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7 Essential Places to Visit in Alberta

From expansive national parks to lively cities, the canadian province will keep you busy for days..

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Abraham Lake may be lesser known than Lake Louise but it’s no less spectacular.

Photo by David Wirzba/Unsplash

With turquoise glacial waters set against soaring, snow-capped peaks, the iconic alpine scenes of Alberta ’s Banff National Park are arguably the poster child of Canada . And while the rugged Canadian Rockies live up to their reputation, they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Alberta’s striking landscapes. From the mushroom-shaped hoodoos of the fossil-laden Badlands to the ice bubbles trapped beneath the surface of Abraham Lake —there is no shortage of natural wonders to discover.

Four national parks and five UNESCO World Heritage sites offer year-round adventure for outdoor enthusiasts. But with a burgeoning Indigenous tourism industry and the two main cities– Calgary and Edmonton—becoming increasingly cosmopolitan, all while maintaining their western charm—Alberta is ripe for cultural exploration, too.

From the rowdy Calgary Stampede to the spiritual mountain lakes to the desolate northern parklands, where you can catch a rare glimpse of the world’s last remaining wild buffalo and, if you’re lucky, the Northern Lights —these are the places you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Alberta.

Visit in July for the Calgary Stampede.

Photo by Steve Estvanik/Shutterstock

While skiers and snowboarders still hit the slopes at the former 1988 Olympic venue Winsport , Canada’s fourth largest city is no longer just a gateway to Alberta’s alpine attractions. In the summer, you’ll find locals and visitors floating on tubes down the Bow River that splits the city in two. While in the winter, penguins waddle freely at the Calgary Zoo , home to nearly 1,000 animals spanning 119 species. Across the river in the popular East Village, music lovers appreciate the 2,000 rare instruments housed at Studio Bell. Around the corner, the Calgary Central Library attracts architecture enthusiasts and bookworms alike for its collection of over 400,000 books stacked amid soaring cedar arches and winding terraces inspired by Alberta’s foothills and Chinook winds.

Creativity also abounds in the East Village’s many kitchens, where chefs and mixologists rewrite “Cowtown’s” culinary reputation as the beef-loving city where the popular Caesar cocktail—a savory mix of vodka and Clamato juice served in a celery salt-rimmed glass–was born.

Locally grown vegetables take center stage at the beloved Coup and Japanese-style Nupo (don’t miss the omakase and hidden eight-seat restaurant in the back). Cheap beer and Caesars are swapped for sophisticated cocktails at Bengali-style curry house Calcutta Cricket Club and Cannibale , a speakeasy concealed behind a full-service barbershop.

Still, Calgary hasn’t forgotten its western roots. Every July, you can find Calgarians shading the hot prairie sun with their cowboy hats while waiting in line for “stampede breakfast.” The complimentary pancakes are doled out by businesses across the city in celebration of the annual Calgary Stampede , a world-class rodeo known as “the greatest outdoor show on earth.”

2. Drumheller

Seventy-five million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the lush, subtropical environment just northeast of Calgary. Today, it’s an arid tundra known as the Canadian Badlands, and home to the richest dinosaur fossil collection in the world. Housing over 130,000 fossils and a 67-million-year-old T-rex, the Royal Tyrrell Museum is a must for dinosaur fans. As is a stop in the nearby former coal town of Drumheller , to climb inside the mouth of the world’s largest dinosaur. It may be the “Dinosaur Capital of the World,” but with its mystical hoodoo rock formations and dusty desolate canyons, you don’t have to be a science whiz to be wowed by the Badlands.

3. Banff National Park

Sore muscle relief is available on the lower slopes of Sulphur Mountain at the Banff Upper Hot Springs . For more impressive views, take the Banff Gondola up to the summit, where you’ll find an interpretative center, boardwalk, and locally sourced Canadian cuisine served 2,292 feet in the sky. The experience is offered year-round, but skiers and snowboarders will want to wait for winter to hit Banff’s pristine slopes. Adrenaline junkies can also find their fix climbing the Via Ferrata cliffs above Mount Norquay or traversing the frozen waterfalls of nearby Johnston Canyon .

Back at sea level, an hour-long cruise of Lake Minnewanka —also known as the “Lake of the Spirits”—offers Indigenous history and wildlife sightings on its placid shorelines. Stretching over 17 miles long, Minnewanka is the largest lake in Banff National Park, and more than a pretty picture—cold-water divers can explore Minnewanka Landing , a sunken resort town dating back to 1886. Spirit-chasers will want to head south afterward to visit the ghost town of Bankhead .

Where to stay at Banff National Park

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Book now: From $299 per night, expedia.com

With countless outdoor activities on offer—such as canoe rentals and forest bathing—the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise makes a convenient home base for exploring Canada’s first national park any time of year. History buffs will revel in Renaissance revival architecture dating back to 1890 while wellness-seekers take in the mountain air at an outdoor morning stretch session or pamper themselves at one of the spa’s 20 indulgent treatments.

4. Icefields Parkway

Arguably one of the most scenic drives in the world, the three-hour stretch between Banff and Jasper is a must to experience Alberta’s more rugged natural wonders. It’s worth braving the crowds midroute to marvel at the thick ice sheets and frozen rivers of the 10,000-year-old Athabasca Glacier —one of the six glaciers of the Columbia Icefield .

For a more capacious experience, head to the Glacier Skywalk at night to view the Icefield beneath a blanket of stars from the glass-floored balcony. Equally impressive are the methane ice bubbles that form on the surface of Alberta’s largest reservoir, Abraham Lake . Stops at Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls offer more opportunities to witness aquatic forces of nature.

5. Jasper National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park is teeming with fossils, flora, and fauna to explore. In the summer, a half-day canoe journey or relaxed boat cruise takes you out to Spirit Island , one of Canada’s most photographed destinations due to its remote location and the distinct emerald color of the surrounding Maligne Lake, while the six suspension bridges that soar above Maligne Canyon are a hiker’s dream. Ice climbers will want to wait until the winter, when the 50-meter-deep canyon transforms into a winter fortress of frozen ice floes.

For a more laid-back adventure, the Jasper Skytram transports you 7,000 feet above sea level to the summit of the Whistlers in a mere eight minutes. Spectacular sky views are also had at the Jasper Planetarium, where you’ll find the most powerful telescopes in the Rockies, and astronomers explaining the stars and Northern Lights, from the 50-seat outdoor domed theater. A short drive south will land you at Jasper Brewing Company , the first brewery in a Canadian national park.

6. Edmonton

Home to the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America, Edmonton River Valley , Alberta’s capital city embodies the province’s main draw—nature. The North Saskatchewan River that cuts through the heart of the city makes for a peaceful urban kayak or canoe, while the Valley’s more than 20 parks offer 100 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing.

When the harsh winter proves too cold for outdoor pursuits, head indoors to West Edmonton Mall . Housing the world’s largest indoor amusement park, indoor lake, and indoor wave pool, plus a zoo, skating rink, and over 800 shops—North America’s largest mall is a destination in its own right.

Calgary’s rival city also has an artistic side. In the vibrant Arts District , you’ll find an eclectic mix of Indigenous and contemporary art at the Royal Alberta Museum and Art Gallery of Alberta . With over 60 annual festivals, most notably the summer Fringe Theatre Festival (the largest and oldest of its kind in North America), the aptly nicknamed “ Festival City ” is a delight for theater buffs. The city’s growing dining scene sees Alberta beef reimagined nose-to-tail style at Rge Rd and drinks infused with juniper foraged from the Alberta Badlands at Strathcona Spirits , the smallest distillery in North America.

Métis Crossing is expanding in 2022.

Courtesy of Travel Alberta

7. Elk Island National Park

Once numbering in the millions, Canadian bison—Alberta’s most emblematic animal—have dwindled to a wild population of less than a thousand. This “ island of conservation ,” located a 30-minute drive east of Edmonton, is the best place to encounter the remaining few, and the Northern Lights, at the light pollution–free Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve .

Despite its remote nature, the national park gets a glamping glow-up in the summer with luxury Geo Domes , complete with gas fireplaces and charcuterie delivery. The culturally savvy will want to head north to rest at the forthcoming Métis-designed boutique lodge at Métis Crossing , which also features Indigenous-led experiences—among them, wildlife tours and stargazing workshops—and hearty Canadian fare, like bannock, crafted by Indigenous chefs.

>> Next: Discover a Side of Indigenous Canada at Métis Crossing, Newly Expanding in 2022

Travel body launches campaign to get Albertans travelling locally 'where and when it's responsible'

Agency wants to showcase great places, inspire future trips, while prioritizing health.

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Travel Alberta unveiled its new strategy Tuesday for helping the province's tourism sector get back on its feet in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's called "Worth the Wait" and it's meant to inspire people who usually travel outside the province.

The provincial agency hosted a live webinar Tuesday — one of five planned for Tourism Week, which is May 24 to 31 — to explain to industry members how it plans to promote the strategy.

A big part of the pitch will be getting Albertans to think about making vacation plans closer to home as international trips — in and out of the province — continue to be problematic because of the pandemic.

"As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, it's really becoming clear that the world, those international visitors, may be waiting for quite a while before they can safely explore Alberta again," Travel Alberta vice-president Tannis Gaffney said during the webinar.

"And as Albertans, we're all craving something to look forward to, a new adventure, a new experience in our communities and in our province."

The campaign starts rolling out June 1.

Alberta's tourism-related businesses bring in $8.9 billion in revenue, Travel Alberta says.

It was one of the most immediately and hardest hit by COVID-19 emergency.

"It's time to start messaging consumers back to your businesses, but with responsible inspiration," Gaffney said.

"This is what we're calling a 'call to arms' to Albertans to get out and experience Alberta this summer — where and when it's responsible."

She said the three prongs of the agency's strategy are to showcase Alberta's great destinations, to inspire future plans to places that might not yet be accessible — and to do both while making the protection of people's heath a priority.

Travel Alberta is a Crown corporation of the provincial government that promotes Alberta as a tourist destination.

Watch Travel Alberta's video promoting its new campaign below: 

With files from Colleen Underwood

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Alberta Tourism Information

Why visit alberta.

Alberta , the largest of Canada’s three  prairie provinces , contains a large portion of the Rocky Mountains and most tourism to the province centers around visiting the beautiful parks that surround them. The province’s two main cities, Calgary and Edmonton , are Canada’s largest outside the Toronto-Montreal-Vancouver axis, though they’re much less popular as tourist destinations. The larger city, Calgary, is generally acknowledged to contain more to see and do, though Edmonton contains a few famous attractions, as well.

Orientation

Most Albertans live in either Calgary or Edmonton and the cities are about three hours apart, with Calgary in the south and Edmonton in the north. The Rocky Mountain region is on the province’s far west, along the border with British Columbia . Everywhere else is largely rural, home to small farm towns and oil fields.

Lake Louise in Banff National Park. kavram/Shutterstock

The rocky mountain parks.

The most iconic tourist destination in Alberta — and possibly the entire country — is the beautiful Banff National Park and its emerald-green Lake Louise . Containing over 6,000 square kilometers of unspoiled Rocky Mountain scenery, Canada’s most popular outdoor resort is home to virtually every activity you could imagine, with over 1,000 km of hiking trails, a dozen campgrounds, numerous ski hills, a 27-hole golf course , three hot springs, and a wild river (the Kicking Horse ) that’s ideal for white water rafting . There are no shortages of shops, hotels, and restaurants in the village of Banff Town , which is usually packed with tourists.

Three hours north of Banff is Jasper National Park , which is broadly similar to Banff in terms of natural beauty, but is harder to get to, has fewer activities and is thus slightly less popular. Some prefer its more laid-back vibe. Even more laid-back are the smaller-still mountain communities of Canmore Kananaskis , which is near Banff, and Waterton Lakes National Park which is in Alberta’s most south-west corner. All of the Rocky Mountain parks are a couple hours from the two big cities. Banff, Canmore, and Waterton are closer to Calgary while Jasper is closer to Edmonton.

Calgary's Peace Bridge, over the Bow River that divides the city. Its eccentric design, though controversial at first, has now become an icon of the city.

Calgary Tourism

The largest city in Alberta.

Calgary is split in half by the Bow River , which has a pleasant coastline for walking and in the summer is popular for “floating” — what locals call riding in inner tubes. The river is crossed by multiple bridges, with the recently-completed Peace Bridge the most architecturally interesting.

The 160 meter tall  Calgary Tower is the city’s most famous landmark, and like most buildings of its sort, it contains a rotating restaurant and observation deck at the top. It’s no longer the tallest building in Calgary, however — that honor goes to the uniquely curved Bow Building , recognizable from afar with its criss-cross design. Equally iconic is the sloping roof of the Scotiabank Saddledome , home of the city’s NHL team, as well as other sports events and concerts.

Within walking distance of downtown is the massive Calgary Zoo which encompasses over 159 hectares and houses a vast assortment of Canadian and foreign animals, as well as exhibits on Alberta’s dinosaur-filled past.

Calgary postcards often feature pictures of the Ski Jump Towers , a relic of the 1988 Olympics found on the edge of the city limits. The surrounding  Olympic Park  is now run by a company named WinSport that offers a variety of public activities, including a Zipline and bobsled.

• Official Website, Tourism Calgary
• The Top 10 Things to Do in Calgary, TripAdviso r

" Wonderland ," a sculpture by famed Spanish artist Jaume Plensaat (b. 1955) at the base of downtown Calgary's Bow Building.

Museums and Galleries

The Glenbow Museum is Alberta’s largest museum, featuring an extensive history of the province from aboriginal times to the present, as well as contemporary artwork and traveling exhibits from around the world.

Spanning over 127 acres, Heritage Park Historical Village is a vast village of antique buildings containing re-creations of Canadian life from the Victorian era to the 1950s, complete with costumed actors.

Shopping and Restaurants

8th Ave SE, better known as Stephen Ave (Calgary streets often have two names) is the primary shopping district. Closed to car traffic in the summer and weekends, it contains a vast array of shops, restaurants, and vendors, many of which are housed in iconic Victorian-era sandstone buildings. An enormous shopping mall known as the CORE runs parallel to a portion of 8th, and contains most major retail chains, as well as a large indoor park, the Devonian Gardens , on the top floor.

Many blocks away, 17th Ave SW, also known as the Red Mile , is the other trendy shopping area, but is better known for its bars and restaurants. A 15 minute drive from the downtown core is the city’s largest mall, the Chinook Centre , which has everything the CORE doesn’t.

The Red Mile is Calgary’s iconic drinking and party zone, named after the color of Calgary’s hockey team, the Flames, which appears in considerable abundance on game nights. The Mile is home to many of the city’s oldest and most iconic bars and lounges.

Chuckwagon races at the 2016 Stampede. Bill Marsh/Calgary Stampede

A T-Rex skeleton display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller.

The Calgary Stampede is Canada’s biggest party, and takes over much of the city for 10 days every July. Though the 100-year-old festival is officially supposed to revolve around watching traditional cowboy sports like bronco riding and steer wrestling, the modern-day Stampede has grown to offer something for everyone, including live concerts, carnival rides, shopping, and plenty of hot, greasy food.

Spectator Spots

Calgary has an NHL team, the Calgary Flames who play in the Scotiabank Saddledome  and a CFL team, the Calgary Stampeders , who play in the  McMahon Stadium .

Outside Calgary

An hour and a half from Calgary, the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller houses a vast collection of exhibits on life in prehistoric Canada, including an array of dinosaur skeletons uncovered from the Alberta badlands. The bizarre landscape of the  badlands themselves, which surround the museum, are fun to explore as well.

The skyline of Edmonton on the base of the Saskatchewan River .

Edmonton Tourism

Alberta’s second-biggest city and provincial capital.

Edmonton is split in half by the North Saskatchewan River and ample parklands surround the coasts. The downtown area is located on the north side.

The city’s most iconic building is the enormous sandstone structure that houses the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and four glass pyramids on the south side of the river that house the Muttart Conservatory , a massive indoor garden and museum. An equally grand glass pyramid can be found on the roof of the distinctive City Hall building. Surrounding city hall is Sir Winston Churchill Square , a large public plaza.

The gigantic Hotel Macdonald is Edmonton’s fanciest hotel, and the city’s most prominent example of Victorian-era architecture. Outside of downtown, the neighborhood of Old Strathcona contains most other historic buildings of note.

• Official Website, Tourism Edmonton
• The Top 10 Things to Do in Edmonton, TripAdvisor

The World Waterpark at the West Edmonton Mall. Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock

Edmonton City Hall and the Friendship Tower clock.

Most of Edmonton’s shops and restaurants are concentrated around the long Jasper Ave. (also known as 101st Ave) which runs through the downtown core, and the Old Strathcona neighborhood, centered around Whyte Ave (also known as 82nd Ave), which has a more bohemian character.

More than anything else, however, shopping in Edmonton is synonymous with the enormous West Edmonton Mall , which was at one time the largest mall in the world. Though the 1980s-era building is hardly state-of-the-art by today’s standards, its size remains awe-inspiring. It contains over 800 shops and countless other gimmicky attractions, including a roller coaster, a waterpark, a petting zoo, mini-golf, and a re-created 16th Spanish galleon. It’s about a half-hour drive from downtown.

The Art Gallery of Alberta is a wild-looking building containing the province’s largest collection of historic and contemporary art from both Canadian and international artists, with constantly changing exhibits.

Fort Edmonton Park  is an outdoor “living history” museum offering recreated streets and buildings from Edmonton’s past. It’s popular with schoolchildren on field trips.

Spectator sports

Edmonton has an NHL team, the Edmonton Oilers , who play in Rogers Place . Edmonton’s CFL team, the Edmonton Eskimos , play at  the Brick Field  in  Commonwealth Stadium .

Edmonton is unexpectedly home to the world’s third-largest fringe festival , run by a local outfit called  Fringe Theatre Adventures . Held in August, Edmonton Fringe is an 11-day celebration of independent plays, story slams, comedy, magic, busking, and all other forms of public performance. A global assortment of talent stage shows all over town. Ticket prices are quite cheap.

Fan of more conventional performances can check out a play at the  Citadel Theater , or a concert by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the beautiful Winspear Centre .

Outside Edmonton

As Edmonton is not exactly a major tourist destination unto itself, the surrounding area offers limited appeal for visitors. Parks and campgrounds are the main attractions, primarily Jasper National Park (see above), and to a lesser extent  Elk Island National Park , which, though beautiful, has the dubious distinction of being Alberta’s only national park not recognized as a World Heritage Site by the U.N.

Alberta Tourism Resources

• Alberta Tourism Official Website
• Alberta, Lonely Planet
• Alberta Travel Guide, Fodor's

Places to go

Where big meets bold

Alberta is the kind of place that delivers no matter what you’re after. From towering Rocky Mountains, glistening lakes and sprawling grasslands, to the spirited city life and renowned festivals of Edmonton and Calgary, there’s something for everyone. Alberta is home to eight Métis settlements and 48 First Nations — with their own languages, traditions and beliefs. Whether you’re seeking cultural enrichment in the cosmopolitan city of Calgary, adventure in the majestic Rocky Mountains or nature in the wilderness of northern Alberta, there are a variety of ways to gain a deeper sense of place. Spend the night in a teepee at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park as Knowledge Keepers share tales of the Blackfoot People. Deepen your connection with the land as a Cree guide shows you how to use local flora for medicine in Canada’s oldest National Park. Or hear the lesser-told stories of the Métis Peoples at Métis Crossing, Alberta’s first cultural interpretive centre. The possibilities are endless.

Nestled at the base of the Canadian Rockies, Calgary boasts a frontier attitude and historic neighbourhoods that buzz with bravado.

Edmonton is Canada’s northernmost metropolis in the prairie heartland of Alberta, where bison roam in Elk Island National Park and a swath of parkland unfurls from the winding North Saskatchewan River.

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Itineraries.

Don’t miss the iconic spots and hidden gems. No matter where you go in Alberta, there are amazing itinerary ideas for you to explore.

Discover incredible destinations

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