Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Banff has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Banff

If you’re looking for affordable options, Fairmont Banff Springs – Special Events (405 Spray Avenue) and Bluebird Woodfired Steakhouse & Fondue (214 Lynx St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Earls Kitchen + Bar - Banff (299 Banff Ave) and Coyotes Southwestern Grill (206 Caribou St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Banff.

When to visit Banff

Banff in April
Estimated hotel price
$318
1 night at 3-star hotel
Banff in April
Estimated hotel price
$318
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
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 34h 12m.

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 Avis and Dollar, among others, in Calgary.

Bus

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.

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 34h 12m.

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 Avis and Dollar, among others, in Calgary.

Bus

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

YYCCalgary
YQFRed Deer

Airlines serving Banff

KLM
Good (1,429 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,639 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,021 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,600 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,108 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,817 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,055 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,099 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,685 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,440 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,509 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,549 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (880 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,102 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,618 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,492 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,153 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,092 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (375 reviews)
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Where to stay in Banff

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

Where to stay in popular areas of Banff

Most booked hotels in Banff

See all
Hotel Canoe and Suites
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
$313+
View
Fairmont Banff Springs
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
$751+
View
Moose Hotel and Suites
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$335+
View
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$151+
View
Banff Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$170+
View

Hiring a car in Banff

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Banff is the Hertz branch at 405 Spray Ave, which is 1 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.93 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 $23.14 and $30.85. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Standard (Subaru Forester or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Ford F-150 or similar) is, on average, 52% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Banff is the Hertz branch at 405 Spray Ave, which is 1 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.93 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 $23.14 and $30.85. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Standard (Subaru Forester or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Ford F-150 or similar) is, on average, 52% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.