Banff travel guide

Banff Tourism | Banff Guide

You're Going to Love Banff

With a population of 7.502, Banff is a must-see destination in Alberta, Canada. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 64 days in order to fully appreciate everything Banff has to offer.

Where to Eat in Banff

If you’re looking for affordable options, Hello Sunshine Japanese Restaurant (208 Wolf Street B) and Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant (205 Bear St) are great picks.

When to visit Banff

Banff in November
Estimated hotel price
$257
1 night at 3-star hotel
Banff in November
Estimated hotel price
$257
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Banff in July, when the average temperature is 15 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as -13 °C, with an average temperature of -9 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 68 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Banff, with an average rainfall of 17 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Average
Celcius (°C)
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Banff

Plane

Although Banff doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Calgary Airport (YYC), which is located 108 km from Banff. The shortest flight to Banff from New Zealand departs from Christchurch and takes around 26h 43m.

Car

Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car hire from Calgary, which is about 106 km from Banff. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Alamo, among others, in Calgary.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Banff, including Rider Express, Cold Shot and Red Arrow. From Red Deer, the bus ride to Banff takes 145 km and will cost you around $79. From Edmonton, the ticket costs about $87 for a journey of 282 km. The most popular bus station is Banff Banff, Ab, located 0.8 km from the city centre of Banff. Banff Red-Carpet Inn is also a commonly used station, and is 0.7 km from the city centre.

Airports near Banff

Airlines serving Banff

Lufthansa
Good (2,965 reviews)
KLM
Good (508 reviews)
British Airways
Good (2,124 reviews)
SWISS
Good (643 reviews)
Delta
Good (3,673 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (1,737 reviews)
Air France
Good (636 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (3,626 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,188 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (1,698 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (321 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (1,456 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (2,648 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (162 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (598 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (792 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (589 reviews)
Finnair
Good (863 reviews)
LOT
Good (486 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (3,458 reviews)
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Where to stay in Banff

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hi Banff Alpine Centre and Homestead Inn Banff.

Where to stay in popular areas of Banff

Most booked hotels in Banff

Moose Hotel and Suites
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$737+
Fairmont Banff Springs
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$1,242+
The Rimrock Resort Hotel
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$736+
Fox Hotel And Suites
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$439+
Banff Park Lodge
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
$434+

Hiring a car in Banff

Expect to pay $2.23 per litre in Banff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $26.73 and $35.64. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Premium car hire (RAM Pickup or similar) is, on average, 42% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.