2 days in Calgary

Day by day

1. Day 1: Calgary Tower and Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park

   Calgary Tower, Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park, Stephen Avenue Walk and Devonian Gardens, then Calgary Stampede in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Calgary Tower

      A revolving restaurant sits just below the deck.

   2. Late morning

      Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park

      Next to it, Prince's Island Park is an island of lawns, lagoons and riverside paths that hosts the Calgary Folk Music Festival each July.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Alberta beef

      Steakhouses downtown and along 17th Avenue; butchers and the Calgary Farmers' Market for cooking at home.

   4. Afternoon

      Stephen Avenue Walk

      It is Calgary's main downtown gathering place for lunch and after-work drinks, and a National Historic District.

   5. Late afternoon

      Devonian Gardens

      It is free and a warm escape in winter.

   6. Evening

      Calgary Stampede

      Buy grandstand tickets for the rodeo or the evening show well ahead, and go to a community pancake breakfast for a free taste of Stampede spirit.

2. Day 2: Studio Bell, National Music Centre and Calgary Central Library

   Studio Bell, National Music Centre, Calgary Central Library, Calgary Zoo and Heritage Park Historical Village, then 17th Avenue SW (the Red Mile) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Studio Bell, National Music Centre

      Hands-on zones let visitors play instruments and record, and halls of fame honour Canadian musicians.

   2. Late morning

      Calgary Central Library

      It is free to enter, with reading rooms, a large children's area and views from the upper floors.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ginger beef

      Chinese-Canadian restaurants in Chinatown and across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Calgary Zoo

      George's Island in the Bow River, the zoo is known for its Canadian Wilds area, a Prehistoric Park of life-size dinosaur models and an indoor gorilla and tropical habitat. In winter it hosts a large Christmas light display.

   5. Late afternoon

      Heritage Park Historical Village

      Gasoline Alley Museum, open year-round, displays vintage cars and petrol pumps.

   6. Evening

      17th Avenue SW (the Red Mile)

      Bars, cocktail lounges and clubs along the Beltline's main street, busiest on weekends and after hockey games.

Before you go

• Calgary Stampede: Hotels and grandstand seats sell out months in advance; book as soon as the dates are announced.

If it rains

• Swap in TELUS Spark Science Centre (Northeast Calgary): Combine with the zoo, a short drive away, for a full family day.
• Swap in Lougheed House (Beltline and 17th Avenue): The formal gardens are a quiet spot for a break between 17th Avenue cafés.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–19 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.9 hours in December to 16.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Tram. The CTrain Red and Blue lines link downtown with the northwest, northeast and south, including stations near the zoo, Stampede Park and Chinook Centre.

More or fewer days

• One day in Calgary
• 3 days in Calgary

Questions travellers ask