things-to-do-indoors-in-calgary

8 Things to Do Indoors in Calgary We Swear By, Winter or Not

As someone whose mind is typically occupied, I just hate being bored. If I’m not working, I still have to be doing something, like scrolling through my phone, reading a book, getting a snack, or just dancing around. For me, staring blankly at a wall is torture.

But at the same time, I don’t have a lot of interest in outdoor stuff like biking, hiking, or surfing—even when I’ve got more time on my hands. I don’t like being too cold or hot, either. I only want to stay inside all day where I’m safe and comfy. 

That doesn’t mean I don’t like having friends around, though! I actually prefer being with my crew, doing fun indoor things around Calgary. Below are some of our favourite activities when going outside just isn’t happening.

What indoor activities can I do in Calgary?

There are plenty of indoor activities you can do in Calgary! Some of the coziest ones are exploring a science museum, jumping in trampolines, playing arcade games, and racing in VR.

Fun Indoor Activities for Families

Marvel at the Exhibits in a Science Centre

Media credit: telus_spark 

Website: https://www.sparkscience.ca/ 

Address: 220 Saint George’s Drive Northeast

Contact Details: +1 403 817 6800, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Friday, Sunday – 9 AM to 4 PM
  • Saturday – 9 AM to 7 PM

Fees: 

  • Adults (18 to 64) – CAD 32.95
  • Seniors (over 65) – CAD 29.95
  • Children (3 to 17) – CAD 23.95
  • Children (2 and under) – Free
  • Students (with valid ID) – CAD 27.95
  • Family (up to 6 people, max 2 adults) – CAD 113.95

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Are the kids interested in science? TELUS Spark Science Centre is a fantastic indoor spot in Calgary with over 200 interactive exhibits and a stunning dome theatre. We reckon this is an ideal family-friendly destination for curious minds.

The highlights for us are the spots where you can lay on a bed of nails (don’t worry, this is safe and science will explain why!) and drink water out of a “toilet” (or just a toilet-looking sink)! We say there’s no better way to enjoy science than to be hands-on.

You can also enjoy a movie at the 260-degree Infinity Dome Theatre later on. With this venue stretching 3 stories high and over 21 meters across, we think this is an epic “stargazing” experience you shouldn’t miss.

Pro tip:

There’s a lot to see at TELUS Spark Science Centre, so we recommend allotting at least 3 hours to fully enjoy its amenities and maximize your experience.

Jump Around at a Trampoline Park

Media credit: flyingsquirrelcalgary 

Website: http://flyingsquirrelsports.ca/calgary-alberta/ 

Address: 572 Aero Dr NE #105

Contact Details: +1 403 879 2148, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Wednesday, Sunday – 10 AM to 9 PM
  • Thursday – 2 PM to 9 PM
  • Friday – 2 PM to 11 PM
  • Saturday – 10 AM to 11 PM

Fees: 

  • General Admission Tickets – Starts at CAD 23 for 60 minutes
  • Toddler (6 and under) – Starts at CAD 14 for 60 minutes
  • Family Pass (can be split) – CAD 190 for 10 hours

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Flying Squirrel is the world’s largest trampoline park, with various zones for all ages, from toddlers to adults. It also offers two locations in Calgary (North and South) for better accessibility.

Our top picks here are the ninja courses, foam pits, and of course, the Olympic-sized trampolines—there are 4 of them so everyone can get some big jumps! Whether you’re a kid or a full-grown adult, we bet you’ll have the time of your life raising your heart rate.

In addition, many parents celebrate their children’s birthdays here. We find it handy that the staff can arrange everything from setup to cleanup, including the perfect timing of the pizza and cake time for a hassle-free party.

Handy hacks:

Visit Flying Squirrel on Fridays and Saturdays! After 8 pm, the staff turns off all the lights, turns up the music, and lets the neon lights out to set this place aglow.
We also recommend bringing reusable water bottles to the trampoline park to avoid paying for bottled water.

Indoor Cultural Attractions in Calgary

Discover Historic Airplanes and Helicopters

Media credit: thehangarmuseum 

Website: http://www.thehangarmuseum.ca/ 

Address: 4629 McCall Way NE

Contact Details: +1 403 250 3752, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Tuesday to Sunday – 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Monday – Closed

Fees: 

  • Adults – CAD 15.00
  • Seniors (65+) – CAD 11.00
  • Students (12 to 17, or with valid ID) – CAD 10.00
  • Children (3 to 11) – CAD 8.00
  • Children (0 to 2) – Free
  • Family (up to 2 adults and 4 children under 18) – CAD 40.00

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Are you a fan of flying or just curious about airplanes or helicopters? The Hangar Flight Museum (formerly the Aero Space Museum of Calgary) offers a collection of historic aircraft inside a beautifully maintained hangar for aviation enthusiasts.

There are also plenty of exhibits from WWI aircraft to Canadian aviation history, which we think many history fans will be thrilled to see. Plus, you could meet veteran Air Force pilots and have a good chat with them!

In our book, it typically takes 30 minutes to go around the main building and the hangar with the airplanes and helicopters. We think this could be stretched to an hour or two if you pause to read every plane model description.

Don’t miss out:

The Hangar Flight Museum offers a plane simulator for kids, so we believe it’s best to come here early to avoid waiting in line.

You may also visit the gift shop without paying admission to The Hangar! We think this makes finding presents, like toys, mugs, or T-shirts, super easy.

Make Your Own Music

Media credit: nmc_canada 

Website: http://www.studiobell.ca/ 

Address: 850 4 St. SE

Contact Details: +1 403 543 5115, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM

Fees: 

  • Adults – CAD 24.50
  • Students – CAD 19.50 
  • Seniors (over 65) – CAD 19.50
  • Youth (4 to 12) – CAD 16.50
  • Children (3 and under) – Free
  • National Music Centre (NMC) Members – Free

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Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, is where you can celebrate the history of Canadian music across 5 floors of exhibitions and interactive installations. We think its architecture is also mesmerizing, with lots of geometry and shadows to look at.

Among the focal points for us is seeing the Canadian-born artists and history, including one dedicated to Indigenous music history. Later, you might even hear the theatre organ being played live to an old silent movie!

Visitors can explore multiple halls of fame or try their hand at creating music too. Who knows? This could be an amazing hobby for the kids (or the long-lost path for you)! If you want to find your voice range, there’s a studio booth there that can help as well.

Friendly advice:

Studio Bell offers limited paid parking, with 40 stalls next to the building. We recommend arriving early and scoping out early to avoid any hassle later.

Take in the Scenic Views from Inside a Tower

Media credit: calgarytower 

Website: https://www.calgarytower.com/ 

Address: 101 9 Ave SW

Contact Details: +1 403 266 7171, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 9 PM

Fees (excluding GST or goods and services tax): 

  • General (13 to 64) – CAD 19 (Online), CAD 22 (Walk-Up)
  • Seniors (over 65) – CAD 17 (Online), CAD 20 (Walk-Up)
  • Children (4 to 12) – CAD 9 (Online), CAD 10 (Walk-Up)
  • Infants (3 and under) – Free (Online), Free (Walk-Up)

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If you want to see the best views of the city without being outdoors, we believe Calgary Tower is worth the trip. Here, you’ll marvel at spectacular 360-degree views from 191 meters up. 

On a clear day, you can catch stunning vistas of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the expansive prairies to the east. And if you’ve got enough courage, why not dare yourself to walk on its famous glass floor?

And to relax a bit, you can watch original short films and aerial footage of Alberta in the Theatre Room on the observation deck.

Good to know:

We suggest buying your tickets to Calgary Tower online to skip waiting in the queue! Let’s work smart, not hard.

For us, the tower is a great spot to see the sunset. We say plan your trip during non-hazy days for you to clearly see the majestic Rocky Mountains. 

Active Indoor Entertainment in Calgary

Play Classic and Modern Games

Media credit: therecroomca 

Website: https://www.therecroom.com/ 

Address: 1180-901 64 Ave NE

Contact Details: +1 587 535 6077, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM
  • Friday – 11:30 AM to 1 AM
  • Saturday – 10 AM to 1 AM

Fees: 

  • Adults (18 to 64): Credit purchases vary (e.g., CAD 100 for 400 credits)
  • Children (under 2): Free
  • Additional fees for new game bands
    • Regular Bands – CAD 3
    • Premium Bands – CAD 6

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Are you a gamer? If so, we think The Rec Room is the place to be! It features everything from classic arcade games to virtual reality and Topgolf, which we feel can make you forget about the outside world.

The arcade games are also varied and well-maintained, and you can pick anything from classic picks to contemporary hits. For us, it’s hard to beat the nostalgia of playing Pac-Man and Mario Kart, though we think the VR racing games are pretty cool too!

This offers a full-service restaurant and sports bar as well, so we bet there’s something for families and all-adult friends. But if arcades are a bit childish for your taste, you can play billiards and ping pong upstairs too!

Savvy suggestion:

For a wholesome family trip, we suggest going to The Rec Room on days other than Friday and Saturday—lots of adults drinking here!

Race Against Friends in Virtual Reality

Media credit: tracksvr

Website: http://tracksvr.com/ 

Address: 625 Manitou Rd SE

Contact Details: +1 403 827 4554, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Tuesday to Friday – 12 PM to 9 PM
  • Saturday to Sunday – 12 PM to 6 PM
  • Monday – Closed

Fees: 

  • VR Racing – Starts at CAD 44.95

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Need to satisfy your need for speed (but indoors)? TracksVR Virtual Racing is Canada’s largest VR racing venue. It’s got 12 full-motion virtual cockpits for an immersive racing experience with friends and racing enthusiasts.

We also love that it boasts the biggest selection of Formula 1 merchandise in Western Canada. Pretend to be a real-life racer, with your hands on the wheel and feet on the pedals. Also, have fun taking your pick among Formula, GT3, Touring, and Karts!

Foodie tip:

Does racing give you a hunger pang? TracksVR Virtual Racing’s staff can bring in catered food for lunch to keep you going, so just let them know!

Break Free with Your Smarts in an Escape Room

Media credit: connorbuchholz  

Website: https://www.thelockedroom.ca/ 

Address: 2015 32 Ave NE #15

Contact Details: +1 403 455 0545, [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Tuesday to Thursday – 4 PM to 9:30 PM
  • Friday – 3 PM to 9:30 PM
  • Saturday – 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
  • Sunday – 11:30 AM to 8 PM
  • Monday – Closed

Fees: 

  • Groups of 2 – CAD 37.75 per person
  • Groups of 3 – CAD 34.25 per person
  • Groups of 4+ – CAD 30.95 per person

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Something for mystery fans—The Locked Room is an immersive escape room experience where groups solve puzzles to escape within 60 minutes. You can also choose from different themed rooms across 3 locations in Calgary.

We like that small and big friend groups can enjoy since the teams can be from 3 to 10 players. There are plenty of themes like Captivity, The Heist, Prison Break, and Forbidden Temple.

And if you’re worried about haunted houses or scary flicks, don’t fret! We believe the rooms here are mainly for solving puzzles and deciphering clues. There are also help buttons if you need them, so just have fun!

Must-know move:

If you’re booking The Locked Room on the day, walk-ins here are a bit tricky. We recommend calling the staff first to make sure you have a spot.
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