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Calgary will surprise you with its beauty, cool eateries, nightlife beyond honky-tonk, and long, worthwhile to-do list. Calgarians aren’t known for their modesty; it’s their self-love and can-do attitude that got them through disastrous flooding in 2013 and, in 2016, saw them helping residents of wildfire-stricken Fort McMurray with unquestioning generosity. We mustn’t forget – Calgary also hosted the highly successful 1988 Winter Olympics, elected North America’s first Muslim mayor, and throws one of Canada’s biggest festivals, the Calgary Stampede.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

National Music Centre

Looking like a whimsical copper castle, this fabulous new museum is entirely entertaining, taking you on a ride through Canada's musical history with…

Calgary Zoo

More than 1000 animals from around the world, many in enclosures simulating their natural habitats, make Calgary's zoo one of the top rated in North…

Heritage Park Historical Village

Want to see what Calgary used to look like? Head down to this historical park (the largest in Canada!) where all the buildings are from 1915 or earlier…

Prince's Island Park

For a little slice of Central Park in the heart of Cowtown, take the bridge over to this island, with grassy fields made for tossing Frisbees, plus bike…

Calgary Tower

This 1968 landmark tower is an iconic feature of the Calgary skyline, though it has now been usurped by numerous taller buildings and is in danger of…

Telus Spark

You'll wish science class was as fun as the Telus Spark. Kids get a big bang out of this user-friendly and very interactive science center. There is a…

Contemporary Calgary

This inspiring modern-art gallery has three floors of temporary exhibits that change every four months. The gallery is now in the former Centennial…

Esker Foundation Contemporary Art Gallery

This small, private art gallery hosts fabulous temporary exhibitions in its beautiful 4th-floor location. Past exhibitions have considered everything from…

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Calgary Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 30, 2023

While the city itself isn’t particularly pretty — it’s full of skyscrapers and doesn’t have a lot of historic buildings — underneath all that glass is a cosmopolitan destination with a rough and wild cowboy charm to it. There’s great hiking, kayaking, skiing, water rafting, and camping all around Calgary and the city itself is one of the liveliest in the country, especially during the Stampede.

There’s a ton of greenspace here too. Add in a rotating roster of food trucks, craft beer bars, and top-notch museums, and you’ve got a recipe for one of my favorite cities in Canada.

From here, you can head out to Banff National Park or Canmore to get up close and personal with nature and explore one of Canada’s most scenic regions.

This travel guide to Calgary can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most out of your time in Calgary!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Calgary

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Calgary

1. Celebrate the Calgary Stampede

The Calgary Stampede is the world’s largest open-air rodeo held every year in July. The Stampede celebrates Canada’s western heritage with chuckwagon races, bull riding, concerts, carnival rides, and endless fair food (deep-fried butter, anyone?). It’s also a crazy party. Daytime rodeos start at 66 CAD and evening rodeos start at 84 CAD. There’s even a Drag Queen brunch in case you didn’t know you could combine a Western theme with a drag show! Just be sure to book your accommodation early as the city fills up fast!

2. Walk Stephen Avenue

Stephen Avenue is a pedestrian-only thoroughfare in the heart of downtown Calgary. It’s lined with antique stores, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. It’s best in the summer when the outdoor patios are overflowing with locals enjoying an after-work drink. This street is a great place for food trucks, outdoor festivals, and live music. In February, it turns into a snowy wonderland during the Downtown Glowfest light festival with performances and beautiful art installations. At the same time, you can warm your hands with delicious hot chocolate served both with and without alcohol at the YYC Hot Chocolate Festival.

3. Relax in the many parks

Calgary makes incredible use of its green spaces and there are many beautiful places where you can lounge and relax or enjoy the area cycling the numerous trails around the city. Visit Bowness Park, one of the city’s most popular parks in warm weather alongside the Bow River, where you can enjoy walking the paths, swim in the lagoon, BBQ, or rent a boat for the day. In winter, it’s a popular spot for ice skating and cross-country skiing, and the popular Canadian winter sport of crokicurl (hybrid of curling and crokinole). Prince’s Island Park is where people gather for Canada Day and Calgary’s Folk Festival celebrations in July. The Winter Music Folk Festival also happens there as well. In short, there is a ton of greenspace that can help you enjoy the city and take in the local pace of life on a budget.

4. Visit the Calgary Zoo

Not only is the Calgary Zoo home to tons of interesting wildlife, but it also houses the Centre for Conservation Research. There are currently around 900 animals from all over the world. Go see the penguins splashing around or check out the ‘Canadian Wilds’ area with moose, grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, and more. Or explore the indoor ‘Destination Africa’ pavilion with giraffes, monkeys, hippos, and more. Every month there are different special events. If you’re here at Christmas, attend the Zoolights, a spectacular light show composed of three million lights. And if you want to splash out, you can even sit inside a warm ‘Snowglobe’ in their Garden of Light and enjoy a hot cup of mulled wine and an artisan cheese board (175 CAD for two people). Regular admission is 30 CAD.

5. Go to the Rockies

Calgary is close to the Rocky Mountains, and the highlight of this region is the spectacular Banff National Park. The Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and both Canada’s first national park and its most famous due to its picturesque turquoise lakes, snow-capped peaks, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery. There are over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) of stunning mountain trails with all sorts of activities, from hiking, skiing, and horseback riding, as well as places to camp. You can certainly visit as a day trip from Calgary, but you’ll be missing out if you don’t spend a few days here. There is something for every budget when it comes to how much you want to experience nature. You can pitch a tent at a campsite, rent a cabin, try glamping, or stay in Banff town at a hotel. Even without a car, it’s easy to get here via bus (though renting a car is the best way to explore this area).

Other Things to See and Do in Calgary

1. take a free walking tour.

The first thing I do when I arrive in a new city is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to see the highlights and meet a local expert guide who can answer all your questions. Walk the YYC runs a solid free tour that can introduce you to the city. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end! There’s also Calgary Greeters, a free local greeting program that connects you with a local who can show you around (advanced bookings required).

2. Hang out in Prince’s Island Park

Right on the Bow River, this park spans 50 acres and is the most popular park in the city. There are free festivals and events year-round, such as the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Shakespeare in the Park. It also has running and hiking paths, cross-country skiing trails, picnic areas, flower gardens, and lots of space to simply lounge and relax. In the winter, people go skating on the lagoon.

3. Check out Fish Creek Provincial Park

Fish Creek also sits along the Bow River and is perfect for walking, cycling, and rollerblading. In the summer, people come here to fish, swim in Sikome Lake, and have barbecues. Locals also hit the trails in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Just be aware the park closes between 6pm-10pm depending on the time of year.

4. Explore the nightlife of Kensington

Located in the northwest part of the city, Kensington is a tiny business district full of trendy shops, bars, and restaurants. Whether you’re seeking a quiet pub, an outdoor patio, or a fun-filled night of dancing, you’ll find it here. Kensington Pub, Winebar Kensington, and Container Bar are all great spots to hang out for their cozy atmosphere and unique decor.

5. Go brewery hopping

If you’re a craft beer lover, Calgary has a huge number of brewpubs, small breweries, and even a Craft Beer Market. Citizen Brewing Company, Cold Garden Beverage Company, and Big Rock are some of my favorites. You can also do a brewery hopping tour with Canadian Craft Tours to 3-4 different breweries for 109 CAD.

6. Watch the Calgary Flames

Hockey is a religion in Canada, and the folks in this city take their hockey very seriously. Calgary has one of 7 Canadian teams in the NHL so check and see if there’s a game on during your visit. Tickets start around 37 CAD but you can also just find a busy pub or bar to grab a beer and watch the game with locals.

7. Wander Eau Claire Market

This indoor market has something for everyone, including a variety of upscale shops, restaurants, and a food court. In the summer, there’s a playground and a wading pool for kids. Buskers are everywhere making balloon animals, performing music, or even putting on puppet shows. Eau Claire is also the festival district, so there is often some sort of community event taking place (usually concerts). It’s a bit cheesy, but it’s a fun spot if you’re traveling with family.

8. See the Family of Man Sculptures

This collection of ten aluminum cast sculptures (some weighing as much as 1,500 pounds and measuring 21 feet tall) makes for quite the sight to see surrounded by skyscrapers and office buildings in downtown Calgary. Originally designed by Mario Armengol and displayed at the Expo 67 World’s Fair in Montreal, these sculptures were later presented and dedicated to the city in 1969.

9. Check out the Canada Olympic Park

Calgarians are an active bunch. On Friday afternoons in the winter, you’ll see SUVs and trucks loaded up with ski gear leaving town for the mountains. The Olympic Park is where many of them get their start with winter sports. This ski hill and training/competition complex serves as a tribute to the 1988 Olympic Games and is mostly used as a training ground for young athletes. If you’re here in the winter, sign up for a downhill or cross-country ski lesson, which costs about 75 CAD for 90 minutes. You can even try the bobsled or luge!

10. Head to the top of the Calgary Tower

Built in 1967, the Calgary Tower stands 191 meters (626 feet) and commemorates Canada’s Centennial. It’s the centerpiece of the city and at the top, you’ll get uninterrupted views straight to the Rocky Mountains. Plus, the glass floor at the observation deck is thrilling (and terrifying). A ticket to the top is 19 CAD if you buy online and 21 CAD at the ticket window.

11. Visit the Heritage Park Historical Village

This heritage park is like a living museum. It showcases Western Canadian history from the 1860s to the 1950s. You can ride a steam train, learn how to make old-fashioned ice cream, chat with actors dressed up as prairie settlers, explore First Nations history, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride. It’s another one of those somewhat cheesy experiences, but you’ll learn a lot and it’s fun for kids. Tickets are 30 CAD.

12. Take a food tour

If you want to sample the finest foods that Calgary has to offer, take a food tour with Alberta Food Tours. They have several different excursions, including a Calgary Farmers’ Market tour and a walk through the Inglewood neighborhood. You can try poutine, cheeses, charcuterie, sweet treats, a few drinks, and more throughout the evening. Food Tours run during the high season until October and cost 95 CAD. There is also a self-guided tour all year round using their app for only 45 CAD, which is 2.5 hours long and includes some tastings as well as discounts from several of their business partners.

  For more information on other cities in Canada, check out these guides:

• Montreal Travel Guide
• Nova Scotia Travel Guide
• Ottawa Travel Guide
• Quebec City Travel Guide
• Toronto Travel Guide
• Vancouver Travel Guide
• Vancouver Island Travel Guide

Calgary Travel Costs

Hostel prices – There are only a couple of hostels in Calgary. A bed in a room with 4-6 beds is 30-45 CAD per night while a dorm with 8 beds or more costs about 40 CAD.

Private hostel rooms start from 90 CAD per night for two people but can go as high as 175 CAD. During the Stampede, prices shoot up by about 50% and sell out months in advance, so make sure you book ahead.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available outside the city for 30 CAD per night. This gets you a basic plot without electricity. RV plots cost around 55 CAD per night.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start at 90 CAD, but these aren’t near the city center. For something closer to downtown, expect to pay at least 120 CAD per night. Free Wi-Fi, AC, TV, and a coffee/tea maker are usually included.

Airbnb is available everywhere in Calgary, with a private room starting at 50-65 CAD per night. An entire home/apartment averages 90-125 CAD per night. Prices double when not booked in advance.

During the summer months, there is also the option of renting a dorm room from a university. Rooms are generally available from early May to late August and offer access to on-campus services (laundry, parking). Mount Royal University has single rooms starting from 109 CAD per night.

Food – Overall, the food here is a collage of dishes from other cultures, owing to the country’s diverse history of immigration. In Calgary, beef is the go-to meat since half of the entire country’s beef supply comes from Alberta. Bison is also common, as are fresh berries in the summer. More general Canadian staples include beaver tails (fried dough with fresh maple syrup), Canadian bacon, poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curd), and the oddly tasty ketchup chips.

For the city’s best eats, hit the food trucks. Calgary has an epic food truck scene, and their locations change daily. Download the Street Food Calgary app to follow the trucks in real time.

You can find pizza by the slice for 4 CAD. Larger meals like taco salad or curry cost around 11 CAD.

A combo meal at McDonald’s costs about 12 CAD. Pubs and chain restaurants are very reasonable at about 20 CAD for a meal with a drink.

Higher-end restaurants set you back around 60 CAD if you also order an appetizer and a drink.

A glass of wine is around 9 CAD while beer is 7 CAD. A latte/cappuccino costs around 4.75 CAD. Bottled water costs 2 CAD.

If you cook for yourself, expect to spend around 50-60 CAD per week on groceries. This gets you basic staples like pasta, rice, produce, and some meat.

Some of my favorite places to eat in Calgary include CRAFT Beer Market, Holy Grill, Bridgette Bar, and Peters’ Drive In.

Backpacking Calgary Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Calgary, expect to spend about 75 CAD per day. This budget assumes you’re staying in a hostel, cooking all your meals, taking public transportation to get around, limiting your drinking, and doing mostly free activities like hanging out in the parks and wandering Stephen Avenue. Add 10-15 CAD extra per day if you plan on drinking.

On a mid-range budget of 155 CAD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb room, eat out more (but still cook some meals), rent a bicycle to get around and take the occasional taxi, enjoy a couple drinks, and visit more attractions like the zoo. If you plan to visit during the Stampede, add in another 66 CAD per day.

On a “luxury” budget of 315 CAD per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Keep in mind that many of these prices (especially accommodations) increase by 50% during Stampede time!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CAD.

Calgary Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Calgary is not a cheap city. If you stick to mostly free activities, you’ll save some money but otherwise, things here are pricey. It’s one of the more expensive cities in Canada and it’s tough to visit on a limited budget. Nevertheless, here are some tips to help you save money in Calgary:

• Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host to give you a free place to stay. You’ll not only save money but you’ll get to connect with a local insider who can share their tips and advice.
• Take a free walking tour – Walking tours are a great way to get familiar with a city and its culture. Walk the YYC is the only free walking tour in town, but it’s a good one! You can also book a Calgary Greeter — a local volunteer who walks you around the city.
• Avoid the Calgary Stampede – If you’re not dying to see the Stampede, avoid the dates around this event. Prices are higher everywhere. On the other hand, if you are here during Stampede, take advantage of the city’s many free pancake breakfasts (stampedebreakfast.ca).
• Look for free events – Most of Calgary’s street festivals are free to attend, and there are free events year-round. Check out Visit Calgary’s website for their up-to-date event listings!
• Spend your time in nature – With its abundance of outdoor activities, walking/biking trails, and relaxing parks, if you spend most of your time soaking up Calgary’s big nature you’ll save a lot of cash.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Calgary

There are only a few hostels in Calgary so be sure to book early if you can. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• HI Calgary City Centre
• Wicked Hostels Calgary
• HI Kananaskis (located west of Calgary, near the mountains)
• HI Lake Louise (Banff)

How to Get Around Calgary

Public transportation – Calgary has a well-connected bus system. Use cash to purchase a ticket on the bus (exact change required), or buy tickets at many drug stores, supermarkets, and corner shops. Fares are 3.60 CAD one way, or you can pay 11.25 CAD for a day pass (which is the best deal). One-way fares are valid for 90 minutes.

Calgary also has two Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines known as the C-Train. You can buy tickets with cash or credit card at any C-Train station, and ticket prices cost the same as the bus. You can ride the C-Train for free in Calgary’s downtown core between the City Hall Station and Downtown West/Kerby Station, but make sure you have a ticket as soon as you leave the free zone (a section downtown where fares are free between 3rd Street East and 11th Street West along 7 Avenue).

Taxi – Taxis are not cheap here. Their base rate is 4 CAD, and it’s an additional 1.93 CAD per kilometer afterward. Prices add up fast so skip the taxis here if you can!

Ridesharing – In addition to taxis, you can also use Uber to get around Calgary. It’s cheaper, but it’s still going to break the bank if you use it often, so stick to public transportation as much as possible.

Bicycle – Calgary has more cycling paths than anywhere in North America, with nearly 850 kilometers (528 miles) of pathways! Plus, most major streets have designated biking lanes. Lime Bike is a public bike-share program that lets you rent an e-bike to get around. Just download the app, search for a bike nearby, and unlock it for 1 CAD. After that, it’s 0.30 CAD per minute to ride, meaning a 30-minute journey costs about 10 CAD. If you’d like to take a bike out for longer, Sports Rent offers rentals for 35 CAD per day.

Car rental – Car rentals can be found for around 40 CAD per day for a multi-day rental. However, unless you’re leaving the city to explore I wouldn’t suggest renting one. Parking adds up and the bus can get you anywhere you need to go on a budget!

When to Go to Calgary

Late spring and summer in Calgary are the best times to visit, especially between May and early September. There’s so much going on in the city, and everyone is outdoors making the most of it. The average daily temperature is around 23°C (73.4°F), but it’s often higher than 30°C (86°F). Calgary is never really overcrowded with visitors compared to places like Toronto and Vancouver (except during Stampede in July).

Things start cooling off considerably in the fall; don’t be surprised if you see snow in September. Winters are cold, with average temperatures hovering around -11 to -14°C (12-6.8°F). This doesn’t discourage Calgarians in the slightest, however, and you’ll find most people hitting the slopes around Kananaskis and Banff on their time off.

If you’re into winter sports, embrace the cold and take advantage of the near-constant perfect snow conditions.

If the national parks are your priority, aim for a spring or fall visit. The parks are bursting with people in the summer. Additionally, try to skip weekend visits as that’s when the parks are busiest.

How to Stay Safe in Calgary

Calgary is a very safe city. Violent crime here is very rare. Your greatest risk is petty theft, such as pickpocketing, but even that is rare. Just keep your valuables secure and out of reach at all times just to be safe.

The eastern part of downtown (east of City Hall) is a bit sketchy at night, so avoid walking through that area alone.

If you’re not used to severe winter weather, make sure you bring lots of layers and appropriate clothing if you’re visiting in the winter. Avoid staying outside for too long if you’re not adequately protected. It gets cold!

Solo female travelers should feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Scams here are rare, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Calgary Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Calgary Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Canada and continue planning your trip:

Where to Stay in Quebec City: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Toronto: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

How to Road Trip the Yukon on a Budget

How to See Alberta: A 10-Day Suggested Driving Itinerary

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

Calgary   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Henryk Sadura | Getty Images

19 Best Things To Do in Calgary

Updated February 11, 2021

There are numerous reasons to go to Calgary, the most obvious one being to hit the slopes. Perched in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, the city becomes a home base for many winter sports enthusiasts. Stop by the Canada Olympic Park to watch

• All Things To Do

Glenbow Museum Glenbow Museum

Heralded as one of Canada's finest, the Glenbow Museum caters to history buffs and art lovers alike. Exhibits here focus mainly on the culture of Western Canada, featuring everything from interactive displays on the First Nations tribes to an extensive collection of military memorabilia. However, there are also displays of European Art, Asian sculpture and even West African artifacts, plus plenty of hands-on activities to keep children entertained.

Recent visitors praised the museum's fascinating exhibits, treatment of history and its interactive arts and crafts opportunities.

The Military Museums The Military Museums

Consisting of the four founding regimental museums and the Naval, Army and Air Force Museums of Alberta, the Military Museums of Calgary is the second-largest military museum in Canada. Visitors can learn about history, heritage, art and more about the Canadians who served their country throughout the years. Highlights in the various collections include the Enigma Machine in the Naval Museum. Known as the Enigma-K, the device on display was introduced in 1927 and was built by the Swiss to encode and decode military communication. Another must-see is the CF-104 Starfighter, a Cold War era fighter aircraft located in the Air Force exhibit. But these two items are just the tip of the iceberg at the vast complex.

Recent visitors advised giving yourself plenty of time to explore the museum, which is quite large, with fascinating exhibits and in-depth historical overviews. Others praised the volunteers stationed on-site, who happily provide more context to the exhibits. 

Prince's Island Park Prince's Island Park free

Prince's Island Park spans nearly 50 acres and is a hit with visitors in need of beautiful walk. Trails lined with cottonwood trees appeal to walkers and bikers alike, while regular festivals and an outdoor theater beckon to culture hounds. For food, just follow the footbridge across the Bow River to the stalls of Eau Claire Market. Looking for more refined dining? Then check out the River Café .

Visitors and locals both love the park in every season, praising its peace and quiet, as well as its beauty.

Popular Tours

Lake Louise & Banff Tour from Calgary / Banff / Canmore

(656 reviews)

from $ 116.03

Banff, Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Tour from Calgary, Canmore

(11 reviews)

from $ 96.57

Day Trip to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Yoho from Calgary, Banff

(271 reviews)

from $ 123.52

Calgary Zoo Calgary Zoo

The massive Calgary Zoo houses nearly 1,000 animals – from tigers to gorillas – in enclosures that are representative of their natural habitats. Stop by Panda Passage to meet the zoo's two giant pandas or check out Canada's furry friends like moose and bears in the Canadian Wilds section. But the animals aren't the only reason to visit: The complex is also home to a sprawling botanical garden, featuring flora from across the world; and the Prehistoric Park, which showcases the region's history as a stomping ground for dinosaurs.

Many recent visitors agreed this zoo is a must-do for young families and for many, the pandas were a big highlight.

WinSport Canada Olympic Park WinSport Canada Olympic Park

A tribute to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, this massive sports complex is still used throughout the year as training grounds for young athletes. If you're in town for a taste of fresh powder, consider stopping here first for a quick how-to on riding the slopes; downhill and cross-country ski lessons are available for both kids and adults. You can also try your hand at other pastimes like bobsleigh and the luge. If you're looking for a more relaxed outing, stop by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, which is home to the world's largest collection of artifacts from the competition's history, including costumes, photographs and the torch used to carry the flame from Greece.

The museum was a big hit with recent visitors, though some have mixed feelings about the complex itself, depending on what activity they did, with some complaining about high prices and others enjoying their ski lessons.

Heritage Park Heritage Park

Calgary's Wild West past still thrives at this 66-acre living-history village. Nestled beside the Glenmore Reservoir and just south of downtown, this history-lover's paradise swarms with costumed staff re-enacting times gone by. You'll explore an 1860s replica of a fur-trading post, a ranch and a historic village. You can also take a ride on a steam locomotive or a horse-drawn wagon or cruise the reservoir by paddle-wheeler boat. For a better understanding of Calgary's history, check out the Gasoline Alley Museum, home to numerous artifacts representing the city's frontier days.

Recent visitors agreed that Heritage Park is a must-see, especially if you have kids, though most found that everyone from small tots to teens and adults enjoy the park. Several reviewers also commented on the fun of visiting during the holidays, when special events and activities are held.

Stephen Avenue Walk Stephen Avenue Walk free

Occupying three blocks of downtown's 8th Avenue, the Stephen Avenue Walk is one of the city's most popular shopping venues. This pedestrian-only shopping area – also dubbed a National Historic District – is lined with trendy stores, delectable restaurants and even several nightclubs. This downtown stretch is also the place to go for avid culture hounds; street performers, local artists and even festivals are often found here. Business travelers will likely make several stops here as the street is home to the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and the Hyatt Regency Calgary and the Calgary Marriott Hotel .

Recent visitors loved the hustle and bustle of the area and praised the variety of restaurants and shops.

Spruce Meadows Spruce Meadows

If the Calgary Stampede doesn't satisfy your appetite for equine action, make your way to Spruce Meadows. This top-notch sporting facility – whose name springs from the surrounding spruce trees – hosts some of Canada's most prominent horseback riding events. Here, talented jockeys compete for national titles (and prize money) in adrenaline-pumping events like show jumping.

For visitors, Spruce Meadows is more than your average riding arena. You can get up close and personal with the horses while touring the stables, explore the exquisitely manicured gardens, or let the kiddos run wild at the Canadian Superstore Playground. The facility also hosts numerous events, like the Christmas Market, which is a must-do, according to recent visitors.

Lake Louise Moraine Lake JohnstonCanyon fromCalgary / Canmore / Banff

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Calgary Stampede & Stampede Park Calgary Stampede & Stampede Park

Located just south of downtown Calgary, Stampede Park captures Canada's attention every July during the world-famous Calgary Stampede. This massive festival features rodeos and all things Wild West. Don your hats, polish your boots and prepare for several days of horse races, concerts and even a parade. When the festival has passed, Stampede Park continues to entertain visitors with a hankering for cowboy culture. 

Calgary's most notable event earns mixed reviews. Some raved about the excitement, while others complained about the crowds and a lack of authenticity. Most, however, agreed if you're in town during this time, it's a must-see event.

Scotiabank Saddledome Scotiabank Saddledome

For a taste of true Canadian sportsmanship, make your way to Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames. Having moved from Atlanta in 1980, the Flames won Calgary over in 1989 when they claimed the Stanley Cup. Since then, this beloved sports team has been a symbol of pride for Calgarians; they celebrate the Flames' wins on 17th Avenue SW or "The Red Mile."

The Saddledome plays an active role in city life during the offseason, hosting special events like concerts, rodeos and even visits from such notable world figures as Queen Elizabeth II and the Dalai Lama. It gets its name from its saddle-shaped roof.

Calgary Tower Calgary Tower

Standing a whopping 626 feet high, this landmark was once the tallest building in the city. It was originally constructed in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial and in 1988, the Calgary Tower also sheltered the Olympic flame. Today, the tower now acts as the city's centerpiece, offering tourists spectacular views of Calgary and the Rocky Mountains.

After riding the elevator to the observation deck, head to the Theatre Room. In the Theatre Room, make sure to check out the short film, "Calgary Tower – Building and Icon," and Travel Alberta's most recent fly-through video, which shows footage of Alberta from the sky. The films run every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and admission is included with your elevator ticket purchase. 

Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre

Studio Bell is home to five floors of interactive exhibits that showcase the sights, sounds and stories of music in Canada. There are 22 exhibition spaces that allow visitors to experience music and Canadian music history in a hands-on way. Visitors can play the guitar, mix a track and sing in vocal booths. Other exhibits feature memorabilia from Canadian music icons and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees. The Kimball Theatre Organ, without a doubt, is a highlight for many recent visitors. The organ dates back to the 1924, when organs were used to provide sound effects and score music to silent films. Organ demonstrations are conducted at 3 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Reviewers also praised the museum's architecture and the variety of exhibits as well.

Fort Calgary Historic Park Fort Calgary Historic Park

This 40-acre National Historic Site encloses the remains of the original mounted police stronghold, which until the 1970s, were buried under the expanding city. Today, you can explore the fort's remains and, with the help of recently uncovered artifacts, learn what life was like for these western Mounties.

While some visitors said they very much enjoyed their time here, others write this attraction off as kind of boring. However, history aficionados will especially enjoy it, according to recent visitors.

Full Day Private Banff National Park Tour Small Group Customizabl

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Lake Louise & Yoho (Moraine Lake June - Oct) from Calgary / Banff

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Calaway Park Calaway Park

This amusement park has plenty of rides, shows, attractions and play areas for everyone from tiny tots to thrill-seeking teens. Bumper cars, bumper boats, a log flume, roller coasters and more are among the attractions. Add to that, live entertainment, games, food venues and 3D movies, you can keep busy all day.

Recent visitors said there is plenty to do for the whole family, with lots of fun rides and attractions.

Fish Creek Provincial Park Fish Creek Provincial Park free

This large park south of downtown offers lots of opportunities to hike, swim, fish, cycle, ski and simply enjoy nature. What's more, the park's visitor center has a theater and exhibit area showcasing artifacts found in the park.

Recent visitors praised the park for its beauty, the variety of outdoor pursuits available and the opportunities to see wildlife. Others enjoyed the numerous walking and cycling paths.

TELUS Spark TELUS Spark

This science museum offers plenty of hands-on opportunities to learn about everything from technology to the brain. In the Creative Kids Museum – designed for kids ages 9 and younger – children can learn about flotation in a water play area, crawl and climb in a climbing structure, design and make inventions, and stage a play, among other activities. Live science demos are another highlight for visitors, as well as shows in the planetarium.

While many recent visitors loved the museum for its interactive exhibits, others found it too expensive for what's on offer. However, one upside is that admission to the Dome Theatre, which screens planetarium shows and movies, is included in the overall entrance ticket.

Central Library Central Library free

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Peace Bridge Peace Bridge free

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Columbia Icefield Adventure 1-Day Tour from Calgary or Banff

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Wonderland Sculpture Wonderland Sculpture free

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

Moscow Metro – Part 2

Have you been to Moscow ? In all seriousness, they have the prettiest metro stations I have ever seen and I still can’t believe how immaculate and lovely every station was. There are several different stations pictured below and this is the second of several posts where I will show you the beauty of the Moscow Metro. Did you see part 1 ?  There really isn’t much to say because I think the pictures speak for themselves. I have so many more pictures to share with you!

Have you ever been to Moscow? Is it someplace you have thought about visiting?

She speaks fluent English, French and Spanish, and works for a major airline. And guess what? She’s also a licensed elementary teacher and has an MBA.

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This is the train STATION?? Oh my god… So gorgeous. Moscow has never even crossed my mind as a possible travel destination but this is gorgeous…Hmmm… LOL

I know, right? We spent several hours in the metro, just marveling at the beauty of each one. Thanks for stopping by!

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Canada Letter

Alberta draws academia into its fight with justin trudeau.

Alberta is seeking powers to veto funding agreements between the federal government and provincial entities, including postsecondary institutions.

By Vjosa Isai

Federal funding promises can shape how much, or how fast, provinces advance their own agenda items, and Alberta wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to know that his to-do list will have to wait.

Premier Danielle Smith announced that the province would take steps, through a bill introduced this month, to reinforce the work that she contends is most important to Albertans and to her United Conservative Party government. This latest attempt to square off with the federal government in Ottawa continues to deepen her party’s view that Mr. Trudeau, a Liberal, has thrust his ideological agenda onto Albertans.

“Albertans don’t want federal funding to show the world how virtuous we are, or to polish Canada’s halo internationally,” Ms. Smith said at a news conference on April 10. “After all, a lot of that money came from hardworking Alberta taxpayers in the first place, but this federal government has not let reality get in the way of a good headline, and never missed an opportunity to grab more control from the provinces.”

[ Read Ian Austen’s article from 2022: Conservatives in Western Canada Pass Law Rejecting Federal Sovereignty ]

The bill, called the Provincial Priorities Act, would essentially make the Albertan government an arbiter on federal funding deals, with the power to invalidate agreements that its municipalities and health agencies, for example, make with Ottawa. Consultations on the bill are planned for this summer, and it is expected to take effect in early 2025, the government has said.

Postsecondary institutions are also covered by the proposed legislation, raising alarm at university administrations that the government might impede academic freedoms.

Rajan Sawhney, the minister of advanced education, was not present to take questions at the news conference announcing the bill and has largely been silent on the issue. But Ms. Smith offered some insight behind the government’s thinking on the CBC program “ Power & Politics ,” saying that there wasn’t enough “balance” on university campuses and that she intended to complete a review of federal research grants to assess gaps. She zeroed in on journalism schools and her thoughts that not enough conservative journalists and commentators have come out of those programs.

“I have been given enough indication that the federal government uses its power through researchers to only fund certain types of opinions, certain types of researchers, and I don’t think that’s fair,” she said, adding that it could mean that Alberta uses some of its “own spending power” to support that research.

But colleges and universities in Alberta have seen years of staggering financial cuts that have created a postsecondary education system “on life support,” the University of Calgary Students’ Union said in response to the provincial budget, which was released in February.

Bill Flanagan, president of the University of Alberta, said in a statement that he and other postsecondary partners would be using the bill’s consultation period to push for “targeted exemptions.”

Federal research grants are adjudicated by independent panels of peers, and grants are allocated by three main agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Daniel Paul O’Donnell, president of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations and an English professor at the University of Lethbridge, has sat on some of those committees.

“There is a danger that people will self-censor in order to make sure that they make it through the bureaucrats in Alberta,” he said.

He told me about the strict process behind each application review, and the various criteria, such as the qualifications of the researcher and the capacity of the university to support the research, that drive grant approval decisions.

“It would be unethical to create a research question in order to ensure you get funding by matching the provincial government’s interests,” Professor O’Donnell said.

Trans Canada

Chad Nedohin is a part-time pastor in Edmonton. He’s also one of the Donald Trump supporters who have turned Trump Media into the latest “meme stock.”

Honda Motor announced a $11 billion investment to build batteries and electric cars in Ontario that is expected to create 1,000 new jobs. Mr. Trudeau called it the largest investment by an automaker in Canadian history.

“New Piano Works,” an album by Marc-André Hamelin, the Canadian virtuoso, makes the list of five classical music albums you can listen to right now .

An Australian journalist claims her Indian visa was not renewed because the Indian government disapproved of her coverage of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the slain president of a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

Vjosa Isai is a reporter and researcher for The New York Times in Toronto.

How are we doing? We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to [email protected] .

Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here .

Vjosa Isai is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Toronto, where she covers news from across Canada. More about Vjosa Isai

Bell: Calgary Flames out in the cold — you can't blame Sutter now

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Where are they now?

Bell: Calgary Flames out in the cold — you can't blame Sutter now Back to video

All the big talkers suddenly aren’t talking big now.

They’re too busy ignoring the past. The recent past where they got it so very wrong.

A year ago, when your scribbler dared to write about Darryl Sutter being pushed out by Calgary Flames snowflake hockey players the detractors who claim to know so much more about the game than the rest of us couldn’t believe such cringe-worthy, uninformed garbage was being written and published.

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And the words were so far off the script prepared by the Flames higher-ups.

Who was this hopeless fool spewing forth his nonsense, a hockey heretic, an idiot as out-of-touch with the real world as Sutter?

What did he know? He wasn’t a sports writer.

They spoke of a sports writer as if it was some kind of gig requiring the specialized knowledge of a brain surgeon or a nuclear physicist.

Really, it doesn’t take an Oppenheimer to figure out the score.

What did he know? The scribbler didn’t know the new NHL, a more sensitive hockey world, a kinder, gentler sports universe where you have to tread carefully for fear of bruising the oh-so-fragile egos of the players of today.

What did he know?

Now that the tyrant Sutter was out the door after the demands of more than a few players there was plenty of talk the Flames would rebound.

There was excitement.

They’d likely be back in the playoffs, maybe even go deep in the playoffs.

Anything was possible.

Hockey would be fun again. The players would be loose again. Joy would return to the Saddledome. Better days were ahead.

Better days after a generation of futility going back to the fading memory of the you-had-to-be-there playoff run 20 years ago and the horrible seasons before that.

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Hell, Jonathan Huberdeau might actually earn his very handsome paycheque.

All you had to do was drink the Kool-Aid.

So, dear readers, what happened to the glorious season?

Few mention it except in passing.

Oh, we hear about the Flames rebuilding or is it retooling.

They are said to be filled with optimism and looking forward to picking up some good players in the upcoming draft and signing others.

There are stories of individual hockey players who had good seasons.

All fine stuff. I wish them the best and hope the team gets their act together sooner rather than later.

But they must be held to account.

That involves the players looking in the mirror. Really looking in the mirror not just trying to coat empty-calorie talking points with the appearance of sincerity.

You know, onward and upward. Keep the faith.

Alas, there is no decent post-mortem I’ve seen because the team wasn’t supposed to be in the position of needing such a post-mortem.

Let us not forget a few brave souls made one single point around this time last year. There could be no more whining and complaining.

In the real world if the boss gives you what you want, you have to perform. You have to up your game.

We all know how that turned out.

The Flames ended up so far out of the playoff race you need a telescope to see the wild-card spot.

I know, I know.

Those trying to save face will say the Flames were still fighting for a place in the playoffs but couldn’t make it work after the trade deadline when good players were traded away.

Yes, it is true the Flames got worse as the season dragged on until the inevitable ugly endgame. Absolutely.

But face facts. The Flames weren’t exactly world-shakers at any time.

As for fighting to get into the playoffs, just for fun I will give the Flames six more wins.

That puts them at 93 points which is exactly where they were under Sutter.

Where was the big turn-around? Where was the payoff when the players got the kind of coach they wanted?

These are not questions you’re supposed to ask.

Even the swimming-in-millions Huberdeau gets the kid glove treatment.

The man had, what was it, 55 points last season and, what was it, 52 points this season.

The Mr. Biggest Point Drop Ever after 115 points with the Florida Panthers and then signing his sweet deal and tanking with the Flames now wants to get to 70 or 80 points in future seasons.

He is kidding, right? He’s not serious. Tell me he’s not serious.

The Flames coach reportedly loves him. That’s what is important.

I still recall around this time last year when Peter Maher, the legendary voice of the Flames, thought some of the Flames should have played better last season even if they didn’t like the coach.

Then he made this observation.

“The shoulders of the players are going to be a little bit heavier to perform regardless of who the coach is,” said Maher, of this season.

“We’ll see now where it goes.”

And, alas, we saw where it went.

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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WestJet adds six Asian destinations to its network as code-share deal grows

WestJet is extending the reach of its network in Asia, the Calgary-based airline said Monday.

Beginning May 17, WestJet flights departing from Calgary will reach six additional cities across four Asian countries from Incheon International Airport in South Korea. The addition is part of an expansion of WestJet’s code-share agreement with Korean Air.

Monday’s announcement comes shortly after WestJet announced seasonal direct flights from Calgary to Seoul beginning in May 2024, as well as direct routes from Calgary to Iceland, also expected to begin in May.

WestJet will offer a four-times-weekly service to Reykjavik (Keflavik), Iceland, the company said in November 2023. It also said that WestJet will be the only airline providing direct connectivity to Iceland from Calgary.

The flights from Calgary to Seoul are anticipated to operate up to three days per week during peak travel periods, the airline said.

The expansion aims to enhance connectivity to more destinations in Asia and offer a more convenient travel experience, WestJet said in a statement on Monday, with guests able to book the entire journey with one ticket and not have to worry about baggage transfers.

John Gradek, a faculty lecturer and aviation expert at McGill University, says the move is in response to Air Canada announcing its own international expansion. Air Canada has significantly increased its market into and out of Asia over the past few months.

“What WestJet is trying to do is find additional services that will compete against Air Canada’s,” he said.

Gradek calls the move by WestJet a “competitive response,” saying it had to act quickly, but the only way to make it happen was through the code-share agreement.

WestJet does not have the aircraft to fly such long distances, so it is using the agreement with Korean Air to make that connection. The routes from Incheon International Airport to the new destination cities will not include WestJet planes or crew — they will use Korean Air planes run by the airline’s crew.

“It’s what I call a light approach to international travel. Not committing any resources, but looking at a commercial agreement that makes this thing happen,” said Gradek.

‘Opens up exciting opportunities’

The addition of international destinations will also be beneficial for Canadian tourism and create potential for more international business opportunities, the airline said.

Tae Joon Kim, Korean Air senior vice-president and head of international affairs and alliance, said the expanded code-share agreement will bolster connectivity between Korea and Canada, and offer customers more connection to a variety of Asian and Canadian cities.

Jeff Hagen, WestJet vice-president of commercial development and strategic partnerships, is also optimistic about the additional destinations, saying, “Our long-standing reciprocal partnership with Korean Air opens up exciting opportunities for leisure and business travellers to more locations in the Asian continent, and offers new guests in Asia access to all of Canada through our global hub in Calgary.”

Gradek believes that the code-share agreement may lead to future WestJet routes to the new destination cities, depending on popularity. He says airlines typically try these agreements on specific city pairs, and if there is sufficient demand they may look into starting a service between those two cities.

New WestJet code-share destinations

• Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)
• Da Nang, Vietnam (DAD)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN)
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN)
• Hong Kong, China (HKG)
• Singapore (SIN)