Canada is famous for its resorts but the most popular of them all is Banff. Located in the Canadian Rockies, the resort owes much of its success to a vibrant nightlife, a wonderful terrain and a great location. The surrounding national park was established in 1885 and skiing was introduced in 1909 with the arrival of Austrian and Swiss mountain guides. The infrastructure in the area developed over the years and now you will get lots of shops, restaurants and bars that manage to pull in a lot of tourists throughout the year. Let us check out the things to see and do when you are here in Banff.
The Best Things to do in Banff
Banff is one of the most popular destinations in Canada and it receives more than 4 million visitors each year. The tourists mainly come here as they find an incredible number of things to do and see here.
Ride the Banff Gondola
It is easily the most popular thing to do in Banff. The views of the Banff town and the surrounding mountains are spectacular from the top of Banff Gondola. It is a 10-min scenic ride that starts from the car parking lot and ends on the top of the Sulphur Mountain. The fun does not end here! On top of the mountain, one will find a restaurant, a gift shop, a cafe and the boardwalk.
Lake Louise
The real jewel of the Banff region is the stunningly beautiful Lake Louise. In the winter months the area transforms into one of the largest ski resorts in North America. The place is very popular with snowboarders, and those interested in other winter activities like tubing, and dog sledding. One can even take a ride in a horse drawn sleigh to have a true magical experience.
Banff National Park
The activity is pretty obvious but is definitely one of the better things to do at Banff. It is the 1st national park in Canada and it spreads over 4,000 square miles. Here one can indulge in all kinds of outdoor activities like
Relax in the hot springs
The Banff Upper Hot Springs are just a 5 min drive up the Sulphur Mountain and it offers brilliant panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The hot springs are affordable for everyone and they are easily accessible too. Even those with a tight budget can enjoy this attraction. However, the hot springs can get very crowded sometimes; so you may go in the evening to avoid crowds.
Visit the Moraine Lake
It is yet another famous lake of the Banff National Park that is located in the valley of the Ten Peaks. The lake is fed by the glaciers and has turquoise blue waters making it one of the most photographed spots of Banff. There are several biking and hiking trails around the lake from where one can enjoy magnificent views of the lake.
Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is located to the NE of the Bankk town. It is a 27 km long glacial lake and the lake is called Minnewanka as locals believed that spirits reside in the lake. However, that should not spook you as a lot of people come here for picnicking, and hiking. One may opt for the cruise tour of the lake if you love being in the water.
Visit the Bow Falls Lookout
The Bow River flows through the heart of Banff and it looks picture-perfect with its turquoise colored waters. When you walk for around 1.5km from the Banff town, you will come to the Bow Falls Viewpoint from where you can see the Bow River Waterfall. The viewpoint is a popular place among the tourists as they love to enjoy the mornings here with a cup of coffee.
Visit the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
The Whyte Museum specializes in the history of the Rockies and its inhabitants over the ages. The majority of the exhibits are related to water thereby underlying the importance of this natural resource in the development of the civilizations. The other exhibits relate documents of the region and special artifacts.
Mount Norquay
Mount Norquay is located to the northwest of the Banff town and is popular as a skiing resort during winter and people come here for hiking during summer. It acts as the trailhead of two of the most popular hiking trails in Banff. The views here are totally outstanding and definitely one of the best things to do in Banff. There is a North American Lodge where one can grab something to eat.
Explore the Buffalo Nations Museum
The Buffalo Nations Museum is, perhaps,the most interesting tourist attraction in Banff. One will come across a lot of information about the life, history and culture of the first nations people and also get to know about their way of living through the various interactive displays. If you are looking for an indoor activity then this is the best place for you.
The Best Hotels in Banff
Banff has developed into an upscale mountain town over the years and it is no surprise that there is a fine selection of hotels to choose from in this mountain town.
Rimrock Resort Hotel
Located right next to the outdoor hot springs, the luxurious nine-story hotel has amazing views of the mountains from every guestroom. The Eden Restaurant is one of the highly rated dining places in Canada. Among other amenities, there is a large fitness area, a hot tub, a sauna and a steam room.
Average price per night – $123
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
The stunning hotel was built way back in 1888 and is now almost an icon in Banff. The hotel affords great views of the Bow River and the mountains. Among the on-site amenities, the golf course and the spa deserves a special mention. There are a number of gourmet restaurants in the hotel that promises a delectable dining experience.
Average price per night – $352
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
The Chateau Lake Louise sits on the shores of Lake Louise which is one of the most picturesque locations in the country. The hotel is known to be a haven for luxury as the property boasts of a lovely spa, a steam room, pools and plenty of dining choices. If you are coming here in the summer then you can rent a canoe and explore the waters. Some of the rooms here have terraces and there is also a floor dedicated to private concierge services.
Average price per night – $294
Hotels for the Budget Conscious Travelers
We will not lie to you but the prices in some of the hotels in this mountain town will make you cry all night. The prices are slightly on the higher side for all hotels but that does not mean there are no cheap hotels here.
Brewster’s Mountain Lodge
Located in downtown Banff, this family owned lodge offers comfortable accommodation. There are 77 guest rooms and suites in this hotel and each of them features handcrafted furnishings from the family archives.The standard rooms have queen beds, granite and tile bathrooms and personal amenities like coffeemaker and hairdryer.
Average price per night – $121
Banff Park Lodge
It is an eco-friendly hotel that offers exceptional service and highly comfortable rooms. The hotel has standard amenities like indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center, and steam room. There are more than 200 spacious rooms with wonderful views of the Banff National Park. The Crave Mountain Grill is the on-site restaurant that offers delicious food.
Average price per night – $102
High Country Inn
Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the family owned hotel offers a relaxing atmosphere. The guests can take advantage of the in-house swimming pool and the dry sauna. The in-room amenities of this 70-room hotel include coffeemaker, mini bar and a private balcony. The Ticino restaurant serves Swiss-Italian cuisine for the guests.
Average price per night – $88
What to eat
If you think Banff is just a visual treat, you are wrong! Banff has some great places to eat and it will be a real shame if you do not try at least a couple of the local delicacies. Tooloulou’s, for example, has waffle bites on the menu that tastes great in the morning. The little bits of fried dough, tossed in sugar tastes great when dipped in the whipping cream that is served with this dish. Nourish Bistro is another eatery that deserves a special mention here. The num num nachos have the yummiest ingredients possible – quinoa, aged cheddar, black beans, sliced strawberries and much more. Even if you are not fond of vegetarian food, you will love these snacks. The Eddie Burger Bar is a unique place as it serves a unique peanut butter and jelly burger with a combination of jalapeno, cheese, tomato and bacon – all between a pair of pretzel buns.
All inclusive resorts
The natural setting of Banff is home to some of the most stunning all inclusive resorts in the country. The resorts offer great opportunities in wildlife spotting and outdoor adventures like hiking and biking. The Post Hotel & Spa at Lake Louise offers a world-class resort experience and is located in the heart of Banff National Park.The guests of this resort get access to more than 139 ski runs! The Moose Hotel & Suites is one of the newest resorts in Alberta and it has already established as one of the premier resorts of Banff. It has more than 170 rooms including the 2 bedroom rooftop suites that affords beautiful views of the mountains. The Moraine Lake Lodge at Lake Louise offers a real good back-to-nature experience and the lodge has been deemed perfect by travelers as a romantic getaway for couples. The accommodations have log furniture and cozy duvets apart from the usual amenities.
A few facts
The Royal Cruise Tours conducts the Canadian Rockies Cruise Tours package wherein travelers get the opportunity to explore offbeat destinations like Banff among others. Similar tours are also conducted by Banff Adventures and Celebrity Cruises. There are also a number of tours in Banff that lets you enjoy the place thoroughly. For example, the White Mountain Adventures specializes in group activities, and hikes in Banff. One may also opt for the Banff Ghost Walks, 1 hour Spray River Ride or the Evening Wildlife Safari.
If you are really keen to visit Banff then you should start your preparations today. People from the US would have a number of options to reach here. If you are from Philadelphia, for example, you would be happy to note that a number of North American and international airlines fly to Calgary International Airport. From the airport one needs to take a shuttle to Banff which would be a 90 min scenic drive. The whole journey would cost around $300 to 440.
