A Complete Guide To Visiting Canada’s Banff National Park

If exploring Canada’s wildlife is on your list of things to do, no place compares to Banff National Park. Banff is a destination that has been mentioned time and time again in travel sources like National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and CNN Travel.

If you’re heading to Western Canada any time soon, adding this natural wonder to your To-Do list is a no-brainer. 

Before you go to Canada, make sure to get a Canada SIM card! It’ll make your travels easier!

Pssst. Not sure how many days in Banff you’ll need? We recommend a minimum of 3 days (or more)!

Quick Facts About Banff National Park

Established in 1885 as the country’s first national park, Banff National Park is located in the Alberta province of Western Canada. It is home to nearly 2,500 campsites, has been established as a world heritage site, and attracts over 4 million visitors each year. 

With over 1,600 kilometers of hiking trails in the park and mountain ranges for days, filling time with outdoor activities is easy while in Banff. You might even catch a glimpse of the endangered woodland Caribou that has made its home in the park. 

Getting to Banff National Park

Getting to the park is pretty straightforward. The closest airport is in Calgary, so most travelers fly into the international airport. Calgary serves both domestic and international travelers, and it’s only about 80 miles east of Banff. From the airport, the next step would be to either rent a car or take a bus. 

For complete control of your itinerary, the better option is to rent a car. Drive along the Trans-Canada 1 highway straight into the park, stopping along the way for good food and breathtaking mountain views. Taking the bus or a shuttle van is easy, but it doesn’t offer the same level of convenience and freedom. 

Best Time to Visit Banff National Park

Banff National Park is open all year long, but the time you choose to visit depends on how you plan to spend your time. If you’re a fan of hiking, camping, mountain biking, and rock climbing, the best time to visit Banff is in the warm summer months.

For an array of colors that any photographer would be lucky to experience, plan a trip in autumn. 

For some, the best time to visit is without a doubt the wintertime. Winter in Banff is chilly and snowy, but this is ideal for those who want to take advantage of the best snowboarding, sledding, and backcountry skiing Canada has to offer. As the snow falls, mountain landscapes transform from lush and green to magical and snowy. 

Things To Do In Banff National Park

Every visitor to Banff has a different idea of what the perfect getaway entails. This is partly because every individual has different preferences for outdoor activities.

But the main reason is that Banff has such a wide selection of activities to choose from. Unless you plan on spending months here, fitting every activity into your itinerary is close to impossible. 

The trick is to pick and choose activities based on how you prefer to spend time outdoors. Are you a hiker, biker, skier, or rock climber?

Do you prefer to learn about the history of an area over adrenaline-pumping activities? Or do you prefer just to sit back and relax as you take it all in? No matter the answers to these questions, you’ll leave BNP feeling satisfied. 

Visit Lake Louise

Some visitors to Banff say that Lake Louise is overrated and overhyped, but even so, it’s a must-visit Banff attraction. There’s a reason that this lake is referred to as the Jewel of Banff, and that fact is made obvious by the glittery turquoise waters surrounded by snowcapped mountain peaks. 

If you want to go all out with your Lake Louise experience (and budget isn’t a concern), book a room at the Fairmont Chateau. The shore of Lake Louise is within steps of the hotel’s lobby and the rooms overlook stunning, unobstructed views of the lake.

Aside from staring in awe at the glassy waters, visitors to Lake Louise love to hike the surrounding area. 

The lake is the perfect starting point for several highly-rated Banff hikes, like Plain of Six Glaciers and the Beehives. Hiking the Beehives is pretty challenging, but it is well worth the sweat and heavy breathing.

At the top, hikers are rewarded with an amazing view of another famous Banff body of water, Lake Agnes. 

Take A Mountainside Gondola Ride

If your ideal method for taking in views doesn’t include strapping on a pair of hiking boots, the best way to see the sights of Banff is through a mountain gondola ride.

There are several gondolas to choose from, but the best is the Banff Sightseeing Gondola. This makes its way up Sulphur Mountain, offering 360-degree views of the national park. 

At the top of Sulphur Mountain is where the real fun begins. Once the gondola has reached an altitude of 7,500 feet, passengers are left on their own to explore the mountain top restaurants, cafes, and shops of Sulphur Mountain. 

Explore Banff Town

The town of Banff is located at the south end of the national park. Although it’s the main tourist destination of Alberta, it is still a small sleepy town that is surrounded by the Canadian Rockies.

To avoid the crowded tourism season, the best time to visit is in the winter months. Even in the dead of winter, the town’s atmosphere is still lively since this is the ideal time to hit the slopes. 

Ski To Your Heart’s Content

Speaking of hitting the slopes, there’s no better way to fully experience Banff than to cruise down the mountain ranges with a ski strapped to each foot.

There are loads of Banff ski trips to choose from, but there are a few Banff ski resorts that stand above the rest, like Sunshine Village, Mount Norquay, and Lake Louise Ski Resort. 

Final Thoughts On Banff National Park

If you’re planning on moving to Canada, make sure to read our list of the best cities to live in Canada and our list featuring the best party cities in Canada.

Note that you could also visit Canmore, which is about 20 minutes away from Banff town. You’ll find beautiful hiking trails in Canmore.