For couples · Calgary · Canada
Romantic things to do in Calgary
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Oceanflynn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Calgary works for couples as a relaxed city stop before the mountains: river walks, cocktail bars on 17th Avenue and sunsets over the Rockies from the hills around the city. Couples tend to stay in Beltline and 17th Avenue.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 1
- Area for couples
- Beltline and 17th Avenue
- Best months
- June and September
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset on Nose Hill
Walk up the grassland plateau in the evening and watch the sun set behind the Rockies with the city skyline in front.
2.Dinner at the top of the Calgary Tower
The revolving restaurant turns a full circle over the prairie and the mountains during dinner.
3.Peace Bridge evening walk
Cross the lit-up Peace Bridge and follow the Bow River pathway towards Prince's Island Park.
4.Cocktails on 17th Avenue
Hop between small cocktail bars and wine bars on the Red Mile.
5.Canmore overnight
Spend a night in Canmore, an hour west, for mountain views without Banff's crowds.
Sights couples love
Park · Downtown
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
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and couples
Beltline and 17th Avenue
The Beltline is Calgary's most densely populated district, with 17th Avenue SW (the 'Red Mile') lined with restaurants, cocktail bars, cafés and independent shops. It is a short walk from Stampede Park and from the downtown core, and several boutique hotels and apartment rentals sit within a few blocks.
- Good
- The city's liveliest evenings; Walk to Stampede Park; Wide choice of restaurants
- Watch out
- Can be noisy late at night; Street parking is tight
- Nearby
- 17th Avenue SW, Stampede Park, Lougheed House, Central Memorial Park
Romantic day trips
- Banff (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — The mountain town inside Banff National Park has the Banff Gondola, the Upper Hot Springs, Bow Falls and the Fairmont Banff Springs.
- Canmore (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Canmore sits just outside Banff National Park below the Three Sisters peaks, with hiking trails, the Canmore Nordic Centre from the 1988 Olympics and a walkable main street of cafés and restaurants.
- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (About 2 hours by car) — The turquoise glacial lakes beneath Victoria Glacier and the Valley of the Ten Peaks are the most photographed places in the Rockies.
- Kananaskis Country (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A network of provincial parks south of Banff with lakes, hiking trails and wildlife; quieter than the national park.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Alberta beef, Ginger beef and Bison. Restaurants serve alcohol to those 18 and over, the legal drinking age in Alberta.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Calgary romantic?
Calgary works for couples as a relaxed city stop before the mountains: river walks, cocktail bars on 17th Avenue and sunsets over the Rockies from the hills around the city.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Calgary?
Sunset on Nose Hill: Walk up the grassland plateau in the evening and watch the sun set behind the Rockies with the city skyline in front.
+Where should couples stay in Calgary?
Beltline and 17th Avenue: Dense restaurant and bar strip along 17th Avenue SW south of downtown.