’s sheltered lagoon (weather-dependent… the ice has to be thick enough for skating!) and in the summer, Prince’s Island Park hosts festivals including Folkfest, Shakespeare in the Park and the annual Canada Day celebrations.
Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife including ducks, geese, squirrels and even the occasional beaver!
#5 – The Glenbow Museum
Billing itself as “Calgary’s Art and History Museum”, the Glenbow Museum is located across the street from the Calgary Tower. Over the years, the museum has evolved to feature more interactive exhibits and a broader range of perspectives (especially those of Alberta’s First Nations).
The permanent galleries at The Glenbow Museum include:
- Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta – An exploration of what it means to be Albertan, told through the stories of almost 50 iconic Albertans
- Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life – The story of the Blackfoot people and land, as told by members of the Blackfoot community
- New Sun Gallery of Aboriginal Art and Culture – Traditional works of art from Indigenous cultures across Canada
- Picturing the Northwest: Historical Art from Glenbow’s Collection – Selected works from the museum’s art collection, with a focus on pieces that tell the story of the exploration, settlement and development of Calgary, Alberta and Canada
- Treasures of the Mineral World – More rocks and minerals than you can throw a stone at.
- Where Symbols Meet: A Celebration of West African Achievement
- Warriors: A Global Journey Through Five Centuries
There are also visiting and temporary exhibits at the Glenbow Museum. I visited in 2019 to see an exhibit about the fashions of Christian Dior during the New Look period, and 2020 saw new two new temporary exhibits: one featuring contemporary Canadian portraits, and a second featuring the works of photographer James Brady.
You’ll need two or three hours to explore the full Glenbow Museum. If you’re in town on the first Thursday of the month, admission from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm is totally free.
Note: At press time, the Glenbow Museum is closed for major renovations, with an expected reopening date delayed until 2026. Check their website to see if there are any pop-up exhibits from their collections at alternate locations during your visit to Calgary.
#6 – Studio Bell & The National Music Center
One of Calgary’s newest tourist attractions is the National Music Center, a museum located inside the funky Studio Bell building. Spread across five floors, the museum features twenty-two different “stages” that celebrate the history of Canadian music.
Exhibits showcase the music and musicians of Canada, the impact of music (physically and emotionally) and the art of making music. If you’re particularly inspired, you can walk across the Skybridge to the other side of the building, which houses the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio (which was built in 1968 by the Rolling Stones’ tour manager, and can now be booked if you want to record your own music!).
The top floor of Studio Bell is home to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, which celebrates artists from Gordon Lightfoot to Justin Bieber. As well, the National Music Center hosts rotating special exhibits and events, along with hour-long guided tours.
Studio Bell Website: Click Here
#7 – Calgary’s New Central Library
It’s unusual for a public library to be featured on a list of top tourist attractions, but Calgary’s New Central Library is not your average library. Featured on Time Magazine’s list of 2019’s Greatest Places, this architectural wonder has also been showcased by the New York Times, Popular Science and the American Institute of Architects.
📍 The new Central Library is one of 10+ stops on my new self-guided walking tour of Calgary!
As soon as you approach Calgary’s New Central Library, you’ll understand why it’s an attraction in its own right. Outside the building stands German artist Christian Moeller’s Trio, a series of three gigantic, bobbing birds. This is complemented by indoor artworks, including a mural by three indigenous artists and a now-iconic buffalo sculpture by Lionel Peyachew.
You can sign up online for a free tour of the library, during which you’ll learn about the building’s unique architecture and the public facilities, including a massive Children’s Library, a performance hall, a Digital Commons (with free computers and Chromebooks) and a drop-in Guidance Circle where you can chat with Indigenous elders from local First Nations.
#8 – Nose Hill Park
Calgary is home to many different parks, but for out-of-town visitors wanting to experience an authentic prairie landscape, nothing beats Nose Hill Park. Situated in the city’s northwest quadrant, Nose Hill Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America and is Calgary’s best example of the unique natural environment of Alberta’s foothills.
Nose Hill Park is eleven square kilometers and has a web of walking trails running both north-to-south and east-to-west. If you’re coming from downtown Calgary, access the park via 14th Street NW. Public transit users can access the park via the pedestrian pathway behind the Calgary Winter Club (at the corner of 14th Street NW and John Laurie Boulevard), while drivers can use the free parking lot further up 14th Street NW. Some of the trails feature off-leash sections for dogs, but most of the paths require dogs to be on their leash.
I visit Nose Hill Park several times a year, and always see deer, hares and coyotes during my visits. Occasionally, I’ve also seen owls and porcupines! Other animals including moose, lynx, badgers and foxes have been spotted in the park.
In the winter, trails in Nose Hill Park can be covered in snow. You’ll need good snow boots to enjoy your winter walk. In the spring, trails are quite muddy, so again, waterproof shoes or boots are useful.
#9 – Devonian Gardens
When the weather outside is frightful, Calgary’s most popular indoor park and botanical garden is so delightful! Spanning an entire city block on the top level of The Core shopping center, in the very heart of downtown Calgary, the Devonian Gardens are a breath of fresh air in the cold winter months (and during a summer shopping spree too!).
Although the Devonian Gardens were first opened in 1977, they were closed for several years in the early 2000s. Recently renovated and reopened in 2018, this indoor urban garden now feels more spacious, with wider walking paths and a sunny glass roof. You’ll still find more than 500 trees, 50 different kinds of plants, a towering living wall, a koi pond and a children’s playground in this 100% free Calgary attraction.
The Devonian Gardens are also a popular study space for students at the University of Calgary, and can be booked for special events or photo shoots through the City of Calgary. The Devonian Gardens are free to visit (if you’re looking for more budget travel tips, check out 45 ways I save money on travel!).
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