Canada : Safety by City
- Abbotsford
- Brampton
- Burnaby
- Calgary
- Coquitlam
- Edmonton
- Halifax
- Hamilton
- Kelowna
- Kitchener
- Mississauga
- Montreal
- Nanaimo
- Niagara Falls
- Oshawa
- Ottawa
- Quebec City
- Red Deer
- Regina
- Saskatoon
- Thunder Bay
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Windsor
- Winnipeg
Calgary is the Canadian city in Alberta, located on the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River and about 80 km from the Canadian Rockies.
This city is in constant development after disastrous flooding in 2013 and 2016.
It’s novel features are restaurants and bars, public squares, cultural attractions, and shopping centers.
The must-see attractions are The Core Shopping Centre, the Calgary Zoo, the Telus Spark, the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Tower, the Art Gallery of Calgary and the Military Museum.
Calgary has some annual celebrations which are unique for it.
Tourists can experience Calgary Stampede, the major party in Canada with pancakes and cowboy hats.
Warnings & Dangers in Calgary
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Calgary is a safe city to tourists since most of the violent crime is performed on the citizens. Its rank and score of 82% show that tourists can feel safe while in Calgary.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Once you decide to drive to Calgary, the city offers good roads and unforgettable scenery. On the other hand, parking in Calgary is a real nightmare. If you want to avoid it, you can use Calgary Transit which is efficient and clean. Also, Calgary has the largest fleet of car2go smart cars which can take you everywhere. Bear in mind that driving during the winter months can be dangerous due to the ice on the roads. All in all, transport in Calgary is considered safe.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
When the pickpocket risk is in question, there are no records of it in Calgary. Tourists should remain cautious in case it happens.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
The only possible natural disaster is flooding in case of heavy rainfalls and snowstorms during winter.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
As in every big city, the risk of mugging and kidnapping exists, although Calgary is considered relatively safe. Travelers are advised to avoid certain areas during the night.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
The risk of terrorist attacks is low, but tourists should follow the guide’s advice and be vigilant.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
The very interesting fact is that there are no scammers in Calgary. The risk of being scammed is at a minimal level.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Unlike those countries where it is dangerous for a solo woman traveler to come, Calgary is a very safe city when this kind of risk is in question. However, the world safety rules should be followed both by men and women in terms of watching their drink and being aware of the people and surroundings.
So... How Safe Is Calgary Really?
Whenever someone decides to go, personal safety is a top concern.
That is why Calgary can be regarded as a trouble-free city.
With its relatively low crime rate, especially in terms of tourists, and a small percentage of serious criminal acts, this is a city that offers a perfect holiday for those who seek entertainment, as well as for people who want to experience cultural life.
Inglewood, with its houses dating back from the 1910s, is worth visiting.
All parts of Calgary are considered to be safe during the day, so tourists can explore Downtown Calgary with all its attractions and sights.
However, walking at night should be avoided in the East Village and Victoria Park areas, as well as Skid Row, because of the poor and homeless people, drugs and prostitution.
These areas are not necessarily dangerous in terms that you will be physically threatened there, but you might feel uncomfortable.
Today, Calgary has become a more cosmopolitan city that does its best to expand its attractiveness to visitors and it should be included on the map of your future tourist destinations.
How Does Calgary Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Calgary | 82 |
| Vancouver | 82 |
| Niagara Falls | 87 |
| Montreal | 81 |
| Toronto | 81 |
| Quebec City | 85 |
| Ottawa | 83 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
| Sydney (Australia) | 80 |
| Vienna (Austria) | 88 |
| Manama (Bahrain) | 54 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
Useful Information
Visas
The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia are some of the countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Canada if their stay is less than 180 days. An Electronic Travel Authorization is necessary and it costs CAD 7$. Online information sites can help you find out if you need a visa for Canada based on your nationality.
Currency
The Canadian dollar is the official currency, but it is often called the "loonie". Many banks work on Saturdays and ATMs are available 24/7. Because you need less than $100 for daily costs, Canada is not a too expensive country. There are many cheap attractions, shops, and restaurants, so bargaining is not typical when shopping.
Weather
Once you decide to visit Calgary, you should be prepared for unusual weather conditions. Your sunglasses must be packed, since summers are warm and sunny, and even winters have many sunny days, which is not the situation in other major cities in Canada. This proves the fact that the weather changes fast from day today. The awkward situation is when snow falls in September or May, but it does not last long.
Airports
Calgary International Airport has flights from all over the world and it is the easiest way to get to Calgary. It is about 20 minutes from the city center.
Travel Insurance
If you are visiting Calgary, you should buy insurance to cover medical emergencies during your trip, as well as other unpredictable situations like baggage loss or theft.
Calgary Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | -1 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Low °C | -13 | -12 | -8 | -2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 4 | -1 | -8 | -13 |
| High °F | 30 | 34 | 43 | 54 | 63 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 68 | 55 | 41 | 32 |
| Low °F | 9 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 37 | 45 | 50 | 46 | 39 | 30 | 18 | 9 |
Canada - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Abbotsford | 83 |
| Brampton | 82 |
| Burnaby | 65 |
| Calgary | 82 |
| Coquitlam | 86 |
| Edmonton | 86 |
| Halifax | 79 |
| Hamilton | 76 |
| Kelowna | 76 |
| Kitchener | 75 |
| Mississauga | 85 |
| Montreal | 81 |
| Nanaimo | 32 |
| Niagara Falls | 87 |
| Oshawa | 42 |
| Ottawa | 83 |
| Quebec City | 85 |
| Red Deer | 32 |
| Regina | 74 |
| Saskatoon | 73 |
| Thunder Bay | 65 |
| Toronto | 81 |
| Vancouver | 82 |
| Victoria | 82 |
| Windsor | 81 |
| Winnipeg | 77 |
A small note to the transportation section. ShareNow (formerly car2go) is ceasing operations in North America end of Feb 2020 and had ceased in Calgary in Oct 2019.
Number for this City is dead wrong
Seriously??? Is the writer of this website from Calgary? Scammers in Calgary are RIFE! Beggars at Sooo many intersections throughout the city and on every street downtown. Who wrote this? I have lived in both WPG and Calgary. 30yrs in Wpg 1 house break in and 1 car break in and that was in a really rough neighbourhood. In Calgary I have lost count how many break ins have happened to me in in good areas and bad. Gun fire in the night is weekly and helicopters overhead is nightly. If you are buying something from someone they will have a smile on their face but watch when a customer turns their back and you will see the misery in their face. So many different ethnic gangs shooting each other over drugs. Calgary safe? someone’s lying about the numbers. Those numbers may hold true for Banff, but definitely NOT for Calgary, Calgary is a money grab town… I have travelled to many amazing places on this planet and the people of Calgary are mostly horrible.
Haters gonna hate I guess
This is the most BS review I have ever read. Calgary is one of the safest cities in north america. I’m also very confused as to how it has a lower number overall than Edmonton when they consistently triple us in murders despite having a lower population. Very strange. Calgary is a great city, this review above was obviously written by a hater. Winnipeg is literally the dumpster fire of Canada so I’m shocked this person is even comparing the two. Check the facts.
Agreed! “Observer in Calgary” is obviously bent on dissing Calgary, nothing more. I have lived in Calgary for 40 years, never had a break in to my house, never had my vehicle broken into, never heard a gun shot, I hear a police helicopter *maybe* once every 6 weeks. Compared to any other city I have visited you can practically eat off the street. The people keep to themselves, really, neither terribly grumpy or overly pleasant overall, nothing unusual. Traffic is very reasonable compared to other Canadian cities, blissful compared to Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver. I’ve traveled all over the world, and lived in a few other cities for short periods of time, Calgary is the best place in the world as far as I’m concerned.
I agree with you on that 100%
This is correct ,I lived there and I am glad I moved,overpriced and overrated
COLD cold cold cold
Minus 30-35 degrees is normal here, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s not safe…
Shits getting worse
I hope it’s mostly because of the year 2020 but seems to be going down hill
Calgary is a safe city.
Safety wise you really don’t have much to worry about. There’s some sketchy areas downtown with high rates of drug use, but it’s like that for most big cities. Wouldn’t recommend visiting during the winter, it gets cold as hell for months on end out here. Trust me, the average values for temperature really don’t make the city justice. Not much do out here during lockdowns, but when stuff is open it’s a fairly lively city. If you do come out here, make sure to hike the rockies, visit Fish Creek provincial park, explore Stephen ave and enjoy the restaurants and bars.
Cold
-30 Celcius is pretty common in the winter. The air is also much drier than other places you might have been to. It can be a pain if you leave your face uncovered in the winter.
I have lived in Canada nd U have loved it Iove this country it is so beautiful.
North East of lead foot trail aka deerfoot is scum area, shootings and break-in ,crime,west Calgary and South is ok, as they are newer areas and working people that want to make something of their lives instead of doing drugs and littering and graffiti crap everywhere
I grew up in Calgary, it was a wonderful upbringing but I can say that it’s gotten a little worse in the last 10 years. The hard drugs and pills have taken a foothold, downtown can be sketchy after 10. I will say that most Calgarians are nice people and willing to help anyone in need though.
I loved living in Calgary,moved there from a farm situation. All the years I lived there,I found the people friendly and welcoming. It’s a beautiful city with parks,shopping,art galleries and culture. It has an excellent health care system and available doctors and specialists,no need to travel elsewhere. The housing is affordable if one searches,though rent can be high. The cost of food is great compared to where I now live. I miss the beauty of Calgary,the surrounding mountains and a short drive to Banff,Moraine Lake and other beautiful areas to visit. Thinking on moving back soon.