What to See in Calgary, Canada: Free Audio Guide

Calgary is a modern western Canadian city where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, known for its energy sector, proximity to the Rocky Mountains, and a vibrant mix of cultural attractions and outdoor spaces. Visitors find urban sights, expansive parks, and easy access to mountain adventures, making Calgary a worthwhile stop on any Alberta itinerary. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Calgary with 82 narrated places.

Top attractions in Calgary

Glenbow Museum

The Glenbow Museum is a major centre for art and history in Western Canada. Its collections include more than 26,000 works of Canadian art, over 192,000 historical and ethnological artefacts, and around 28,800 mineralogical specimens. Founded in 1955 by Eric Lafferty Harvie, it moved to its downtown Calgary home in 1976 and now occupies an eight‑storey building with three floors devoted to exhibitions.

Aero Space Museum of Calgary (The Hangar Flight Museum)

Located south of Calgary International Airport, this aviation museum presents the history of flight in the region. It was formerly known as the Aero Space Museum of Calgary and continues to showcase aircraft and related artefacts.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Established in 1955, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame moved to Canada Olympic Park in Calgary in 2011, opening a 4,100‑square‑metre centre. It honours Canadian athletes, sports builders, and officials through exhibits and interactive displays.

Contemporary Calgary

Housed in the former Centennial Planetarium and TELUS World of Science building, Contemporary Calgary is a public gallery dedicated to contemporary art. It launched its inaugural season in 2020, offering exhibitions by local, national, and international artists.

The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland (Fort Calgary)

This site preserves the story of the original North‑West Mounted Police outpost built in 1875, renamed Fort Calgary in June 1876. The fort’s palisades were removed in 1882, and the location was designated a National Historic Site in 1925, highlighting Calgary’s early ties to the Bow and Elbow rivers.

Telus Spark Science Centre

Telus Spark is Calgary’s hands‑on science museum. It began in 1987 as the Calgary Science Centre, became Telus World of Science – Calgary in 2005, and moved to the Nose Creek Valley in 2011, where it was rebranded as Telus Spark. Interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore science through direct experience.

The Military Museums

Western Canada’s largest tri‑service military museum, The Military Museums brings together the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force under one roof. It features more than ten galleries tracing Canada’s military heritage from 1885 to recent missions, a Mural of Honour in the Queen Elizabeth II Atrium, and stands on the former grounds of CFB Calgary.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Calgary and is formally known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The parish that founded it was dedicated to Our Lady of Peace, making it a prominent Catholic landmark in the city and province.

Scotiabank Saddledome

The Saddledome’s distinctive saddle‑shaped roofline makes it one of Calgary’s most recognizable venues. Built in 1983 in Stampede Park, it has been the home of the Calgary Flames and hosted ice hockey and figure skating during the 1988 Winter Olympics. Depending on the event, it accommodates around 19,000 spectators, with a maximum capacity of 20,100.

1988 Winter Olympics

Calgary hosted the XV Olympic Winter Games from February 13 to 28, 1988. Most events took place in the city, while alpine skiing was held at Nakiska and cross‑country skiing and biathlon at the Canmore Nordic Centre. The Games are remembered for Matti Nykänen’s three ski‑jumping golds, Yvonne van Gennip’s three speed‑skating golds, the Jamaican bobsleigh team’s fame, and Michael Edwards’ determined participation, which later inspired the films Cool Runnings and Eddie the Eagle.

Calgary International Airport (YYC)

Located about 17 kilometres northeast of downtown, Calgary International Airport covers 20.82 square kilometres and includes three runways, two terminal buildings, six passenger concourses, and cargo facilities. Developed in the late 1930s, it serves as Alberta’s main international gateway, is the headquarters of WestJet, and offers U.S. border preclearance at one of nine Canadian airports.

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary’s main campus spans roughly 200 hectares in the city’s northwest quadrant near the Bow River. Founded in 1944 as a branch of the University of Alberta, it became an autonomous institution in 1966 and now comprises 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.

Calgary Zoo

The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo occupies 125 acres in Bridgeland, with a significant portion on St. George’s Island in the Bow River. It is home to more than 1,000 animals representing 272 species, organized into zones such as Destination Africa, Wild Canada, Penguin Plunge, Exploration Asia, Prehistoric Park, and the Dorothy Harvie Botanical Gardens and ENMAX Conservatory. The zoo’s Prehistoric Park features the iconic dinosaur statue Dinny, which remained after the park was destroyed in 1983.

Gasoline Alley Museum

Situated within Heritage Park Historical Village, Gasoline Alley Museum offers a glimpse into Alberta’s oil heritage through a collection of vintage cars and gasoline‑related memorabilia, open year‑round.

Masters Gallery

At the corner of 4th Street and 21st Avenue Southwest, the sculpture “Hanging Out” shows three giant frogs lounging on a steel bench. Created by Calgary artist Peter Smith, the frogs stand about ten feet tall, made of hand‑welded steel, sheet metal, and vibrant paint. The bench is open to visitors, and the frogs underwent restoration in early 2025 after a temporary removal described as a “leap of absence.”

Explore Calgary with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide for Calgary includes 82 narrated places that you can discover at your own pace. The app offers four walking tours, one bus route, and one bike route:

• Sandstone, Stephen Avenue and the Calgary Tower – 2.18 km, 82 minutes, 12 stops
• Chinatown, Prince’s Island and the Peace Bridge – 3.62 km, 82 minutes, 7 stops
• Where Calgary Began: Fort, Rivers and Saddledome – 2.01 km, 56 minutes, 6 stops
• Beltline: Sandstone Mansion and Memorial Park – 2.71 km, 57 minutes, 4 stops
• MAX Purple: Calgary Tower to Journey to Freedom Park (bus) – 5.7 km, 24 minutes, 5 stops
• Bow River Pathway: From Telus Spark to the Peace Bridge (bike) – 8.2 km, 41 minutes, 7 stops

As you reach each stop, the app tells the story of that place, automatically playing the narration. There is no group to join and no schedule to follow—you simply walk, cycle, or ride and listen whenever you choose. Download Neywo to turn your Calgary exploration into a self‑guided adventure.