More Than Just a Stopover on the Way to Banff
Most people treat Calgary as a place to land, pick up a rental car, and head straight to the mountains. I get it. Banff is the headline.
But doing that means skipping a city that’s actually worth your time.
I didn’t just pass through Calgary. I lived there for a year. Properly lived there. Through the good bits, the expensive bits, and yes… the fucking cold -40°C winter.
And weirdly, even when it’s absolutely freezing, the sun is nearly always shining. It’s cold, but it’s bright. Calgary does winter properly. Just wrap-up.
A city that’s easy to settle into
Calgary’s city centre is compact, walkable, and easy to get your head around within a day or two.
Stephen Avenue is the main pedestrian street and always has something going on. East Village is great if you want decent coffee and food without feeling like you’ve walked into a tourist trap.
People are genuinely friendly here too. Not in a forced way, just normal, chatty, helpful. It makes a difference, especially if you’re travelling solo.
Stampede: chaos, cowboy hats, and ridiculous prices
If you’re in Calgary in July, you’ll hear about the Calgary Stampede.
You won’t be able to avoid it.
It’s one of the biggest festivals in Canada. Loud, busy, full of cowboy hats, and honestly… worth experiencing at least once.
But here’s the reality people don’t always tell you.
Accommodation gets booked up months in advance, and prices go through the roof.
Hotels can hit $500–$800 a night during Stampede, which is just painful.
This is where hostels come in.
My experience living in a hostel (and why it made Calgary for me)
Calgary has two main hostel options:
- HI Calgary City Centre Hostel
- Wicked Hostels Calgary
And for me, there’s a clear winner.
I ended up staying there for about 8 months, which probably says everything.
What started as “just a place to stay” turned into one of the best parts of my time in Canada. I made proper, lifelong friends there. The kind you still keep in touch with years later.
We explored nearby national parks together, went out to cowboy bars, cooked together, did random trips. It just had that kind of atmosphere.
Why Wicked Hostel stands out
It wasn’t just the people, although that was a big part of it. The place was set up properly.
Free laundry. Free towel rental. Free breakfast. And even free beer every Friday (which I’ve never had offered in countries outside of Asia)
All this in a country as expensive as Canada, genuinely helps more than you’d think.
Big shoutout to Jeff, the owner, who built the place with the kind of vibe every hostel should have. It felt social without being forced, relaxed without being dead. Jeff is a big traveller too and you can tell by the thought he puts into the place.
The Aussie manager Lucas is also meant to be returning soon. Last time I was there, he kept Vegemite stocked at breakfast. I personally think it’s vile (seriously… wtf), but if you’re Aussie, you’ll probably feel right at home.
Important update if you’re planning a trip (2026)
Wicked Hostel has recently moved location in Calgary and is currently being refurbished. From what I’ve heard, they’re aiming to be back up and running in time for Stampede this year. If it is open, book early. It fills up fast.
If not, HI Calgary City Centre Hostel is still a solid option, especially if you’re trying to keep costs down during Stampede.
Expect to pay around $100 per night for a hostel during that period, which might sound high, but compared to hotel prices, it’s still the best option by far.
And honestly, the social side alone makes it worth it.
Living in Calgary on a working holiday
If you’re on a working holiday visa, Calgary is actually a really good base.
The job market is decent, rent is cheaper than places like Vancouver or Toronto, and you’re only a couple of hours away from the mountains.
That means hiking in summer, skiing in winter, all doable on your days off.
Public transport covers most areas, and monthly passes are fairly reasonable by Canadian standards.
Winter in Calgary (yes, it gets extreme)
It’s worth being prepared for this. Calgary winters are no joke. I experienced -40°C at one point, which is exactly as rough as it sounds.
But then you get something called a Chinook. Warm winds that can suddenly raise the temperature by 15–20 degrees in the middle of winter. It’s strange, but when it happens, it feels like you’ve been given your life back.
Also worth checking out during winter:
- The Plus 15 skywalk system (you can walk around the city indoors, which is a lifesaver when it’s freezing)
- The Calgary Central Library, which is genuinely one of the nicest buildings in the city
Calgary might be cold, but it knows how to deal with it. Also, if you’ve never experienced a Hallmark-style snowy Christmas, then you’ll be in for treat here. Be sure to test your ice skating skills and check out Olympic Plaza around that time.
Final thoughts
Calgary isn’t just a stop on the way to Banff.
If you give it a bit of time, it becomes a place where you can settle in, meet people, and build a proper experience around your trip.
For me, it was one of the highlights of my time in Canada.
And a big part of that came down to hostel life and the people I met along the way.
Calgary | Olympic Plaza
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A Quick Note
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