6 things to do in Calgary

June 30, 2021

Nestled at the foot of the gorgeous Rockies, Calgary has no shortage of things to do. Here are just six to add to your itinerary

 

Explore Banff National Park

Hiring a car in Calgary is recommended as it will allow you the freedom to take day trips to the Rocky Mountains and use Calgary as a base. Located between the stunning mountain resort towns of Banff and Lake Louise, and just over a one-hour drive from Calgary, is picturesque Banff National Park. Here, the natural setting features jutting, angular mountain peaks rising up to 4,000 metres high, towering forests of Douglas fir trees, and peacock blue lakes – some of the best are found in the beautiful hamlet of Lake Louise. Be sure to add a ride on the Banff Gondola to your adventure, too.

 

Visitors to Lake Louise in Banff National Park can enjoy views of Calgary's finest landscapes.
Visitors to Lake Louise in Banff National Park can enjoy views of Calgary's finest landscapes.

 

Visit the Calgary Farmers’ Market

From Thursday to Sunday, 9 am-5 pm, every day of the year, Calgary Farmers’ Market is a hotspot for fresh, local produce. During opening hours, in-the-know locals and travellers can be found mingling with smiley vendors at any one of 75 market stalls. You can find everything from coffee and baked goods to homemade preserves, clothing, spices and even cute buys for your furry friend back home.

 

Visitors enjoy butternut squash on offer at a Farmer's Market in Calgary.
Visitors enjoy butternut squash on offer at a Farmer's Market in Calgary.

 

Hike to the Lower Falls of Johnston Canyon

This popular day hike in Banff National Park will take you deep into one of the park’s most accessible canyons on foot. With walkways traversing the trail, it’s an easy walk for kids, accessible to all levels of fitness and you can hike it all season long. Our pick? Wintertime when the snow and ice particles create a magical fairy-tale like feel.

 

Lake Louise Tourism presents the Johnston Canyon Lower Falls as a must-see aspect of Banff.
Lake Louise Tourism presents the Johnston Canyon Lower Falls as a must-see aspect of Banff.

 

Go rafting down the river

Adventure seekers are warned: this type of rafting isn’t hugely adrenaline-packed. Lazy Day Raft Rentals, as the name suggests, will sort you out for a fun few hours of rafting down Calgary’s pretty Bow River. It’s a self-guided tour and you can choose to go rafting – or floating, rather – for two or four hours. Relaxing, scenic and a wonderful way to see the city from the water.

 

Tourists can enjoy rafting on the Bow River in Banff National Park during the summer.
Tourists can enjoy rafting on the Bow River in Banff National Park during the summer.

 

Get your fix of history

Say hello to Heritage Park Historical Village, the largest living history museum in Canada. Open throughout the warmer months, from mid-May to October each year, it is a bustling tourist attraction quite unlike any other. Think interpreters donning age-old costumes and horse-drawn wagons from the late 19th century. A visit here is like stepping back in time to see what life in Western Canada was like in the 1860s and beyond.

 

Tourists take in the living museum that is Heritage Park Historical Village.
Tourists take in the living museum that is Heritage Park Historical Village.

 

Drink craft beer at a Calgary brewery

It’s fair to say that making the trip to a brewery, whether you like beer or not, is a given on any trip to Canada. If hoppy beers aren’t your thing, the good news is that they all generally serve wine, too. If you are a die-hard craft beer fan, make your way to the ever-popular Big Rock Brewery or, take the 45-minute drive to Half Hitch Brewing Company where you can sip pints and feast on their menu of bacon-wrapped meatloaf. How very Canadian.

RELATED TOURS
Add Flights from $299
Travel from:Aug 2023
Travel until:Sep 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Rocky Mountaineer
7 Night Alaska Cruise
From
$4,799 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Aug 2023
Travel until:Sep 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Rocky Mountaineer
7 Night Alaska Cruise
Partially Escorted
Rocky Mountaineer badge
From
$4,799 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:Jun 2023
Travel until:Oct 2023
Canada
$99pp deposit
Fully Escorted
Moderate Pace
From
$2,699 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Jun 2023
Travel until:Oct 2023
Canada
$99pp deposit
Fully Escorted
Moderate Pace
7 Days
From
$2,699 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:Aug 2023
Travel until:Sep 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Fully Escorted
7 Night Alaska Cruise

Fully Escorted

From
$1,599 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Aug 2023
Travel until:Sep 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Fully Escorted
7 Night Alaska Cruise
Moderate Pace
From
$1,599 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:Oct 2023
Travel until:Oct 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Partially Escorted
Moderate Pace
From
$8,499 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Oct 2023
Travel until:Oct 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Partially Escorted
Moderate Pace
Small Group
From
$8,499 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:May 2023
Travel until:Sep 2023
Canada
$99pp deposit
Independent
Moderate Pace
From
$3,299 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:May 2023
Travel until:Sep 2023
Canada
$99pp deposit
Independent
Moderate Pace
From
$3,299 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:Nov 2023
Travel until:Mar 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Partially Escorted
Moderate Pace
From
$3,999 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Nov 2023
Travel until:Mar 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Partially Escorted
Moderate Pace
Small Group
From
$3,999 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:May 2023
Travel until:Aug 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
7 Night Alaska Cruise
Partially Escorted
From
$4,568 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:May 2023
Travel until:Aug 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
7 Night Alaska Cruise
Partially Escorted
Moderate Pace
From
$4,568 USD
pp twin share
Travel from:Jun 2023
Travel until:Sep 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Partially Escorted
7 Night Alaska Cruise

7 Night Alaska Cruise

From
$2,399 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Jun 2023
Travel until:Sep 2024
Canada
$99pp deposit
Partially Escorted
7 Night Alaska Cruise
Leisurely Pace
From
$2,399 USD
pp twin share
Add Flights for $299
Travel from:Jul 2023
Travel until:Jul 2023
Canada
$99pp deposit
Rocky Mountaineer
7 Night Alaska Cruise
From
$5,967 pp twin share
USD
Travel from:Jul 2023
Travel until:Jul 2023
Canada
$99pp deposit
Rocky Mountaineer
7 Night Alaska Cruise
Leisurely Pace
Rocky Mountaineer badge
From
$5,967 USD
pp twin share
Processing...