Canada

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Banff

Mountain town in the heart of the Rockies

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Best time to visit: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Currency: CAD
Time zone: UTC-6
Country: Canada

Photo: Ethan Sahagun, CC BY-SA 4.0

Banff is a resort town inside Banff National Park, surrounded by peaks like Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain. People come for hiking, skiing, hot springs and easy access to some of the most spectacular scenery in the Canadian Rockies.

Largest cities

Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary
Ottawa

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Canada
Capital: Ottawa
Town population: 8,305
Population of Canada: 37M
Country area: 9,984,670 km²
Official language: English and French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD) · 1 USD ≈ 1.43 CAD
Time zone: UTC-6
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 1,385 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	-3°	-3°	3°	7°	13°	19°	24°	23°	19°	10°	0°	-4°
Low	-13°	-15°	-10°	-6°	0°	4°	9°	8°	5°	-2°	-10°	-13°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$73
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$165
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$385

Plan a trip to Banff

Top things to do

≈ $50
Banff Gondola
Ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views and walk the boardwalk to Sanson Peak; book a time slot in summer as it gets busy.
- Half day
- Sulphur Mountain
- Good for kids
≈ $12
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Soak in outdoor thermal pools with mountain views; bring your own towel and swimsuit to save on rentals.
- Half day
- Sulphur Mountain
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $4
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
A historic cabinet museum full of taxidermy of local wildlife, good for learning what animals live in the park; free with a Parks Canada Discovery Pass.
- Half day
- Downtown Banff
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday and Tuesday
Free
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Walk through the public areas of the 'Castle in the Rockies' and look for fossils in the stone flooring; the surrounding grounds and Bow Falls viewpoint are a short walk away.
- Half day
- Bow Falls and Spray River
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Tunnel Mountain Hike
A short but steep trail to a summit with views over the townsite and Bow Valley, doable in under an hour; wear shoes with grip as it can be slippery.
- Half day
- Tunnel Mountain
- Good for kids
Free
Lake Minnewanka
A day-use area for lakeside walks, biking and picnics, with a marina offering cruises and boat rentals; it is a short drive or bus ride from town.
- Half day
- Lake Minnewanka
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $15
Lake Louise Day Trip
Take a bus or drive about 45 minutes to the famous turquoise lake for lakeshore walks and mountain views; go early to avoid crowds and parking problems.
- Full day
- Downtown Banff
- Good for kids
Free
Icefields Parkway Scenic Drive
Drive the spectacular Highway 93 toward Jasper for glaciers, waterfalls and viewpoints; allow a full day and check road conditions before setting out.
- Full day
- Downtown Banff
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter or transit through Canada; British citizens and many other nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 6 months but usually need an eTA if arriving by air. Land and sea arrivals from the US do not need an eTA, but must carry acceptable travel documents. Temporary Ebola-related border measures are in place for travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, and have been extended until November 27, 2026. Check the official Government of Canada page to see whether you need a visa or eTA before booking.

Official website

From the airport

The nearest major airport is Calgary International Airport, about 1.5 hours away by car or 2 hours by shuttle. Banff Airporter and Brewster Express run scheduled buses from the airport to Banff several times daily.

Getting around

The townsite is small and walkable, and Roam Transit buses connect the town, Tunnel Mountain, the Banff Springs Hotel and the gondola, with fares from $2 one way.

Local tips

A park permit is required for anyone stopping in Banff National Park, even just for gas or in town; day and annual passes are available.
Summer afternoons on Banff Avenue are very busy, so book accommodation and popular tours well ahead.
Winters are cold with lows around -13°C and snow is possible in any month, so pack layers and check trail or road conditions.
Tipping 15-20% is standard in restaurants, and cards are widely accepted, though carrying a little cash is useful for small purchases.