Is Calgary safe?
Safe for most visitors with normal care. Downtown transit stations and some East Village streets have visible drug use and occasional violence.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-06-10.
- Homicide rate in Canada: 2.0 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Canada: 5.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Calgary at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins, theft from vehicles and bikes, and incidents around some downtown LRT stations and shelters. |
| At night | Downtown empties after the offices close. Use Uber or taxis after LRT hours and avoid stations after dark. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Use rideshare late and avoid LRT platforms alone at night. |
| Other risks | Winter cold snaps below -25°C; Summer hail and thunderstorms; Wildfire smoke from BC and Alberta |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake charity collectors asking for card details
- Fake rental listings asking for deposits
Take care
- Some downtown LRT stations late at night
- 8th Ave and Centre Street at night: drunk fights
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Cannabis is legal domestically, but carrying it across the international border is a serious crime.
- Drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on province; open alcohol in public is mostly illegal.
- Holding a phone while driving brings heavy fines in every province.
How Calgary compares in Canada
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Banff | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Quebec City | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Whistler | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ottawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Victoria | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Jasper | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Tofino | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Mont-Tremblant | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Prince Edward Island | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Toronto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Vancouver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Montreal | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Niagara Falls | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Calgary | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Halifax | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Edmonton | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kelowna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yellowknife | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Calgary safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Use rideshare late and avoid LRT platforms alone at night.
Is Calgary safe at night?
Downtown empties after the offices close. Use Uber or taxis after LRT hours and avoid stations after dark.
What is the crime rate in Calgary?
Car break-ins, theft from vehicles and bikes, and incidents around some downtown LRT stations and shelters. Nationally, Canada records 2.0 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Calgary?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Calgary
Going to Calgary solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Calgary Transit
- Calgary Airport
- Tourism Calgary
- Alberta Health Services
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.