One day in Banff

Day by day

1. Day 1: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

   Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Lake Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers and Banff Gondola, then Banff Avenue in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lake Louise

      Arrive by Parks Canada shuttle or Roam bus rather than driving; the lakeshore parking lot fills very early in summer. Allow 2–4 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Moraine Lake

      Book the earliest shuttle or a sunrise tour for calm water and softer light on the peaks. Allow 2–3 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Alberta beef

      Steakhouses on Banff Avenue and Caribou Street, and the Fairmont restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Lake Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers

      Carry cash for the teahouses and start early; the trails get crowded by late morning. Allow 3–5 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Banff Gondola

      Go late in the afternoon in summer; the ridge walk is quieter and evening light falls across the valley. Allow 2 hours.

   6. Evening

      Banff Avenue

      Pubs, a brewpub and bars with live music and sports screens, busiest during ski season.

Before you go

• Lake Louise: Parks Canada shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake run in summer and early autumn and are reserved online.
• Moraine Lake: Shuttle and tour seats for the main summer season sell out; reserve as soon as bookings open.
• Banff Gondola: Tickets are cheaper and faster online, and timed slots can sell out on summer days.

If it rains

• Swap in Banff Upper Hot Springs (Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs): Visit in the evening or on a winter day; swimsuits and towels can be rented if you arrive without.
• Swap in Fairmont Banff Springs (Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs): Afternoon tea or a drink in the lounge is the easiest way to see inside without staying.
• Swap in Cave and Basin National Historic Site (Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs): Walk or cycle the flat Sundance trail beyond the site for an easy river outing.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 9–14 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.9 hours in December to 16.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Bus. Roam Transit runs local routes around Banff and regional routes to Canmore and Lake Louise, plus seasonal routes to Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Banff
• 3 days in Banff
• 5 days in Banff

Questions travellers ask