Calgary
Calgary is the usual starting point for Rockies trips, and it is worth a stop of its own for the Calgary Stampede, a ten-day rodeo and festival held each July.
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Calgary is Alberta's largest city, built where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet at the edge of the Rocky Mountain foothills. Travelers often arrive at Calgary International Airport, spend a night or two in the city, then drive about 90 minutes west to Banff National Park. Downtown is small enough to cover on foot in a day, and the Calgary Tower, the Peace Bridge and Prince's Island Park are all within easy reach of the core.
The city is best known for the Calgary Stampede, a ten-day rodeo and festival in July when hotel demand climbs. Outside Stampede, Calgary suits a short stop: two or three days in the city, then the mountains, or a single night before or after a flight. Summer is the easiest season for both the city and the mountain roads. Winter is cold, and the Rockies draw skiers, so book ahead.
Calgary in five
- Take Route 300 from the airport to downtownYYC lists Route 300 as a limited-stop rapid bus along Centre Street to the downtown core. Buy tickets at the machines at Door 2 in the domestic terminal or Door 15 in international arrivals.
- Book Stampede beds for July 9 to 18, 2027The Calgary Stampede lists its 2027 dates as July 9 to 18. Rooms near the grounds fill and rates climb, so fix dates and accommodation before you buy flights.Calgary Stampede 2027
- Arrange the Banff transfer before landingYYC lists several shuttle and coach operators for Banff, and a rental car is the other route. The last leg is a mountain highway, so decide before arrival, not at the curb.Calgary to Banff
- Ride the CTrain and buses downtownCalgary Transit lists a $4.00 adult cash fare valid for 90 minutes, and children 12 and under ride free. Tickets also sell in the My Fare and Transit apps.
- Sleep in Calgary after a late landingIf a long-haul flight lands late, a night in the city and a daylight drive west beats a dark mountain highway after a day of travel.Where to stay in Calgary
Things to do in Calgary
See all attractions in Calgary
Need to know
- Airport
- Calgary International (YYC); Route 300 rapid bus to downtown
- Getting there
- Direct flights from Canada, the US and overseas; Banff by road
- Getting around
- CTrain and buses; adult cash fare $4.00 for 90 minutes Read more
- Best base
- Downtown or the Beltline for transit; Kensington for walking
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days; Stampede week needs a bed booked well ahead
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh-3°Low-11°Cold, snowJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -3°
- Low
- -11°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-4°Low-13°Cold, snowFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -4°
- Low
- -13°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh3°Low-7°Variable, snowMarchPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Variable, snow
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low-1°Spring thawAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring thaw
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low5°Mild, showersMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- JuneRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh20°Low9°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 144 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low11°Stampede, warmJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Stampede, warm
- AugustClear9 rainy daysHigh24°Low11°Warm, dryAugustClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Fall colorsSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall colors
- OctoberPartly cloudy6 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh10°Low0°Cool, quietOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- NovemberPartly cloudy6 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°ColdNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-4°Low-11°Cold, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -4°
- Low
- -11°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Calgary, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Calgary
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -2°
- Humidity
- 55%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Calgary
02:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°-3°0%Monday: Clear. High 10°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue13°3°1%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Wed7°-1°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°-1°0%Thursday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°-1°7%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sat7°-1°5%Saturday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun12°1°2%Sunday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 10:24 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Banff National Parka drive or coach west on the Trans-Canada HighwayA park pass is required once you stop; the lake shuttles need booking ahead.Read the guide
- Lake Louisea longer drive beyond BanffBest with a reserved shuttle seat and an early start, or as a night away.Read the guide
- Banff and Jasper loopa multi-day driveThe Icefields Parkway links the two parks; plan nights at each end.Read the guide
Before you go to Calgary
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Plan around Calgary
Passes, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Read the guideLake LouiseVillage base and shuttle reservations
Read the guideBanff and Jasper plannerIcefields Parkway and park pass logic
Read the guideAll of CanadaeTA, regions, cities and money basics
Read the guideEdmontonAlberta's capital and the northern gateway
Read the guideCalgary FAQ
Is Calgary worth visiting before Banff?
Yes for a night or two if you like museums, river-side paths or Stampede week. Skip it when you only have a few days for the mountains. A late flight is the strongest reason to sleep in the city.
How do you get from Calgary airport to Banff?
Hire a car or book a coach. YYC lists operators such as Banff Airporter, Brewster and Banff Explorer on its Banff transport page. Check operator timetables against your arrival time before you fly.
Do you need a car in Calgary?
Not for downtown, where the CTrain and buses work and Route 300 links the airport. Hire one only for the mountain days, and pick it up on the way out of town.
When is the Calgary Stampede in 2027?
The Calgary Stampede lists July 9 to 18, 2027. Book rooms first, because beds near the grounds sell out, then flights.
How many days do you need in Calgary?
One or two. A day covers downtown and the river; a second suits museums or a Stampede evening. Most trips spend longer in Banff than here.