Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Banff has to offer.

Article

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 June
Estimated package price
$93
2 travelers
Flight to Banff
3 nights at hotel
Banff in June
Estimated package price
$93
2 travelers
Flight to Banff
3 nights at hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Banff in July, when the average temperature is 59 °F, and the highest can go up to 71.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as 8.6 °F, with an average temperature of 15.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 2.7″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Banff, with an average rainfall of 0.7″.

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. Calgary Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from WestJet, Delta, Aeromexico and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to Banff from the United States departs from Detroit and takes around 4h 05m.

Car

Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 106 km from Banff. You’ll find branches of Turo and Zoom Rent A Car, among others, in Calgary.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Banff Banff, Ab, located 0.8 km from downtown Banff. Banff Red-Carpet Inn is also a commonly used station, and is 0.7 km from the city center.

Plane

Although Banff doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Calgary Airport (YYC), which is located 108 km from Banff. Calgary Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from WestJet, Delta, Aeromexico and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to Banff from the United States departs from Detroit and takes around 4h 05m.

Car

Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 106 km from Banff. You’ll find branches of Turo and Zoom Rent A Car, among others, in Calgary.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Banff Banff, Ab, located 0.8 km from downtown Banff. Banff Red-Carpet Inn is also a commonly used station, and is 0.7 km from the city center.

Airports near Banff

YYCCalgary
YQFRed Deer

Airlines serving Banff

KLM
Good (1,485 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,884 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,841 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,372 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,910 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,164 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,561 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (904 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,534 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,737 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,553 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,884 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,181 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,376 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (397 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,187 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,432 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,239 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,154 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Banff

Where to stay in Banff

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Bow View Lodge and Irwin's Mountain Inn. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Banff, with prices from $65 to $1,654 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Banff are about 29% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Banff by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Banff

Most booked hotels in Banff

See all
Hotel Canoe and Suites
4 stars
Excellent (9, 2867 reviews)
$191+
View
Fairmont Banff Springs
4 stars
Excellent (9, 1124 reviews)
$437+
View
Moose Hotel and Suites
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, 2535 reviews)
$209+
View
Best Western Plus Banff International Lodge
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2628 reviews)
$129+
View
Banff Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 2403 reviews)
$104+
View
Banff Boundary Lodge
2 stars
Good (7.7, 762 reviews)
$182+
View

Renting a car in Banff

Renting a car in Banff costs $68 per day, on average, or $205 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Banff is the Avis branch at 317 Banff Avenue, which is 0 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 5% more expensive than at Calgary.

Expect to pay $5.49 per gallon in Banff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $65.87 and $87.82. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Standard (Ford Edge or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Versa or similar) are, on average, 23% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Banff costs $68 per day, on average, or $205 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Banff is the Avis branch at 317 Banff Avenue, which is 0 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 5% more expensive than at Calgary.

Expect to pay $5.49 per gallon in Banff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $65.87 and $87.82. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Standard (Ford Edge or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Versa or similar) are, on average, 23% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Banff

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$28/day

Compact

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$29/day

Full-size
Find car rentals in Banff