Air

Calgary International Airport (airport code YYC; www.calgaryairport.com) is within the city limits northeast of downtown. It is served by more than a dozen scheduled airlines and used by seven million passengers each year (Canada’s fourth-busiest airport). Arrivals is on the lower level, where passengers are greeted by White Hat volunteers who are dressed in traditional Western attire and answer visitors’ questions about the airport, transportation, and the city. Across from the baggage carousels is an information desk and a bank of interactive computer terminals linked to hotels and other tourist services. The desks for all major rental-car outlets are across the road.

A cab to downtown runs approximately $40, or take the Allied Airport Shuttle (403/299-9555, www.airportshuttlecalgary.com) to major downtown hotels for adult $15, child $10 one-way. This service runs every 30 minutes daily 8 a.m.–midnight.

For details of airlines flying into Calgary, click through the links on the airport website.

Bus

The Greyhound bus depot (850 16th St. SW, 403/265-9111 or 800/661-8747, www.greyhound.ca) is two blocks away from the C-train stop ($2 into town), or you can cross the overhead pedestrian bridge at the terminal’s southern entrance and catch a transit bus. A cab from the bus depot to downtown runs $12, to HI–Calgary City Centre $15. Greyhound buses connect Calgary daily with Edmonton (3.5 hours), Banff (two hours), Vancouver (15 hours), and all other points within the province.

From their offices near the Calgary Tower, Red Arrow (205 9th Ave. SE, 403/531-0350, www.redarrow.ca) shuttles passengers between Calgary and downtown Edmonton, with some services continuing to Fort McMurray in northern Alberta.

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition