Downtown Calgary is a great place to explore and we’ve really enjoyed catching public transport into town on a regular basis.
The downtown core is clean and modern, and we feel really safe walking the streets and hopping on and off the trains. The C Train runs through the city centre and there is a free-fare zone along 7th Ave between 3rd Street East and 11th Street West, which is really convenient for moving up and down the core.
The Plus 15 Skywalk connects most buildings in the downtown core, which is very convenient on those really cold days. We thought the city seemed so quiet, until we realised that most people were making their way around via the Plus 15, rather than walking on the chilly streets.
There are lots of food courts and take out spots throughout the walkways, and the Core shopping centre is also a great spot for shopping, although most of the shops are more high-end, boutique-style stores. When you first arrive in Calgary, you’ll need to go downtown for most of your admin, such as organising your SIN and Alberta health, so it’s great to combine the admin with a bit of sightseeing and shopping.
We’ve also really enjoyed the Davonian Gardens on the top floor of the Core – there is a food court and a kids play area, so it’s a good place for the whole family to hang out.
Here are a few of our favourite photos taken on our explorations of downtown Calgary:
Cape Town to Calgary 