53 Free Things To Do in Calgary

If you haven't yet been to the "Bow Head" you should definitely stop by.  While this isn't public art (it was privately commissioned) it's still open to the public to see at any time of day (just don't climb on it because building security will stop you!). 

Over 270 species of birds have been spotted at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It's completely free to visit. (Note that bikes and dogs aren't permitted.) 

St. Patrick's Island is a cool island near downtown Calgary by the Bow River. Nice views and pathways and a great place for a picnic or grab an ice cream cone nearby and go for a walk. 

The Reader Rock Garden is a historical site and is filled with various flowers and unique plants that are beautifully maintained. It is a free-to-visit public park (no dogs permitted though). 

The Peace Bridge is a cool-looking bright red bridge over the Bow River. It's something Calgary is known for and a hot spot for tourists.  If you've never been, you should check it out! Great spot for photos. 

Stephen Avenue is a well-photographed area of Calgary.  It's an avenue filled with bars, restaurants and shopping. 

17th Avenue is one of Calgary's biggest tourist attractions and it's free to visit! There are lots of shops and restaurants along the way should you want to spend some money. Or grab an ice cream cone or slurpee and just enjoy the walk and people watching! 

Fun fact! Calgary has one of the longest pathway networks in the world! The city maintains 1,000 km of pathways that are open to explore throughout the city. The hardest part is deciding where to get started! (I recommend Glenmore Reservoir loop!)     

For the first Thursday of every month it's free to visit Contemporary Calgary. Can't wait for next month? It's only $12 entry. You can also tour the gallery without an entry fee with the Calgary Public Library Art Pass Program. 

The National Music Centre (Studio Bell) has discounts for students, seniors, and youth. Children under 3 are free.  However, if the price is still too steep, they also offer a pay-what-you-can option to anyone regardless of their financial situation with no questions asked.   

This stunning piece of architecture is completely free to visit! (Just make sure you're quiet, it is a library after all.) You can also book a tour. 

An oldie but a goodie. The Devonian Gardens (indoors) are a downtown staple. They are open to the public during The Core mall hours.

It's free to visit the Esker Art Museum year-round.  It's a small gallery in Inglewood that regularly updates their exhibits.  

In recent years the City of Calgary has focused on adding a number of murals to the downtown area. You can find info on the murals on yycbump.ca and I found this blog helpful as well.  

While Glenbow Museum is currently closed for renovations (it's going to be big!), it will reopen in 2027, and admission will be free. 

A free art gallery located in Marda Loop! They also have regular events happening on their event calendar. 

A fun educational activity especially if you have kids. Find more info here. Admission is free but a donation is expected.   

You never know what you'll see and discover at The Alberta Craft Gallery; considered the largest public gallery in Alberta dedicated to exhibiting, supporting, and promoting craft arts.  It's free to visit and you'll find lots of ever-changing programming and exhibits to discover.   

Explore the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre Museum: a gateway to Chinese history with life-sized terra-cotta soldiers, royal chariots, and vibrant arts. A must-visit for a glimpse into China's rich legacy in the heart of Calgary! Admission is free but also you can have a guided tour for $5 to ensure you don't miss a thing!     

This is well worth the price admission ($17) as The Hangar Flight Museum has just gone through a major revamp and is great to explore! Their collection includes crowd favourites such as the Avro Lancaster, Hawker Hurricane, DC-3, Twin Otter, Avro Anson, and more!     

The Lougheed House is a local historic site as it was built in 1891. Get a tour of the building for a small fee. I recommend visiting in the summer so you can also check out the flower gardens.

Explore history at The Confluence! Originally built to tackle the U.S. whiskey trade and pave the way for the Canadian Pacific Railway, it's a must-visit. Not free, but a steal at about $15. Don't miss this historical gem! 

Calgary's downtown skyscrapers are connected via a network of above ground "tunnels" or pathways between buildings.  They are called the "Plus 15's" because they are 15 feet above the street. They allow office workers to travel easily between buildings during the winter months. While the network is designed for the corporate world, anyone can use them. There's also tons of art throughout. You'll get an insider look into buildings, shopping, and lots of places to eat. You can use a map to find your way or you can just wander and see what you find! Note that some paths will close after business hours.  

 Not only do you get cool views from High Park, it's also super instagrammable with colorful "sets" designed for photographing. Plus a great place for an urban picnic.   

The views from the 7th floor of this downtown outdoor parkade are outstanding! The parkade is welcoming to visitors who are there just for the sightseeing.  The top is even a designated photo area.  

Look out for the Sip & Shop Tasting events on the co-op calendar for the best free tasting in the city! They have over 30 samples to try from! 

Bowness Boathouse offers affordable ways to float on the beautiful Bowness pond. Try a pedal boat, kayak, or canoe ($20 for 30 min). 

Go for a ride down The Bow River! Bring your own tube to go for free or rent a raft from Lazy Day Raft Rentals.  

From mid-June to the fall you can visit several spray parks around the city. Free!  

Catch an outdoor movie in the park! Check 17thave.ca for the next free showing at Tomkins Park. East Village also offers occasional free movie nights.  And Sunalta is known for its free Movie in the Park series.   

See an Okotoks Dawgs game! Tickets starting at $15. Definitely worth the short drive out of Calgary for wholesome fun and classic eats! 

The City of Calgary offers free cemetery tours (with registration) during the warmer weather months. These are usually on Sunday afternoons and can be found on my website calendar. (These almost always book up because they are small tours.) 

Summer in Calgary means a number of fun outdoor night markets to choose from.  (When the temperatures drop these move indoors and may require small entry payments.)  See my Calgary events calendar for upcoming night markets.  

What's better than a yoga class? A FREE yoga class. These are obviously only in the summer months. See my website calendar for upcoming sessions (usually held on weekends). 

Theatre Calgary puts on live Shakespeare plays each summer by the Bow River (hence the name). These are free to attend but they are very popular so I recommend you go early and set up your spot (blanket, snacks etc.).  

Calgary has a number of outdoor skating rinks with free skate rentals and lessons available. Or skate the Bowness or North Glenmore Park skating trails.  

Each winter Winsport opens up their 8 lane tube park. A regular ticket is $25, but you can grab one for only $16 on Fridays or $20 on Saturday mornings.     

It's completely free to hit up one of Calgary's toboggan spots! Check out this list here to find a hill near you. 

Go to the Saddledome for less! Tickets to a Hitmen game start at $20 (Calgary's Junior Hockey League). 

Experience the thrill of one of Canada's national sports! Enjoy free curling in the East Village all winter. Visit East Village's 31-acre St. Patrick's Island, a hidden gem with a new synthetic curling rink. Find it at the east end of the island, near Confluence Plaza and Calgary Zoo parking.  

You'll have to wait for snow covered ground, but trust us the wait is worth it!  Bring out your cross-country skis and have fun going around Shagannapi Trail. They have 7 free trails & it's a great way to embrace being outside in the heart of winter. 

Did you know you can pre-book a fire pit at select city park locations?  Both weekend and weekday bookings are accepted and some locations are designated for alcohol consumption as well. Hot dogs and s'mores anyone? Great activity for winter or summer!  

There are a number of free admission trivia nights that occur on an ongoing basis. Check out my Calgary events calendar for upcoming trivia dates.  

The nice people of Walk-the-YYC offer free walking tours in Inglewood and downtown. They are free but it's suggested you tip your guide. 

It's free to visit Calgary's Farmers' Market locations. Choose from CFM South or CFM West which has extended hours. Or visit the Crossroads Market.  

It's only $4.50 per hour per person to play board games at Hexagon Cafe. Enjoy coffee, desserts, beer, wine or cocktails while you play!  

Make your way to Ranchman's on Macleod Trail every Thursday for complimentary line dancing lessons! It's a great spot to learn, laugh, and meet new friends on the biggest dancefloor in Calgary! 

Inglewood is a one stop shop for the best thrift, second hand consignment and niche vintage finds in Calgary! Walk down the main road & find clothes, music, books, furniture, vintage dresses, and more. It's a free activity until you buy something! 

Discover a world of literary excitement with Shelflife Books! Each month, they host a variety of engaging events including book launches, readings, lively discussions, open mic nights, and book club gatherings. The best part? Most of these events are free of charge! 

Looking to take an arcade break after work? On Monday & Wednesdays after 5pm you're in luck! It's free play Pinball at Pinbar on 17th Ave SW. Check out games like Star Wars, KISS, Iron Maiden and Batman.  

Wednesdays at Greta Bar it's 3 hours of unlimited gaming for a flat rate of $20.  

Throughout the year, Cineplex offers $3.99 movies on Saturday mornings. Selection is limited (it's usually a couple family-friendly options). Check here to see what's upcoming. 

Cork Fine Wine has free wine tastings weekly. Check out more information on their website.