Travel guide · Canada
Banff travel guide
Turquoise lakes, hot springs and a mountain town inside a national park
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ethan Sahagun, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Banff is a small town inside Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, about 130 km west of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains. Banff Avenue's hotels, restaurants and outfitters sit beneath Cascade Mountain, with the Banff Gondola, Upper Hot Springs and Bow Falls minutes away. The park's headline sights — Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon and the Icefields Parkway — lie along the Bow Valley to the north and west. Summer is for hiking and lakes, winter for skiing at three resorts, and shuttles now carry many visitors to the busiest lakes. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are June–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Canada
- Best time to visit
- June–September
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- YYC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $250–$450 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff Gondola and Hot springs
Why visit Banff
- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are two of the most recognisable mountain lakes in the world, about 45–60 minutes from town.
- Three ski resorts — Mt Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise — are covered by one regional lift ticket.
- Hikes range from the boardwalk through Johnston Canyon to the Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse trail above Lake Louise.
- The Icefields Parkway north of Lake Louise passes glaciers, glacier-blue lakes and the Columbia Icefield.
- Wildlife sightings — elk, bighorn sheep and sometimes bears — are common along the Bow Valley Parkway.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Nature · Lake Louise
Lake Louise
The emerald-turquoise lake beneath Victoria Glacier is coloured by fine glacial rock flour.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Lake Louise
Moraine Lake
A glacier-fed lake of intense blue in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, 14 km from Lake Louise.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Gondola
The gondola rises to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in about eight minutes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
Experience · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs
A heritage bathhouse on Sulphur Mountain with an outdoor pool fed by natural hot springs at around 37–40°C, looking across to Mount Rundle.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Nature · Bow Valley Parkway
Johnston Canyon
Catwalks bolted to the limestone walls lead through a narrow canyon to the Lower Falls (about 1 km) and the Upper Falls (about 2.5 km).
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Minnewanka Loop
Lake Minnewanka
The largest lake in the park, about 10 minutes' drive from town, is 21 km long and edged by peaks.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Downtown Banff is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, nightlife and shopping
Downtown Banff
Banff Avenue hotels, restaurants and outfitters beneath Cascade Mountain
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
South of the Bow River: Bow Falls, the castle hotel and the road to the gondola
$$ · Best for families, budget and quiet stays
Tunnel Mountain
Hillside lodges, condo hotels and campgrounds above the town
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and quiet stays
Lake Louise Village
Small hamlet near the famous lake, 58 km northwest of Banff
What to eat
- Alberta beef — Alberta-raised steak and prime rib anchor many Banff menus, from steakhouses on Banff Avenue to the dining rooms of the big resort hotels.
- Bison and elk — Game such as bison burgers, elk sausage and venison appears on many 'Rocky Mountain cuisine' menus; it is ranched, not hunted in the park.
- Cheese fondue — Swiss-style fondue is a long-standing après-ski tradition in Banff, a legacy of the Swiss mountain guides who worked here; some restaurants serve chocolate fondue and hot-stone grills too.
- Poutine — Fries with cheese curds and gravy are a ski-lodge and late-night staple, sometimes topped with braised beef or game.
- BeaverTails — A stretched, fried whole-wheat pastry topped with cinnamon sugar, chocolate or other spreads; a Canadian chain with a busy outlet in Banff.
- Teahouse tea and biscuits — The mountain teahouses above Lake Louise serve loose-leaf tea, soups and baked goods carried or flown up, a reward at the end of a climb.
When to go
The best time to visit Banff for lakes and hiking is late June to mid-September, when Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are thawed and turquoise and all trails are open; early September brings fewer crowds and golden larches follow later in the month. For skiing, December to March is best. Late April, May and late October to November are shoulder months with frozen lakes, muddy trails and some closures.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Spring skiing until May, then a muddy thaw in the valleys while high lakes stay frozen; quiet and good value. |
| Summer | June–August | Turquoise lakes, open hiking trails, teahouses and shuttles; very busy, with high prices and full parking lots. |
| Autumn | September–November | Larch gold in late September, crisp days and thinning crowds, then early snow and quiet November rates. |
| Winter | December–February | Three ski resorts, skating on Lake Louise, ice walks in Johnston Canyon and the hot springs in the snow; very cold. |
Getting there and around
The nearest major airport is Calgary International (YYC), about 145 km east; the drive takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Scheduled shuttle coaches run from the airport to Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise several times a day, and rental cars are available at the terminal.
Banff town is walkable, and Roam Transit buses connect it with the gondola, hot springs, Tunnel Mountain, Canmore, Lake Minnewanka and Lake Louise. Parks Canada shuttles serve Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in summer, and ski resorts run winter shuttles from town hotels. A car gives the most freedom for the Icefields Parkway and Yoho.
Plan your days
Three days covers Banff town, the gondola, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon. Five days adds a full day on the Icefields Parkway, Yoho National Park and a longer hike; skiers usually stay a week to try all three resorts.
Practical information
- Currency
- CAD
- Language
- English and French
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in town is safe to drink; treat or filter water from streams and lakes.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue)
- Tipping
- Tip about 15–20% in restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink, and tip guides and tour drivers at the end of a trip if service was good.
The main risks are wildlife encounters, sudden mountain weather and driving on busy highways where people stop for animals. Carry bear spray, keep your distance from elk and bears, and check trail reports and avalanche conditions before heading out.
Flights to Banff
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Banff?
Three days covers Banff town, the gondola, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon. Five days adds a full day on the Icefields Parkway, Yoho National Park and a longer hike; skiers usually stay a week to try all three resorts. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Banff?
The best time to visit Banff for lakes and hiking is late June to mid-September, when Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are thawed and turquoise and all trails are open; early September brings fewer crowds and golden larches follow later in the month. For skiing, December to March is best. Late April, May and late October to November are shoulder months with frozen lakes, muddy trails and some closures.
+What is Banff known for?
Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff Gondola, Hot springs, Skiing, Rocky Mountain wildlife and Fairmont Banff Springs. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are two of the most recognisable mountain lakes in the world, about 45–60 minutes from town.
+Is Banff expensive?
Banff is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $250–$450 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Banff?
Not essential: Roam buses, Parks Canada shuttles and tours reach the main sights. A car is still the most flexible way to see the Icefields Parkway, Yoho and Kananaskis, especially early in the morning.