Top 12 Tourist Attractions in Calgary – Best Things to do

Last Updated on 12th September 2025 by admin

The city of Calgary, the heart of Alberta, is a bustling city full of life and tales to be explored. When you are making plans to visit, this city is not a mere stopover city on your way to the Rockies, it is a destination unto itself. Calgary is a city that is beautifully located between the rolling prairies and the splendid Canadian Rockies and as such it is an ideal combination of a bustling city and spectacular natural surroundings.

There will be a place where modern-day tall buildings collide with cowboy culture, where tranquil river paths intertwine with vibrant shopping streets, and where each season will have something new to experience. So, what should you see first? So, here we go, on a little tour and look at the 12 best tourist attractions in Calgary. 

1) Calgary Tower

There is only one place where you can see Calgary high up and that is the Calgary tower. As one of the most recognizable sites in the city, this 190-meter-tall tower stands high in the skyline of the downtown. Once you enter the observation deck, you have the entire 360-degree view of Calgary, the mountains in the distance, and the prairies that are endless on the other side.

And when you are feeling a bit of adventure, come out on the glass floor. The entire city seems so close to your feet – it is a bit frightening yet well worth it. It also has a revolving restaurant at the top which you can enjoy as you take your meal and the scenery keeps changing slowly. Pretty cool, right? Then you should definitely visit one of Calgary’s most famous tourist attractions at least once in your life.

2) Banff National Park

Well, Banff National Park is not in Calgary, but it’s only a short distance away and it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. You will encounter lakes of crystal clarity, mountains of snow and perhaps even some wildlife on the way. Hiking, watching wildlife, and looking for an attractive city of Banff are some countless things that are waiting for visitors.

Banff National Park is a one of the famous national parks in the world, also listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site. You might go on a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain and have some spectacular views or have a soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs and relax in the warm mineral water. Banff town itself is very quaint with small shops and cafes, and a great place to stroll after a day of sightseeing. 

3) Stephen Avenue Walk

To experience the vibrant atmosphere of Calgary, take a walk in Stephen Avenue Walk, the main part of downtown. This is a walking street, which is surrounded by old fashioned building, boutique stores, restaurants and cafes. It is an excellent location to purchase local treasures, sample new cuisine, or simply gaze upon people.

This famous route organizes several programs throughout the year, including outdoor concerts, street festivals and art facilities. There are also street entertainers, open air concerts, and festivals throughout the year making the place even more entertaining. Have you ever been to a city where even the streets are animation? This is one of those spots. 

4) Calgary Stampede

And here is the big one the Calgary Stampede! Calgary becomes one big festival in July and the festival commemorates its western heritage. The Stampede is called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, and with reason to it. Rodeo contest, chuckwagon race, parades, live music and a big fairground with rides and food stands will be available to you.

Calgary Stampede is one of the top places to visit, a 10 day entertainment that features a rodeo, live music, carnival rides and a parade that showcases the traditional western culture of the city. Although you may not be a rodeo fan, the atmosphere is too exciting that you will find yourself liking it anyway. The whole city plays along the game, and you will find cowboy hats and boots everywhere. 

5) Calgary Zoo

Who does not like spending a day at the zoo? The Calgary Zoo holds more than 4,000 animals of various places around the world. You will find tigers, lions, giraffes, gorillas and even penguins. One of the most famous exhibits is the Penguin Plunge, as you can come into close contact with these carefree animals.

It also has the Prehistoric Park where you go back millions of years in the form of life-size dinosaur models, making it one of the famous tourist attractions in Calgary. It is an amalgamation of both education and entertainment, and thus an ideal venue of families, couples, and even individual travelers who take pleasure in wildlife. 

6) Heritage Park Historical Village

In case you have ever wondered how Calgary used to look like in the early 1900s, Heritage Park Historical Village will bring you there. It is a living history museum that contains over 180 restored buildings. You can ride on a horse drawn wagon, you can go to old fashioned stores, you can see blacksmiths at work or even pan the gold.

The Gasoline Alley Museum located within the park is also an attraction worth visiting as it has an array of perfectly maintained old cars and trucks. It is also an entertaining experience to take a walk in Heritage Park, which makes us feel as if I am going back in time and learn about the history of Calgary. 

7) Glenbow Museum

The Glenbow Museum is the cultural and historical centre of Calgary. It contains thousands of objects, works of art and interactive exhibitions that narrate the story of Western Canada. They also have galleries on Indigenous Peoples, the history of the prairies, and even the fossils of dinosaurs.

Glenbow Museum is the largest museum in the city with more than 33,000 works of art. The museum also has changing exhibitions, and thus there is never a shortage of something new. Glenbow Museum is a place to visit whether you are a history enthusiast or an art enthusiast or simply want to learn something new. 

8) Calgary Olympic Park

Calgary Olympic Park offers a chance to relive the excitement of the 1988 Winter Olympics. You can ride a real bobsleigh with professional driver, or you can zipline on the ski jump tower, or you can simply enjoy the fantastic views. This is the destination in case you are a sports lover or even want to experience something new and adventurous.

Calgary Olympic Park is turned into a snowy playground in winter where world-class facilities of skiing and snowboarding are offered. The Olympic past can be remembered by the visitors visiting the ski jumps and the bobsled track which arouses the excitement of these high-adrenaline sports. Experience the thrill of sports and games in the Calgary Olympic Park both in the winter and in the summer season. 

9) Fish Creek Provincial Park

Tired of the noise of the city? The city also has a beautiful park. It is one of the largest urban parks in North America, with an area of ​​​​about 13 square kilometers and is known as Fish Creek Provincial Park. It has hiking, cycling and bird-watching trails and you may also spot deer, fox or coyotes here.

The Bow River also flows through this park which adds to the natural beauty of the park. It would be a perfect place for a quiet afternoon amidst nature. Fish Creek Provincial Park is a top tourist attractions in Calgary, there are variety of species, like as deer, elk, coyotes, and foxes, may be seen in this natural wonder. Within the park, more than 200 species of birds can be seen by birdwatchers, including owls, hawks, and eagles.

10) Prince’s Island Park

Another relaxing getaway is Prince Islands Park which is situated on the actual Bow River. It is a popular place where people can picnic, jog or simply rest during a sunny day. It is a vibrant place during the summer when it organizes festivals and outdoor concerts. When you are sitting under the trees, watching the river flow and listening to some music -sounds perfect, right?

Prince’s Island Park is most famous for its breathtaking scenery, wonderful walking trails, and greenery. Tourists can enjoy the serene voice of the Bow River flowing at their background and even the image of ducks and geese floating on the water in a graceful manner. 

11) Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre

To all lovers of music, Studio Bell is your destination. It is a site that honors the history of music in Canada with interactive displays, old instruments and performance areas. You can even have a go at composing music in one of the studios. It is an excellent place to study, to read, and, perhaps, to find your inner music talent.

There are five floors indoors that are full of exhibits, performance locations, and hundreds of instruments and music artifacts. Have you ever wanted to experience the instruments that some of the music legends of Canada played? You can do that here. There are also practical displays where you can experiment with combining sounds, playing instruments and even record your own little melody. 

12) Fort Calgary

The history of Calgary begins at Fort Calgary. This was the first settlement in the region and was constructed in 1875 by the North West Mounted Police and it significantly contributed to the future development of the city. It was more than police fort, and it was where law, order and community began to grow on the western frontier.

Fort Calgary is a wonderful historical site and given that it is a museum, it allows you to travel back in time. You can visit exhibits on the lives of the Mounties, the early settlers and the Indigenous people who used to live here where the fort was constructed. The site narrates the history of the Treaty 7 signed in 1877 that changed the relation between the Indigenous Peoples and the newcomers forever.

These 12 best tourist attractions in Calgary represents a different chapter in the history of the city. Calgary has a lot to offer to every traveler with its alluring beauty and wide variety of attractions. You are either a history lover or a naturalist or an adventure-lover, this vibrant city is sure to change your life forever. So, unleash your inner adventurer, adopt the spirit of the West and find out the magic which the crown jewels of Calgary hold. This is only a preview of what this city has to offer, there are so many secrets and so many stories to unravel on your own Calgary experience.