Calgary, this western city not only has the magnificent backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and a modern city skyline, but also retains blocks with centuries of history. From 19th-century trading posts to early 20th-century steam train stations, to vintage tram tracks and brick shops, Calgary is a city where people can “walk into history”.
The uniqueness of Calgary is that its retro atmosphere is not artificially “carved”, but a trace of real life.
1. Fort Calgary: The starting point of the city
Location: 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day (except holidays)
Recommended time to visit: 1.5 to 2 hours
Transportation route: From downtown Calgary, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to walk to the destination; you can also take bus No. 1 or No. 307 to get off at 9 Avenue SE station
Recommended booking platform: Klook, GetYourGuide, Viator
Expense: Adult ticket is about 18 Canadian dollars; students and seniors are about 14 Canadian dollars; children are free to enter
Fort Calgary is the place where the city of Calgary was born. Founded in 1875 and established by the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police, as the first outpost of the colonial government in the West, it not only witnessed the transformation of Calgary from a trading post to a city, but also became an indispensable first stop for understanding local history today.
Walking into the fort, it seems to have traveled back to the 19th century. The wooden watchtower, the Mounted Police dormitory, the original post office and the prison cell are all restored according to their historical appearance. The exhibition part combines multimedia and physical displays to truly restore the interaction between the Mounted Police and the Aboriginal people.
If you are traveling with children, you may wish to participate in experiential activities: try on the Mounted Police uniform, stamp stamps, and write letters on a typewriter, which is very suitable for family travelers.
It is recommended to book a package with explanations in advance from Klook or GetYourGuide. Some packages also include commemorative gifts.
2. Heritage Park Historical Village: Panoramic Reappearance of Western Life
Location: 1900 Heritage Drive SW, Calgary, AB
Opening hours: Opening hours in summer are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day (mid-May to early October); only some exhibition areas are open in winter
Suggested time to visit: 3 to 4 hours
Transportation route: Take MAX Teal BRT to Heritage Park Station; or drive from the city center for about 15 minutes
Recommended booking platforms: Klook, Trip.com, Tiqets
Expense: Adult tickets are about 30 Canadian dollars; student and senior tickets are about 23 Canadian dollars; children’s tickets are about 20 Canadian dollars
If Fort Calgary is the starting point of history, then Heritage Park is a panoramic theater of Western life. Covering an area of 127 acres, it is not only a historical museum, but also more like a retro theme park. You can see farms, shops, schools, hospitals, steam train stations from the 1890s to the 1950s, and even take a real working steam train around the park.
Highlights include a retro candy store, an antique photo studio, a sawmill and an old-fashioned gas station. The staff in the park are all dressed in period costumes and explain the historical background to tourists in the form of role-playing. This “immersive retro experience” makes people feel like they are in a movie in the Old West.
It is recommended to enter the park in the morning, have lunch at the retro restaurant in the park at noon (recommended roast beef sandwiches and classic cream corn soup), and continue to visit the steam train area and Indian camp in the afternoon. If your budget allows, you can buy a premium package with guided tours and meals on Trip.com or Tiqets.
3. Stephen Avenue Walk: The Heart of Centennial Commerce
Location: 8 Avenue SW, between 1 Street SE and 4 Street SW
Opening Hours: Open all day (business hours for shops and restaurants depend on the brand)
Recommended Visiting Time: 1 to 2 hours (shopping and taking photos are not included)
Transportation Route: Take CTrain to Centre Street or 1 Street SW Station
Recommended Booking Platform: GetYourGuide (including neighborhood walking tour), Viator (combined food and history tour)
Expense: Free neighborhood tour; guided tours cost about 25 to 40 Canadian dollars per person
Stephen Avenue is not only one of Calgary’s most representative historical streets, but also a model of the perfect fusion of modern cities and historical features. On both sides are well-preserved 19th-century commercial buildings, such as the old Hudson Department Store, the old Bank of Montreal building and many Edwardian-style buildings.
Recommended check-in spots include the glass dome of The CORE shopping mall, the Devonian Gardens sky garden, and many restaurants and bars that retain retro decorations. Especially worth mentioning is Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar, which was established by British expatriates in the early days and still maintains the traditional British style today.
If you want to learn more about the stories behind these buildings, you might as well sign up for the “Old Town Story Walking Tour” on Viator or the “Retro Food History Tour” launched by GetYourGuide. Each group is limited to a certain number of people and the experience is excellent.
4. Inglewood Historic District: A New Fusion of Old Industry and Art
Location: 9 Avenue SE, near Fort Calgary
Opening hours: Open all day, store hours vary
Recommended time to visit: 2 hours to half a day
Transportation route: Bus 1, 9 or 307 can reach Inglewood Station; you can also walk from Fort Calgary for about 10 minutes
Recommended booking platform: Tiqets (handmade experience and art shop), Klook (specialty coffee and workshop combination ticket)
Expense: Free to visit the district; art workshop and store experience fees range from about 15 to 50 Canadian dollars
Inglewood is the oldest community in Calgary, dating back to the construction of the railway in the late 19th century. Unlike other historical attractions, the history here is not told through exhibition boards, but “alive” – old brick warehouses are transformed into handicraft workshops, and steam-era machinery factories are transformed into retro bookstores and art galleries.
The neighborhood has a strong artistic atmosphere. It is recommended to visit Loft 112 Creative Space, The Esker Foundation Art Center, or order a cup of boutique coffee at Rosso Coffee Roasters and flip through some old 19th-century picture albums on a vintage leather sofa.
If you like hands-on experience, you may wish to sign up for the “Leather Craft Handmade Course” or “Traditional Printing Experience Course” provided by Tiqets. Each course includes materials and works to take home, which is very popular among young tourists.
5. Calgary Railway Museum (C.P. Railway Pavilion): The trajectory of the golden age of industry
Location: 141 9 Avenue SW (located under the Calgary Tower)
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00
Suggested playing time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Transportation route: Take CTrain to 1 Street SW station and walk about 5 minutes
Recommended booking platform: Viator, Trip.com
Expense: Adult tickets are about 12 Canadian dollars, children’s tickets are about 6 Canadian dollars; some family ticket packages are discounted
The Canadian Pacific Railway not only shaped the economic lifeline of the West, but also changed the urban pattern. The Calgary Railway Museum is located at the foot of the modern landmark Calgary Tower. Although the exhibition hall is not large, it displays a large number of real relics about railway development, steam locomotives, signal systems and industrial transportation.
Here you can observe a 1907 steam locomotive up close, board a recreated passenger car, and listen to the audio guide telling the story of a railway worker crossing the prairie. The museum is especially suitable for children, and there are also railway model exhibitions and scheduled small demonstrations on site.
It is recommended to book the “City Tower + Railway Museum Combined Ticket” through the Viator platform, which not only overlooks the entire city, but also allows you to explore the historical trajectory in depth.
The tour of Calgary’s historic district is not an ordinary city tour, but a journey with history. From the saddle of the mounted police to the roar of steam trains, from the brick-red Victorian-style buildings to the murals of street artists, this city tells the story of “time” with its history and present.
If you plan to go to Calgary, it is strongly recommended to arrange relevant tickets and guided tours in advance on platforms such as Klook, GetYourGuide, Viator or Tiqets, which can not only save on-site queuing time, but also often enjoy package discounts and exclusive activities. Don’t forget to prepare a camera, a pair of comfortable shoes, and a heart that feels history.
A retro day trip may only take 24 hours, but the imagination and touch it inspires will accompany you for a long time.
