Get a bird's eye view of Calgary and the surrounding landscape from the world's highest 360° observation tower.
First opened in 1968, and one of the very first members of the World Federation of Great Towers, the Calgary Tower is the best place in the city to get your bearings and figure out the lie of the land. The tower has become an iconic silhouette on the Calgary skyline, especially since the 1988 Winter Olympics, when it was transformed into a giant Olympic torch burning bright in the winter sky. With everything from a steakhouse to art exhibits, there's a wide variety of entertainment on offer within the confines of this distinctive Canadian tower.Possibly the best way to start your visit is by taking advantage of one of the free tours offered by the tower. Guides who really know what they're talking about are on hand to point out the most interesting sites in the city from this fantastic vantage point, and will help you to identify everything from historical monuments to the Rockies looming large in the distance.The lobby and observation deck are home to displays of art produced by local artists, which you can purchase if you'd like a souvenir of your visit, while the base of the tower houses the Tourism Calgary Information Centre this is where you'll get all the information you need on what's going on in the city during your stay.155 metres up the tower is the Sky 360 restaurant. Rotating fully every 45 minutes at lunchtime and every hour during dinner, this restaurant offers the very best, and definitely the most varied, panoramic views in the entire city. If you prefer to stay a little closer to ground level, there is also a steakhouse located further down the tower on the second floor.Calgary Tower is located in the city centre, at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Centre Street. It is well served by public transport, with a number of bus stops nearby and the central train stations just a short walk away. The tower is also accessible via the +15 Skywalk, an elevated public walkway 4.5 metres above street level connecting many of the city's major buildings. The tower is open every day except Christmas Day, though the observation deck can sometimes be closed for functions. The charge for admission covers multiple visits within the same day.
