Calgary began as a North-West Mounted Police fort in 1875, grew with the Canadian Pacific Railway, and boomed again thanks to oil. Today it’s a forward-looking city framed by prairie skies and the snow-scalloped Canadian Rockies. Glass towers meet river parks, craft breweries hum near historic warehouses, and a serious dining scene elevates Alberta beef and prairie produce.

Fun fact: Calgary enjoys "Chinook" winds—warm, dry gusts that can swing winter temperatures by 20°F in hours. It also hosts the Calgary Stampede every July, a 10-day rodeo and festival that locals call "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." Year-round, you can walk the Bow River Pathway, catch live music, and day trip to national parks that look like postcards.

Practical notes: Winters are cold and bright; summers are warm with long daylight. If you’re heading into Banff/Yoho, budget for a Parks Canada pass and check road conditions, especially October–April. Calgary Transit’s CTrain makes downtown car-free easy, while rideshares and car rentals help for far-flung neighborhoods. Expect excellent Vietnamese, Indian, and modern Canadian cuisine across the city.

Calgary

Calgary is equal parts riverfront parks and cosmopolitan downtown, with neighborhoods like Inglewood (heritage streets and indie shops), Beltline (restaurants, bars), East Village (design-forward riverwalk), and Kensington (cafes, boutiques). Anchors include the Calgary Tower, Studio Bell (National Music Centre), the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, and Contemporary Calgary.

• Top sights: Calgary Tower, Studio Bell, Prince’s Island Park, Inglewood + East Village RiverWalk, Heritage Park Historical Village, Contemporary Calgary, Fish Creek Provincial Park.
• Why base here: Reliable dining, nightlife, and transit—plus efficient access to the Canadian Rockies, Drumheller’s hoodoos, and the Waterton-Glacier region.
• Dining snapshot: Vegetable-forward plates at Ten Foot Henry; wood-fired Argentine grill at Charbar; Pacific flavors at Lulu Bar; refined views at Major Tom; seasonal Canadian at Deane House.

Where to stay (handpicked):

• Classic icon with central location: The Fairmont Palliser (grand lobby, spa, walkable to Stephen Ave and the Tower).
• Design-forward, pool and patio: Hotel Arts (Beltline; easy to restaurants, bars, and the Elbow River pathways).
• Budget-friendly, social vibe: HI Calgary City Centre Hostel (near CTrain City Hall station; great for solo travelers).
• Browse more stays: VRBO Calgary or Hotels.com Calgary.

Getting there & around:

• Flights to Calgary International (YYC): Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: Vancouver 1h30m; Toronto 4h; Los Angeles 3h; New York 5h (via connection). Expect ~$150–$450 roundtrip from major North American hubs outside peak holidays.
• Local transit: CTrain and buses cover the core; adult single fare around the price of a coffee and day passes roughly the cost of two singles. Rideshares and cabs are plentiful; parking garages are common downtown.

Day 1: Arrival, RiverWalk, and Skyline Warm-Up

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs along the East Village RiverWalk. Pop into Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters (Simmons Building) for a cappuccino and a Sidewalk Citizen kouign-amann. Meander to Prince’s Island Park—watch for white pelicans on the Bow in summer.

Evening: Time your Calgary Tower visit for golden-hour views over the foothills to the Rockies. Dinner options: Ten Foot Henry (vegetable-forward share plates; don’t miss the butterscotch pudding), River Café (seasonal Canadian on the island; cozy in winter, patio magic in summer), or Lulu Bar (Pacific plates and tiki-ish cocktails). Nightcap at Proof (inventive cocktails) or the bar at Major Tom for late-night vistas.

Day 2: Music, Museums, and Neighborhood Flavor

Morning: Breakfast at OEB Breakfast Co. (duck fat potatoes, creative bennies) or Monogram Coffee (single-origin pour-overs). Explore Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre—hands-on exhibits and Canadian music history in award-winning architecture. If you prefer animals, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is a quick CTrain ride away.

Afternoon: Wander Inglewood’s 9th Ave SE: indie shops, vinyl at Recordland, and heritage façades. For lunch, Charbar (wood-fired asado in the Simmons Building) or Native Tongues Taqueria (al pastor, margaritas). If you’re into science and design, Contemporary Calgary brings rotating exhibitions inside the former planetarium.

Evening: Dinner at Major Tom (dry-aged steaks, potato donuts; reserve ahead) or Deane House (riverside heritage home; prairie-forward tasting menus). For a twinkly skyline, head to Scotsman’s Hill or Crescent Heights Lookout.

Day 3: Banff + Lake Louise Postcard Day (Full-Day Tour)

Trade city streets for turquoise lakes and glacier-carved peaks. This is a full-day Rockies excursion with pickup in Calgary, typically 10–12 hours and about 1.5–2 hours’ drive each way depending on stops. Expect time at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (seasonal road access), plus Banff Town for lunch and shopping. Budget around ~$150–$220 per adult depending on season and inclusions; a Parks Canada pass is usually handled by the operator.

Book: 2025 Winner-Lake Louise Moraine Lake Johnston Canyon Banff Town

Food tips: In Banff, Park Distillery (campfire cuisine, house spirits), Bear Street Tavern (cast-iron pizzas), and Whitebark Café (espresso) are reliable. Bring layers; mountain weather flips fast.

Upgrade idea for a smaller group feel: Explore Banff National Park with Our Premium Day Tour

Day 4: Drumheller & The Badlands (Full-Day Tour)

Head east to a different planet: wind-sculpted hoodoos, dinosaur fossils, and coulees that glow at sunrise. Tours run ~8–10 hours roundtrip from Calgary. Highlights often include Horseshoe Canyon, the Hoodoos Trail, the Suspension Bridge, and time to explore the Royal Tyrrell Museum (world-class paleontology).

Book: Drumheller & Hoodoos Day Trip from Calgary, Explore the Badlands

Pack sun protection and water—Badlands heat can sneak up in summer. Casual eats in Drumheller include burgers and ice cream along the main drag; ask your guide for current favorites.

Day 5: Heritage Park, Glenmore Views, and Calgary’s “Barley Belt”

Morning: Grab breakfast at Blue Star Diner (Bridgeland; hearty scrambles, local sausages) or Diner Deluxe (classic hashes). Explore Heritage Park Historical Village (seasonal streets, steam train, and lake views). Year-round, the Gasoline Alley Museum shows off gleaming vintage cars. Walk the Glenmore Reservoir Pathway afterward for osprey and sailboats in summer.

Afternoon: Coffee at Phil & Sebastian (Marda Loop) and shopping along 33rd Ave SW. Hungry? Calgary Farmers’ Market West is great for a progressive lunch—try Pie Junkie slices, Anatolia’s gözleme, and fruit galettes from Black Sheep.

Evening: Sample the "Barley Belt" breweries: Annex Ale Project (try the root beer, too), Cabin Brewing (hazy IPAs), and Banded Peak (Summit Seeker IPA). If you prefer a seated dinner, book Bridgette Bar (mid-century vibes, wood-fired plates) or Calcutta Cricket Club (vibrant Indian—prawn koliwada, kosha mangsho). Live music options include The Blues Can in Inglewood.

Day 6: Waterton National Park Front-Range Wonders (Full-Day Tour)

Drive ~2.5 hours south to Waterton, where prairie collides with peaks. Tours typically include Cameron Falls, panoramic stops near the Prince of Wales Hotel, and Red Rock Canyon (late spring–fall; winter routes pivot to lakes and viewpoints). Expect ~10–12 hours total, with free time in the village for lunch.

Book: Best Tour to Waterton National Park Nature, History and Wonders

Eat tips: In season, hit Wieners of Waterton for creative dogs or Lakeside Chophouse for trout with a view. Layers and windbreakers are essential—Waterton is famously breezy.

Day 7: Markets, Last Walks, and Farewell Bites

Morning: Ease into the day with Deville Coffee or Analog Coffee and a stroll through Prince’s Island Park or Fish Creek Provincial Park (Canada’s largest urban park, with riverine trails and birding). Brunch at The Beltliner (buttermilk pancakes, breakfast bowls) or OEB if you missed it earlier.

Afternoon: Pick up prairie-made gifts on 17th Ave SW—local chocolates, pottery, or cozy toques. If time allows, pop into Fort Calgary for insights into the city’s origins. Depart for YYC in the afternoon; the airport is ~20–30 minutes from downtown outside rush hour.

Seasonal and Alternate Ideas

• Columbia Icefield + Skywalk (summer highlight): a long but spectacular day deeper into the Rockies, often combining Peyto Lake and glacier views. Calgary: Columbia Icefield Adventure, Skywalk and Peyto Lake Tour

• Winter specialties: Abraham Lake ice bubbles tours, snowshoeing, and Johnston Canyon ice walks (operators provide traction gear).
• Calgary Stampede (early July): book hotels months ahead—dining and nightlife explode with pop-ups and live music.

Useful transfer (if extending to the mountains on your own): Shared airport shuttle to Banff/Canmore from YYC: Calgary YYC Airport: Affordable Shared Shuttle to Banff & Canmore.

In one week you’ll taste Calgary’s creative food scene, wander river parks, and stand before bucket-list lakes and canyons. With city comforts as your base and three distinct day trips, this itinerary delivers a true Alberta cross-section—from music halls to mountains, hoodoos, and windswept valleys.