Free things to do · Calgary · Canada
7 free things to do in Calgary
Calgary without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ, CC0
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Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Calgary without paying an entry fee: Calgary Central Library, Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park, Stephen Avenue Walk and Devonian Gardens are all free. Alberta has no provincial sales tax; only 5% GST is added, which makes shopping cheaper than in most of Canada.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 2
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January and November
Free sights and experiences
Architecture · East Village
1.Calgary Central Library
Stand under the cedar-lined entrance arch for the best photo, then take the stairs up through the atrium.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Photo spot
Park · Downtown
2.Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park
Walk across the bridge to Kensington for coffee, then return along the river pathway to the island.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Street · Downtown
3.Stephen Avenue Walk
Look up at the sandstone façades between 1st Street SE and 2nd Street SW, rebuilt in stone after a fire in 1886.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Garden · Downtown
4.Devonian Gardens
Reach it through the +15 skywalks in winter without going outside.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Inglewood
5.Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
Bring binoculars and go early in the morning, when bird activity is highest.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Park · Northwest Calgary
6.Nose Hill Park
Bring water and a windproof layer; there is no shade or shelter on the hilltop.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
Park · South Calgary
7.Fish Creek Provincial Park
Cycle the paved trail from Bow Valley Ranch along the creek for an easy half-day ride.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| East Village | Calgary Central Library | 45 minutes |
| Downtown | Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park, Stephen Avenue Walk and Devonian Gardens | 1–2 hours + 1 hour + 30–45 minutes |
| Inglewood | Inglewood Bird Sanctuary | 1–2 hours |
| Northwest Calgary | Nose Hill Park | 1–3 hours |
| South Calgary | Fish Creek Provincial Park | 2–4 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Inglewood
Fort Calgary at the Confluence
The grounds and riverside paths are free to wander even when you skip the interpretive centre.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Free
Historic site · Beltline and 17th Avenue
Lougheed House
The formal gardens are a quiet spot for a break between 17th Avenue cafés.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Alberta has no provincial sales tax; only 5% GST is added, which makes shopping cheaper than in most of Canada.
- Ride the free CTrain stretch along 7th Avenue downtown instead of paying for short hops.
- The Central Library, Devonian Gardens, Peace Bridge and river pathways are all free.
- Hotel prices roughly double during the Stampede; visit in June or September for lower rates and good weather.
- Stay in Calgary and drive to the mountains if Banff hotels are full or out of budget.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Calgary expensive to visit?
Calgary is moderately priced for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Calgary?
Calgary Central Library: Stand under the cedar-lined entrance arch for the best photo, then take the stairs up through the atrium.