Banff town
Hostels, food, busesThe town, along Banff Avenue.
Town guide
Things to do in Banff
The heart of the Canadian Rockies: turquoise Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, the Banff Gondola, Johnston Canyon, hot springs, wildlife, three ski resorts and the Icefields Parkway north to Jasper.
7
Hostels in the city
9.1
Average, from 9,873 reviews
1885
Canada's first national park
4–5
Days
Canada's first national park
Banff is a small mountain town inside Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, created in 1885 around a hot spring. The town is lively and walkable, with hostels, restaurants and bars along Banff Avenue, surrounded by peaks.
The landscapes are the reason to come. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, about an hour away, are famous for their glacial turquoise water. Johnston Canyon has catwalks above waterfalls, and the Banff Gondola climbs Sulphur Mountain. Elk often walk through town, and bears, bighorn sheep and mountain goats live in the park. In winter, Banff has three ski resorts: Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Mt Norquay.
Two practical points: you need a national park pass, and Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles, so you must use shuttles or buses, which book up early. Give Banff four or five days, then drive the Icefields Parkway to Jasper.
Where to base yourself
Banff town for hostels, food and buses, Lake Louise for early access to the lakes, or Canmore just outside the park for better value.
Lake Louise
Lakes, early startsThe village near the lakes.
Canmore
Better valueA town just outside the park.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Banff
Visit Lake Louise and hike to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, and see Moraine Lake by Parks Canada shuttle or Roam bus, ideally early in the morning. Walk the catwalks of Johnston Canyon to the Lower and Upper Falls, and ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain.
In town, hike Tunnel Mountain for a short climb with views, soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, and walk to Bow Falls. Paddle a canoe on Lake Louise or the Vermilion Lakes, and look for wildlife on the Bow Valley Parkway.
Drive the Icefields Parkway towards Jasper, with Peyto Lake and the Columbia Icefield on the way. In winter, ski at Sunshine Village, Lake Louise or Mt Norquay, and skate on frozen lakes.
More on things to do in Banff
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Once you have a park pass, hiking is free, including Tunnel Mountain, Johnston Canyon, Lake Agnes and the Vermilion Lakes. Walking to Bow Falls and around town costs nothing.
The park pass itself costs about €7 a day for an adult, or about €45 for an annual Discovery Pass covering all national parks.
Wildlife watching from the road is free; stay in your car.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Banff has a lot of restaurants for a small town, but prices are high. Try Alberta beef, bison burgers and trout. Hostel kitchens and the town's supermarkets are the way to save money.
Banff Avenue has breweries and pubs, and après-ski is a big part of winter.
Menu prices do not include tax or tip: add sales tax at the till and 15 to 20 per cent tip in restaurants and bars.
Nightlife
Going out
Banff has a lively nightlife for a mountain town, thanks to seasonal workers and backpackers. Bars and pubs along Banff Avenue have live music and karaoke, and a few clubs stay open until 2am.
Winter après-ski is busy.
Watch for elk on the streets at night.
Getting around
Getting around
Calgary International Airport is about 90 minutes from Banff, with shuttle buses. In the park, Roam Transit buses link Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon in summer, and Parks Canada shuttles run to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; book them ahead.
Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles. A car is useful for the Icefields Parkway and early starts. Winter tyres are needed in winter.
You need a park pass to stop anywhere in the park.
Costs
What Banff costs
Banff is expensive and books out in summer. Dorm beds start at around €37 to €62 a night. Restaurant mains cost €16 to €28 before tax and tip.
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, only 5 per cent federal tax, plus a tourism levy on accommodation. Menu prices do not include tax or tip: add sales tax at the till and 15 to 20 per cent tip in restaurants and bars.
Add the park pass, about €7 a day, and gondola or shuttle fares.
Safety
Safety and scams
Banff is very safe; the risks are outdoors. Carry bear spray on trails and know how to use it, make noise, and hike in groups. Keep at least 30 metres from elk and 100 metres from bears, and never feed wildlife.
Mountain weather changes fast, and snow can fall in any month at altitude. Check trail conditions with Parks Canada.
Roads can be icy from October to May. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Lakes, parkways and Yoho.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Turquoise glacial lakes.
Johnston Canyon
Waterfalls and catwalks.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Ski season, larches and festivals.
November to May
Ski season
Sunshine, Lake Louise, Norquay
Three ski resorts.
Late September
Larch season
Banff National Park
Larch trees turn gold.
Late October to early November
Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival
Banff
Mountain films and talks.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Banff, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
HI Banff Alpine Centre
Dorms from €28 a night
See dates and book
HI Rampart Creek
Dorms from €22 a night
See dates and book
HI Lake Louise
Dorms from €28 a night
See dates and book
HI Castle Mountain
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
HI Mosquito Creek
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Samesun Banff
Dorms from €25 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Banff International Hostel
Dorms from €28 a night
See dates and book
When to go
June to September is hiking season, with Moraine Lake usually open from June to early October. Larches turn gold in late September. December to April is ski season. Spring and late autumn are quiet.
Jan
Ski season
Feb
Ski season
Mar
Spring skiing
Apr
Quiet
May
Lakes still frozen
Jun
Hiking begins
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Peak season
Sep
Golden larches
Oct
Quiet
Nov
Ski season starts
Dec
Ski season
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Nights are cold, and snow can fall in any month.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Banff prices.
Treat these as a guide, before tax and tip. Park passes and shuttles cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Banff questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can I drive to Moraine Lake?
No. Private vehicles are banned. Use the Parks Canada shuttle, Roam Transit or a commercial tour, and book ahead.
Do I need a park pass for Banff?
Yes, to stop anywhere in the park. It costs about €7 a day, or about €45 for an annual Discovery Pass.
How do I get from Calgary to Banff?
By shuttle bus or car, in about 90 minutes.
When is Moraine Lake open?
Usually from June to early October, when the road is open.
Is Banff expensive?
Yes. Book early, stay in hostels and use the kitchens.
How do I stay safe around bears?
Carry bear spray, make noise, hike in groups and never leave food out.
Banff or Jasper?
Banff is busier, with more to do. Jasper is quieter and wilder. Do both via the Icefields Parkway.
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