Where to stay

A hive of cultural activity, Calgary has neighborhoods where art and design scenes are thriving. Stay in the Beltline area for its art galleries, furniture showrooms, public art walking tours and artist-packed cafés in Victoria Park. The Beltline encompasses the 17th Avenue SW retail and entertainment district (the Red Mile), so look for a hotel there as well. Stay along the most multicultural street in the city, International Avenue, with its bright murals depicting local history and food tours celebrating five continents along 35 city blocks. Accommodations in Eau Claire give you a front-row seat for the many festivals that liven up this neighborhood. Set out from your hotel in Kensington to snap a pic of the Peace Bridge, catch an art house film at Plaza Theatre and sample fair-trade coffee at one of the many cafés. Come to East Village for its dazzling architecture and music venues; stay for its coffee roasters, bakeries and great accommodations.

From bratwurst to Korean tapas, the Calgary dining scene is moving quickly beyond meat and potatoes. Stay along 4th Street for seemingly limitless dining choices. Farm-to-table fare, contemporary Mexican, epic brunches; it's all here. Friendly Chinatown is a pleasant sensory experience and a hotel here puts you within walking distance of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian eateries. Look for accommodations in Bridgeland for excellent Italian food. It was once known as Little Italy, but it now also has a burgeoning brunch scene. Head out of town a bit and stay in the residential neighborhood of Banff Trail, with myriad cafés, sandwich shops, restaurants and the beautiful Canmore Park, a great place for a picnic.

Most visitors start with a stay in Downtown Calgary, where life centers on Stephen Avenue, an enjoyable pedestrian-only mall. Dine on renowned Alberta steak, catch a performance at Arts Commons or shop at upscale Bankers Hall. Choose a hotel in the Marda Loop for a local vibe. This walkable neighborhood is quintessential Calgary, and home to the famous Marda Gras Street Festival each August. Alternatively, pick a hotel in top-rated Inglewood on Calgary's original main street. You'll get a taste of the city's history, including its musical past, along Music Mile.

Calgary's outer suburbs allow for easy access to the city, but they also open up a world of possibilities for enjoying the outdoors. Stay in Bowness in northwest Calgary to ski or snowboard at WinSport, the city's only urban hill. Or, from here, hit the Trans Canada Highway toward the Canadian Rockies. If you're willing to stay a bit farther out, Canmore is an excellent place to stay if you're in town for a mountain holiday, particularly skiing. This quaint city is well located near many top ski resorts. Choose accommodations in Southern Calgary for the best access to the historic Cowboy Trail, set in high ranching country and an excellent choice to stay for a ranch vacation.