How Many Days In Banff Is Enough?

Beautiful Banff is Canada’s first national park and one of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the world. The terrain is dazzling, with rugged mountain peaks, crystal blue lakes, sweeping valleys, and a charming town.

If you are visiting for the first time, you may be wondering how many days in Banff you really need to see the highlights and soak up the unique atmosphere of the Canadian Rockies.

The answer to this depends on a few factors, but perhaps the most important one is the type of break you are looking for. 

There are lots of things to see and do in the area, from hiking and kayaking in the summer months to skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

2 days in Banff would be enough to see its main attractions, but your schedule would be full and you should expect to be on the go pretty much the whole time. 

If that doesn’t sound appealing – and you like to have a bit of time to relax and enjoy the sights – then I’d recommend opting for a 3 or 4 day stay instead.

But what else do you need to take into consideration when deciding how many days in Banff is enough?

How To Choose How Long To Stay In Banff

Here are all the things to think about before making a final decision about the length of your stay.

To make planning your itinerary even easier, I’ve included a list of the main attractions in the resort and how much time to allow for each one.

To help you figure out exactly how long you’ll need in Banff, make a list of the things you want to do in Banff National Park, and consider the time of arrival and departure. Then, look at the distance between places to keep it realistic. 

At the end of this exercise, you’ll know how many days in Banff you’ll need.

Time Of Arrival, Hotel Check-In Time, And Time Of Departure

Unless you arrive in Banff early in the morning, you won’t be able to do a full day’s sightseeing on your first day.

Similarly, an early departure time will limit how much you can do on your last day too. In either case, you might want to add on an extra night so that you don’t miss out on anything.

If you arrive at Calgary airport, you’ll need about two hours to reach Banff. We recommend you rent a car or book a private transfer to reach your destination.

Next, think about your luggage. An early arrival time is great, but not so much if you have all your bags and it’s too early to check-in!

Call ahead to see if your hotel or accommodation provider will store your luggage for you. Most will be happy to oblige, although some may charge a fee. 

If this service isn’t available at your hotel then you will need to find an alternative. Fortunately, there are several private companies offering luggage storage and you can book your dates online.

Not only is this convenient but it also guarantees you a spot, as demand for these services can be high at busy times.

Activities In Banff

Seeing as there is so much to do in Banff, you will need to make a list of the attractions that appeal to you most and make sure that the length of your stay gives you enough time to visit them all.

You’ll find my list of highlights helpful with this, as I’ve suggested how long you should plan to spend at each.

Don’t forget to also factor in the amount of time you might spend queuing – which will obviously be higher at peak season – and the amount of time it will take to travel from one attraction to another.

Many travelers prefer to book tours and activities in advance to make the most of their trip to Banff.

Browse Tours In Banff

Pace Of Activities

As I mentioned earlier, the pace at which you prefer to do your sightseeing will influence how many days for Banff you will need. 

You can certainly fit a lot of activities into a couple of days if you don’t mind spending the entire time on the go. But there won’t be much leeway if you like somewhere so much you want to stay a bit longer. 

If you also want some downtime in which you can just relax and enjoy the views, I’d definitely recommend adding an extra night or two to your stay. 

Transportation

If you are staying in the middle of Banff, getting around is pretty easy as it is only a small town. But there is quite a lot to see outside the central area so you will want to decide ahead of time how you plan to travel.

One option is to rent a car. There are several car rental companies in the town and plenty of places to park. Another is to use Roam, the public transport system for both Banff and Canmore. It’s efficient and offers 10 different routes, although five of those operate seasonally.

Alternatively, you could travel by taxi, with a couple of different taxi services in town, or you could rent an e-bike or a Vespa, which is a fun way to get around! 

However, most of Banff’s main attractions have their own shuttle services, so it is usually easy to get to them from wherever you are.

What To Do In Banff

Here are my recommendations for the best places to visit in Banff and how long you should set aside for each one.

Whitewater Rafting

Without a doubt, this is one of the most exciting things to do in Banff. For this, you need to head to the Kicking Horse River.

Just a short distance from the town, it is one of the best spots for rafting in the whole of Canada! Not for the faint-hearted, it includes class 5 rapids, waterfalls, and heart-thumpingly narrow gorges.

There are various tours available to suit different levels of daring, so you will be able to find something suitable whether you are an experienced rafter or this is your very first attempt!

We recommend you book your tour in advance.

Suggested time: Tours vary and range from half-day to full-day experiences.

Cruise Lake Minnewanka

The largest in Banff, Lake Minnewanka is breathtakingly beautiful and there is no better way to appreciate it than to enjoy a guided cruise.

Drifting along the turquoise water is the perfect way to see the local wildlife up close and the views of the Canadian Rockies and prairies from this perspective are just awesome. 

Included in most tours is a visit to the mysterious Devil’s Gap. Located in a broad mountain amphitheater, it is quite spectacular, with green prairies in the distance and eagles soaring in the sky.

Suggested time: 1 hour

Visit The Town’s Museums

There are several museums in Banff where you can learn more about its geology and cultural history. The Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum is the place to learn about the First Nations People of Canada, whilst the Banff Park Museum is Western Canada’s oldest natural history museum.

If you want to learn more about the history, evolving peoples, cultures, and environment of the mountain, then head to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.

And if you want to discover more about Banff itself, then visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site where you will learn about the chain of events that led to its establishment as Canada’s first National Park.

Suggested time: 1 to 2 hours per venue

Ride The Gondolas

Banff offers a few paid gondola rides. These glass-encased lifts give you the very best views of Canada’s Rockies and are not to be missed! The most popular is at Sulphur Mountain which overlooks the town. It has great facilities and gives you unforgettable 360-degree views.

Even better views are to be had from The Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola. You get much closer to the wildlife and it tends to be less crowded too. 

The biggest gondolas are at Banff Sunshine Village and hold up to 8 people. They are located about 8k, from Banff, but there is a daily shuttle service. 

Suggested time: 1 to 2 hours

Relax In The Hot Springs

The multiple hot springs at Sulphur Mountain have been famous for more than 100 years for their relaxing and curative properties. 

The Banff Upper Hot Springs is the only one open to the public for bathing in Banff National Park and is absolutely worth a visit.

Geothermically heated, water bubbles to the surface from a fracture in the mountain, providing temperatures between 47°C (116°F) and 27°C (81°F), depending on the season. 

The facilities are excellent, with a cafe, towels, and lockers to rent. 

Suggested time: 2 hours

Ski Or Hike At Sunshine Village

Sunshine Village is a fun place to visit no matter the season. Located a 30-minute drive from the town, it is primarily a ski resort and is usually Canada’s first to open each winter and last to close. 

The ski season lasts from November to May, so if you are visiting outside of those months then why not take the Sunshine Meadows hike instead.

It takes in some exceptional views of Rock Isle, Grizzly, and Larix Lakes, with plenty of beautiful wildflowers to see along the way. If you’re lucky you may even see elk or bighorn sheep too!

Suggested time: 1 to 2 hours

Final Thoughts On Banff Getaways

So how many days do you need in Banff to make the most of the scenery and attractions?

I hope this guide has helped you decide and that you enjoy your stay in this exciting and beautiful resort town.

Visiting Canada soon? Read one of the following guides:

• Best campsites in Alberta
• Banff travel guide
• Best hikes in Canmore