A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boise vs. Calgary for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Boise or Calgary?

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

Should I visit Boise or Calgary? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Boise

Boise is a welcoming, authentic, and friendly city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Boise travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a authentic, western, and local city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Calgary travel costs.

Boise and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Boise or Calgary?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Calgary than Boise, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Calgary is more touristy than Boise and is popular for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. It is also home to Calgary Olympic Park. Boise is popular for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Boise different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of good museums and attractions in both Calgary and Boise.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Boise. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

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.

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

Both Boise and Calgary offer a number of decent restaurants to choose from.

Boise may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Calgary offers some easy restaurants to choose from. 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 Boise or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Both Boise and Calgary have good vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Calgary has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Boise or Calgary?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Boise and Calgary.

Boise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Calgary is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Is Boise or Calgary Better for Families?

Calgary is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Calgary is a family-friendly city. 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.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Boise or Calgary Better for Couples?

Calgary is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

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.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Boise or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Boise is lacking in options for backpackers.

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

Boise is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Backpackers rarely make their way to this town.

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

Calgary is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Boise is lacking in options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Boise or Calgary a more walkable city?

Boise and Calgary are decent when it comes to walkability.

Boise is generally not a very walkable city. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

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.

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

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Boise?

How long in Boise or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Boise or Calgary to fill your time. In our opinion, Calgary has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Calgary than Boise. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Boise 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 Boise or Calgary?

In Boise, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Calgary, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this western destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Boise or Calgary?

In Boise, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Boise has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Calgary. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Boise or Calgary?

Boise is a great place to explore. 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.

Calgary is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Calgary. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Boise or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Boise. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Boise. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the local destination of Calgary. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Boise and Calgary, we can see that Boise is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Boise or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Boise and Calgary, 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.