Things to do · Banff · Canada
17 best things to do in Banff
17 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gorgo, Public domain
Quick answer
The essential sights in Banff are Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Banff Gondola. Of the 17 picks below, 7 are free, 5 work on a rainy day and 9 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Lake Louise
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Louise | Lake Louise | 2–4 hours | Low cost |
| Moraine Lake | Lake Louise | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Banff Gondola | Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs | 2 hours | Expensive |
| Banff Upper Hot Springs | Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Johnston Canyon | Bow Valley Parkway | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Lake Minnewanka | Minnewanka Loop | 1–3 hours | Free |
| Bow Falls | Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs | 45 minutes | Free |
| Fairmont Banff Springs | Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs | 1 hour | Free |
| Cave and Basin National Historic Site | Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies | Downtown Banff | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Banff Park Museum | Downtown Banff | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Tunnel Mountain hike | Tunnel Mountain | 2 hours | Free |
| Lake Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers | Lake Louise | 3–5 hours | Low cost |
| Vermilion Lakes | Downtown Banff | 1 hour | Free |
| Sunshine Village | Sunshine | Full day | Expensive |
| Mt Norquay | Norquay | Half to full day | Expensive |
| Bow Valley Parkway drive | Bow Valley Parkway | 2–4 hours | Free |
The 17 best things to do
Nature · Lake Louise
1.Lake Louise
The emerald-turquoise lake beneath Victoria Glacier is coloured by fine glacial rock flour. A flat shoreline trail follows the north side, canoes can be rented in summer, and the lake freezes into a skating rink in winter, with ice sculptures during January's Ice Magic Festival.
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
- Book ahead
- Parks Canada shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake run in summer and early autumn and are reserved online.
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Lake Louise
2.Moraine Lake
A glacier-fed lake of intense blue in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, 14 km from Lake Louise. A short climb up the Rockpile gives the classic view. Personal vehicles are not allowed on Moraine Lake Road, so visitors arrive by Parks Canada shuttle, Roam bus, commercial tour or bike.
Book the earliest shuttle or a sunrise tour for calm water and softer light on the peaks.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Shuttle and tour seats for the main summer season sell out; reserve as soon as bookings open.
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
3.Banff Gondola
The gondola rises to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in about eight minutes. Up top, a boardwalk leads along the ridge to the Cosmic Ray Station and a weather observatory, with views over six mountain ranges, the town and the Bow Valley.
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
- Book ahead
- Tickets are cheaper and faster online, and timed slots can sell out on summer days.
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
Experience · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
4.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. It is run by Parks Canada and is especially atmospheric when snow is falling.
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
Nature · Bow Valley Parkway
5.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). In winter, guided ice walks visit the frozen falls.
Start before 9am or after 5pm in summer to avoid the queues on the catwalks; ice cleats help in winter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Minnewanka Loop
6.Lake Minnewanka
The largest lake in the park, about 10 minutes' drive from town, is 21 km long and edged by peaks. Summer cruises run to Devil's Gap, and the scenic Minnewanka Loop drive passes Two Jack Lake, one of the best sunrise spots near Banff.
Stop at Two Jack Lake at sunrise for reflections of Mount Rundle.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Nature · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
7.Bow Falls
Wide, low falls on the Bow River just below the Fairmont Banff Springs, reached by an easy riverside trail from the Bow River bridge. The viewpoint near the hotel looks down the valley to the falls.
Combine with the Hoodoos trail or the Surprise Corner viewpoint for the classic view of the Banff Springs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Architecture · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
8.Fairmont Banff Springs
The Canadian Pacific Railway's baronial-style 'Castle in the Rockies' opened in 1888 and was rebuilt in stone in the early 20th century. Non-guests can visit its great halls, shops and restaurants, and the hotel's spa and golf course are among the best known in Canada.
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
Historic site · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
1.Cave and Basin National Historic Site
The thermal springs found here by railway workers in 1883 led to the creation of Canada's first national park in 1885. Exhibits tell the story of the parks system, a tunnel leads into the warm, sulphurous cave, and boardwalks cross the marsh outside.
Walk or cycle the flat Sundance trail beyond the site for an easy river outing.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
Museum · Downtown Banff
2.Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
A gallery and archive of mountain art and history, with paintings of the Rockies, exhibits on mountaineering guides and early tourism, and heritage cabins on its grounds by the Bow River.
A good rainy-afternoon stop on Bear Street, a block from Banff Avenue.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown Banff
3.Banff Park Museum
Western Canada's oldest natural-history museum, a log building from 1903 filled with Victorian-era mounted animals and display cases. It is a national historic site run by Parks Canada.
Visit with children before a hike so they can recognise the animals you might see.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Tunnel Mountain
4.Tunnel Mountain hike
A switchbacking trail of a little over 2 km each way climbs the small mountain right beside the town to a summit with views over Banff Avenue, the Bow Valley and the Banff Springs. It is the easiest summit hike in the park.
Start from the St. Julien Road trailhead and allow about two hours return.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Kids
Nature · Lake Louise
5.Lake Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers
Two classic hikes start at Lake Louise: about 3.5 km uphill to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, a log cabin serving tea beside a small alpine lake, and about 5.5 km along the lake to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse below Victoria Glacier. Both teahouses operate in summer only.
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
6.Vermilion Lakes
A string of shallow wetland lakes just west of town, reached by a quiet road and cycling route. The view across the water to Mount Rundle is one of the most photographed in the park, especially at sunrise and sunset.
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
Experience · Sunshine
7.Sunshine Village
A high-altitude ski resort straddling the Continental Divide, reached by gondola from the parking lot 18 km west of Banff, with a long season and dry snow. In summer, the gondola gives access to the Sunshine Meadows alpine wildflower trails.
In summer, walk the meadows to Rock Isle Lake; wildflowers usually peak from mid-July to mid-August.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Experience · Norquay
8.Mt Norquay
The ski hill closest to town, a few minutes' drive up the switchbacks above Banff, offers family-friendly skiing, tubing and night skiing on some evenings. In summer, a chairlift and a via ferrata route on the cliffs open up views over the town.
Stop at the Green Spot viewpoint on the Norquay road on the way up for a view over the town.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Kids
- Views
Experience · Bow Valley Parkway
9.Bow Valley Parkway drive
Highway 1A runs about 50 km between Banff and Lake Louise parallel to the Trans-Canada, with a lower speed limit, frequent wildlife sightings, Johnston Canyon, Castle Mountain viewpoints and Morant's Curve, where trains wind along the Bow River.
Part of the parkway has seasonal restrictions to protect wildlife; check Parks Canada before planning a dawn or dusk drive.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and Banff Park Museum |
| History | Fairmont Banff Springs, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and Banff Park Museum |
| Views | Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff Gondola and Banff Upper Hot Springs |
| Outdoors and nature | Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka |
| With children | Banff Gondola, Banff Upper Hot Springs, Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka |
| On a rainy day | Banff Upper Hot Springs, Fairmont Banff Springs, Cave and Basin National Historic Site and Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies |
What to book ahead
- 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.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Banff?
Lake Louise. The emerald-turquoise lake beneath Victoria Glacier is coloured by fine glacial rock flour.
+What can you do for free in Banff?
Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, Fairmont Banff Springs and Tunnel Mountain hike. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Banff when it rains?
Head indoors to Banff Upper Hot Springs, Fairmont Banff Springs, Cave and Basin National Historic Site and Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.