Calgary

Calgary is Alberta's largest city and Canada's fourth-largest and is near where the prairies end and the foothills begin. That makes it the eastern gateway to the Rocky Mountains and an important center of trade and tourism for the western prairies. It is your best point of access for Banff and Jasper and a worthwhile destination in its own right. Calgary is the heart of the largest metropolitan area between Toronto and Vancouver, with over 1,210,000 people as of 2011 (1.1 million within city limits), making it Canada's fourth largest metropolitan area.

An introduction to 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 (Scotland) | 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 and 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 and 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.

Neighbourhoods of interest

The Beltline and 17th Avenue: 17th Avenue Southwest is Calgary's première place to see and be seen. It boasts a large and eclectic variety of restaurants, unique shops, boutiques and bars. This street is where Calgary parties, most notably becoming the "Red Mile" during the 2004 Stanley Cup ice hockey playoffs, where up to 100,000 cheering fans gathered to celebrate victories by the hometown NHL Calgary Flames. While the Beltline spans from the Stampede Grounds and Victoria Park on the east to Mount Royal on the west and the dense nightlife on 17th Avenue starts at about 2nd Street Southwest and goes to 15th Street SW.

Bridgeland (Edmonton Trail on the west, Tom Campbell's Hill on the east, Bridge Crescent NE on the north and the Bow River/Memorial Drive/Zoo on the south) is an urban revitalization area northeast of the downtown. Although the community has long been Calgary's "Little Italy" (hence the abundance of Italian restaurants in the area) and the demolition of the old General Hospital in 1998 sparked a long-term project redevelop much of the era. The area is expected to be a family oriented Pearl District (see Portland, Oregon) and the initial phases are already done. The area includes posh shops, chic apartments and beautiful lofts, while maintaining the old charm of the distinct houses. The area is undergoing massive gentrification due to its proximity to downtown and the now cleaned up East Village. It is a great area to walk through for those interested in architecture and planning. The far eastern end of Bridgeland connects with the Calgary Zoo (which will be welcoming pandas in 2023) and Telus Spark Science Centre. Tom Campbell's Hill is an excellent viewpoint of downtown.

Inglewood: Inglewood is Calgary's oldest neighbourhood and the site of the city's original downtown. It is also one of Calgary's most culturally influenced and eclectic areas. Inglewood contains everything from stores targeted at bikers, to unique boutiques, antique stores, galleries and restaurants. It is not as developed as some of the city's downtown neighborhoods, but it is quickly becoming one of the city's most popular "urban chic" neighbourhoods. It lies instantly east of downtown (east of 1st Street E) and is concentrated along 9th Avenue SE. Just to the north is the Bow River and the Calgary Zoo. Forest Lawn International Avenue. Forest Lawn is known for its diverse culture, with the city's best Vietnamese, Lebanese, African and Central American eateries lining 17th Avenue Southeast between 26th Street Southeast and 61 Street SE. Forest Lawn has a very large immigrant population, which is why it is home to diverse restaurants and businesses. Due to being a low income part of the city, it has a reputation for being one of the less-safe areas of Calgary, but International Avenue is definitely worth a visit to explore Calgary's diverse population. This area is home to Elliston Park, which is a very large urban park, best known for hosting Global Fest every August, a festival that showcases Calgary's diverse cultures and excites with its fireworks competition.

Kensington. Kensington is along the Bow River on the north side of downtown. It is another one of Calgary's notable shopping neighbourhoods, with a somewhat more bohemian feel than 17th Avenue (one particular store specializes in Birkenstocks and futons). It offers a good variety of restaurants, with more of an emphasis on coffee shops than on bars. Kensington runs along Kensington Road Northwest from 14th Street Northwest to 10th Street Northwest and also north along 10th Street Northwest to 5 Ave NW.

McKenzie Towne is on the southeastern outskirts of Calgary (accessible via Deerfoot Trail and McKenzie Towne Boulevard). An exception to the "dull suburb" stereotype, this planned community features parks and classical home facades that come right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Anchoring the area is High Street, a Shopping Centre disguised as a classic small-town main street. Worth checking out if you've rented a vehicle to visit Spruce Meadows.

Marda Loop/Garrison Green (east of Crowchild Trail along 33rd Avenue SW), which contains a large number of quaint shops, restaurants and services and is a real up and comer area and would be a great place to check out. Marda Loop, centered on the intersection of 33rd Avenue and 20th Street SW, is the older of the two areas and in mid-August hosts the Marda Gras Street Festival along 33 Avenue between 19 Street and 23 Street SW. Garrison Green is a newly developed residential/shopping neighborhood instantly to the south of 32 Avenue that features its own mix of eclectic shops and old-towne storefronts.

Mission: The Mission neighborhood was established as a French and Catholic settlement (later called Rouleauville) at the same time that Calgary was founded. Historic displays at SPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/Downtown-parks/Rouleauville-Plaza.aspx Rouleauville Plaza and the Elbow River Promenade tell the story of the area. In many ways, Mission acts as an extension of 17th Avenue. Like the Beltline, it is packed full of interesting restaurants and retail outlets. It does not share 17th Avenue's late night reputation, however and it generally lacks the bars and late night restaurants. Mission extends from 4th Street Southwest to 1st Street Southeast and from 17th Avenue Southwest in the north to 26th Avenue and the Elbow River in the south.

Mount Royal is a neighbourhood south of the downtown with charming old homes on winding streets. The area houses some of Calgary's elite. It is a nice area to do a quiet stroll through, admiring old residences. Driving around the community can be challenging due to the preponderance of traffic calming measures and street closures to prevent cut-through traffic.

Parkhill is a neighbourhood south of downtown. It is a quite wealthy area that once had many old homes. Today it is home to a range of modern designs, with few old homes still standing. It's a very interesting neighbourhood to visit.

Climate & Weather

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, 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 common, 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 feasible (on average five times a year). Though average highs in January are about -2°C (28°F) based on a current 30-year average and there's nothing average with Calgary's weather. Because of the regular but unpredictable chinooks (warm Pacific winds) and 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 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 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 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 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.

Get in

Fly to Calgary

• Calgary International Airport IATA Flight Code: YYC - 51.113889, -114.020278 - 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. The airport is well-served by Canadian and international carriers. The airport has "White Hat Volunteers" dressed in white cowboy hats and red vests who are quite friendly and more than happy to direct you and answer questions.

Domestic airlines

• WestJet. Calgary is the headquarters and hub for Canada's second largest airline. International destinations served by WestJet include Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, San Diego, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Orlando and New York.
• Air Canada. Calgary International Airport is also a hub for Canada's flag carrier. International destinations served by Air Canada include Seattle (seasonal), Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, London - Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt Airport and Tokyo-Narita.

International airlines

• Aeromexico, daily Flights to/from Mexico City
• American Airlines, multiple daily Flights to/from Dallas/Ft. Worth
• Alaska Airlines, multiple daily Flights to/from Seattle.
• British Airways. Daily Flights to/from London Heathrow Airport.
• Delta, multiple daily Flights to Minneapolis and Salt Lake City.
• Horizon Airlines, multiple Flights to Seattle. Owned by Alaska Airlines, but uses smaller aircraft.
• KLM-Airline. 5 weekly Flights to/from Amsterdam.
• Lufthansa. Daily Flights to/from Frankfurt Airport.
• United. Several daily Flights to/from San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Houston.

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 city's and 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 trip 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 instantly 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 US Passengers are not permitted to access US security more than 2 hours before their flight departs.

Ground transportation

Like most large airports and there are many options for getting into the city:

• Simplest: Taxi ($40–45 typically) Should take 20 minutes on a good day. Uber can pick up on the departures level (upstairs) at Doors 1 & 12.
• 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.

• Still easy: dules-maps/airport-service-routes Calgary Transit bus Route 300-Airport/Downtown ($10.50 if you board at the airport, $3.30 if you board at any other stop). The stop at the domestic terminal has a ticket machine that accepts credit cards. This fully accessible express bus leaves the airport roughly every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends running from 5:30AM to midnight every day. 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 duration to downtown is estimated at 30–45 minutes. While the ticket from the airport is expensive, it is a full day pass for all transit.

• Cheapest (and slowest): ml/airport_service Calgary Transit bus Route 100-Airport/McKnight Station and C-Train (LRT/tram) Route 202. ($3.30/adult, exact change) Take the Route 100-Airport/McKnight Station bus to McKnight-Westwinds LRT Station and board a downtown C-Train (tram). The bus runs every 20–30 minutes, stopping at 1AM on weekdays and earlier on the weekend. Since the train isn't really designed for air travellers and there will be 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 duration is estimated at about 60 minutes.

• Also feasible: Car rentals are also available as at any airport.

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 feasible to fly into the Edmonton International Airport, three hours away by ground transport.

Rent a Car or Limousine in Calgary

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

Take a bus to Calgary

• Banff Airporter. A year-round scheduled shuttle service between the Calgary airport, Canmore and Banff.
• Brewster Banff Airport Express. A year-round scheduled shuttle service between the Calgary airport, downtown Calgary, Canmore and Banff. In summer, also connects to Kananaskis and Jasper.

• Red Arrow. Provides luxury coach service to several Alberta city's, including Edmonton, with its bus stop on 9th Ave at 1st Street SE. It's best to book seats a few days prior to departure as the bus may be fully booked by departure time. Sister brand Ebus offers service to Red Deer and Edmonton in standard motorcoaches.

• Rider Express +1-833-583-3636 Bus service along the Trans-Canada Highway from Winnipeg to Vancouver, twice daily. Service from Strathmore, Canmore, Lake Louise and Banff (Alberta); Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, Hope, Abbotsford and Vancouver (British Columbia); Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Regina, Whitewood and Moosomin (Saskatchewan); and Brandon and Winnipeg (Manitoba).

Travel by train to Calgary

• Tower Centre 51.0441, -114.0631 - Tower Centre - VIA6506calg1982 829644 There has been no Via Rail passenger service to Calgary since 1990. In the summer and the Rocky Mountaineer tourist train runs to Banff, Lake Louise and Vancouver, but is slow and expensive as thit is a daytime-only algary-alberta sightseeing train. CP runs a luxury excursion tourist train as the "Royal Canadian Pacific" but service is infrequent and prices exorbitant (thousands of dollars) as thit is nostalgia, not practical transportation.

Get around

By transit

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 first 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 and 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 Monday - 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 ing-around/rider-tools/teleride Teleride at +1 403-974-4000, or texting 74000 with the bus stop number, which can be found on the bus stop sign. This information is based solely on bus schedules and times are not adjusted if buses are delayed by weather or other factors.

In August 2022, Calgary Transit began testing a ml/real-time-bus real-time bus information system that displays stop and schedule information on some buses, but the system is not fully implemented. This will eventually provide a much-needed update to the existing Teleride system.

LRT/tram

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 local residents. Route 201 runs from Tuscany Station in the northwest to Somerset/Bridlewood station in the southern suburbs, passing through the downtown 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 Street 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 (5 minutes or less in rush hour and 15 minutes on holidays). 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 and 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 feasible to get around to the main places without too much difficulty. Bus routes service either downtown or an LRT station and run from around 5AM Monday - 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. Bus routes with 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; the express routes are the exception, using 1970s-era buses.

Transit tickets ($3.30/adult $2.30/youth) permit 90 minutes of travel on trains and buses, with round trips allowed. Day passes ($10.50/adult, $7.50/youth) and Books of 10 transit tickets ($33/adult, $23/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 ($103/adult $75/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., 2 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 ml/bylaw $250 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.

Rent a Car or Limousine in Calgary

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 divides 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, Southeast 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 Street or Centre Ave.

Many of Calgary's roads are numbered, but thit 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 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 local residents 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 and the railway tracks to the south (between 9th Ave South and 10th Ave S), 11 Street West and 4 Street 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 South 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 web/guest/parkplus ParkPlus system. Instead of meters at every downtown parking spot, you will find a ParkPlus pay station in every block. Before you leave your parking spot, you need to 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 web/guest/myparkingapp MyParking app can help you find available parking more quickly.

In general and 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 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. Memorial Drive, 10th 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 vehicle 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.

On foot

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 15.com/ Plus 15 system, so called because the enclosed walkways joining buildings are roughly 15 feet (5 m) above ground.

By bicycle

With roughly 760 km of paved pathways and 260 km of on-street bikeways within its boundaries and the City of Calgary boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. Pathway ndbikeways/ are available online and are available from Calgary swimming pools and leisure centres in the warmer months. The June 2013 flooding affected Calgary's bike paths. As of February 2014, roughly 36 km of bike paths remain closed due to flood damage and detours, so check the City of Calgary's website for current pathway closures. If you choose to walk or cycle on closed pathways, you may receive a $150 ticket.

In 2013, Calgary introduced its first Transportation cycle track 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 Street Southwest cycle track goes from the Bow River to 8th Ave SW. In 2014, cycle tracks along 5th Street W, 8th Ave S-Stephen Avenue Walk-9th Ave South and 12th Ave South were also added to the system. Check the City of Calgary's cycle track map for details.

Downtown and 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. Thit 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 sin 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 and allows ml/bikes_on_board bikes on the C-Trains during off-peak hours (at no additional fee). Folding bikes can be taken on C-Trains and buses at any time when folded and stored in a case that protects other travellers from dirt and grease.All buses on Route 20—Heritage/Northmount are equipped with ml/bike_racks bike racks on the front. Cycling is not allowed on 7th Avenue SE/SW in downtown Calgary, between 1st Street Southeast and 8th Street 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 (Highway 2).

Cyclists must obey the same Pages/Traffic/Bicycle-safety.aspx 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 have an e-bike dockless rental operation in Calgary.

What to see in Calgary

The pamphlet titled "Calgary attractions" has discount coupons for 14 tourism attractions. Some coupons are modest such as $1 off Calgary Tower admission, but others can be substantial such as 50% off a second admission to Heritage Park Historical Village. The pamphlet is available at the Tourism Calgary airport kiosk (arrival level) or in the ground floor lobby of the Calgary Tower.^{(Jun 2024)}

Landmarks

• Calgary Tower - 101 9th Ave Southwest 51.044507, -114.063117 corner of 9 Ave Southwest & Centre Street ☎ +1 403-266-7171 Opening Hours: June - Aug 9AM Monday - 10PM, Sept-May 9AM Monday - 9PM $18/adult, $16/senior, $9/child Calgary Tower 26689 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 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.
• Saddledome 51.0375, -114.0519 - On the Stampede Grounds, Calgary's largest hockey arena plays host to the Calgary Flames (ice hockey) and the Calgary Hitmen (junior ice hockey) and the Calgary Roughnecks (box lacrosse) and many concerts.

• Stampede Grounds - 1410 Olympic Way Southeast 51.035282, -114.05341 from the C-Train Route 201, get off at either Victoria Park/Stampede Station (N end of Stampede grounds) or Erlton/Stampede Station (S end of Stampede grounds) - The site of Calgary's world-famous exhibition and rodeo and 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 and they also house a conference and exhibition centre (the BMO Centre) and a casino.

Museums & educational attractions

• Calgary Zoo 1300 Zoo Road NE 51.045461, -114.030599 LRT Route 202 to Zoo Station ☎ +1 403-232-9300 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM $29.95/adult, $27.95/senior, $19.95/child 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. and is the second largest zoo in Canada.
• Firefighters Museum of Calgary 4124 – 11th Street Southeast 51.017764, -114.035957 ☎ +1 403-246-3322 Opening Hours: Closed pending a search for a new facility $7 recommended donation This small, professionally-run museum focuses on the history of firefighting in Calgary, with exhibits such as a Calgary invention for fighting basement fires and Calgary's first 9-1-1 switchboard. The collection also includes many antique firetrucks, including a rare 1929 Magirus Aerial.
• Fort Calgary 750 9th Ave Southeast 51.044537, -114.044422 ☎ +1 403-290-1875 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM $12/adult, $11/concession, $7/youth, $5/child 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 130 9th Ave Southeast 51.045163, -114.061068 ☎ +1 403-268-4100 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM, Sunday Noon-5PM $16/adult, $11/concession, $10/child, $40/family, +5% GST - Glenbow Museum 1 . Western Canada's largest museum, with over 93,000 square feet 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 thit is reflected in the temporary exhibitions. Free on the first Thursday of the month 5PM Monday - 9PM.
• Heritage Park 1900 Heritage Dr Southwest 50.982654, -114.101411 Macleod Tr south to Heritage Dr, Heritage Dr west to Heritage Park. Trans LRT Route 201 south to Heritage Station, bus Route 502--Heritage Park to Heritage Park ☎ +1 403-268-8500 +1 403-268-8501 Opening Hours: Summer 10AM Monday - 5PM, Fall Saturday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 5PM, closed in winter $26.50/adult, $13.65/child, $18.95/youth, $20.70/senior 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 Candies 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.
• Gasoline Alley Museum 1900 Heritage Dr Southwest 50.9831, -114.1019 ☎ +1 403-268-8500 Opening Hours: Summer 10AM Monday - 5PM, Winter T-Su 10AM Monday - 4PM $10.95/adult, $5.65/child, $6.95/youth, $8.75/senior The museum is open year round unlike the Heritage Village.
• The Military Museums | 4520 Crowchild Trail Southwest 51.013728, -114.116861 ☎ +1 403-974-2850 - The most extensive military museum in Canada outside of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, this facility houses galleries devoted to four local army regiments, galleries for the air force and navy and several general interest galleries. It covers Canadians' service in the Boer War and the World Wars and the Korean War and the Cold War and post-1945 operations with the UN and NATO including Cyprus, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. There is an outdoor historical vehicle display. Formerly the Museum of the Regiments.
• TELUS Spark | 220 St. George's Dr NE 51.053717, -114.025127 | directions in the NE at the crossing of Memorial Drive and Deerfoot Trail ☎ +1 403-268-8300 Opening Hours: Sunday - Friday 9AM Monday - 4PM, Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM, first Thursday of each month 9AM Monday - 9PM, second Thursday 9AM Monday - 4PM and then reopens to 18+ only 6PM Monday - 10PM $19.95 (adult/youth) (Formerly named the Telus World of Science at previous location) Canada's first purpose-built new science centre in over 25 years is a place where people of all ages and abilities can put their imagination into action. Constructed on over 18 acres of reclaimed land and the new {{Ft2|153,000 facility features over one hundred hands-on exhibits, four exhibit galleries, plus a travelling exhibition gallery, an expanded and enhanced Creative Kids Museum, Calgary's only HD digital Dome Theatre, a new Presentation Theatre and Learning Centre, a 10,000 square-foot atrium and a four-acre outdoor park.

Parks

• Battalion Park 51.021553, -114.174005 road access is via Signal Hill Dr Southwest - A tribute to local soldiers that trained for the First World War at the former Sarcee Camp, this small park has an interpretive 500 m long walking trail/staircase up the side of a steep hill. Soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force left enormous battalion numerals spelled out in whitewashed stones on the hillside, which have been restored as a permanent memorial. The trail also includes a monument and a self-guided tour with historical tablets and photographs. Most of the numbers are easily seen from the parking lots of the nearby Signal Hill and West Hills Shopping Centres.
• Bowness Park 8900 48 Ave Northwest 51.09776, -114.22046 - Opening Hours: 5:00AM - 11:00PM Bowness Park is located along the Bow River between Stoney Tr and 85 Street NW. A shallow lagoon runs along the along the park's southern edge, a favorite spot for paddle boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Bowness Park is highly used for picnicking and accessing the Bow River.
• Century Gardens - 826 8 Street Southwest 51.0467, -114.0802 at 8 Street CTrain Stn - Century Gardens features waterfalls and sculptures. It was developed in 1975 to celebrate Calgary's Centennial.
• Devonian Gardens 317 7 Ave Southwest 51.046487, -114.068565 4th floor of TD Plaza ☎ +1 780-987-3054 Free The Devonian Gardens is a large indoor urban park in TD Plaza, above the shopping area. After closing for several years for extensive renovations, Calgary's Devonian Gardens reopened for visitors in 2012.
• Edworthy Park 5050 Spruce Dr Southwest -114.15571, -114.15571 south access near Bow Tr & Sarcee Tr; north access near 16 Ave Northwest / Shaganappi Tr / Bowness Road Edworthy Park sits in a valley along the Bow River in southwest Calgary and includes the majestic Douglas Fir Trail and historical Lawrey Gardens.
• Fish Creek Provincial Park | 50.909643, -114.020413 +1-866-427-3582 Opening Hours: 8AM to sunset Free 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 Street Southwest in the west to the Bow River in the east. The park includes the Sikome Lake Aquatic Facility (a man-made lake open in summer) and the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre, The Ranche Restaurant and Annie's Café (both privately operated), picnic sites, group use areas, trails for walking, bicycling, mountain biking and horseback riding, a local garden and a sculpture garden.
• Inglewood Bird Sanctuary & Nature Centre 2425 9 Ave Southeast 51.028504, -114.004983 - Opening Hours: Trails open sunrise-sunset, Nature Centre Tuesday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 4PM, closed Monday and statutory holidays, closed at noon on Dec 24 Free - Pre-registration for tours is recommended. The Nature Centre building is open. This 32-hectare wildlife reserve offers more than 2 km² of walking trails throughout the riverine forest. More than 250 species of birds and 300 species of plants, plus several kinds of mammals, have been observed in the area.
• Olympic Plaza 800 block of Macleod Trail Southeast 51.0459, -114.059439 corner of 8 Ave Southeast and Macleod Trail - This public square was built as the site of medal presentations during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. It continues to host free public events and festivals. During the summer, waders can enjoy the water-filled plaza, while winter visitors can go skating. Also the site of Calgary's "Women are Persons!" sculpture, celebrating a landmark achievement in the status of women in Canada. Calgary's quaint old City Hall is across the street from the north-east corner of Olympic Park.
• Prairie Winds Park 223 Castleridge Blvd NE 51.10408, -113.97263 located near the McKnight-Westwinds LRT station, southeast of Metis Tr & 64 Ave NE - 16 hectare park located in northeast Calgary, hosts the Country Thunder annual country music festival in mid-August.
• Prince's Island Park | instantly north of Eau Claire in the Bow River 51.055592, -114.070274 from downtown and there are bridges to the park near the end of 2 Street SW, 3 Street Southwest and 6 Street Southwest - Calgary's largest inner city park is an island with a number of pleasant trails for walking and relaxing. In the summer, it plays host to /more_info/ Shakespeare by the Bow and it is also the site of one of the city's largest annual festivals: the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

• Nose Hill Park 5620 14 Street Northwest 51.113653, -114.109697 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. and is the second-largest park in Calgary, surpassed in size only by Fish Creek Provincial Park. Although large sections of the park are off-leash areas, dog owners should be aware that on a few occasions coyotes have attacked and killed dogs in the park. Your dog's best protection is to be on a leash at all times.

Sports complexes

• Canada Olympic Park - COP | 88 Canada Olympic Road 51.080645, -114.217485 On Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1 aka 16 Ave NW) on far west side of city. Catch the LRT to Brentwood station and then Route 408 bus to the park ☎ +1 403-247-5452 - 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. The halfpipe and rail park are frequented by some very talented skiers and snowboarders, making for interesting viewing. The COP hosts Canada's first bobsleigh track and you can pay to take a bobsleigh ride in winter. There is also a summer "luge" run (Skyline Luge) and a zipline runs from the top of the ski jump tower.
• Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 169 Canada Olympic Road Southwest 51.0836, -114.2221 at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park ☎ +1 403-776-1040 Opening Hours: July - Aug 10AM Monday - 5PM, September - Jun W-Su 10AM Monday - 5PM $12/adult, $10/senior, $8/youth, $35/adult Home to Canada's Highest Sporting Honour, celebrating a community of Honoured Members, 657 to date, that inspire Canadians in sport and life. Fully accessible.
• Spruce Meadows 50.88625, -114.100449 Free when there are no events; some events are also free. Tickets for major events start from $5 per person. Just south of the city on Highway 22X, Spruce Meadows is a world-famous show jumping and equestrian facility. When there are major events at Spruce Meadows, a free shuttle takes visitors from the Somerset/Bridlewood C-Train station (Route 201) to Spruce Meadows. Check Spruce Meadows website for dates and times. Spruce Meadows also owns Cavalry FC, a soccer club that has begun play in 2019 as a founding member of the Canadian Premier League; the team will play in a modular stadium to be built on the facility grounds.
• Talisman Centre - 2225 Macleod Trail South 51.034526, -114.063259 ☎ +1 403-233-8393 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5AM Monday - 11PM, Saturday 6AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 7AM Monday - 10PM $14 adult/$8.75 youth Near the Stampede Grounds and just south of downtown, Talisman Centre is a multi-sport centre used by both recreational and Olympic-level athletes. Facilities include two 8-lane 50 m long Olympic-size swimming pools, a dive tank with spring boards and platforms for 3 m, 5 m, 7 m and 10 m dives, shallow teaching pool, 5 full-size gyms, 2 running tracks, fitness centre for cardio & weight training, basketball and volleyball courts, classes.

Walk & shop

• Barclay Parade - GPS: 51.049046, -114.070139 3 Street Southwest between Eau Claire Ave Southwest and 8/Stephen Ave Southwest

Barclay Parade (3 Street SW) is a pedestrian-friendly section of downtown street that runs from Eau Claire Market in the north to Stephen Avenue (8 Ave S) in the south. It is home to a number of high end shops.

• Chinatown - GPS: 51.051222, -114.062661 Area around Centre Street South and 2 Ave South Canada's third largest Chinatown is in the northeast portion of downtown Calgary. and is the heart of Calgary's Asian diaspora, although much of northeast Calgary has a Pacific Rim influence. The area of about a half-dozen blocks is along Centre Street S, from 4 Ave South (on the south) to the Bow River (on the north). Calgary's Chinatown packs in a dense network of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asian restaurants, shops, housing and cultural facilities. The area along Centre Street on the north side of the river almost functions as a loosely organized "second Chinatown" with Chinese-oriented businesses stretching for 20 or more blocks.
• Stephen Avenue Walk 51.04558, -114.064281 Stephen/8 Ave between Macleod Trail and 3 Street Southwest - One of Calgary's most famous streets, imagedir/Stephen%20Avenue%20Directory%20final%282%29.pdf Stephen Avenue was declared a National Historic District by the Canadian government. The street is lined with many attractive older buildings. It is a major venue for boutique shopping, bars, pubs and restaurants. The mall is closed to vehicle traffic from 6AM Monday - 6PM daily.

Skyline

Many Calgarians are understandably proud of the city's collection of skyscrapers. What's more impressive are the clear views you can get of downtown from certain spots around the town, sometimes with the mountains in the background.

• Crescent Road viewpoint 51.058997, -114.067618 From 16 Ave NW, turn south on 8 Street Northwest until 13 Avenue Northwest where you turn east until 7 A Street Northwest where you turn south and then go until Crescent Road Northwest where you turn west onto said street and then take your first left (or south) turn and then drive down that a tiny bit until you think it is okay and then stop and admire. Do not go past 13 Ave. - This ridgetop gives a great view of Prince's Island Park and downtown Calgary. Follow the pathway to a staircase going down the hillside for more varied perspectives.
• Enmax Park - Elbow River Pathway 51.0376, -114.0465 View from Salisbury Street Southeast south of 9th Ave Southeast - Salisbury Street is in a residential area on the east side of Enmax Park. There are houses on one side of the street and, on the other, a great view of the Saddledome, Stampede Grandstand, Calgary skyline and the Calgary Tower.
• Nose Hill viewpoint | 51.108911, -114.110363 - The views of downtown Calgary from Nose Hill Park can only be visited on foot or by bicycle. Park your vehicle at one of the parking lots near the top of the hill (opposite Edgemont Blvd Northwest or Berkely Gate NW) and then head towards the southern edge of the hill.
• Scotsman's Hill viewpoint 51.034347, -114.048816 6 Street Southeast between Salisbury Road Southeast and Spiller Road Southeast - The top of this very high riverbank overlooks the Stampede Grandstand. It is a good place to watch the fireworks which are scheduled every evening during Stampede week after the chuckwagon races and the stage show (11PM). The parking in the neighborhood is 'permit only' so you must park elsewhere, walk up the hill and watch the fireworks for free. That's why it's called Scotsman's Hill.
• Tom Campbell's Hill Park viewpoint| 25 Saint George's Drive 51.049475, -114.029766 Take Calgary Zoo exit from Memorial Drive and then head toward the top of the prominent hill just north of the Bow River and the zoo. - Views of the confluence of the Bow River and Nose Creek, with the towers of downtown Calgary off to the southwest.
• River Park viewpoint 4500 14A Street Southwest 51.013458, -114.094827 - Opening Hours: 5AM Monday - 11PM In Calgary's southwest on ridge above Sandy Beach, large designated off-leash area.

Architecture

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 South in downtown core) and Atlantic Avenue (9th Ave South in Inglewood) both have an abundance of tightly packed, small, old commercial buildings with great architectural details; Calgary'sPeace 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. One could also stroll the construction mazes of Macleod Trail and Scarth St/1 Street SE for many beautiful modern condominiums. Out in suburbia and the pyramid-shaped Fish Creek Library (near Southcentre Mall) is a local landmark.

What to do in Calgary

Events and festivals (in date order)

• High Performance Rodeo 51.044971, -114.059445 (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 Street Southeast 51.046153, -114.06271 $50-$80 (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.
• Calgary Spoken Word Festival (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 Comic and Entertainment Expo Stampede Park 51.036564, -114.056243 (April, 3 days) Pop culture festival featuring fantasy, sci-fi, horror, gaming, comics, anime and manga.
• Funny Fest Various locations around Calgary ☎ +1 403-228-7888 Free to $25 (Late May, early June; 11 days) A festival of comedy in halls, clubs, pubs and bars across Calgary.
• Calgary International Children's Festival Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, Olympic Plaza 51.044838, -114.060151 ☎ +1 403-294-7414 (May, 4 days) Performing and visual arts festival for children, with many free activities at Olympic Plaza. Paid performances of music, dance and more take place in the nearby Centre for the Performing Arts.
• Sled Island Festival - GPS: ☎ +1 403-229-2901 (June, 4 days) Independent music and visual arts festival, which takes place at over 30 venues.
• Carifest Shaw Millennium Park 51.046352, -114.091393 ☎ +1 403-774-1300 Free (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.
• Calgary Stampede 51.035282, -114.05341 ☎ +1 403-269-9822 +1-800-661-1767 Opening Hours: (July, 10 days) During Stampede Week and the whole city goes western! During "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" and there are events all around the town, but the highlights are the rodeo and chuckwagon races which boast the world's richest prizes.
• Calgary Folk Music Festival 51.05495, -114.07461 Prince's Island Park ☎ +1 403-233-0904 (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 and there is an area with performances & activities for kids, a market, food and lots more.
• Shakespeare by the Bow Prince's Island Park 51.0547, -114.0754 Donations welcomed (July & August, 4 weeks) Shakespeare presented in an outdoor setting, an annual co-production of Mount Royal University and Theatre Calgary.
• Historic Calgary Week Various locations in and around Calgary ☎ +1 403-261-4667 Free, donations welcome (Late July & early August, 10 days) Learn about local history through talks, behind the scenes tours and walks.
• Calgary International Bluesfest - GPS: (late July & early August, 4 days) Calgary's got the blues! Many performers at a variety of venues.
• Calgary Fringe Festival | - GPS: ☎ +1 403-451-9726 (August, 10 days) Calgary's festival of uncensored & unjuried theatre takes place at a variety of traditional and unconventional venues.
• GlobalFest 1827 68 Street Southeast 51.036012, -113.945932 Elliston Park ☎ +1 403-569-9679 Opening Hours: 6PM Monday - 11:30PM $20 per day, or $75 for 5 nights (early bird pricing also available) (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.
• Taste of Calgary Eau Claire Festival Plaza, 200 Barclay Parade Southwest 51.052661, -114.069946 ☎ +1 403-293-2888 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 9PM $1 per sampling ticket; each sample requires 2-5 tickets (August, 4 days) Enjoy a wide variety of foods at Calgary's outdoor dining festival. Music at the Taste Stage.
• Dragon Boat Race and Festival North Glenmore Park 50.98672, -114.119607 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.
• WordFest - (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 51.020437, -114.096283 - Marda Loop Justice Film Festival (November)

Places to visit

• Calaway Park - 245033 Range Road 33, T3Z 2E9 51.086016, -114.355919 Highway 1 (Trans-Canada) exit 169, just west of Calgary's city limits ☎ +1 403-240-3822 +1 403-242-3885 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 7PM, daily (summer), weekends only (spring/fall) $36/person Western Canada's largest amusement park, roughly 15 minutes west of Calgary. Gate admission pays for all rides; games, food cost extra.
• Harvie Passage On Bow River downstream of Calgary Zoo 51.043984, -114.013631 Temporarily closed since June 2013. The area around Calgary Bow River Weir, which killed many boaters, 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. The multi-year Harvie Passage project opened in Summer 2012, but the Harvie Passage section closed for the 2022 season due to damage from the June flooding on the Bow River. As of May 2014, it is expected that the Harvie Passage will be under repair until 2016.

Spectator sports

• Calgary Flames Hockey Club Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise Southeast 51.037441, -114.05193 $60-240 Calgary Flames - Ice hockey. Yearly, October to June. Calgary's National Hockey League (NHL) team is very popular and tickets may be hard to come by. Expect a great atmosphere and game if you're lucky enough to get tickets.
• Calgary Stampeders Football Club McMahon Stadium, 1817 Crowchild Trail Northwest 51.070311, -114.121431 ☎ +1 403-289-0258 +1-800-667-3267 Opening Hours: June to November $32 - $97 Calgary Stampeders Calgary's local Canadian Football League (CFL) team and the current holders of the Grey Cup (league champions). CFL plays 3 down football with only 20 seconds between plays, so watching a CFL game is quite different to watching an NFL game.
• Calgary Hitmen Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise Southeast 51.037441, -114.05193 $15-40 Calgary Hitmen - Ice hockey. Yearly, September to May. Calgary's Junior Hockey team play in the Gulf countriesern Hockey League (WHL) and at the Saddledome when the Flames are not in town. Junior Hockey serves as a feeder league for the NHL. Usually as fun as the Flames, but cheaper!
• Calgary Roughnecks Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise Southeast 51.037441, -114.05193 ☎ +1 403-777-2177 Opening Hours: January–May. $15-60 Calgary Roughnecks Box lacrosse. Calgary's National Lacrosse League team were Champions Cup winners in 2004 and 2009. The sport is fast, rough and tough with loud music throughout. A great experience.
• Cavalry FC Spruce Meadows, 18011 Spruce Meadows Way Southwest 51.042222, -114.003611 - Cavalry FC Soccer team set to begin play in 2019 as a founding member of the Canadian Premier League. Owned by the parent company of the Spruce Meadows equestrian complex and the team will play in a stadium to be built on the facility grounds.
• University of Calgary Dinos - University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr Northwest 51.077403, -114.131302 - Varsity athletics. 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.
• Mount Royal University Cougars Mount Royal University, 4825 Mt Royal Gate Southwest 51.011568, -114.133061 - Varsity athletics. Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women).
• SAIT Trojans - SAIT Polytechnic, 1301 16 Ave Northwest 51.065592, -114.090532 - Varsity athletics. Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women).
• Calgary Canucks Max Bell Centre, 1001 Barlow Trail Southeast 51.042222, -114.003611 - Calgary Canucks Ice hockey. Yearly, September to March. One of two Calgary-based Junior A Hockey teams, play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) at the Max Bell Centre. Junior Hockey serves as a feeder league for the WHL and ultimately the NHL.
• Calgary Mustangs | Father David Bauer Olympic Arena, 2424 University Drive Northwest 51.073889, -114.126389 - Calgary Mustangs Ice hockey. Yearly, September to March. One of two Calgary-based Junior A Hockey teams, play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena, sharing the facility with the University of Calgary Dinos hockey teams. Junior Hockey serves as a feeder league for the WHL and ultimately the NHL.

Performing arts

Calgary has a very vibrant theatre scene. It seems that Calgary has live theatre for every taste: avante-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.

• Arts Commons 205 8 Ave Southeast 51.0447, -114.0595 adjacent to Olympic Plaza ☎ +1 403-294-7455 $10–99 Ats Commons hosts the three best-known professional theatre groups; the conservative Theatre Calgary the more adventurous Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP) and the downright avant-garde One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre (OYR). The facility has two additional theatres, so other companies often produce shows here. Of special note is OYR's High Performance Rodeo festival, which runs for January and provides a wildly eclectic mix of performing arts (and performance art). Arts Commons is also home to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra which presents everything from buttoned-down traditional classical music to pops to symphonies for children. Finally, Arts Commons is the venue for many other concerts and events throughout the year.
• Vertigo Theatre 161, 115-9 Ave Southeast 51.044396, -114.062666 at the base of the Calgary Tower ☎ +1 403-221-3708is dedicated to producing mystery plays, ranging from musicals to straight-up whodunnits. A second studio theatre frequently hosts other companies.
• Theatre Junction 608 1 Street Southwest 51.047262, -114.06523 ☎ +1 403-205-2922 $20-30 Offers a slate of highly contemporary theatre and performing arts and the venue also hosts music and other events.
• Pumphouse Theatre 2140 Pumphouse Ave Southwest 51.046082, -114.109932 ☎ +1 403-263-0079 $20-$40 Two theatres contained inside a historic brick waterworks building play host to a large part of Calgary's semi-pro and community theatre scene, with new productions here every week.
• Loose Moose Theatre 1235 26 Ave Southeast 51.029975, -114.035877 in the Crossroads Market ☎ +1 403-265-5682 $10-15 One of the originators of and international leaders in, short-form improvisation and Theatresports (think Whose Line Is It Anyway?). Loose Moose does improv weekly, as well as the occasional original children's show or comedy.
• Lunchbox Theatre - 160, 115 9 Ave Southwest 51.04431, -114.062419 in the Calgary Tower ☎ +1 403-265-4292 Opening Hours: Shows at 12:10PM Monday to Saturday and 6:10PM on Friday $22 This unique theatre company produces exclusively one-act plays, during the weekday noon lunch hour. Typically lighter fare suitable for a downtown corporate crowd.
• Stage West Theatre Restaurant - Stage West Dinner Theatre - 727 42 Ave Southeast 51.015705, -114.046697 ☎ +1 403-243-6642 $32-105 Offers unchallenging, tried-and-true shows, kids' theatre and tribute concerts, along with a generic buffet dinner.
• Jubilations Dinner Theatre 1002 37 Street Southwest 51.043863, -114.139949 next to Westbrook Mall ☎ +1 403-249-7799 $65-75 Similar to Stage West, with more of a focus on musical parodies of popular television shows.
• The Comedy Cave 9206 Macleod Trail South 50.971069, -114.070897 Travelodge Hotel Calgary Macleod Trail ☎ +1 403-287-1120 $10
• Laugh Shop Comedy Club 5940 Blackfoot Trail Southeast 51.000449, -114.047416 Hotel Blackfoot ☎ +1 403-255-6900
• Yuk Yuks - Mark Breslin's Yuk Yuks | 218 18 Ave Southeast 51.037677, -114.060811 Elbow River Casino ☎ +1 403-258-2028 $12-39 Stand-up comedy.
• Aussie Rules Foodhouse and Cafe 1002 – 37 Street Southwest 51.043954, -114.139968 next to Westbrook Mall ☎ +1 403-249-7933 $12 cover charge for duelling pianos Piano bar with a comic twist, sing-a-longs, dance routines.
• Calgary Opera 1315 – 7 Street Southwest 51.040244, -114.079583 Arrata Opera Centre ☎ +1 403-262-7286 $37-163 Calgary's oldest opera company presents several operas each year at their Arrata Opera Centre and the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
• Cowtown Opera Company 1401 10 Ave Southeast 51.039117, -114.032438 Lantern Community Church $45 The first new opera company to be established in Western Canada in 20 years, Cowtown Opera presents classic operas, sung in English, with a saucy twist. Past shows include Die Fledermaus: Revenge of the Bat, Phantom of the Opera Sing-a-Long and The Magic Flute: Revised and in English.
• National Music Centre - Studio Bell| 850 4 Street Southeast 51.0446, -114.0526 ☎ +1 403-543-5115 +1 800-213-9750 Opening Hours: W–Su 10AM–5PM, Tours 11AM, 12:30PM and 2PM, open all of July and Christmas Day and Boxing Day $0-18 A collection of antique and notable musical instruments is available to the public by guided tour. The collection includes the Elton John songwriting piano and the famous TONTO synthesizer, as well as many antique pianos and organs and the artifacts of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Housed in Studio Bell, a $191 million building designed by the Portland architect Brad Cloepfil.

Tours

• Big Rock Brewery 5555 – 76 Ave Southeast 50.984748, -113.954778 ☎ +1 403-720-3239 +1-800-242-3107 Opening Hours: Tours Tuesday - Thursday 1:30PM, prebook by phone $25 Tours of the Big Rock Brewery include tastings. Must be age 18 or older to participate.

Work

• Busking is common in the summertime, along Stephen Avenue downtown at lunch time, near Eau Claire on weekends and along 17th Avenue at night. SPS/Recreation/Pages/Arts-and-culture/Busking.aspx Busking permits are available for Stephen Avenue; busking in Eau Claire Market proper is restricted to auditioned performers, ruling this option out. 17th Avenue has potential, if you can deal with drunken hecklers.
• One common pick-up spot for day labour is Centre Street south, between 12th and 13th Avenues. Arrive early for black market jobs, especially in the summer (construction) season. There's an abundance of other employment opportunities ] as well.
• Calgary is a city with a strong volunteer spirit, which was embraced during the 1988 Winter Olympics and continues to be a foundation of the community. Volunteering is a great way to meet people in any city you visit. If you are unable to find a volunteer opportunity on your own, try Single Volunteers of Calgary.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Calgary

Urban shopping

• Eau Claire Market - 200 Barclay Parade 51.052624, -114.06839 corner of 2 Street and 2 Ave Southwest ☎ +1 403-264-6450 Opening Hours: Monday - West Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Thursday - Friday 10AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 5PM A unique market-style mall with interesting shops, restaurants and cinemas.
• Inglewood 51.039707, -114.030215 - Centred on Atlantic Avenue (9 Ave SE), east of the Elbow River, this quirky neighbourhood is almost devoid of chain businesses (save maybe a Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.)), leaving a sea of unique businesses. The highlights are the coffee shops, art galleries, trendy clothiers and upscale furniture shops. Inglewood is an urban shopping area, an historic neighborhood and a PDA/pd/Pages/Heritage-planning/Heritage-Publications-and-Links.aspx downloadable self-guided walking tour is available.
• Stephen Avenue Walk 8 Ave South between 1 Street Southeast and 4 Street Southwest 51.045671, -114.066542 - Stephen Avenue Walk is a pedestrianized section of 8 Ave Southwest in the heart of Calgary's downtown core. It is home mostly to restaurants and some cafes, but you will still find some major retail shops fronting it. Stephen Avenue is also home to most of the downtown mall called the Core. Stephen Avenue is also a Canadian National Historic District. PDA/LUPP/Documents/Publications/legacy-stephen-ave-historical-walk-tour.pdf A downloadable self-guided walking tour is available.
• The Core Shopping Centre - The Core - TD Plaza | 333 7 Ave Southwest 51.046667, -114.068611 Between 2 Street Southwest and 2 Street Southwest and between 7 Ave Southwest and 8 Ave SW. Accessed from the 3rd Street Southwest (eastbound) and 4th Street Southwest (westbound) LRT stations. The Core consists of TD Plaza and the Holt Renfrew building and the former Calgary Eaton Centre, is the dominant enclosed shopping complex located in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It spans three city blocks and contains roughly 160 retailers on four levels.
• 17th Ave - Uptown 17 | 51.037805, -114.085597 - Calgary's best-known urban business street is home to chains like Best Buy and Pet Planet and independent businesses like Gravity Pope. If you're dropping from all the shopping and the heart of the strip is little Tomkins Park at 17th Ave near 8th St, filled with nice shade and cozy benches.
• Kensington Village | 51.052591, -114.085919 - Centred on 10 Street Northwest and Kensington Road NW, Kensington is home to art galleries, fashion retailers and antiques. It is somewhat more upscale than say Stephen Avenue Walk or Inglewood, but not in a snobby way.

Suburban shopping

• Chinook Centre 6455 Macleod Trail Southwest 50.99847, -114.073623 Macleod Trail at 58 Ave S, near Chinook C-Train station - Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30AM Monday - 9PM, Saturday Sunday 11AM Monday - 7PM Calgary's largest indoor mall and one of the best shopping experiences in the city for variety and amount of retail shops. Check out the "flying" sculptures in the food court!
• CrossIron Mills 261055 CrossIron Blvd, Rocky View, AB 51.202708, -113.994078 10 minutes north of the city on Highway 2 (Deerfoot Trail) ☎ +1 403-984-6800 - This large indoor mall is in the neighbouring hamlet of Balzac, north of Calgary. Similar in format to other "mills" malls, it has many well-known stores and outlets as the first new enclosed mall to be built in the Calgary area in a generation. Plan on driving; it's the only way to get there.
• Crowfoot Crossing Shopping Centre Crowfoot Way at Nose Hill Drive Northwest 51.126798, -114.202201 - Crowfoot is a very large outdoor Shopping Centre (power centre) in Northwest Calgary.
• Deerfoot City - formerly Deerfoot Outlet Mall | At Deerfoot Trail and 64 Ave NE 51.108871, -114.041694 - Anchor tenants include Wal-Mart Supercentre, Winners and Rec Room. Currently under redevelopment to an open-air shopping and entertainment neighborhood.
• Deerfoot Meadows Heritage Dr Southeast at 11 Street Southeast 50.986441, -114.042012 Take Deerfoot Trail southbound to the Southland Drive exit or northbound to the Heritage Drive exit ☎ +1 403 252-1256 - This sprawling outdoor Shopping Centre (power centre) includes big box stores like Ikea, Best Buy, Michael's and Real Canadian Superstore.
• Market Mall 3625 Shaganappi Trail Northwest 51.084803, -114.155463 - Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 9PM, Saturday 9:30AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 6PM In the northwest, near the University of Calgary. This very large indoor mall also has a playground inside for pre-schoolers.
• Signal Hill Shopping Centre Near the junction of Glenmore Trail, Highway 8 and Sarcee Trail 51.016050, -114.169512 - A large outdoor Shopping Centre (power centre) in Southwest Calgary. Just north of the very similar Westhills Shopping Centre.
• Southcentre Mall 100 Anderson Road Southeast 50.952574, -114.065727 At Macleod Trail and Anderson Road, a five minutes walk from the Anderson C-Train LRT station. - Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30AM Monday - 9PM, Saturday 9:30AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 6PM A very large indoor mall in south Calgary.
• Sunridge Mall 2525 36 Street NE 51.074444, -113.985833 Along 36 Street NE, north of 16 Ave NE (Trans-Canada Hwy); adjacent to the Rundle LRT station. Large indoor mall in northeast Calgary.
• Westhills Shoppping Centre 51.015599, -114.169512 junction of Glenmore Trail, Highway 8 and Sarcee Trail - A large outdoor mall (power centre) in Southwest Calgary. Includes a small outdoor toddler playground in the southernmost part of the Shopping Centre, near Plum. Just south of the very similar Signal Hill Shopping Centre.

Farmers' markets

• Calgary Farmers' Market 510 77 Ave Southeast 50.985552, -114.051866 Just off of Blackfoot Trail and Heritage Drive Southeast ☎ +1 403-240-9113 Opening Hours: Thursday - Sunday 9AM Monday - 5PM Market with 75 vendors providing a variety of products such as fresh local Meat and produce, art, organic goods and jewelry. There is also a large food court with two outdoor patios. The market includes special events like storytelling, demonstrations, dance shows and live music.

Calgary1-Szmurlo - Downtown Calgary from Prince's Island Park

• Crossroads Market 1235 26 Ave Southeast 51.030282, -114.03533 Blackfoot Trail and Ogden Road ☎ +1 403-291-5208 Opening Hours: Indoor Market: F-Su 9AM Monday - 5PM, Outdoor Market: F-Su 8AM Monday - 5PM (summer) Less than 5 minutes from downtown with ample free parking, Crossroads Markets is in an eclectic ft 100,000 historical building. Crossroads Market is home to a flea market, antique market, indoor farmers' market, international food fair and a seasonal outdoor farmers' market.
• Calgary Bearspaw Farmers' Market 25240 Nagway Road 51.152775, -114.273642 Bearspaw Lions Hall – Take Crowchild Trail (Highway 1A) west from Calgary to Bearspaw Road, just west of the Calgary city limits. Turn north onto Bearspaw Road and instantly east onto Nagway Road, Bearspaw Lions Hall is on the north side ☎ +1 403-239-0201 Opening Hours: June - September: Sunday 10AM Monday - 2PM; also open pre-Christmas The small community of Bearspaw in Rocky View County is just a few minutes west of the Calgary city limits.
• Hillhurst-Sunnyside Farmers' Market 1320 5 Ave Northwest 51.057522, -114.092604 Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre ☎ +1 403-283-0554 ext 228 Opening Hours: 3PM Monday - 7PM every W, late May/early June to early Oct; November - May first West of month only
• Hillhurst-Sunnyside Flea Market | 1320 5 Ave Northwest 51.057522, -114.092604 Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre ☎ +1 403-283-0554 ext 232 Opening Hours: Sunday 7AM Monday - 3PM
• Granary Road 22606 112 Street W, Foohills MD 50.84539, -114.15839 kilometers 4.9 south of Highway 22X on 37 Street Southwest (becomes 96 Street W), 1.6 kilometers|abbr=on|1 west on 226 Ave S, kilometers 0.4 south on 112 Street West - Opening Hours: Fri, Sat, Sunday 9:30am-5:30pm Public market and Active Learning Park.
• Also check out Millarville Farmers' Market (North of Black Diamond and Turner Valley|Turner Valley), Cochrane and Strathmore Farmers' Markets

Specialist shops

• Alberta Boot Company - 50 50 Ave Southeast 51.008962, -114.065831 ☎ +1 403-263-4623 Opening from Monday to Saturday 9AM Monday - 6PM Get the right gear for the Stampede with the only manufacturer of Western boots in Alberta. Custom orders are available.
• Crown Surplus 1005 11 Street Southeast 51.041040, -114.037063 Inglewood ☎ +1 403-265-1754 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM Monday - 5:30PM, Saturday noon-5PM Calgary's oldest (only?) army surplus store, Crown Surplus occupies a quonset hut and several adjoining buildings. A good place to look for camping and hunting gear, with plenty of military memorabilia on display. Where else can you buy a ft 100 diameter parachute?
• Daily Globe News Shop 1004 17 Ave Southwest 51.037953, -114.084721 ☎ +1 403-244-2060 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 9PM daily International newspapers and magazines.
• Fair's Fair Books 1609 – 14 Street Southwest 51.038092, -114.095084 ☎ +1 403-245-2778 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10AM Monday - 9PM, Sunday - Monday 10AM Monday - 6PM Main shop for this Calgary chain of second hand book stores. Other stores are in Inglewood, Ranchlands, Macleod Trail and near Chinook Centre.
• Mountain Equipment Co-op 830 10 Ave Southwest 51.044011, -114.080833 ☎ +1 403-269-2420 Opening Hours: Monday - West 10AM Monday - 7PM, Thursday - Friday 10AM Monday - 9PM, Saturday 9AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 5PM Good place to get outdoor equipment and clothing before heading out to the Rockies. They're all about self-propelled outdoor activities, so expect to find gear for climbing, canoeing, cycling and kaying, but don't expect to find gear for water skiing, downhill skiing, or snowmobiling. Sales are only to members, but it's just $5 for a lifetime membership. Second location located in Seton, Calgary's southeastern edge.
• Smithbilt Hats - 1103 12 Street Southeast 51.039697, -114.036301 in Inglewood, near Festival Hall ☎ +1 403-244-9131 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9AM Monday - 5PM, Friday 8AM Monday - 4:30PM The manufacturer of Calgary's famous white cowboy hat also makes other felt and straw hat styles.

Masjids in Calgary

Downtown Calgary Mosque (IISC)

1009 7 Ave SW

This centrally located mosque is a key spiritual hub in Calgary, offering daily prayers and community services.

Baitul Mukarram Islamic Centre Calgary

3770 Westwinds Dr NE, Unit 207

Open 24 hours, this mosque serves the Northeast community with prayer services and educational programs.

Abu Bakar Islamic Centre SE Calgary

1830 52 St. SE, Unit 120

A well-regarded mosque in Southeast Calgary, offering a peaceful environment for worship.

Islamic Association of NW Calgary

7750 Ranchview Dr NW, Unit 23

Open 24 hours, this mosque provides a space for prayers and community gatherings in the Northwest.

Al-Hedaya Islamic Centre

108 Savanna Ave NE

A 24-hour mosque offering a welcoming atmosphere for the local Muslim community.

Calgary Islamic Centre SW Masjid (CICSW)

5615 14 Ave SW

This mosque is well-known for its community involvement and spiritual activities.

Baitun-Nur Mosque (Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)

4353 54 Ave NE

A large, modern mosque known for its iconic steel dome and extensive community services.

Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre

2624 39 Ave NE

This mosque is a major Islamic center in Calgary, known for its educational programs and religious services.

Al-Madinah Calgary Islamic Assembly / Green Dome Mosque

4616 80 Ave NE

A prominent mosque in Northeast Calgary with a strong focus on community support and spiritual guidance.

Masjid Bilal Da'wa Center

4527 6a St NE

A smaller mosque providing a cozy and intimate environment for worshippers.

These Masjids not only serve as places of worship but also as community centers offering a range of services and activities for Muslims in Calgary. Whether you're looking for a place to pray, learn, or connect with the community, these Masjids provide welcoming spaces across the city.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Calgary

Calgary offers a diverse range of Halal restaurants across the city, serving everything from Middle Eastern to South Asian cuisine. Here are some top picks:

Jerusalem Shawarma Downtown

923 17 Ave SW

Known for its authentic shawarma, this popular spot is open until 3 AM, making it perfect for late-night cravings in the heart of Calgary.

Yemeni Village Restaurant

402 8 St SW

A local favorite for authentic Yemeni cuisine, Yemeni Village Restaurant offers classic dishes in a simple, welcoming atmosphere.

Chillies - (Pakistani) Restaurant

5020 17 Ave SE

Specializing in (Pakistani) fare, Chillies is well-regarded for its flavorful dishes, whether you’re dining in or opting for takeaway.

KOLACHI BBQ & Grill

4250 109 Ave NE, Unit 4135

A highly-rated spot for traditional (Pakistani) BBQ, KOLACHI BBQ & Grill is known for its great service and uncompromised food quality.

Marhaba Restaurant Calgary

55 Westwinds Crescent NE, #323

Marhaba is a must-visit for fans of South Asian cuisine, offering delicious Halal dishes like biryani in a straightforward setting.

The Taste Factory

5150 47 St NE, #3107

With a 4.8 rating, this restaurant is perfect for Halal dining, takeout, or catering, known for its consistent quality and variety of dishes.

Rotana One Grill & Lounge

410 14 St NW

Offering Middle Eastern delights, Rotana is a cozy spot with options for dine-in, takeaway, and delivery, ideal for Halal food lovers.

Apna Karachi Kitchen

76 Westwinds Crescent NE, #2140

This restaurant is known for its authentic and delicious (Pakistani) dishes, providing excellent service and a true taste of desi cuisine.

Lahori Grill Taste of Lahore

76 Westwinds Crescent NE, #1115

Offering a taste of Lahore in Calgary, this spot is perfect for those craving rich, traditional (Pakistani) dishes.

Deagla Restaurant Forest Lawn

5147 20 Ave SE

Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, Deagla is highly recommended for its good food and warm atmosphere.

Whether you’re craving Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Mediterranean flavors, Calgary’s Halal dining scene offers something for everyone. Each restaurant brings its unique taste and ambiance, ensuring you’ll find the perfect place to enjoy a Halal meal in the city.

Buy Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Calgary

eHalal Group is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Calgary. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Calgary ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at C$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Calgary. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at C$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at C$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in Calgary

Ramadan 2025 in Calgary

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels in Calgary

• Acclaim Hotel Calgary Airport
• Best Western Airport Inn Calgary
• Best Western Freeport Inn & Suites Calgary
• Best Western Plus Calgary Centre Inn
• Best Western Plus Port O'call Hotel Calgary
• Best Western Plus Suites Downtown Calgary Hotel
• Best Western Village Park Inn Calgary
• Calgary International Airport Travelodge Hotel
• Calgary Macleod Trail Travelodge Hotel
• Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel
• Calgary Westways Guest House
• Canadas Best Value Inn Calgary
• Cathedral Mountain Lodge Calgary
• Comfort Inn & Suites Airport Calgary
• Comfort Inn & Suites South Calgary
• Comfort Inn & Suites University Calgary
• Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Calgary Airport
• Courtyard Calgary Airport Hotel
• Days Inn Calgary Airport
• Days Inn Calgary Northwest
• Days Inn Calgary South
• Deerfoot Inn & Calgary
• Delta Airport Hotel Calgary
• Delta Bow Valley Hotel Calgary
• Delta Calgary South
• Econo Lodge Inn & Suites University
• Econo Lodge Motel Village
• Econo Lodge South
• Executive Royal Inn Hotel & Conference Centre Calgary
• Four Points By Sheraton Calgary Airport Hotel
• Four Points by Sheraton Calgary West
• Greenwood Inn & Suites Calgary
• Hampton Inn & Suites Calgary University
• Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport
• Holiday Inn Calgary Airport
• Holiday Inn Calgary MacLeod Trail South
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Airport Calgary
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Calgary
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Calgary South-Macleod Trail S
• Hotel Le Germain Calgary
• Howard Johnson Express Inn Calgary
• Hyatt Regency Calgary
• International Hotel Of Calgary
• Kensington Riverside Inn Calgary
• Lakeview Signature Inn Calgary Airport
• Nuvo Hotel Suites Calgary
• Radisson Hotel Calgary Airport
• Ramada Hotel Downtown Calgary
• Ramada Inn & Suites Airdrie
• Ramada Limited Calgary
• Residence Inn Calgary Airport
• Sandman Hotel & Suites Calgary Airport
• Sandman Hotel & Suites Calgary South
• Sandman Hotel & Suites Calgary West
• Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre
• Service Plus Inn & Suites Calgary
• Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel
• Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire
• Staybridge Suites Hotel Calgary Airport
• Super 8 Motel Calgary Airport
• Super 8 Motel Calgary Shawnessy Area
• Super 8 Motel Village Calgary
• The Blackfoot Inn Calgary
• The Coast Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre Calgary
• The Fairmont Palliser Hotel Calgary
• The Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre Calgary
• Travelodge Calgary North
• Travelodge Calgary South
• Travelodge Calgary University
• Westin Calgary (The)
• Wingate by Wyndham Calgary

Stay safe

Although Calgary is generally a very safe place, walking at night should be avoided in the East Village and Victoria Park areas of downtown (generally speaking, thit is the area adjacent to the Stampede Grounds and north to the Bow River). Calgary's 2011 murder rate of 1.1 murders per 100,000 inhabitants was, for example, roughly one-tenth the murder rate of Minneapolis and one-twentieth that of Memphis. Always keep your wits about you when the bars close, regardless of the area of town.

Calgary drivers are typical drivers for a mid-sized western North American city. Culturally, Calgary is a mash-up of small town culture and big city living and driving in Calgary is no exception. If you come from a small town in rural North America and the drivers would be considerably more aggressive than you are used to. If you are from a larger busier urban area, or are from Europe for instance, Calgary drivers can be considered quite timid and under-skilled. A driver from New York, London or even Montreal and Toronto would consider the Calgary driver to lack confidence more than anything. Calgarians are generally quite aware of pedestrians and give pedestrians right of way, as required by law. Calgarians are generally safe and cautious (some consider overly cautious) drivers, though. Calgarians are probably some of the best inclement weather drivers in the world. Blizzards, storms, floods, etc., are where Calgary drivers shine compared to the rest of the world's drivers and they can navigate them safely with the minimum of problems.

Calgary freeways are nowhere near as congested and confusing as L.A. freeways or the 401 in Toronto, but Deerfoot Trail is to be avoided if you're not comfortable with 100 km/h freeway driving and even by experts at rush hour (accidents occur on a daily basis). A second freeway, Stoney Trail, now exists on the northwest, north and east sides of the city providing an alternate, less hectic route.

Be aware of lengthy wait times at the emergency rooms of the city's hospitals. It may take 1 to 2 hours or more to see an emergency doctor (thit is a province-wide problem). There is a web page where Alberta Health tracks the 4770.asp current wait times for Calgary emergency departments.

Panhandlers are a sight in Calgary's downtown core. The majority of them just need to be told 'No' but some can be persistent. A great number of agencies exist to assist the disadvantaged in Calgary and true charity cases receive assistance from them regularly; money is far better spent donating to these agencies as it ensures that those truly in need will receive it. For that reason, visitors are encouraged not to give money to strangers in the street.

Panhandlers have also been found at signalized intersections, holding a cap or hand out to drivers stopped at red lights.

Take care when crossing LRT (tram) tracks, as the trains are quiet. There are no electrified rails. There are bells and barriers at pedestrian crossings; heed them.

Boaters on the Bow River should note the Calgary White Water Park (Harvie Passage) just downstream of the Calgary Zoo; heed the warning signs. People have perished here and the strongest swimmers among them.

Winter driving always requires caution. The key to winter driving is to slow down, as the main hazard in winter is slippery roads due to snow, ice, or slush. Remember, your vehicle – whether it's a compact vehicle or an SUV – relies on four surfaces, each the size of the palm of your hand, to grip the road. When you drive faster, or drive on a slippery surface, that means less traction. So the solution for slippery roads is to slow down to give your vehicle a better grip on the road surface. (Winter tires help too: If renting a vehicle in winter, request winter tires, because not all rental cars have winter tires equipped.) In the worst winter driving conditions, you may see drivers on 100 km/h roads drop down to 60 km/h for safety. By slowing down and significantly increasing your following distance, you can safely navigate through most winter road conditions. Winter road conditions are available online from 511.alberta.ca/ Alberta Transportation and the Alberta Motor Association.

Although Calgary doesn't get a lot of heavy snow, temperatures below freezing can allow ice to form on many roads. The most dangerous condition is when the ice is a clear sheet which resembles the road, called "black ice". Black ice is most commonly seen on bridge decks and other elevated roadways such as on- and off-ramps, where the road surface cools more quickly and so is more prone to freezing. Black ice most dangerous times to drive in these conditions are the two or three days instantly following the first major snowfall of the year. Black ice can also form after a period of warmer weather, such as in late fall, early spring, or after a winter chinook, when melting snow can turn to ice overnight. Freezing rain is not often seen in the Calgary area, but sometimes happens in late fall or early spring, when an evening shower is followed by overnight lows that drop below freezing, covering the roads with ice.

Weather in Calgary is unpredictable from fall through spring. It is always best to dress in layers and come prepared for extremes, even within the same day.

Medical information

For emergencies, call 911

• Calgary Health Link - ☎ +1 403-943-5465 Opening Hours: 24 hours/7 days a week (943-LINK.) Registered nurses provide telephone advice and information about health symptoms and concerns. Health Link nurses help find appropriate services and health information.

Hospitals

All hospitals operate 24-hour emergency departments.

• Alberta Children's Hospital 2888 Shaganappi Trail Northwest 51.074764, -114.148470 ☎ +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 Street Northwest 51.064913, -114.133578 ☎ +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 51.079003, -113.983940 Just north of Sunridge Mall ☎ +1 403-943-4555
• Rockyview General Hospital 7007-14 Street Southwest 50.989890, -114.096680 ☎ +1 403-943-3000
• South Health Campus - 4448 Front Street Southeast 50.883, -113.952 ☎ +1 403-956-1111 Opening Hours: 24-hour emergency, visiting hours 11AM Monday - 9PM This new hospital was fully operational in July 2013. Located at southeastern edge of Calgary.

Urgent Care Centres

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 Southeast 50.902617, -114.058787 Shawnessy neighborhood ☎ +1 403-943-9300 Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 10PM
• Sheldon Chumir Health Centre 1213 4 Street Southwest 51.041215, -114.071842 Next to Central Memorial Park ☎ +1 403-955-6200 Opening Hours: 24hrs

Walk-in Clinics

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.

Where to go next after Calgary

• Banff and Lake Louise. Nearby, well-known winter ski areas and mountain summer escapes.
• Black Diamond and Turner Valley - Turner Valley Gas Plant National and Provincial Historic Site is a pioneering natural gas plant 45 minutes (by car) south of Calgary, where the Dingman No. 1 well's centennial was celebrated on May 14, 2014. See how natural gas from Canada's largest gas field was processed prior to WWII.
• Brooks. 2 hours east of Calgary; a 73 km² Dinosaur Provincial Park, one of Alberta 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, boasts one of the best dinosaur fossil beds in the world.
• Cardston. The Remington Carriage Museum houses the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America with over 250 carriages, wagons and sleighs.
• Drumheller. 90 minutes east of Calgary. The world famous Royal Tyrrell Museum houses many palaeontological specimens.
• Edmonton. The nearest urban, metropolitan centre to the North is host to North America's largest mall and has a vibrant cultural scene. It is a 3-hour drive north of Calgary on Highway 2.
• Fort Macleod. A 90 minutes drive south of Calgary. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, one of Alberta's 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is 18 km Northwest of Fort Macleod with an excellent interpretive centre open year round.
• Jasper. A well-known mountain destination about 4 hours drive northwest of Calgary.
• Kananaskis|Kananaskis Country]] and Canmore. Mountain destinations about an hour vehicle travel away.
• Red Deer. A city with its own list of attractions, halfway between Edmonton and Calgary.
• Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. A 3-hour drive south of Calgary.

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