Plan a 3-Day Escape to Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is an ever-expanding city set on the Alberta prairie. Once known for cowboy culture and the Calgary Stampede, the city is furthering its identity as a center for arts, culture, and cuisine,

Here’s how to spend a weekend in Calgary before traveling onward to Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Explore Downtown Calgary

After a hearty breakfast at Shoe & Canoe Public House — a classic fried egg sandwich, maybe, or decadent brioche French toast — begin your downtown exploration with a panoramic view of the city from the top of Calgary Tower.

Get your shopping done by wandering the lively pedestrian mall at Stephen Avenue Walk, where you’ll see travelers, locals, and buskers. Be sure to take in the varied architecture, both vintage and modern.

While you’re there, grab a midmorning coffee and pastry at Phil & Sebastian or sit down for a full lunch at SALTLIK, a modern steakhouse known for one dish in particular featuring mashed potatoes topped with tarragon-butter-poached lobster.

In the afternoon, explore Calgary’s arts scene in the East Village. First, take a peek into the innovative Central Library. Its design was inspired by a “Chinook arch,” a bow-shaped cloud formation that sometimes forms over Alberta, and it’s decorated with artwork from Indigenous artists. Then learn about Canada’s musical history at Studio Bell at the National Music Centre, which hosts interactive exhibits and concerts in the 300-seat performance hall.

When dinnertime calls, find a locally sourced steakhouse menu downtown at One18 Empire, which also boasts an extremely well-stocked whiskey bar. Or dig into an Albertan steak at downtown’s Modern Steak, which serves ranch-specific Alberta and Kobe beef in a stunningly modern space with a 40-foot atrium. If you’re leaning into a more plant-based diet, visit Ten Foot Henry for creative shared plates, including vegetable dishes, pastas, seafood, and meat.

Cap off your evening in style with a cocktail at Proof, where the bartenders make serious business of mixing drinks, with an innovative menu of more than 40 cocktails, 350 bottles, and a buzzy feel.

Saturday: Bike Along the River

Start your day at the casual Alforno Bakery & Cafe, a quick stroll from The Westin Calgary, for sweet pastries, savory egg dishes, and breakfast sandwiches, before setting out on a day along the river.

Calgary is home to an extensive car-free urban recreation network, making it easy to stroll or cycle around. Pedego Calgary offers electric bike rentals to explore it in style. One of the most scenic routes is along the Bow River traveling from the Peace Bridge, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, through Eau Claire Park and along the RiverWalk before crossing into Inglewood, the city’s oldest neighborhood.

After working up an appetite, pop into Deane House for lunch, set in a retrofitted circa-1906 home, with a menu highlighting locally sourced produce and meats.

The Calgary craft beer scene has been booming since 2013, when the province dropped its minimum production levels, and now more than 40 breweries are found throughout the city. Grab a pint at Cold Garden Beverage Company, with a colorful taproom and patio space where you can enjoy beer and cider sourced from the on-site microbrewery.

While in Inglewood, wander the streets lined with independent boutiques, including chic stationery supply store Recess and eclectic shop The Peacock Boutique Consignment.

Spend your evening at the Simmons Building, the former mattress factory warehouse transformed into a culinary destination. Charbar serves fresh, sustainable cuisine cooked on a wood-fired Argentine parrilla on a patio overlooking the city skyline and the Bow River. Share a toast with a drink from their extensive cocktail menu.

Sunday: Take a Food Tour

Turn mealtime into a culinary experience by signing up for Alberta Food Tours’ Sunday Brunch at the Calgary Farmers’ Market West. Led by cookbook author Karen Anderson, the tour hops between bakeries, coffee shops, and market merchants, revealing the secret spots that define the city’s food scene.

In the afternoon, channel your inner athlete at WinSport, the former Olympic park where you can snow tube in the winter and fly through the air on a zip line in warmer weather.

Spend your final evening in Calgary’s Beltline neighborhood. At the elevated Bridgette Bar, you can’t go wrong with a pasta dish and a fine glass of wine. For a casual diner vibe, visit Galaxie Diner for great burgers and all-day breakfasts. To enjoy outdoor dining all year, try Park by Sidewalk Citizen, which has one of the best patios in town and a year-round solarium, as well as excellent Mediterranean shared plates. Enjoy a night outside, bundled up or dressed down, in a city that is made for every season.