Local time Calgary

Currency

C$

Travel to Calgary

Flying to Calgary

Canadian flag carrier airline Air Canada operate non-stop flights between Calgary and London, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Canada, New York, Vancouver and Los Angeles. Airlines offering flights to Calgary from the UK include WestJet and British Airways. Prices soar in July and August and are also high during school holidays in the ski season (December to April). The cheapest deals are in autumn, spring and January. Numerous airlines fly to Calgary from the USA, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta, United and WestJet.

Flight times

From London - 8 hours 50 minutes; New York - 4 hours 30 minutes; Los Angeles - 3 hours 10 minutes; Toronto - 3 hours 45 minutes; Sydney - 19 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

Alberta is covered by an extensive network of highways. The maximum speed is 100kph (62mph) on provincial highways outside city limits, 90kph (56mph) on national park highways, 80kph (50mph) on provincial highways within city limits and 50kph (31 mph) in urban areas, reduced to 30kph (19mph) in school zones. The road quality is good. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age in Alberta is 16 years. Proof of insurance is compulsory. Foreign licences are valid for three months, while an International Driving Permit is valid for a year.

The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) (tel: +1 800 222 6400; www.ama.ab.ca) provides emergency road service, as well as a variety of other automobile-related services. The AMA is affiliated with both the Canadian Automobile Association and the American Automobile Association for breakdown service in the rest of Canada and the USA.

Emergency breakdown services

AMA (tel: +1 800 222 4357).

Routes

The Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) becomes 16th Avenue NW as it passes through Calgary to the north of the city centre, running east-west. It connects with Banff, Kamloops and Vancouver to the west, and Medicine Hat and Regina to the east. The Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) runs north-south, connecting with Lethbridge to the south and Edmonton to the north.

Coaches

Greyhound Canada (tel: +1 800 661 8747; www.greyhound.ca) links Calgary with all major destinations in western Canada. To travel to/from the USA, you’ll need to change in Vancouver. The Greyhound Bus Terminal, 850 16th Street SW, is the hub for most intercity coach services, both national and international.

Red Arrow Motorcoach (tel: +1 800 232 1958; www.redarrow.ca) operates executive-style coach services to Lethbridge, Red Deer and Edmonton (with connections to Fort McMurray). The service includes deluxe seats, laptop plug-ins, on-board movies, complimentary snacks and Wi-Fi. Coaches depart from Fording Place, 205 Ninth Avenue SE, and 304 35th Avenue NE (pre-paid reservation required).

Time to city

From Banff - 1 hour 20 minutes; Edmonton - 3 hours; Regina - 7 hours; Vancouver - 10 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

Arriving by train isn’t really an option, as the nearest railway station to Calgary lies 292km (181 miles) to the north, in Edmonton. Edmonton's station is located at 12360 121st Street.

Operators

Canada's national rail service provider is VIA Rail (tel: +1 888 842 7245; www.viarail.ca). VIA Rail's transcontinental trains arrive in Edmonton from Vancouver, Kamloops and Jasper to the west, and Toronto, Winnipeg and Saskatoon to the east.

The privately run Rocky Mountaineer (tel: +1 877 460 3200; www.rockymountaineer.com) no longer runs to Calgary, terminating instead in the mountain town of Banff, 127km (79 miles) to the west. The Rocky Mountaineer service is aimed at tourists, with the journey from Vancouver broken by an overnight stop in Kamloops, so the entire rail journey through the scenic Rockies is in daylight. The twice-weekly service runs from late April to early October.

Journey times

To Edmonton: from Toronto - 58 hours 30 minutes; Vancouver - 25 hours 30 minutes; Winnipeg - 19 hours 40 minutes; Kamloops - 15 hours 30 minutes; Saskatoon - 8 hours.

Transfer

Red Arrow (tel: +1 800 232 1958 www.redarrow.ca) runs connecting coach services from Edmonton to Calgary. Tickets are also available through VIA Rail.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

SEE MORE

Hotel Elan

Handy for the bars and eateries along nearby 17th Avenue, Hotel Elan has bright, modern rooms, plus one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and separate living areas. Rates include an extensive continental breakfast and 15MB Wi-Fi. If you're here during Calgary's chilly winter, you're sure to appreciate the heating toilet seats.

Hotel Le Germain

This Montreal hotel has 101 designer rooms. Everything is eye pleasing from the minimalist furniture to the low-lit hallways. If you own an iPad and appreciate nice shoes, this trendy hotel should tick your boxes. Rooms are loft style and have superior cotton sheets, goose down duvets and – ladies will appreciate this - Aveda bathroom products.

Econo Lodge Inn & Suites University

This place does what it says on the tin: it's cheap. Free Wi-Fi breakfast and parking make it an even more attractive proposition to the budget traveller. All rooms come with a fridge and microwave while some have a kitchenette. Plus there's an indoor pool and fitness centre. The hotel is near the university and light rail.

Kensington Riverside Inn

In trendy Kensington (a short walk from the business district), overlooking the Bow River and downtown Calgary, this 19-room hotel is a real gem. The spacious rooms are individually decorated, with plush bedding and free Wi-Fi. Some have fireplaces or garden patios. The Chef's Table restaurant features grain-fed, fresh, organic food.

Hotel Arts

Setting foot in Hotel Arts on a hot day is like arriving at a Miami beach party, with the cool and the beautiful draping themselves, cocktails in hand, by the outdoor pool. Calgary's chic, sexy and independently owned designer hotel is within walking distance of all downtown venues. Rooms are stylish, and the hip Raw Bar serves 'Vietmodern' cuisine.

Fairmont Palliser

The grande dame of Calgary's hotels, the Fairmont Palliser has been welcoming guests since 1914. Rooms are elegant and luxurious, and there's a posh health club and spa with an indoor pool. You can enjoy cocktails and craft brews in the sophisticated Oak Lounge or treat yourself to a fancy afternoon tea.