Calgary flights and travel guide

Oil, beef and cowboys... and so much more. Travellers on cheap flights to Calgary will discover that the city has many surprises. Best known as a winter sports and eco-tourism destination, home of the world-famous Calgary Stampede and an important oil city, it has a thriving arts and restaurant scene, excellent shopping (the lack of PST is a bonus) and cosmopolitan festivals.

Calgary's setting in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with the Bow and Elbow rivers flowing through offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Anglers can fly-fish for rainbow and brown trout right in the centre of town or go kayaking, canoeing and rafting. More than 550km of paved pathways take bikers, roller bladers or walkers through parks, city neighbourhoods and along waterways.

Canada Olympic Park is just 15 minutes from downtown and just a few hours' away is Banff National Park (Canada's first national park) and Lake Louise, two premier destination spots.

The Stampede, held each summer since 1912, celebrates Calgary's heritage with rodeo, chuckwagon races, agricultural shows and grandstand show. Western Canada's largest museum, the Glenbow Museum, is close to the Calgary Tower, international jazz and folk music festivals and even a Dragonboat Festival round out this city's rich offerings.

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Calgary climate

Travellers booking cheap flights to Calgary can expect warm summers (up to about 23 degrees Celsius or 73 degrees Fahrenheit) and snowy winters. Winters are particularly cold (dipping to about -15 degrees or 5 degrees Fahrenheit) except when the Chinook winds blow and warm up the city. Snowfall is heavy at times, particularly in the mountain regions.

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When to fly to Calgary

Calgary is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Banff, Lake Louise and Canmore are just a couple of hours west by car along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Peak Season:
June and August host the festivals. Many travellers book cheap flights to Calgary in the fall when the weather is still pleasant and the foliage glorious.

Off Season:
Winter is off-season unless you're a skier or snowboarder. Then it is the only time to go.

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Getting downtown Calgary

Travellers who have just stepped off their cheap flights to Calgary can rent a car with one of the six companies that have desks at the airport. Taxi service is available 24/7. Fares to downtown Calgary run to about $30. Sedans are also available. Several charter bus and tour operators provide transport from the airport. These include Banff Airporter, Brewster, Greyhound Canada, Mountain Perks, Red Arrow Motorcoach and Pinnacle Sightseeing & Tours.

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Getting around Calgary

Calgary has a bus system and a light-rail system, the C-Train, running through the city. You can transfer between the two easily, and the C-Train is free anywhere downtown. If you want to rent a car, you can find any of the car rental companies at the airport or around town. Taxis are also convenient, and reasonably priced. Be careful if you decide to walk. East-west blocks are very long, and it can take you longer than you’d expect. To help pedestrians get around, the city has the “Plus-15” system, which is a series of enclosed walkways connecting downtown buildings above street level. You can access the walkways at streets marked with a “+15.”

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Calgary insider information

• Head to Scotsman's Hill, east of the Elbow River and Stampede grounds. Overlooking the downtown high-rises and the Pengrowth Saddledome, on a clear day you can see the Rockies.
• Nose Hill Park is 1,127 hectares of rolling hills. A protected space, it's Canada's largest municipal park and home to coyotes, deer, and prairie dogs.
• Prince's Island Park, on the Bow River in the centre of Calgary, is a favoured spot for festivals including the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Shakespeare in the Park.
• No provincial sales tax helps to make Calgary paradise for shoppers. Pack an extra bag on your cheap flights to Calgary to take advantage of the shopping malls. The Southcentre Mall is at the intersection of Anderson Road SE and Macleod Trail South. The Chinook Centre is at the intersection of Glenmore Trail and Macleod Trail. The neighbourhood shopping is great too. The 17th Avenue strip has been voted Calgary's best shopping area for about a decade. It's a diverse neighbourhood of high-end boutiques, antique shops, art galleries and lots of dining options from world-class restaurants to sports bars.
• Calgary, branded as The Heart of the New West, hosts several festivals each year including the International Jazz Festival, Greek Festival, Folk Music Festival, Dragonboat Festival, One Yellow Rabbit High Performance Rodeo and Global Fest.
• Calgary hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1988. One of the fastest long-track speed-skating ice rinks in the world was built at the University of Calgary.
• On the west side of Calgary is Heritage Park Historical Village. The park is divided into three time periods: 1860s fur trading era, 1880s pre-railway settlement and circa 1910 western town. There are working vehicles such as a steam train, paddlewheel boat and electric streetcar. Some of the village's most popular exhibits are: the Alberta Bakery, the Vulcan Ice cream Parlour, and the Lakeview Amusement Park, which includes antique rides and games.
• Architectural symbols include the Calgary Tower - there's an observation deck at 160 metres - and the Pengrowth Saddledome, shaped like ... a giant saddle.

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Calgary airports

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