Things to Do in Banff, Canada

About Banff

Banff became Canada's first national park in 1885, born from a hot spring that railway workers found on Sulphur Mountain, and it remains the country's most visited: 6,641 square kilometres of the Canadian Rockies, an hour and a half west of Calgary, with a resort town of 8,000 people at its heart and the two most photographed lakes in the country an hour up the road. The turquoise of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake comes from glacial rock flour and is real; so are the crowds, which is why both are now reached by shuttle rather than by car. Beyond them the Icefields Parkway runs 232 kilometres north to Jasper past glaciers you can walk on, Johnston Canyon's catwalks lead to waterfalls, elk wander the Banff townsite and grizzlies work the avalanche slopes in June. It is a place of reservations, park passes and early starts, and it repays every one of them.

Top Attractions in Banff

1. Lake Louise

   The emerald lake under the Victoria Glacier, with the Fairmont Chateau on its shore and the classic canoe-and-peaks view from the lakeshore path, is 57 kilometres from Banff. From June to mid-October the lakeshore parking lot is paid and full before sunrise, so the way in is the Parks Canada shuttle from the Lake Louise Park & Ride at the ski resort (reserve online; a share of tickets is released in spring and the rest 48 hours ahead), Roam Transit route 8X from Banff, or a tour. Once there, walk the flat two-kilometre shoreline, hike 3.5 kilometres up to the Lake Agnes Tea House for tea and scones beside a hanging lake (bring cash), or continue to the Plain of Six Glaciers for the ice up close. Canoes rent by the hour from the boathouse and are expensive; the view is free.

2. Moraine Lake

   Smaller, bluer and ringed by the Valley of the Ten Peaks, the lake that was on the old Canadian $20 bill has been closed to private vehicles since 2023: the 14-kilometre Moraine Lake Road, open roughly June to mid-October, is served only by the Parks Canada shuttle from the Lake Louise Park & Ride, Roam Transit from Banff, licensed commercial shuttles (some run for sunrise) and bicycles. Book the shuttle the moment tickets are released. The Rockpile Trail, a ten-minute climb from the parking area, is the famous view; the Consolation Lakes walk is easy and quiet; and Larch Valley, 4.3 kilometres up with 535 metres of climbing, turns gold for two weeks in late September, when Parks Canada often requires hiking in groups of four for bear safety. The Lake Connector shuttle links Moraine and Lake Louise.

3. Icefields Parkway

   Highway 93 north from Lake Louise to Jasper is 232 kilometres of glaciers, turquoise lakes and peaks, with a park pass required and one fuel stop (Saskatchewan Crossing). Stops in order: Herbert Lake, Bow Lake and the red-roofed Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, the Weeping Wall, the Big Bend, Parker Ridge (a 5.4-kilometre round-trip hike to the Saskatchewan Glacier view) and, 127 kilometres from Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefield, where the Athabasca Glacier ends a short walk from the road and the Glacier Discovery Centre runs Ice Explorer bus trips onto the ice and the glass-floored Skywalk. Allow a full day for a return trip to the icefield; there is no phone signal, winter tyres are required from November to April, and the road can close for avalanche control.

4. Johnston Canyon

   The park's most popular walk, 25 kilometres west of Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway: steel catwalks bolted to the limestone walls lead 1.1 kilometres to the Lower Falls and its spray-filled cave, 2.6 kilometres to the 30-metre Upper Falls, and a further three kilometres through forest to the Ink Pots, seven blue-green spring-fed pools in a meadow. The lot is full by 9am from June to September, so come before 8am, after 5pm, or on the seasonal Roam Transit route 9 from Banff. In winter, with ice cleats or a guided icewalk, the frozen falls are the best walk in the park. Parts of the Bow Valley Parkway are closed to private vehicles at certain times of year for wildlife, so check the route before you go.

5. Banff Gondola

   Eight minutes from the Upper Hot Springs parking lot to 2,281 metres on Sulphur Mountain, where a boardwalk runs along the ridge to Sanson's Peak's 1903 weather observatory and the view takes in the Banff townsite, the Bow Valley, Lake Minnewanka and six mountain ranges. The summit building has an interpretive centre, a cafeteria and a restaurant; sunset rides are the best value of the pricey ticket. The 5.5-kilometre switchback trail up (655 metres of climbing, about two hours) is free and ends at the same boardwalk.

6. Peyto Lake

   The wolf's-head lake of the postcards, 40 kilometres up the Icefields Parkway at Bow Summit, is a 15-minute walk from the parking lot on a paved trail to a rebuilt viewing platform above the water. The colour peaks from July, when the glacial melt is running, and the lot fills by mid-morning in summer; the upper lot and the quieter viewpoints a few hundred metres past the platform are worth the extra steps. Bow Lake, a few kilometres back, has a flat lakeshore trail and the lodge café.

7. Lake Minnewanka

   The park's largest lake, 21 kilometres long and 15 minutes from town, with an hour-long boat cruise to the Devil's Gap, canoe and kayak rentals, the Stewart Canyon trail along the shore and a scenic loop road that passes Two Jack Lake (the calmer photo stop), the ghost mining town of Bankhead and, most evenings, bighorn sheep on the road and the odd bear on the slopes. It is the easy afternoon or evening outing from Banff, and the loop is also open in winter.

8. Banff Upper Hot Springs

   The reason the park exists. The Cave and Basin National Historic Site, a short walk from town, is the 1883 spring in a cave that three railway workers claimed and Ottawa reserved as a park; the exhibits and boardwalks are a good rainy-day hour. Bathing happens at the Banff Upper Hot Springs on Sulphur Mountain, a 40°C outdoor pool at 1,585 metres with a view over Mount Rundle, open late into the evening and best after a day of hiking or skiing; rent a 1920s-style swimsuit at the desk.

Best Neighborhoods in Banff

• Downtown Banff and Banff Avenue

  The townsite's main street runs straight at Cascade Mountain, lined with outdoor shops, BeaverTails stands, breweries and restaurants, with the Bow River, the Whyte Museum and Bow Falls a few minutes' walk away. Hotels here are the most convenient and the most expensive; parking is paid and scarce from May to October, and Roam Transit's local buses reach the gondola, the hot springs, the Fenlands and Lake Minnewanka.

• Tunnel Mountain and the Banff Springs

  The slopes above the river on the east side of town hold most of Banff's larger hotels and condo resorts, the Tunnel Mountain campgrounds, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Fairmont Banff Springs, the 1888 'castle in the Rockies' with its golf course and Bow Falls at the foot of the lawn. It is a 15-minute walk or a short Roam ride from Banff Avenue, quieter and often cheaper, and the Tunnel Mountain trail (4.3 kilometres round trip) starts from the hotels.

• Lake Louise Village

  A small cluster at the Trans-Canada junction, four kilometres below the lake: the Samson Mall with a bakery, grocery store, liquor store and the Trailhead Cafe, a visitor centre, the Park & Ride at the ski resort across the highway and a handful of hotels, hostels and the campground. Staying here puts you on the first shuttles to Moraine Lake and at the start of the Icefields Parkway, an hour ahead of anyone driving from Banff; the Fairmont Chateau at the lake itself is the one address on the shore.

• Canmore

  The town just outside the park's east gate, 20 minutes from Banff, is where locals live and where the hotel rates fall: a mountain town of breweries, bakeries and climbing shops under the Three Sisters, with the Grassi Lakes hike, the Nordic Centre's trails and Roam Transit route 3 into Banff. You still need a park pass to stop anywhere inside the gate, but the beds are 20 to 40 percent cheaper and the restaurants are as good.

• Field and Yoho National Park

  Thirty minutes west of Lake Louise across the British Columbia line, the tiny railway village of Field is the base for Yoho National Park: Emerald Lake's green water and canoe dock, the Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls (373 metres, on a road open late June to early October), the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint and Lake O'Hara, reached by a Parks Canada bus allocated by lottery. The park pass covers it, and Field's guesthouses are a quiet alternative to Lake Louise.

What to Eat in Banff

• Bison ribeye at The Bison on Bear Street
• A BeaverTail pastry (cinnamon sugar or maple) from the stand on Banff Avenue
• Tea and scones at the Lake Agnes Tea House above Lake Louise (cash)
• Fondue and Alberta beef at the Grizzly House
• Breakfast and pastries at Wild Flour Bakery
• Elk burger at Eddie Burger Bar
• Trail sandwiches from the Trailhead Cafe in Lake Louise village
• Poutine and a pint at Banff Ave Brewing Co.

Best Time to Visit Banff

June to September is the season when everything is open: Moraine Lake Road (roughly June to mid-October), the Icefields Parkway's viewpoints, the tea houses and the high trails, with July and August the warmest (20–25°C by day, near freezing at the lakes at dawn) and the busiest, when shuttles and hotels sell out weeks ahead. Late September is the insiders' window: larches turning gold in Larch Valley and around Lake O'Hara, elk bugling in town, thinner crowds and the first snow on the peaks. The lakes are frozen until late May or early June and Lake Louise stays iced into June, so a May visit sees snow, not turquoise. Winter (December to March) is a second season: three ski areas, ice skating on Lake Louise, the Ice Magic sculpture festival in January, Johnston Canyon icewalks and the hot springs in the snow, with the lowest hotel rates outside Christmas week. Wildlife is closest to the roads in May and June.

Getting to and Around Banff

Calgary International (YYC) is the airport, 145 kilometres and about 90 minutes east of Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), and the choice at the kerb is a rental car (CAD $70–$150 a day in summer, book early; winter tyres are required by law on the mountain highways from November to April) or a shuttle: the Banff Airporter and Brewster Express run every hour or two to Banff and Canmore hotels for roughly CAD $80–$100 one way, and Brewster continues to Lake Louise. The park pass is bought at the east gate kiosks, online or at the visitor centres and must be displayed. Inside the park, Roam Transit is better than most national parks manage: routes 1 and 2 loop the townsite, the gondola and the hot springs (about CAD $2), route 3 links Canmore, route 6 goes to Lake Minnewanka in summer, route 9 to Johnston Canyon in summer, and route 8X runs the hour to Lake Louise (about CAD $10 each way, reservations advised), with route 10 to Moraine Lake by reservation in season. Parks Canada's own shuttles run from the Lake Louise Park & Ride to both lakes and between them (the Lake Connector) for a few dollars per adult, reserved online. Driving times from Banff: Canmore 20 minutes, Johnston Canyon 30, Lake Louise 45 minutes to an hour, Peyto Lake 1 hour 30, the Columbia Icefield 2 hours 30 and Jasper 3 hours 30 to 4, all before stops and wildlife. Downtown Banff parking is paid from May to October, with free intercept lots at the train station and the Fenlands; the town is 15 minutes across on foot. Bikes rent from CAD $50 a day and the paved Legacy Trail runs to Canmore. Taxis exist in Banff and Canmore but not at the lakes, and Uber does not operate. Fuel is sold in Banff, Lake Louise and Saskatchewan Crossing only.

Where to Stay in Banff

Banff town is the base for most trips and the priciest: from June to September expect CAD $350–$700 a night for a mid-range hotel on or near Banff Avenue, CAD $250–$450 for the condo hotels on Tunnel Mountain, CAD $700–$1,500 at the Fairmont Banff Springs and CAD $60–$90 for a hostel bed at HI Banff or Samesun; October to May (outside Christmas and February's school breaks) cuts most of those by a third or more. Lake Louise has fewer beds and needs booking earliest: the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise on the shore at CAD $900–$2,000, Deer Lodge and the Post Hotel near the lake at CAD $400–$800, the Lake Louise Inn and the HI hostel in the village from CAD $60 a bed to CAD $350 a room, and the campground. Canmore, 20 minutes outside the gate, is the value play at CAD $200–$400 with more vacation rentals, breweries and no shortage of restaurants. Campgrounds at Tunnel Mountain, Two Jack and Lake Louise (CAD $30–$45, reserved on the Parks Canada site when the season opens in January) are the cheapest nights in the park. Field, 30 minutes west of Lake Louise, has guesthouses at CAD $200–$350 for a quieter Yoho base. Book summer and larch season three to six months ahead, and remember that a Canmore bed still needs a park pass every day you enter.

3 Days in Banff: A Sample Itinerary

Every stop below is one of the places named in this guide. Use it as a starting point, or let the planner build a version around your dates, pace and budget.

Day 1: Johnston Canyon, Sulphur Mountain and the hot springs

1. Morning: Johnston Canyon

   Be at the Johnston Canyon lot by 7:30am (or on the first Roam route 9 bus): the catwalks to the Lower and Upper Falls, and on to the Ink Pots if the legs are fresh (12 kilometres round trip, three to four hours), then a slow drive back along the Bow Valley Parkway watching for elk and black bears.

2. Afternoon: Banff Gondola

   Lunch at Wild Flour Bakery on Bear Street, then the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain (or the free two-hour trail) for the ridge boardwalk to Sanson's Peak and the view over the townsite, Lake Minnewanka and the Bow Valley; back in town, Bow Falls and the lobby of the Fairmont Banff Springs.

3. Evening: Banff Upper Hot Springs

   An hour in the Banff Upper Hot Springs as the light leaves Mount Rundle, then bison ribeye at The Bison and a BeaverTail on Banff Avenue; on a clear night, drive out to Vermilion Lakes for the stars over Rundle.

Day 2: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise by shuttle

1. Morning: Moraine Lake

   The first Parks Canada shuttle from the Lake Louise Park & Ride (reserved; leave Banff by 6:15am) to Moraine Lake: the Rockpile Trail while the Ten Peaks are lit and the water still, then the Consolation Lakes walk (six kilometres round trip) or, in late September, the climb to Larch Valley.

2. Afternoon: Lake Louise

   The Lake Connector shuttle to Lake Louise: the lakeshore path to the far end and then 3.5 kilometres and 385 metres up to the Lake Agnes Tea House for tea, soup and scones beside the hanging lake (cash only; the Little Beehive above it adds 30 minutes and the best view), and down by 4pm.

3. Evening: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

   Stay for the hour after the day shuttles leave, when the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise lakeshore empties and the glacier turns pink, then dinner in Lake Louise village at the Post Hotel's pub or a sandwich from the Trailhead Cafe, and the 8X bus or the drive back to Banff before dark.

Day 3: The Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield

1. Morning: Peyto Lake

   Fill the tank in Lake Louise and start up the Icefields Parkway by 7:30am: Herbert Lake's reflection, Bow Lake's shoreline and the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, then the walk up to the Peyto Lake platform at Bow Summit before the coaches (40 kilometres in, about 1 hour 15 from Banff), and Mistaya Canyon's limestone slot on the way north.

2. Afternoon: Athabasca Glacier

   Fuel and lunch at Saskatchewan Crossing, the Weeping Wall and the Big Bend, then the Columbia Icefield: the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier trail from the roadside lot (stay behind the ropes; the ice hides crevasses), the Ice Explorer bus onto the glacier and the Skywalk if you booked, or the Parker Ridge trail (5.4 kilometres round trip) for the Saskatchewan Glacier from above.

3. Evening: Lake Minnewanka

   Turn around by 3:30pm for the 2.5-hour return, stopping wherever the light is good, and finish at Lake Minnewanka: the last cruise of the day or a walk on the Stewart Canyon trail, bighorn sheep on the loop road at dusk, then fondue at the Grizzly House back in Banff.

Plan this trip — get a personalized day-by-day Banff itinerary with drive times, restaurant picks and a packing list.

Banff Travel Tips

• Buy the Parks Canada pass before you drive in — about CAD $11 per adult or CAD $22 per vehicle group per day, or the Discovery Pass for a year — and hang it from the mirror; it is required to stop anywhere in the park, including at the shuttles' Park & Ride
• Reserve the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttles the moment tickets are released (a spring release, then 48 hours ahead) or take Roam Transit from Banff — Moraine Lake Road has been closed to private cars since 2023 and the Lake Louise lot is full before dawn in summer
• Carry bear spray on every trail, hike in groups for safety, make noise on blind corners, stay 100 metres from bears and 30 metres from elk and deer, and never stop in the traffic lane for a 'bear jam'
• Leave the car in Banff and ride Roam Transit — parking downtown is paid and scarce from May to October, the buses reach the gondola, the hot springs, Lake Minnewanka, Johnston Canyon (in summer) and Lake Louise, and the Legacy Trail cycle path runs 22 kilometres to Canmore
• Dress for four seasons in a day: the lakes sit above 1,700 metres, snow falls in every month, the Icefields Parkway has no phone signal or services for 150 kilometres, and winter tyres are the law on the Parkway from November to April

Banff FAQ

When is the best time to visit Banff?

June to September is the season when everything is open: Moraine Lake Road (roughly June to mid-October), the Icefields Parkway's viewpoints, the tea houses and the high trails, with July and August the warmest (20–25°C by day, near freezing at the lakes at dawn) and the busiest, when shuttles and hotels sell out weeks ahead. Late September is the insiders' window: larches turning gold in Larch Valley and around Lake O'Hara, elk bugling in town, thinner crowds and the first snow on the peaks. The lakes are frozen until late May or early June and Lake Louise stays iced into June, so a May visit sees snow, not turquoise. Winter (December to March) is a second season: three ski areas, ice skating on Lake Louise, the Ice Magic sculpture festival in January, Johnston Canyon icewalks and the hot springs in the snow, with the lowest hotel rates outside Christmas week. Wildlife is closest to the roads in May and June.

How much does a day in Banff cost?

Plan on an average daily budget of $180–$350/day in Banff. The local currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD).

How do I get around Banff?

Buy the Parks Canada pass before you drive in — about CAD $11 per adult or CAD $22 per vehicle group per day, or the Discovery Pass for a year — and hang it from the mirror; it is required to stop anywhere in the park, including at the shuttles' Park & Ride. Reserve the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttles the moment tickets are released (a spring release, then 48 hours ahead) or take Roam Transit from Banff — Moraine Lake Road has been closed to private cars since 2023 and the Lake Louise lot is full before dawn in summer.

What should I know about safety and etiquette in Banff?

Carry bear spray on every trail, hike in groups for safety, make noise on blind corners, stay 100 metres from bears and 30 metres from elk and deer, and never stop in the traffic lane for a 'bear jam'. Dress for four seasons in a day: the lakes sit above 1,700 metres, snow falls in every month, the Icefields Parkway has no phone signal or services for 150 kilometres, and winter tyres are the law on the Parkway from November to April.

What are the top things to do in Banff?

Top attractions in Banff include Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Icefields Parkway, Johnston Canyon and Banff Gondola. Banff is best for mountains, hiking, scenic drives and winter sports.

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