Calgary Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Calgary

Calgary is the largest municipality in the province of Alberta, serving as Canada's third-most populous city and fifth-largest metropolitan area. It is situated in the southwestern part of Alberta, set within the transitional zone between the Canadian Prairies and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city sits at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River, roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies and approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of the border with the United States. Positioned 280 kilometers (170 miles) south of Edmonton, Calgary forms the southern anchor of the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor.

Human activity in the region extends back at least 11,000 years to pre-Clovis populations, with historical habitation by the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), îyârhe Nakoda, Tsuutʼina, and Métis peoples. Indigenous names for the area frequently translate to "elbow," describing the sharp turn created by the intersection of the local rivers. The name Calgary was proposed in 1876 by Colonel James Macleod of the North-West Mounted Police, who drew inspiration from Calgary Castle located on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.

European presence in the vicinity began with cartographer David Thompson in 1787 and settler John Glenn in 1873. A North-West Mounted Police post was established in 1875 to protect the regional fur trade and curb illegal whiskey trading from the United States. Following the signing of Treaty 7 in 1877, government land leases for cattle ranching encouraged immigration. Growth expanded rapidly after the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the location in August 1883, leading to the construction of a station and the relocation of the town center. Calgary was officially incorporated as a town in late 1884, electing George Murdoch as its initial mayor.

In modern times, Calgary is recognized for its varied economy encompassing energy, finance, technology, manufacturing, transportation, health, retail, film, and tourism. It holds the second-highest concentration of corporate head offices in Canada, and Downtown Calgary contains more skyscrapers than any other city in Western Canada. In 1988, it became the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games, using venues such as the Scotiabank Saddledome, McMahon Stadium, and the Olympic Oval. In 2022, the municipality was ranked alongside Zürich as the third most livable city globally.