8 surprisingly fun things to do on the coldest day in Calgary

But before you surrender to Netflix and instant noodles in your hostel bunk bed, hear me out… some of the best, weirdest, and most memorable Calgary experiences happen when it's brutally cold.

Here's how to turn Calgary's coldest day into a story you'll be telling fellow travellers for years.

1. Watch (or attempt) a Bow River cold plunge

Let's start at the deep end… literally. If you're visiting from abroad and you really want to understand Canadians, go and watch them voluntarily jump into freezing water.

On the coldest days of winter, you'll sometimes find small groups of locals cutting a hole in the ice along the Bow River and taking turns doing cold plunges. These are quick dips into the water that is just barely above freezing. It sounds insane (it low-key kind of is), but it's also weirdly inspiring. Everyone's laughing and hyping each other up and then sprinting back to their towels like it's an Olympic sport. 

If the windchill has you shivering and not at all inspired to rock a bathing suit in sub-zero temperatures (fair), you don't have to try the dip itself. Watching is half of the fun. Bring a coffee, stand back, and take in the chaos. If you do feel tempted to try it, make sure you're with people who know what they're doing, and warm up immediately after. Besides, it'll guarantee you bragging rights forever—surviving a Bow River plunge is the ultimate Calgary flex. 

Check out @calgarycolddip for more details.

2. Go full Canadian at an outdoor skating rink 

Calgary has outdoor skating rinks all over the city, and on freezing days, the ice is usually in perfect condition. Check out Olympic Plaza, Bowness Park, or any community rinks for the ultimate Canadian winter experience.  

If you're not used to skates, there's no pressure to be a pro either. There are plenty of people wobbling around, kids flying past and everyone is simply just there for the fun of it. Plus, there's something insanely satisfying about gliding across the frozen water while your eyelashes start to frost. Call it one of those “wow, I'm really in Canada” moments.

3. Embrace winter at Winsport 

If you really want to embrace the Calgarian winters head to WinSport. Calgary was home to the 1988 Winter Olympics and hosted events like ski-jumping, bobsleigh and luge. After the Olympics, the site was transformed into WinSport. This is where locals come to ski, snowboard, cross-country ski, snowshoe and generally lean hard into winter instead of fighting it. 

You can rent your gear and spend a few hours sliding down runs with the city skyline in the distance. If skiing isn't your thing, then tubing is pure chaos in the best way: it's fast, cold and deep belly laughs are guaranteed!

4. Refuel in Calgary's food halls

If braving the outdoors really isn't your thing, then food halls will be your sanctuary. Calgary has a line up of delicious ones where you can eat your way around the world without ever stepping back into the freezing air. 

Places like First Street Market, Avenida Food Hall, District at Beltline, and Calgary's Farmers Market South/West are packed with everything from tacos and ramen, to pastries and bubble tea. You can grab a table, peel off your layers, and spend a couple of hours hopping from stall to stall like you're on a mini food tour. 

It's perfect for backpackers because everyone can order something different and satisfy their own tastes. Prices range from cheap eats to treat-yourself-splurges and you don’t have to commit to just one cuisine. 

My top recommendations include:

• Savoury Donut from Pure Street Food and/or Chole Bhature at Saffron Street in First Street Market.

• Pupusas from Que Chivo Salvadoran Street Food in Avenida Food Hall.

• Khao Soi from Bangkok Street Food at Calgary Farmers Market West.

5. Sip on something sweet at YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

When it's this cold, hot chocolate stops being just a drink and becomes more of a survival tool. The annual YYC Hot Chocolate Fest (which is scheduled for February 1-28, 2026) is the perfect excuse to indulge in a warming, sweet treat.

Each year, cafes, restaurants and bakeries across the city go all out with wildly creative hot chocolates. From boozy to spicy and marshmallow-loaded to topped with entire desserts, there's something for every sweet tooth. 

Bonus: many of the drinks support local charities so you can still feel good knowing that you're contributing to a great cause while absolutely overdoing it on the sugar!

More details at @yychotchocolatefest.

6. Hit up a brewery 

Canadians are beer people and Calgary takes its beer seriously. Craft breweries here are cozy, social, and full of friendly locals who are also hiding from the cold. My personal favourite? The Ol’ Beautiful Sound Room—a Japanese-style listening room inspired by Tokyo record bars. Think cozy lighting, wall-to-wall vinyl, and of course, brilliant beer.

Sometimes dubbed as Calgary's "Brewmuda Triangle", head to a brewery in historic Inglewood, Beltline, or Barley Belt. Take your pick from Highline Brewing, Eighty-Eight Brewing Co., or Cold Garden in Inglewood; Last Best and Trolley 5 in Beltline; and Cabin Brewing Company, Banded Peak, and Born Brewing in the Barley Belt area. You might leave with new friends, or at least a story about the time you drank beer in -30°C weather.

7. Warm up with YYC culture 

When it's freezing, Calgary's museums and theatres are lifesavers. Wander Glenbow Museum for art and history or get hands-on experience at TELUS Spark. For an evening out, check out Werklund Centre (Arts Commons) or Theatre Calgary who offer $49 "Theatre for All" tickets to comedies and local productions. Esker Foundation is also a contemporary art gallery that offers complimentary admission. Whether you're solo or with hostel friends, it's a fun, indoor way to experience Calgary without losing feeling in your toes.

8. Treat yourself to a winter spa day

This spa day is not the cheapest option on this list but if you need one big treat-yourself moment, this is it. 

There's no better feeling than stepping from freezing air into hot water. Winter is the best time to indulge in one of the many day spas Calgary has to offer. Some even offer weekday deals and are worth checking out for current seasonal specials: Cedar & Steam, Clear Nordic Spa, SKA Spa & Leela Thermal House are some of my top recommendations. Prices roughly start from $49.

At the end of the day, embracing the cold is kind of the point of Canadian winter. Calgary's winter isn't something to hide from, it's something to experience and enjoy. Whether you're skating badly, sipping hot chocolate, fuelling up in a food hall, or watching someone willingly jump into a river, these are the moments that make the best travel stories and memories that last way longer than the winter.