Calgary

Barclay Parade

Barclay Parade (3 St SW) is a pedestrian-friendly section of downtown street that runs from Eau Claire Market in the north to Stephen Avenue (8 Ave S) in the south. It is home to a number of high end shops.

Bow Valley Ranche

William Roper Hull Ranche House

Former ranch, now a historical site. Features interpretive walks, art gallery, artisan gardens, and restaurant.

Bowness Park

Bowness Park is along the Bow River between Stoney Trail and 85 St NW. A shallow lagoon runs along the along the park's southern edge, a favourite spot for paddle boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Bowness Park is highly used for picnicking and accessing the Bow River.

5AM - 11PM·free

Calgary Tower

The Calgary Tower may not be quite as impressive as the CN Tower in Toronto, but it still commands a great view over the city and the surroundings. On a clear day you can see the Rockies to the west. It features a revolving gourmet restaurant, a bar, and an observation deck. The tower is best approached from 9th Avenue, as the 10th Avenue side is dominated by railway tracks, parking lots, & parkades.

Jun-Aug 10AM-10PM, Sept-May 10AM-9PM·$19/adult, $17/senior, $9/child

Crescent Heights Park

This park offers a pleasant walk, along with popular views of Downtown Calgary.

Free

Crescent Road viewpoint

This ridgetop gives a great view of Prince's Island Park and downtown Calgary. Follow the pathway to a staircase going down the hillside for more varied perspectives.

Devonian Gardens

A large indoor urban park in TD Square, above the shopping area.

Free

Elliston Park

A small park located along 17 Ave SE; the site of the annual Globalfest fireworks competition and home of the first BP BirthPlace Forest.

5AM-11PM

Enmax Park

Salisbury Street is in a residential area on the east side of Enmax Park. There are houses on one side of the street and, on the other, a great view of the Saddledome, Stampede Grandstand, Calgary skyline and the Calgary Tower.

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary & Nature Centre

Registration for tours is recommended. The Nature Centre building, housing washrooms & drinking fountains, is closed until 2021. This 32-hectare wildlife reserve offers more than 2 km² of walking trails throughout the riverine forest. More than 250 species of birds and 300 species of plants, plus several kinds of mammals, have been observed in the area. As it is a bird sanctuary, no bicycles or dogs (except assistance dogs) are allowed.

Trails open sunrise–sunset, Nature Centre Tue-Sun 10AM-4PM, closed Mon and statutory holidays, closed at noon on Dec 24·Free

North Glenmore Park

North Glenmore Park borders the north side of the Glenmore Reservoir and has a tennis court, pathways, playgrounds and many picnic areas. It is the area surrounding the north side of the reservoir and is the home to both the Calgary Canoe Club and Calgary Rowing Club.

Daily 5AM-11PM

Nose Hill viewpoint

The views of downtown Calgary from Nose Hill Park can only be accessed on foot or by bicycle. Park your car at one of the parking lots near the top of the hill (opposite Edgemont Blvd NW or Berkely Gate NW) and then head towards the southern edge of the hill.

Olympic Plaza

This public square was built as the site of medal presentations during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. It continues to host free public events and festivals. During the summer, waders can enjoy the water-filled plaza, while winter visitors can go skating. Also the site of Calgary's "Women are Persons!" sculpture, celebrating a landmark achievement in the status of women in Canada. Calgary's quaint old City Hall is across the street from the north-east corner of Olympic Park.

Prairie Winds Park

16-hectare park in northeast Calgary, hosts the Country Thunder annual country music festival in mid-August.

Prince's Island Park

Calgary's largest inner city park is an island with a number of pleasant trails for walking and relaxing. In the summer, it plays host to Shakespeare by the Bow and it is also the site of one of the city's largest annual festivals: the Calgary Folk Music Festival.

Repsol Sport Centre

Talisman Centre

Near the Stampede Grounds and just south of downtown, Repsol Sport Centre is a multi-sport centre used by both recreational and Olympic-level athletes. Facilities include two 8-lane 50 m long Olympic-size swimming pools, a dive tank with spring boards and platforms for 3 m, 5 m, 7 m, and 10 m dives, shallow teaching pool, 5 full-size gyms, 2 running tracks, fitness centre for cardio & weight training, basketball and volleyball courts, classes.

Mon-Fri 5AM-11PM, Sat 6AM-10PM, Sun 7AM-10PM·$14 adult/$8.75 youth

River Park viewpoint

In Calgary's southwest on ridge above Sandy Beach, large designated off-leash area.

5AM-11PM

River Park, Sandy Beach & Britannia Slopes

River Park, Sandy Beach and the Britannia Slopes together form a popular park and recreation area for Calgarians. This regional park is located north of the Glenmore Dam and along the Elbow River in southwest Calgary.

Scotsman's Hill viewpoint

The top of this very high riverbank overlooks the Stampede Grandstand. It is a good place to watch the fireworks which are scheduled every evening during Stampede week after the chuckwagon races and the stage show (11PM). The parking in the neighbourhood is 'permit only' so you must park elsewhere, walk up the hill and watch the fireworks for free.

South Glenmore Park

South Glenmore Park is the area surrounding the south side of the reservoir which includes the Weaselhead Natural Area. It is also home to the Variety Children's Park, a playground and water park that is accessible to disabled children. South Glenmore Park also houses the Glenmore Sailing School.

Daily 5AM-11PM

Stampede Park

The site of Calgary's world-famous exhibition and rodeo, the Stampede Park is east of the Beltline in Victoria Park. Not only are the grounds the site of the excitement of every July's Calgary Stampede, they also house a conference and exhibition centre (the BMO Centre) and a casino.

Stanley Park

Located along the Elbow River in southwest Calgary, Stanley Park is a favourite destination place for picnicking, swimming, canoeing, tobogganing and lawn bowling.

Daily 5AM-11PM

The Confluence

The Confluence (formerly known as Fort Calgary), a Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP, now RCMP) fort was built in 1875 at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers (near modern Inglewood). It became the nucleus around which Calgary grew. The original fort was destroyed decades ago. Today, it is a museum and historic site focusing on the history of the city and of the RCMP.

9AM-5PM·$11/adult, $11/concession, $6/youth, $8/senior, indigenous peoples and children free

Tom Campbell's Hill Park viewpoint

Views of the confluence of the Bow River and Nose Creek, with the towers of downtown Calgary off to the southwest.

Alberta University of the Arts

formerly Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD)

Publicly funded art and design university. Formerly part of SAIT, it gained autonomy in 1985 and was renamed in 2019.

Ambrose University

Ambrose University and Seminary

Private Christian liberal arts university; official Canadian school of both the Church of the Nazarene and the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Battalion Park

A tribute to local soldiers that trained for the First World War at the former Sarcee Camp, this small park has an interpretive 500-m-long walking trail/staircase up the side of a steep hill. Soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force left enormous battalion numerals spelled out in whitewashed stones on the hillside, which have been restored as a permanent memorial. The trail also includes a monument and a self-guided tour with historical tablets and photographs. Most of the numbers are easily seen from the parking lots of the nearby Signal Hill and West Hills shopping centres.

Bow Valley College

Offers year-round career programs that lead to certificates, diplomas, and post-diploma certificates, as well as adult upgrading and English language learning. Also offers career services and specialized services that help newcomers to Canada.

Bridgeland

Bridgeland-Riverside

An urban revitalization area northeast of the downtown. Although the community has long been Calgary's "Little Italy" (hence the abundance of Italian restaurants in the area), the demolition of the old General Hospital in 1998 sparked a long-term project redevelop much of the era. The area is expected to be a family oriented Pearl District (see Portland, Oregon) and the initial phases are already done. The area includes posh shops, chic apartments, and beautiful lofts, while maintaining the old charm of the distinct houses. The area is undergoing massive gentrification due to its proximity to downtown and the now cleaned up East Village. It is a great area to walk through for those interested in architecture and planning. The far eastern end of Bridgeland connects with the Calgary Zoo and Telus Spark Science Centre. Tom Campbell's Hill is an excellent viewpoint of downtown.

Calgary Central Library

New Calgary Central Library

Flagship branch of the Calgary Public Library, opened on November 1, 2018. interior centres around a four-storey central atrium topped by a skylight. The lower floors contain the library's meeting spaces and activity centres, while the upper floors feature book stacks with space for 450,000 titles and a reading room. Also features a 340-seat theatre, conference rooms, and small café. Named one of the 12 Most Anticipated Buildings of 2018 by Architectural Digest.

Mon-Thu 9AM-8PM; Fri 9AM-6PM; Sat 9AM-5PM; Sun noon-5PM·free