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 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Banff has to offer.
Where to Eat in Banff
If you’re looking for affordable options, Sleeping Buffalo (700 Tunnel Mountain Road) and Fairmont Banff Springs – Special Events (405 Spray Avenue) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Earls Kitchen + Bar - Banff (299 Banff Ave) and Eagle's Nest (1 Sunshine Access RoadPO Box 1510 Stn Main) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Banff.
When to visit Banff
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.
How to Get to Banff
Plane
Although Banff doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Calgary Airport (YYC), which is located 67 miles from Banff. The shortest flight to Banff from Ireland departs from Dublin and takes around 11h 40m.
Car
Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car hire from Calgary, which is about 66 miles from Banff. You’ll find branches of Alamo and Avis, among others, in Calgary.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Banff, including Rider Express, Red Arrow and Cold Shot. From Edmonton, the bus ride to Banff takes 170 miles and will cost you around €72. From Kelowna, the ticket costs about €188 for a journey of 550 miles. The most popular bus station is Banff Banff, Ab, located 0.5 miles from the city centre of Banff. Banff Red-Carpet Inn is also a commonly used station, and is 0.4 miles from the city centre.
Airlines serving Banff
Where to stay in Banff
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hi Banff Alpine Centre - Hostel and Best Western Plus Siding 29 Lodge.
Where to stay in popular areas of Banff
Most booked hotels in Banff
Hiring a car in Banff
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis and Hertz 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 mile from the city centre.
Expect to pay €1.18 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 €14.12 and €18.82. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Economy (Chevrolet Spark or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Chrysler 200 or similar) is, on average, 41% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.