1Calgary Tower
191m observation tower with glass floor at the top. CAD 21. 1-hour visit. Best Calgary panorama. Adjacent Glenbow Museum + Stephen Avenue.
Photo: AceYYC, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Calgary International Airport (YYC) · Canada
24-Hour Layover in Calgary: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Calgary?
Entry
Canada requires eTA for visa-waiver (US citizens exempt) or visa for others. International connecting at YYC must clear Canadian immigration.
Into town
Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain): 40 min total, CAD 3.70.
Time outside
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Times from YYC arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Calgary: Where to Go
The sights in Calgary worth leaving the airport for.
1
2Heritage Park (Western frontier village)
Living history village with 200 historical buildings + steam train + paddlewheel boat. CAD 35. 3-4 hours. Best Calgary cultural experience.
Photo: Tyson2k at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
neighbourhood
Stephen Avenue + East Village
Downtown pedestrian street + East Village arts district. Free walking. Many craft breweries + restaurants. Adjacent Bow River walking paths.
4Banff National Park (90 min west)
Canada's most-iconic National Park. Lake Louise + Banff townsite + Sulphur Mountain gondola. CAD 11 park pass. For 8+ hour layovers: shuttle (CAD 65 one-way) + Banff day.
Photo: Gorgo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Itinerary ideas for Calgary
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
24 hours
You are here24 hours in Calgary
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Insider tip
YYC is 17km from downtown — Allied Airport Shuttle (CAD 17-25 / €11-17) is reliable. Calgary Transit + CTrain is cheap but requires walking from bus to train. For 8+ hour winter layovers: ski day at Lake Louise/Sunshine Village. For summer: Banff day trip via shuttle.
Into Calgary
Getting to Calgary City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain) | CAD 3.70 | 40 min total |
| Allied Airport Shuttle (to downtown) | CAD 17–25 (€11–17) | 30–45 min |
| Taxi / Uber | CAD 40–65 (€26–43) | 25–40 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Calgary
Alberta beef steak at Caesar's Steakhouse. Ginger beef (Calgary invention) at Silver Inn. Donair at Tonic Lounge. Poutine + beavertails for the Canadian classics.
24 hours in Calgary
24-Hour Itinerary
1
Day 1 — Arrival
Into Calgary and check in to your hotel
Take Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain) (40 min total, CAD 3.70). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.
2
Day 1 — Afternoon
Calgary Tower
191m observation tower with glass floor at the top. CAD 21. 1-hour visit. Best Calgary panorama. Adjacent Glenbow Museum + Stephen Avenue.
3
Day 1 — Evening
Dinner like a local
Alberta beef steak at Caesar's Steakhouse. Ginger beef (Calgary invention) at Silver Inn. Donair at Tonic Lounge. Poutine + beavertails for the Canadian classics.
4
Day 2 — Morning
Heritage Park (Western frontier village)
Living history village with 200 historical buildings + steam train + paddlewheel boat. CAD 35. 3-4 hours. Best Calgary cultural experience.
5
Day 2 — Late morning
Stephen Avenue + East Village
Downtown pedestrian street + East Village arts district. Free walking. Many craft breweries + restaurants. Adjacent Bow River walking paths.
6
Day 2 — Departure
Back to Calgary International Airport
Head back to Calgary International Airport by Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain) (40 min total, CAD 3.70). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Calgary?
Canada requires eTA for visa-waiver (US citizens exempt) or visa for others. International connecting at YYC must clear Canadian immigration. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 24 hours enough to leave Calgary International Airport?
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Calgary by Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain) takes 40 min total each way.
How do I get from Calgary International Airport to Calgary centre?
Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain): 40 min total, CAD 3.70. Allied Airport Shuttle (to downtown): 30–45 min, CAD 17–25 (€11–17). Taxi / Uber: 25–40 min, CAD 40–65 (€26–43).
Getting out of Calgary International Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Calgary
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Calgary and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse CalgaryJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Calgary? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Calgary.Trains & buses from Calgary
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Calgary Airport
With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Calgary
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
Search hotels
Also useful for your Calgary trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Calgary
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from YYC.
Flights to Calgary from 34 cities: fares and airlines →
Flair Airlines route mapSwoop route mapWestJet route mapWestJet Encore route mapAir Canada route mapAir Canada Rouge route mapAir North route mapAlaska Airlines route mapAmerican Airlines route mapCentral Mountain Air route mapCondor route mapDelta Air Lines route mapEdelweiss Air route mapHorizon Air route mapKLM Royal Dutch Airlines route mapPorter Airlines route mapUnited Airlines route map
Airport lounges at Calgary Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Calgary travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Calgary works
01
Check you can leave
Canada requires eTA for visa-waiver (US citizens exempt) or visa for others. International connecting at YYC must clear Canadian immigration.
02
Head into town
Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain): 40 min total, CAD 3.70.
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Calgary International Airport by Calgary Transit Route 100 (to McKnight-Westwinds CTrain) (40 min total, CAD 3.70). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Ready for Calgary?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight on the ground
Daylight in Calgary swings from about 7.7 hours in Dec to 16.3 in Jun. The same six-hour stopover is a city break in Jun and mostly darkness in Dec — worth checking before you plan to leave the airport.