Banff may be ‘smol’, covering only four square kilometres of land, but it packs a lot into that little space! This tiny town has a bounty of beautiful trails, several intriguing museums, ample shopping opportunities, tons of tours, and loads of other extraordinary experiences. There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Banff!
If you’re looking for inspiration regarding what to do outside of town, or help with any other parts of planning a trip to Banff National Park, I have a great series of posts for that! Check out The Best Banff Itinerary: Part I for all the pre-arrival ins & outs, including information on park passes, accommodation, transportation, et cetera. Peruse Part II for things to do in the area surrounding the town of Banff, such as cruising Lake Minnewanka or skiing Mount Norquay. And, last but certainly not least, read Part III for detailed information about the real highlights of Banff National Park: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, the Icefields Parkway, and more!
If the town of Banff itself is what you’re interested in, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to discover what makes Banff one of my all-time favourite places to visit.
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Arts & Culture
Surrounded by natural beauty, Banff is an artist’s (and art-lover’s) dream. Whether or not you’re looking to buy a piece, its galleries are worth perusing just to gaze upon the many gorgeous photos, paintings, sculptures, and more. And there’s so much more to Banff than just looks—it’s also steeped in history. As the oldest national park in Canada, it’s been a centre for tourism for over one hundred years; and as part of Treaty 7 territory, it’s a place where Indigenous peoples have lived, hunted, gathered, and visited for more than ten thousand years. If you’d like to immerse yourself in Banff’s past, try a self-guided walking tour around the town’s historical landmarks, or visit one of its museums.
Galleries
- All in the Wild Gallery
- Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
- Brandon T. Brown Wilderness Gallery
- Canada House Gallery
- Carter-Ryan Gallery
- Willock & Sax Gallery
Museums
- Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
- Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum
- Cave & Basin National Historic Site
- Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
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Shopping
Banff has a plethora of retail establishments, the vast majority of which are found either along the town’s main thoroughfare, Banff Avenue, or one block over on Bear Street. Of course, there are the big-name international retailers, with stores for the outdoorsy (Patagonia, The North Face), the fashion-forward (Lululemon, Roots), the foodie (David’s Tea, Evoolution), and more. But when I go to Banff, I like to stop in at all the little shops that I can’t find anywhere else.
Some of my personal favourite places to visit include:
- The Banff Candy Store for a stupendous variety of treats with which to satisfy your sweet tooth, including imported candies and homemade chocolates.
- Banff Dog House for treats, toys, jackets, and more—all for your best friend.
- Banff Trading Post for authentic Indigenous-made goods.
- Big Bear Trading Company & Branches Marketplace for souveniers, from the typical (T-shirts) to the unique (candles in scents such as ‘hot springs’ and ‘maple syrup’).
- Little Blue House for the punniest pyjamas you’ll ever see.
- Rocky Mountain Flannel Company for cozy, lumberjack-esque apparel.
- Spirit of Christmas for any and all the decorations you could ever want.
Of course, this is just a small sampling of what Banff has to offer shoppers. For a more complete listing, visit Banff Tourism’s official website.
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The Great Outdoors
There are an abundance of ways with which to take in Banff’s stunning surroundings. In the warmer months, you can go mountain biking in the Tunnel Mountain bench, paddle a canoe along the Bow River, or hike through Sundance Canyon. If you’re visiting in the winter, try snowshoeing & cross-country skiing along Spray River, or skating on the Vermillion Lakes. Whatever you choose, you’ll soon be immersed in Banff’s famously breathtaking natural beauty, all without leaving the town itself.
Biking
Relax as you cruise along one of Banff’s scenic paved trails beside the Bow River, or go for a more exhilarating ride in the Tunnel Mountain bench, the choice is yours. Didn’t bring your bike? You can still enjoy the trails! There are several retail outlets in town that offer bike rentals of all varieties, but our personal favourite is Snowtips/Bactrax. The staff are friendly and knowledgable, their equipment is top-notch, and their prices are competitive (for example, a full day’s use of a “trail” bike, suitable for both paved and unpaved routes, costs $44).
I’m currently working on a comprehensive post about Banff’s mountain & road biking trails, but in the meantime, check out Parks Canada‘s website for more information.
Canoeing
Admire Banff from a new vantage point by paddling along its serene waterways. From the public docks at the corner of Wolf Street & Bow Ave, follow the Bow River for a spell or drift along Forty Mile Creek into Vermillion Lakes. If you don’t have a canoe of your own, you can rent one at the docks from The Banff Canoe Club ($53 for the first hour & $31 for each additional hour).
Hiking
Meander through beautiful gardens, traverse a canyon, or summit a mountain. There really is a trail for anyone and everyone in Banff, no matter your skill or fitness level! For more information, including trail stats, maps, descriptions, and (of course) gorgeous photos, visit my post 17 Fantastic Hiking Trails in the Town of Banff! And for all-important information on how to stay safe while out on the trails, check out my Hiking Safety Tips.
Winter activities
When the snow falls, Banff transforms into a glittering winter wonderland. While the park may be famous for its downhill skiing, there are still plenty of other ways to enjoy Banff’s natural beauty during this time of year. Fresh snowfall? Try strapping on a pair of snowshoes and heading up Tunnel Mountain Drive—closed to vehicle traffic in the winter—or else exploring one of the hiking trails mentioned above. Once day or two has passed, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, fat-biking, and winter hiking along many of these same trails. And, of course, there’s always ice skating on Vermillion Lakes, or one of the town’s outdoor rinks. Don’t have the gear necessary to participate in the activity you want to? Once again, Snowtips/Bactrax has your back, offering rentals for all of the above.
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Unique Experiences
Are you looking for that little extra something to make your trip to Banff truly remarkable? Perhaps you’re celebrating an important event, or maybe you just want to make sure that you get to experience as much of Banff as possible. Whatever your reason, these experiences are sure to make your vacation especially memorable.
Hot springs
Are your muscles aching after a particularly gruelling hike, or are you especially chilly after a day of exploring Banff in the winter? Spend an hour or so relaxing in the wonderfully warm waters of the Banff Upper Hot Springs, and you’ll feel like a brand new person. Admission is $9 per adult, with swimsuit and towel rentals available for an extra charge.
Sightseeing gondola
While admittedly quite touristy, Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola offers truly exceptional views, and is the best way for people with limited mobility or fitness levels to see one of the town’s highlights. Tickets are approximately $50 roundtrip per adult, with prices fluctuating depending on when in the week you book, and whether or not you purchase your tickets in advance. If you’re travelling with kids, there’s an interpretive centre at the top that’s sure to peak their interest; and if you’re a couple looking to make the evening extra special, you can book a package deal that includes dinner on top of the mountain at the award-winning Sky Bistro ($115 per adult on average). If a gondola ride is out of your budget and you’re fairly fit, you can also hike or bike up the mountain, and access the boardwalk and interpretive centre for free.
Tours
Banff Trail Riders offers a multitude of equestrian tours, from horseback rides along the Bow or Spray Rivers, to romantic carriage rides through downtown Banff, to sleigh rides amongst the foothills. Prices vary depending on the length of the tour booked, but expect to pay around $75+ per person for a trail ride, and $40+ per person for a sleigh ride. My husband and I went on their private couple’s sleigh ride during our honeymoon, and it was one of the highlights of our trip.
The Canmore Theatre Company conducts a unique walking tour through the town of Banff that “explores Banff’s spooky history”, visiting landmarks rife with paranormal tales. This ghost walk tour runs from May through September, and costs $35 per person.
Pursuit, the company that operates the Banff Gondola and several other tourist attractions in the rockies, runs several different Open-Top Bus tours through downtown Banff during the summer. These tours are vintage-themed, and each one explores something a little different about Banff, be it “moonshine & microbrews”, or “castles & waterfalls”. Tickets start at $43 per adult.
And finally, if you’d like to experience paddling along the Bow River but are nervous about renting your own canoe, Rocky Mountain Raft Tours and Banff Adventures both offer guided float trips that start right in downtown Banff, and offer magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.
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What’s your favourite thing to do in the town of Banff?
Leave a comment down below to share your tips, tricks, and experiences!
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