A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wisconsin Dells vs. Calgary for Families, Nightlife, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

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

Should I visit Wisconsin Dells 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.

Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells is a lighthearted, high energy, and fun-filled city. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and nightlife. See Wisconsin Dells travel costs.

Calgary

Calgary is a local, authentic, and western city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Calgary travel costs.

Wisconsin Dells and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Wisconsin Dells than Calgary, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Wisconsin Dells is better known for its food, nightlife, resorts, and hiking, while Calgary is more popular for its museums and attractions and shopping. Wisconsin Dells is more touristy than Calgary and is known for its many waterparks and unapologetically playful atmosphere. Also, Wisconsin Dells is famous for Noah's Ark Water Park. Calgary is well known for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede.

How is Wisconsin Dells different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

Calgary is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

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.

While most people don't head to Wisconsin Dells specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of art galleries in the area, but most visitors spend the majority of their time at the theme parks and waterparks.

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

Wisconsin Dells is a city 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 Wisconsin Dells. Pizza, pasta, burgers, and steak in a family-friendly atmosphere are the most common options in the area. There are also a few fine dining restaurants as well as pubs and brunch places to choose from.

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 Wisconsin Dells or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Wisconsin Dells is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Wisconsin Dells is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. In the evening the fun-filled atmosphere takes on a different vibe. There are bars, clubs, casinos, and shows that keep things lively throughout the evening.

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.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Calgary Better for Resorts?

Wisconsin Dells is a city with good options for its resorts. However, Calgary is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Wisconsin Dells makes a nice vacation spot. Many of the waterparks in the area have affiliated resorts that offer family-friendly entertainment.

Calgary is not a resort destination.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Calgary Better for Hiking?

Wisconsin Dells is a city with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Wisconsin Dells. Visitors often forget that this was originally a destination for its natural beauty. There are still many hiking trails in the area with some of the favorites found at Mirror Lake State Park, Rocky Arbor State Park, and Chimney Rock Private Park.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

Calgary is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for its shopping areas.

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.

Wisconsin Dells has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find shopping malls and shopping centers, as well as gift shops in the area.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Calgary Better for Families?

Wisconsin Dells is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Calgary is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Wisconsin Dells is an extremely popular city to visit for families. While it used to be known for its impressive sandstone formations along the Wisconsin River, today it has a more touristy atmosphere with theme parks and amusement parks. It's also become known as the "Water Park Capital of the World", and it won't disappoint. There are both indoor and outdoor waterparks as well as train rides, boat rides, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

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 Wisconsin Dells or Calgary Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Wisconsin Dells and Calgary make for a notable place to visit.

Wisconsin Dells makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are a number of resorts with spas and romantic atmospheres. There are also wineries and plenty of entertainment options in the 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 Wisconsin Dells or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a popular place for backpackers. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Wisconsin Dells is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. You'll find campgrounds in the area, but most places are very built up and don't have the natural setting that backpackers appreciate.

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

Calgary is a popular place for its public transit. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Calgary, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is quite limited in Wisconsin Dells. There's no real public transportation in the area.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Calgary a more walkable city?

Wisconsin Dells and Calgary both are respectable when exploring on foot.

Wisconsin Dells is generally not very walkable. While the downtown area is walkable, you really need a car to access everything that the area has to offer.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable city. 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 Wisconsin Dells Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Wisconsin Dells?

How long in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Wisconsin Dells than Calgary because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Wisconsin Dells, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

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

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

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

In Wisconsin Dells, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The authentic destination of Calgary offers shopping and museums. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

In Wisconsin Dells, you'll find food and nightlife. 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 Wisconsin Dells has to offer.

The city of Calgary offers museums and nightlife. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

Wisconsin Dells 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 great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

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

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Calgary. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to 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 Wisconsin Dells and Calgary, we can see that Calgary 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 Wisconsin Dells Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Wisconsin Dells or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of Wisconsin Dells. When comparing the sizes of Wisconsin Dells 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.