For couples · Banff · Canada
Romantic things to do in Banff
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Banff is one of Canada's classic honeymoon destinations: castle hotels, sunrise canoe trips on glacial lakes, hot springs under the stars and quiet cabins on the Bow Valley Parkway. Couples tend to stay in Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 6
- Area for couples
- Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
- Best months
- June–September
Romantic ideas
1.Sunrise at Moraine Lake
Take the earliest shuttle or a sunrise tour to watch the first light hit the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
2.Canoe on Lake Louise
Paddle across the turquoise lake towards Victoria Glacier in the early morning before the crowds.
3.Evening soak at the Upper Hot Springs
Relax in the hot pool facing Mount Rundle as the sun goes down, ideally on a snowy winter evening.
4.Afternoon tea at the Château Lake Louise
Take tea with a window view of the lake and glacier.
5.Cabin on the Bow Valley Parkway
Stay in a log cabin among the trees, with elk often grazing outside.
6.Gondola at sunset
Ride the Banff Gondola late in the day and walk the summit boardwalk as the valley turns gold.
Sights couples love
Nature · Lake Louise
Lake Louise
Arrive by Parks Canada shuttle or Roam bus rather than driving; the lakeshore parking lot fills very early in summer.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Gondola
Go late in the afternoon in summer; the ridge walk is quieter and evening light falls across the valley.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
Experience · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Visit in the evening or on a winter day; swimsuits and towels can be rented if you arrive without.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Architecture · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Fairmont Banff Springs
Afternoon tea or a drink in the lounge is the easiest way to see inside without staying.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
- Rainy day
Nature · Lake Louise
Lake Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers
Carry cash for the teahouses and start early; the trails get crowded by late morning.
- Time needed
- 3–5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
Viewpoint · Downtown Banff
Vermilion Lakes
Cycle out from town on Vermilion Lakes Drive in the evening for reflections and wildlife.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Nature
Where couples should stay
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Across the Bow River bridge, the Fairmont Banff Springs stands above Bow Falls, and the road continues to the Cave and Basin, the Upper Hot Springs and the Banff Gondola. Accommodation here is mostly large resort hotels, with golf, spas and quieter evenings than downtown.
- Good
- Quiet, scenic setting; Close to the hot springs and gondola; Resort spas and dining
- Watch out
- Expensive; A 15–20 minute walk to Banff Avenue
- Nearby
- Fairmont Banff Springs, Bow Falls, Upper Hot Springs, Banff Gondola
Romantic day trips
- Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield (About 2 hours 30 minutes each way without stops) — Highway 93 north of Lake Louise runs past Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Mistaya Canyon and the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, with glacier tours on specialised vehicles in summer.
- Yoho National Park (About 1 hour by car) — Just across the Continental Divide in British Columbia, Yoho has Emerald Lake with its canoe rentals and lakeside trail, the natural rock bridge on the Kicking Horse River and Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's highest waterfalls.
- Kananaskis Country (About 1 hour by car) — Provincial parks south of Canmore with quieter lakes, hikes and wildlife; the Kananaskis Lakes and Spray Lakes road are highlights.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Alberta beef, Bison and elk and Cheese fondue. Prices exclude 5% GST, and a 15–20% tip is expected.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Banff romantic?
Banff is one of Canada's classic honeymoon destinations: castle hotels, sunrise canoe trips on glacial lakes, hot springs under the stars and quiet cabins on the Bow Valley Parkway.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Banff?
Sunrise at Moraine Lake: Take the earliest shuttle or a sunrise tour to watch the first light hit the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
+Where should couples stay in Banff?
Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs: South of the Bow River: Bow Falls, the castle hotel and the road to the gondola.