Canada Guide
Alberta and the Rockies
Calgary Tower
Address: Corner of Centre St and 9th Ave SW
Opening time: Daily May– Sept 7.30am–11.30pm; Oct– April 9am–10pm
Price: $12.95
Website: www.calgarytower.com
The Calgary Tower, the city's favourite folly, is a good deal shorter and less imposing than the tourist material would have you believe. An obligatory tourist traipse, the 190m-tall sceptre (762 steps if you don't take the lift) stands in a relatively dingy area, somewhat overshadowed by downtown's more recent buildings. Nevertheless its unusual shape has made it a long-term landmark, and as good a starting point as any for a tour of the city. The Observation Terrace offers outstanding views, especially on clear days, when the snowcapped Rockies fill the western horizon, with the ski-jump towers of the 1988 Canada Olympic Park in the middle distance. Up on the observation platform after your one-minute elevator ride you'll find a snack bar (good value and reasonable food), cocktail bar and revolving restaurant (expensive).