Best Family-Friendly Stays in Calgary

Families will find The Dorian calmer and more polished than most downtown Calgary hotels, with a 9.3 guest rating to back it up. Rooms have city views, air-conditioning and streaming services, which helps on a quiet evening in. The restaurant serves American food and is listed as family-friendly, so dinner with children needs no planning. There is no pool here, so active kids will need an outing, but the central location keeps most of downtown within a short walk.

Residence Inn Calgary South is built for families on longer stays: the air-conditioned family rooms have kitchenettes, and a buffet breakfast is served every day. The indoor pool and hot tub give children a reliable activity through the Alberta seasons, and parents can use the fitness centre or the spa and wellness area. An on-site restaurant serves American dishes at lunch and dinner, and pets are welcome too.

Le Germain is a boutique luxury hotel, but it is listed as family-friendly and pet-friendly, so children and the family dog are welcome. Its location directly across from the Calgary Tower gives kids an easy first outing, and the rest of downtown is walkable. The hot tub and sauna are better suited to parents than to young swimmers, as there is no pool listed. In-room massages offer a rare treat for tired adults after a day in the city.

For a family flying in or out of Calgary, this Westin removes most of the stress: it sits steps from Calgary International Airport with a complimentary shuttle, and the indoor pool and hot tub give children a way to burn off energy after a long flight. A restaurant on site means dinner without a drive. Rooms have a work desk and coffee maker, and pets are welcome. Its 9.1 rating from more than 400 reviews is excellent for an airport hotel.

Alt Hotel Calgary University District has air-conditioned family rooms with private bathrooms, which takes some planning out of a family trip. The on-site restaurant serves Italian dishes, pizza, Portuguese and local food, so picky eaters are covered without leaving the building. There is a fitness centre, free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, concierge service and electric-vehicle charging. A 9.0 score from 528 reviews is a strong signal. I would book a family room early.

Families staying downtown will appreciate the family rooms and the free bicycles, an easy way to explore the city centre together on a dry day. Calgary Tower and the indoor Devonian Gardens are close by, and an ice-skating rink nearby adds a winter option for children. The restaurant serves local cuisine, there is a terrace for warmer evenings and a fitness centre for parents, and pets can come along too.

Alt Hotel Calgary East Village is a modern, design-minded hotel that works best for families with older children who want a central base. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and city views. The restaurant serves American, Japanese and local dishes, and there is a bar and a fitness centre. The Calgary Tower and the Telus Convention Centre are a short walk away, and pets are accepted too.

Being directly connected to Calgary International Airport is the main reason I would book the Delta Hotels Calgary Airport In-Terminal for a family flight. There is no shuttle to wait for with luggage and children, and soundproofed rooms help everyone sleep despite the runways. The indoor pool, hot tub and sauna fill a layover evening, and the fitness centre is open 24 hours. Pets are welcome too. Guests rate it 9.0 across 961 reviews, an excellent score.

For families who want to walk to Calgary's sights, this downtown Hampton Inn is a straightforward choice: breakfast is included, there is a minimarket on site for snacks and drinks, and the 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi. There is a fitness centre but no pool in the listing, so plan swims elsewhere. Pets are welcome. The 8.9 rating comes from fewer than 100 reviews, so it is promising but still young.

Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire is a strong family pick because the pool has a waterslide, with a hot tub alongside. Every unit is a spacious suite with a seating area and a microwave, so children have room to settle. There is a restaurant and a pub on site, plus a fitness centre, a hair salon and ski storage for mountain day trips in winter. With an 8.9 score from 452 reviews, I would book it for a city-and-mountains family trip.

The Westley sits in downtown Calgary close to the Devonian Gardens and the Calgary Tower, two easy outings with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with tea and coffee makers and work desks. The family-friendly restaurant serves American, Mexican, seafood and local dishes at lunch and dinner, so a mixed group should find something to share. Spa and wellness facilities give parents some time to themselves, and pets are welcome.

Applause Hotel Calgary Airport stands out for its two rooftop hot tubs, the detail I would mention first to families looking for something a little different from a standard airport stay. It is less than 3 km from Calgary International Airport and runs a complimentary shuttle, so arrivals with children and luggage are simpler. The on-site restaurant covers dinner, rooms have a coffee maker and flat-screen TV, and parents can use the fitness centre.

Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel connects directly to Calgary International Airport, so a family can walk from the gate to the room without a shuttle. The indoor pool and hot tub help children burn off energy before an early flight, and rooms include a mini-refrigerator for milk and snacks. YAKIMA Social Kitchen + Bar handles dinner on site, and pets are accepted. Rated 8.9 across 753 reviews, I would book it for the night before or after a long-haul trip.

Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District gives families a full kitchen in every room, which makes breakfasts, packed lunches and quiet dinners easy on a longer stay. The downtown Beltline location keeps the city close, and some rooms look out over Calgary towards the mountains. Rooms are air-conditioned, there is a fitness centre and a terrace, and the restaurant covers nights off from cooking. Pets are welcome. A score of 8.9 from 869 reviews is excellent.

Family rooms with kitchenettes are the main asset here, letting parents prepare simple meals and keep snacks to hand. The indoor pool and hot tub give children a reliable activity through a Calgary winter, and the sun terrace is there for warmer days. A restaurant and a bar are on site, pets are accepted, and the free airport shuttle makes arrivals and departures easier with luggage and tired children in tow.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Calgary University has air-conditioned family rooms with private bathrooms, and an indoor swimming pool and hot tub that give children an easy evening after a day out. Parents can use the fitness centre, and WiFi is free. Its location near McMahon Stadium is handy for a family attending a game or an event there. With an 8.8 rating across 494 reviews, I would book it as a calm, well-reviewed family base in northwest Calgary.

Homewood Suites Calgary Airport is an all-suite hotel where every suite has a kitchenette, a seating area and a dining area, so a family can spread out and eat in. The hot breakfast is included, the indoor pool and hot tub fill the evenings, and Wi-Fi is free. A 24-hour airport shuttle makes early flights easier, and some suites look towards the mountains. With an 8.8 score from 452 reviews, I would book it for the start or end of a trip.

Suites and studios with a fully equipped kitchenette make the Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Airport a sensible base for families, especially on longer stays. Breakfast is served daily, so mornings are covered, and the indoor pool gives children an outlet after a day out. The hotel sits 12 km from both downtown Calgary and Calgary International Airport, which suits a car-based trip. Pets are welcome, and 122 reviews average a strong 8.8.

Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Calgary South has a family-friendly Italian restaurant on site, which takes the stress out of dinner with children. The indoor pool is a reliable evening activity, and an ice-skating rink nearby adds a winter outing. Rooms are air-conditioned and parking is free, useful for families exploring Calgary and the foothills by car. I would choose it for families who want an easy, well-rated base in south Calgary.

Hotel 11, MOD A Sonesta Collection is 2 km from Calgary International Airport and runs a complimentary 24-hour shuttle, which I would point out to families with awkward flight times. The swimming pool and hot tub give children something to enjoy before or after travelling, and some rooms look out to the Rocky Mountains on clear days. The on-site restaurant means no extra trip for dinner, and free WiFi helps keep everyone entertained during a layover.

Courtyard by Marriott Calgary Downtown places families in the city centre, so museums, restaurants and the Stephen Avenue area are within easy reach without the car. Rooms are air-conditioned with tea and coffee makers and streaming services, which helps on quiet evenings with tired children. Breakfast and lunch are served on site, and parents can use the spa, wellness centre and fitness facility. Pets are welcome. A guest score of 8.7 from 848 reviews shows consistent quality.

Staybridge Suites Calgary Airport gives families rooms with fully equipped kitchens, so early dinners and picky eaters are easy to manage. The indoor pool and hot tub fill the evenings, and there is a sun terrace for warmer days. A continental buffet breakfast is served daily, and the free airport shuttle helps on arrival and departure days. With an 8.7 score from 518 reviews, I would choose it for the first or last nights of a Calgary trip.

A large indoor pool and a hot tub are what I would point out first to families at the Fairmont Palliser, especially during a Calgary winter. Rooms with city views include a coffee maker and a minibar, and several on-site restaurants spare the search for dinner with children. Pets are accepted, and parents can book time at the day spa. The skywalk link to the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre also suits a family trip combined with work. Guests rate it 8.7 across 395 reviews.

Hyatt Place Calgary Airport is a three-star airport hotel that I would recommend to families with a flight to catch. It offers airport transfers, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi, and an American breakfast is served. Rooms are air-conditioned with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, and a restaurant, a bar, a fitness centre and a shared lounge are on site. Pets are welcome.

A seasonal heated outdoor pool is what I would point out first to families at Hotel Blackfoot in Calgary, and some rooms look straight over it, while others face the city or the mountains. Chinook Centre Mall is 3 km away for a shopping outing, and Green's Restaurant on site keeps dinner simple. Pets are welcome, and parents can book in-room spa services. The on-site comedy club suits adults more than young children. Guests rate it 8.6 across 630 reviews.

Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel sits near Calgary International Airport, which suits families with early flights or a late arrival. The indoor pool is the obvious evening plan for children, and parents can use the hot tub, sauna and fitness centre or relax at the bar. Rooms are air-conditioned with tea and coffee makers and flat-screen TVs. Pets are welcome, and the Calgary Tower and Stampede grounds are a drive away. A guest score of 8.6 from 571 reviews is reassuring.