See and Do in Calgary

Although a bit of an isolated city – hemmed in by the Rocky Mountains and their surrounding plains – there are still plenty of fun, exciting things for expats to see and do in Calgary.

From exploring the 8,000 hectares of open space and parkland in and around the city, to partaking in the (traditionally American) pastime of rodeo shows, to engaging in Calgary's burgeoning theatre scene, expats are unlikely to endure a boring weekend during their sojourn in Alberta's largest city.

Over and above the sights listed below, Calgary’s main attraction for expats must remain its close proximity to the majestic Rocky Mountains. Just an hour's drive away, there are a myriad of outdoor recreational activities on offer among the snowy peaks – consult our lifestyle section for more information about all the great outdoor sports expats can get involved in.

Recommended sightseeing in Calgary

Heritage Park Historical Village

Heritage Park is a 'living history village', comprised of over 150 exhibitions that attempt to show what life was like in Alberta in the 19th and 20th centuries. Set on 127 beautiful acres of parkland, and located just 15 minutes from Calgary's CBD, Heritage Park makes for a worthwhile day trip, especially if you have kids in tow. Highlights include steam train rides, and an impressive collection of vintage automobiles.
www.heritagepark.ca
Tel: (403) 268 8500

Fort Calgary Historic Park

A more grown-up version of Heritage Park, Fort Calgary Historic Park tells the story of Calgary's history through sober exhibitions and an interesting interpretive centre. The reconstructed 1875 fort (located on site) is considered by Calgarians to be the birthplace of their city.
www.fortcalgary.com
Tel: (403) 269 7747

Canada Olympic Park

Canada Olympic Park was a major venue during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, and now hosts skiing and snowboarding programmes every winter; as well as housing the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. COP (as it's known to locals) remains a chief tourist attraction for casual visitors and winter sports enthusiasts alike.
www.winsportcanada.ca/cop
Tel: (403) 247 5452

Glenbow Museum

Located in the heart of the city, the Glenbow is Canada's largest museum, with more than 93,000 square feet (8,640 sq metres) of exhibition space, spread over three floors. It houses more than a million artefacts, filling up 20 galleries which showcase the colourful story of Canada's frontier history.
www.glenbow.org
Tel: (403) 268 4100

Calgary Zoo

Canada's second-largest zoo is home to more than a thousand animals from all over the world, as well as a huge variety of fish and insects housed in natural habitat enclosures. It also features a prehistoric park with 19 life-size animatronic dinosaurs on display. A great place to take the kids.
www.calgaryzoo.com
Tel: (403) 232 9300

Calgary Tower

The city's most recognisable structure, Calgary Tower is a must-visit landmark for expats seeking a bit of perspective. The glass-floored observation deck offers spectacular views of the city below, and there's a revolving restaurant on offer, as well.
www.calgarytower.com
Tel: (403) 266 7171

Calaway Park

The kids won't let you get away with not visiting Calaway Park, western Canada's largest outdoor amusement park. Open seven days a week – and featuring 33 rides and rollercoasters, live magic shows and musical performances – Calaway Park is the ideal destination for a fun-filled family outing.
www.calawaypark.com
(403) 240 3822

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

A 'buffalo jump' is a ledge of rock traditionally used to lure stampeding buffalo to their deaths. This one not only has an awesome name, but is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – proudly displaying exhibitions detailing the life and history of the Blackfoot people, the original inhabitants of the Great Plains region of southern Alberta.
www.head-smashed-in.com
Tel: (403) 553 2731

The Calgary Stampede

For expats, Calgary in July means it’s the city’s most famous festival, the Calgary Stampede. This festival, which attracts millions of visitors every year, is centred around rodeo events that see professional cowboys compete in bull riding, roping, bareback riding, and steer wrestling. The Wild West theme doesn't stop there, however – pancake breakfasts, square dancing, ground-shaking Chuckwagon races, a recreated Indian village, a gambling hall and dazzling firework displays complete the effect.
www.calgarystampede.com
Tel: (403) 261 0101