Budget-friendly things to do
No matter what your interests are, there’s always something budget-friendly to do downtown.
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Downtown on a dime
Downtown offers plenty of budget-friendly activities, from ice skating to consignment shopping and local meal deals! Ready, set, explore!
There’s no shortage of downtown
Budget-friendly things to do
Spend less, explore more!
Events & Festivals
High Performance Rodeo
Celebrating their 40th year, the High Performance Rodeo is an annual festival featuring theatre, dance, comedy, music and so much more. Dates: Jan. 13-31.
Multiple venues
Parks & Recreation
Central Memorial Park
Central Memorial Park (also known as Memorial Park) is Calgary’s oldest park and is located in the heart of the Beltline.
Arts & Culture
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre Museum
A gateway to Chinese history with life-sized terra-cotta soldiers, royal chariots, and vibrant arts. Admission is free, but you can also add a guided tour for $5!
Attractions
Calgary Tower
Offering a stunning 360-degree view of the city, the Calgary Tower is a must-see for anyone looking to get a unique perspective on the downtown skyline. Don't forget to check out the glass floor!
Attractions
Devonian Gardens
Discover this urban oasis in the heart of Calgary that offers one hectare of botanical gardens including over 500 trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900 sq. ft. living wall, fountains, fish ponds and a playground to climb and explore.
Attractions
Hexagon Cafe
Play board games at Hexagon Cafe. It's only $4.50 per hour per person to play while enjoying coffee, desserts, beer, wine or cocktails!
Attractions
Little Red Reading House
Explore Little Red Reading House and help your kids fall in love with books.
Attractions
The Bow Wonderland Sculpture
Check out Calgary's most iconic skyscraper and its impressive art installations. Stop by for a photo op with the famous “Wonderland” sculpture located at the base of the tower.
heavyexperience.com/wonderland
500 Centre St. S
Attractions
The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland
Learn about Calgary’s founding and Indigenous history at this cultural and historical site located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers.
Arts & Culture
Contemporary Calgary
Discover the innovative world of contemporary art at Contemporary Calgary, where global art installations and rotating exhibitions bring new ideas to life. Explore their open-studio residency and speaker series for a deeper dive into the creative process.
Arts & Culture
Calgary Central Library
Known for its stunning architecture, this library offers more than just books. It's an iconic space that often hosts local events, live performances, and workshops.
Have fun in the snow with these
Free winter activities & events
Enjoy free downtown winter fun with scenic pathways, ice skating rinks and a game of Crokicurl.
Free winter activities & events
Outdoor fun for everyone
Parks & Recreation
Skating at Thomson Family Park
Downtown ice-skating enthusiasts can also visit the popular rink at Thomson Family Park where there’s also pathways, picnic areas and a playground.
Arts & Culture
Esker Foundation
Esker Foundation offers free, thought‑provoking contemporary art exhibitions and programs, making it a must‑visit cultural hub in Calgary.
Parks & Recreation
Skating at Prince’s Island Park lagoon
Glide into ice-skating fun at Prince’s Island Park lagoon, Calgary’s ultimate downtown skating destination!
Parks & Recreation
Bow River Pathway
The Bow River Pathway This is Calgary’s signature multi-use trail system, stretching over 48 km along both banks of the Bow River. The pathway offers stunning river views, access to parks, public art, and connections to other trails like the Elbow River Pathway.
Events & Festivals
Chinook Blast
Get ready for our biggest spectacle to date! We’ve searched near and far to bring you the best and brightest installations to light up your winter. Dates: Jan. 30 - Feb. 16.
Attractions
Festive magic at Eau Claire Plaza
Eau Claire Plaza has turned into a holiday wonderland waiting to be explored and the perfect spot to snap a festive photo!
Parks & Recreation
Crokicurl at Barb Scott Park
Try this fun new winter activity at Barb Scott Park! Crokicurl is a large-scale version of the Crokinole board game combined with curling.
Find your style and shop local by
Consignment shopping
Downtown consignment and thrift shopping is a treasure hunt full of surprises and unique finds.
Consignment shopping
Shop 'til you drop
Shopping
Danielle's Consignment
A beautiful boutique on the first floor of the Devenish: a charming, 100-year-old heritage building on 17th Ave. Stop in and browse high-quality clothing and accessories, all at affordable prices.
Shopping
The Peacock | Boutique Consignment
A boutique featuring a thoughtfully chosen collection of high-end clothing, accessories and more. This location is perfect for fashion lovers exploring one of Calgary’s trendiest streets.
Shopping
Kept Clothing Collective
A boutique style store offering a diverse selection of curated vintage and secondhand goods for the eco-conscious shopper. There is no primary retailer and community is fostered over competition.
Shopping
Change is Good
A curated secondhand store owned and operated by The Calgary Dream Centre, an organization that works with individuals facing homelessness and addiction.
Shopping
Worn Studio
A retail space providing Calgary shoppers with a curated collection of vintage and pre-loved pieces. Deeply rooted in community, they host workshops in collaboration with local businesses.
Shopping
Article Apparels
A consignment boutique in the heart of Mission that offers a curated selection of preloved clothing and accessories. Dogs welcome!
Shopping
WINS Thrift Store - Beltline
Browse the good donated to the Women in Need Society (WINS) to help women and their families thrive in Calgary. Step into this welcoming space and explore a variety of quality clothing, household items and more.
Shopping
Zoe’s Store
Zoe’s is a locally owned thrift and consignment store with a passion for our community, a sustainable lifestyle, the environment, and all the wonderful people that live within it.
Don’t miss out on these unforgettable
Happy hours & local meal deals
There are plenty of watering holes downtown to unwind with friends at discounted prices.
Local meal deals
Dine out for less
Eat & Drink
Trolley 5 Brewpub Deals
On Saturdays, enjoy $7 Brunch Mimosas and OG Shaft on draft from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Eat & Drink
Pig & Duke Neighbourhood Pub Deals
On Fridays, enjoy $16.50 steak sandwiches and $7 Village pints from 3-6 p.m.
Eat & Drink
Craft Beer Market Deals
On Mondays, enjoy $30 pizzas (2) and $8 Craft Mules daily from 2-5 p.m.
Eat & Drink
Greta Bar Deals
On Wednesdays, enjoy an all-day happy hour that offers $20 for three hours of unlimited gaming, $5 off crispy chicken wings and more!
Eat & Drink
Home & Away Deals
On Thursdays, enjoy $12 Homie Burger with a side and $5.75 Pilsner Tall Cans from 2-6 p.m.
Eat & Drink
Pazzi Pizza Deals
On Sundays, enjoy two for one 12” pizzas.
Eat & Drink
Rodney’s Oyster House Deals
On Tuesdays, enjoy $3 Fish Tacos and $5 Margaritas from 3-6 p.m.
Getting Around
Whether you hit up one spot or all of them, every visit makes a difference. Let’s keep supporting our community and enjoying everything downtown Calgary has to offer!
Check out some resources to help make visiting downtown convenient.
Check out other experiences
From chill hangouts to adrenaline-pumping activities, there’s something for every vibe in downtown Calgary. Let your next great experience find you.