The Complete Visitor’s Guide to Calgary – Forbes Travel Guide Stories
You don’t need to commit crime to enjoy this city calgaryeven if you live in The Dorian, Autograph Collection. This innovative Canadian boutique hotel is inspired by 19th-century Oscar Wilde novels Pictures of Dorian Gray, Guests can use a unique in-room app to admit inappropriate behavior. The more serious the sin, the more grotesque the digital portrait of Dorian Gray in the hotel lobby becomes.
But beyond Dorian’s interesting literary inspiration, this diverse Albertan city, Gateway to the Canadian Rockiesoffering tons of good, clean fun. We’ve put together a season-long guide to music, Aboriginal culture, food and drink, and more of Calgary’s highlights.
music calgary
This modern hotel is located in Calgary’s trendy East Village neighborhood. Studio Bell National Music Center It is Canada’s official music museum and tells the stories of the country’s music greats, including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Sarah MacLachlan and more. The center also highlights Aboriginal musicians and hosts a variety of music events.
When the King Edward Hotel opened in 1905, it remained the city’s top rhythm and blues destination for many years. Now reinvented as Eddie KingLocated across the street from Studio Bell, it is once again a restaurant and music venue, hosting a variety of concerts throughout the year.
A collection of historic and contemporary music clubs and event spaces, Calgary’smusical mile“Start at Bell Studios and continue east into the Inglewood neighborhood. Check out classic club stage shows like Ironwood Stage and Grillwhich plays jazz, blues, gospel, soul and more.
Year-round pedaling fun
Calgary’s biggest party of the year stampedeEach summer brings parades, rodeos, concerts and other festivities to the city. But even if you’re not in town for the next festivities (July 4-13, 2025), you can experience Stampede culture at the recently opened Stampede Cultural Center. Sam Centera museum and gallery space that showcases the history and personal stories behind the festival. Hear local First Nations members talk about their community’s role in the Stampede, listen to recordings of famous performers, and view an exhibit of classic hats and other Stampede attire.
Appreciate Aboriginal culture
For a unique Aboriginal cultural experience, download IndigiTRAILS App Take a series of self-guided walks through outdoor galleries created by local Aboriginal artists or storytellers. For example, in Prince’s Island Park just steps from the city center, you can follow the Remember Our Children Trail to explore the ongoing impact of the residential schools that the Canadian government forced Aboriginal children to attend. When you point your phone at different locations along the island’s tree-lined paths, seven eye-catching virtual artworks appear.
To embrace nature and culture more deeply, visit Painted Warrior RanchIt’s about an hour’s drive north of the city. Owner Tracey Klettl draws on her Cree-Mohawk heritage to offer guided wildlife walks, horseback riding safaris and archery lessons that are vital to the area’s Aboriginal people. If you’d like to extend your overnight stay, ask about the ranch’s new “comfort cabins.”
Return to the city and visit Interchange Historic Site and Parkland. Once known as Fort Calgary, this historic gallery is being redesigned to tell the broader story of the people of the region. Staff worked with the Aboriginal Advisory Committee to add exhibits of Stoney Nakoda, Blackfeet, Métis and other cultures, while audio tours around the site share the stories of these communities. The first new exhibition is expected to open in spring 2025 and will continue to develop over the coming year.
Sip and serve
Calgary’s chefs are serving up increasingly diverse and creative cuisine in settings that range from the quirky to the dramatic.
Start your night off with drinks at Wilde Located on the 27th floor of The Dorian, it offers sweeping views across the city. Consider classic cocktails like the gimlet or Pimm’s Cup, or try the Wilde Sage with gin, yellow chartreuse and sage orange syrup.
If wow is your goal, book a table at: major tom Located on the 40th floor of a downtown tower, the views extend to the Canadian Rockies on a clear day. Start with potato donuts and aged Gouda custard before moving on to Albertan prime rib or steak fries.
The renovated industrial space along the river is bustling with activity Fortuna’s Row Crafting original dishes inspired by sources from across Latin America. Enjoy everything from salad-like tostadas (topped with oyster mushrooms, black beans and fresh vegetables) to chorizo calamari. Don’t miss the empanada, a hearty pastry stuffed with braised beef and brightened with a high-quality vanilla sauce.
Chef Jenny Kang is here orchardher plant-filled dining destination downtown. Beet salad with toasted hazelnuts, roasted chili-glazed broccoli or crab and shrimp fried rice balls might kick off a meal, followed by duck confit with purple cabbage or pan-fried arctic char.
In another greenhouse-like space, Sidewalk Civic Park The daily brunch is perfect with shakshuka, mushroom khachapuri or watercress and quinoa salad with fig vinaigrette for an easy start to the day. The same owners also run one of Calgary’s best bakeries, Sidewalk Citizenin the East Village.
Little Chief RestaurantPart of the Gray Eagle Resort and Casino complex owned by the Tsuut’ina Nation, it is located southwest of downtown and serves modern cuisine using ingredients native to the area. Look for dishes like hot Saskatoon berry soup with bannock, gin-braised short ribs or pan-seared salmon with sweet potato miso sauce and maple bacon jam.
Food not to be missed at this creative Vietnamese restaurant bowl It’s grilled cheese pho, a beef-flavored cheese sandwich dipped in delicious broth. Try it with innovative cocktails like the Un-Pho-Gettable (a blend of gin, lime, Thai basil and pho broth) or the traditional Vietnamese egg coffee. This casual spot, with tables made from recycled chopsticks, is conveniently located between downtown and the Calgary Airport, in case you need one more taste of this Albertan city’s delicious cuisine before heading home.
