Calgary Travelers Recommend

With a little planning, two days in Calgary—the gateway to the Canadian Rockies—give you enough time to discover the city, catch a hockey game, and take a day trip to the mountains for which the region is famous. Here’s how to do it.

Day 1: Explore the City

**Morning:**If you’re wondering what life was like in Calgary and Western Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries, go to Heritage Park Historical Village. The pre-1915 buildings and staff in period dress transport visitors back in time to the Canadian Wild West. See reenactments of farming, trading, and everyday life in the past, then take a ride in a steam train or on a horse-drawn cart.

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon at the Calgary Zoo, a beloved year-round attraction with more than 1,000 animals housed in habitats such as Canadian Wilds, Destination Africa, and Prehistoric Park. 

**Night:**Sports enthusiasts should embrace an opportunity to watch Canada’s national winter sport, ice hockey. The local team is the Calgary Flames, and it’s fun to rub shoulders with local fans. If it’s not hockey season or you’re not into sports, head up to the Sky 360 restaurant in the Calgary Tower instead, for dinner with a view.  

Day 2: Journey to Banff

**Morning and afternoon:**Don’t miss the chance to visit the Rocky Mountains. Get an early start to the town of Banff, about an hour and a half from Calgary by car, and choose from a plethora of activities that suit different fitness and energy levels. Ride the gondola, soak in hot springs, or shop and dine. If you feel like being more active, numerous hiking trails offer stunning views of the Rockies and surrounding forests.

**Night:**If you’re back in Calgary early enough, walk along the Bow River or stroll through Eau Claire Park, a pleasant riverfront green space. Then head downtown for dinner.

At the foot of the Canadian Rockies, Calgary is the perfect base for exploring the mountains and parks of Alberta if you don’t have much time in the province. With just three days, you can check out a museum or two, hike or ski before soaking in hot springs, and look for dinosaur fossils. Here’s how.

Day 1: Visit Calgary’s museums

Learn about the history and culture of one of Canada’s biggest cities and spend a day exploring Calgary’s museums. At Heritage Park Historical Village, see what life was like in 19th-century Wild West Canada; or take a look at the Glenbow Museum’s inspiring collection of art and historical artifacts. Travelers with kids should also check out the highly regarded Calgary Zoo, home to more than 1,000 animals belonging to more than 100 species. Go to these year-round attractions on your own or on a guided tour that includes stops at additional city sights.

Day 2: Get outdoors in Banff

About a 90-minute drive from Calgary, Banff is an ideal day-trip destination, and you can be as active or as laid-back as you like there. Depending on the season, hit the ski slopes or the hiking trails while enjoying views of the Rocky Mountains. Alternatively, take a gondola ride or unwind in the hot springs. Some guided tours of the area also visit nearby attractions such as the picturesque, turquoise Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, surrounded by snowcapped mountains.

Day 3: Step back in time at Dinosaur Provincial Park

If you’re up for another day trip, don’t miss Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about a 2.5-hour drive east of Calgary. An enormous number of dinosaur fossils are on display, with many still to discover in the park. Stop by the visitor center to learn more about the prehistoric site, and marvel at the contemporary landscape of hoodoos (aka fairy chimneys).

In the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, many travelers pass through Calgary on their way to Banff and Jasper national parks. But the city itself has plenty of attractions, whether you’re visiting in the warm summer or the snowy winter. Here’s how to get the most out of 24 hours in Calgary.

Morning: Go Back in History

Head to Heritage Park Historical Village, one of Canada’s largest living history museums. Just south of Downtown Calgary, the pre-1915 buildings and staff in period dress transport visitors back in time to the Canadian Wild West. Kids might especially enjoy a wagon or steam train ride.

Afternoon: Taste Calgary

Explore the neighborhoods of Calgary on a food tour, and find out what makes Canadian cuisine unique. Sample different dishes while walking around a market or some of Calgary’s most historic areas. Travelers with kids might prefer to check out the Calgary Zoo instead, home to more than 1,000 animals belonging to more than 100 species.

Night: Enjoy the View

The tallest building in the city, and a distinctive landmark, the Calgary Tower is a fun evening destination. Get there while there’s still daylight, to possibly catch sight of the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Stay for dinner at the revolving Sky 360 restaurant—or just take in the view from the observation deck, then head downtown to eat.

With natural treasures including Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier within easy reach, Calgary is an ideal base from which to explore the Rocky Mountains. If you’re keen to experience the best of Canada’s outdoors and national parks, here are our top picks of Rocky Mountain day trips from Calgary.

Banff Tours

Banff tours from Calgary run to destinations including Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country, and must-sees Bow Falls, the Banff Gondola, and Lake Louise in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Banff National Park. The diverse day trips on offer showcase the rugged beauty of the Canadian Rockies to perfection. As you explore—whether on foot or by bike—be sure to keep watch for native bear, elk, and deer in their natural habitat.

Jasper Tours

Home to stunning natural sites of interest such as Athabasca glacier and falls, the Icefields Parkway, and Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Park and Yoho National Park offer a world of exciting outdoor adventure. Most tours stop in Banff on the way to see iconic locations like the Crowfoot Glacier and Peyto Lake, and travelers can gain insight into Canada’s rich geology on the spectacular Columbia Icefield.

Things to Know

• Banff National Park is about 68 miles (110 kilometers) west of Calgary, a journey of 90 minutes by road.

• Jasper National Park sits just over 190 miles (305 kilometers) northwest of Calgary, and the drive takes around five hours.

• Day tours from Calgary to Banff and Jasper typically last between eight and 14 hours, and include pickup and drop-off at centrally located Calgary hotels as well as a guide, transportation by air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch.

• If you have more time to play, consider a multi-day tour, which includes meals and tented accommodations.