A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Calgary vs. Vernon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Calgary or Vernon?

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 Vernon 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 authentic, western, and local city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Calgary travel costs.

Vernon

Vernon is a relaxing, quiet, and peaceful town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Vernon travel costs.

Calgary and Vernon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Calgary or Vernon?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Vernon. Although Calgary and Vernon are both popular with visitors, Vernon has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Vernon is more popular for its food and hiking, while Calgary is known for its nightlife. Calgary is more touristy than Vernon and is known for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Vernon is popular for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails. It is also home to Davison Orchards Country Village.

How is Calgary different from Vernon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vernon 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 Vernon?

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Calgary and Vernon.

Calgary offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Vernon. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

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

Vernon is a town with good options for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Vernon. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.

Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. 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.

Is Calgary or Vernon Better for Nightlife?

Calgary is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Vernon is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Calgary. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Vernon. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.

Is Calgary or Vernon Better for Hiking?

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

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Vernon. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Calgary or Vernon?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Vernon and Calgary.

Calgary offers some nice shopping areas. 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.

Vernon has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.

Is Calgary or Vernon Better for Families?

Both Calgary and Vernon are good to visit with kids.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Calgary. 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.

Vernon offers lots of family activities. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.

Is Calgary or Vernon Better for Couples?

Both Calgary and Vernon are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Calgary makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Vernon is a good city for couples to visit. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.

Is Calgary or Vernon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Vernon is not a good town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Vernon is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel in town, but this isn't a popular destination for backpackers.

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

Calgary is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Vernon is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Calgary has a few public transit options. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is mostly limited in Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Calgary or Vernon a more walkable city?

Calgary and Vernon both are decent 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.

Vernon is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.

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

Should I spend more time in Vernon or Calgary?

How long in Calgary or Vernon?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Vernon 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 Calgary.

One day in Calgary or Vernon?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Calgary. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Vernon, you'll find museums and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Calgary or Vernon?

Calgary is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

In Vernon, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Vernon has to offer.

Five days in Calgary or Vernon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calgary. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Vernon 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 Vernon?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the western destination of Calgary. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Vernon. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Vernon. 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 Vernon, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon 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 Vernon.

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

Which is Bigger, Calgary or Vernon?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of Calgary and Vernon, 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.