A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Calgary vs. Hope for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Calgary or Hope?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Calgary and Hope can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Calgary

Calgary is a western, local, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Hope

Hope is a friendly, local, and small town. And you can't forget about the hiking.

Calgary and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calgary or Hope?

Both Hope and Calgary have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Calgary is very popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Hope attracts visitors for its hiking. Calgary is more touristy than Hope and is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Hope is famous for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is Calgary different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hope and Calgary. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Calgary or Hope?

Calgary is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Calgary is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

Is the Food Better in Calgary or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Calgary and Hope can be an enjoyable experience.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Calgary. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Hope may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is Calgary or Hope Better for Nightlife?

Calgary is very good for nightlife. However, Hope is not known for nightlife and partying.

If you're looking for night time activities Calgary has a few options to choose from. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Most people don't head to Hope specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is Calgary or Hope Better for Hiking?

Hope is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Calgary is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Hope. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calgary or Hope?

Calgary is very good for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Calgary. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is Calgary or Hope Better for Families?

Hope is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Hope is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Calgary offers lots of family activities. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusement parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusement Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Is Calgary or Hope Better for Couples?

Hope is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Hope frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

Calgary is a good city for couples to visit. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Is Calgary or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hope is well known for backpackers. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Hope is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Plenty of backpackers visit Calgary. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Is Calgary or Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

While Calgary offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is Calgary or Hope a more walkable city?

Calgary and Hope both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

Calgary is generally not very walkable. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

Hope is generally not a very walkable city. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

For even more information, also check out Is Calgary Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or Calgary?

How long in Calgary or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Calgary and Hope. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hope than in Calgary. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Calgary, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

Families should spend more time in Hope than Calgary. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Hope, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Hope than Calgary. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Hope that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hope than Calgary if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Hope.

One day in Calgary or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Calgary. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Hope, you'll find . Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Calgary or Hope?

Calgary is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Hope, you'll find . The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hope has to offer.

Five days in Calgary or Hope?

You'll find shopping and museums around the western destination of Calgary. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Hope is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Calgary or Hope?

The authentic city of Calgary offers museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hope. Many people enjoy the when visiting Hope. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Canada, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Calgary and Hope, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Hope much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hope would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hope and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary than you might in Hope.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Calgary Expensive? and Is Hope Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Calgary or Hope?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Calgary and Hope, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.