Must See Places in Calgary, Canada

A mix of metropolitan vibes with the spectacular view of mountain landscapes and natural scenery, Calgary is also Canada’s most wellplanned city.

Home to numerous skyscrapers, Calgary is renowned as one of Canada’s wealthiest cities. The city is blessed with year-round sunshine unlike many other cities in North America. Located at a good distance from many world class resort towns, amazing glacial lakes, astonishing mountain landscapes and the United States border, there are more than just a few reasons to visit this city.

A vacation to this part of the country has everything a great travel itinerary should include and considering this is the part of Canada that is filled with world renowned lakes and gateway to the Canadian Rockies, there is hardly a chance of missing this city on a trip to the county.

Glenbow Museum

An art and history museum in the city, the place focuses on indigenous people's history from North America. The museum's good location and numerous permanent art collections make it a must-visit place in Calgary. Currently, in 2021, the museum is going through a massive renovation with plans to expand the existing artworks and will next be open to the public in three years.

Calgary Zoo

Featuring a variety of animals and models for dinosaurs, the zoo offers a memorable wildlife experience with exhibits showcasing habitats from around the world. One among five major zoos in Canada, the zoo is also accessible via Calgary’s light-rail system. Calgary Zoo is one of Canada's top attractions and much more than just a place to see animals.

Heritage Park Historic Village

One of the city’s iconic parks located on the banks of Glenmore Reservoir, the museum is one of the largest living history museums in the country and a renowned tourist attraction. The exhibits depict Canadian history from the 1860s to 1930s, along with hundreds of more attractions which include a passenger train that takes visitors around the park. Making history come to life, the park has costumed interpreters dressed according to the period, truly depicting the Western way of life back at the time.

Calgary Tower

 The Calgary Tower is a 190.8-meter long in the downtown core of Calgary

A major tourist attraction and a popular restaurant, the tower offers panoramic views of the city's landscapes. The 190-meter free-standing structure stands unique for its vibrant colours and frequent light shows. Despite not being the tallest building anymore, the tower continues to attract visitors for its resemblance to the city's culture.

Devonian Gardens

An indoor botanical garden in the heart of the city, this one-of-a-kind green space houses hundreds of varieties of plants and trees. More of an urban oasis in the middle of the city, the indoor park features inside one of the floors of a shopping center. It is one of the great and probably the only largest indoor places in the world to see the tropical gardens while on a visit to the cultural venues of Downtown Calgary.

Peace Bridge

 The Peace Bridge is an international bridge between Canada and the United States

Spread across the Bow River, the bridge is also known by the name of finger tap bridge given its twisted shape. Opened to the public in 2012, the bridge was built by a Spanish architect and its eye-catching design has made it more of an urban icon over the years. The bridge can accommodate both pedestrians and bicycles, and its great cityside location makes it one of the best places to observe the slow urban life.

Bowness Park

Located by the shores of Bow River in the Bowness neighbourhood of Calgary, the park is specifically known for its lagoons, skating rinks, picnic spots and overall serene surroundings. This green space is one of the favourite city spots for paddle boarding and picnicking along the river and is one of the best all-season places in the city.

Banff National Park

Located in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park offers endless mountain terrains, wildlife, many glacial lakes, dense forests and everything that defines the richest natural views of Canada. The park is known to be Canada’s oldest national park, housing many of the country’s famed lakes, including the renowned Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

The place also hosts perfect mountain towns and villages, scenic drives, hot spring reserves and many more recreational activities amidst the world's most breathtaking mountain scenery. One of Canada’s national treasures and a UNESCO Heritage site, the unending gorgeous landscapes of the park attract millions of visitors to this part of Canada.

Banff National Park also houses Canada’s most iconic hot springs, known as the Banff Upper Hot Springs or Canadian Rockies Hot Springs. The hot pools are one of the park's commercially developed areas offering spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. Banff Upper Hot Springs are one of the park’s magnificent UNESCO Heritage Sites besides being the highest thermal springs in the country.

Calgary Stampede

Calgary is well-known in Canada as a ‘Cowtown’ because of the Calgary Stampede. The Calgary Stampede is also called ‘The greatest outdoor show on Earth’ due to its significance in Canada. Every July of each year, the Calgary Stampede is held in the Alberta province of Canada which has now become a prominent identifying event for Alberta across the globe. At the Calgary Stampede, visitors can expect high-energy rodeo events which are a primary driving force for most tourism in Calgary. In addition to that, visitors are recommended to indulge in thrilling chuckwagon races, devour pancake breakfasts, musical events and other entertainment shows that the West inspires!

Kensington Village

Kensington Village is one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in Calgary. This village was created to give out an urban village feel in Calgary. Here, visitors will be astonished to locate over two hundred and fifty destinations to shop, dine, etc. Kensington Village is a charming community spot where travellers from across the globe gather to have fun and spend some of the best days and nights of their lives. Biking and a peaceful stroll across the streets of this village are the best parts of touring Calgary. To grab a quick coffee, many nearby coffee houses can be explored. To take beautiful souvenirs back home, many shops and stalls can be explored that sell some of the most majestic hand-made goods ever.

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Alberta has two main cities, Edmonton and Calgary. Alberta has got quite a diverse terrain, which includes the snowy peaks of Rocky Mountains, glaciers, and lakes; the mutely beautiful flat prairies; and wild forests in the north. Learn about Must See Places in Alberta.

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