The Ultimate Guide to Banff

Everything you need is right here, from hiking recommendations, to restaurants, to hotels and much, much more. 

100 Things to do in BanffPlan your Trip

The Local’s Guide to Banff

If you want a local’s guide to Banff, then you’ve come to the right place! Louise was born and raised in Banff and I moved here way back in 2012. Between the two of us, we’ve got almost 40 years of experience in the Canadian Rockies!

We’ve spent years exploring as many restaurants, attractions, hotels, hikes, hot springs as we can, and slowly but surely we’re compiling our database for new visitors. Explore this page for honest reviews, detailed guides, hidden gems and all things related to Banff, Jasper, Calgary, and the Canadian Rockies. 

Step 1 – Pick your season

What you’re able to get up to on your visit to Banff is going to completely depend on when you visit. Are you a skier? Are you hoping to see some of our bright blue lakes? Maybe you want to see our fall colours. We recommend checking out our comprehensive ‘month by month’ guide to the best time to visit Banff before you go any further!

Step 2 – Pick Somewhere to Stay

Knowing where to stay when you visit Banff is almost overwhelming. There are so many towns and hotels to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin.

We’ve written a complete Guide to Hotels in Banff & Lake Louise to make things easier for you. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a few budget options, check out our guide to Cheap Accommodation in Banff

Step 3 - Start Planning your Activities

Whether you visit in Summer or Winter, there are dozens of incredible things to do in Banff. Why not start with our list of 100 things to do in Banff to help you narrow down a few options, and then head back here for some more specific posts on various topics below!

SUMMER IN BANFF

With a lifetime of things to do in Banff in summer, you’ll have to be efficient with your time. To get you started, here’s our perfect 4 day summer itinerary for first time visitors to Banff.

Hiking Guides for Banff (or nearby)

Planning a trip to Banff can be almost overwhelming, especially if you only have limited time at your disposal! To help you save some time, we’ve put together a few broad hiking and scrambling suggestions that we’ve loved over the years.

Specific Hikes (and scrambles) in Banff and Kananaskis that we love 

If you don’t want to read our guides, here are a few of our absolute favourite hikes in the Canadian Rockies

WINTER IN BANFF

Winter in Banff is all about getting outside and playing in the snow. Whether you’re a skier or looking for something a little less high octane, there are dozens of incredible things to do here.

Skiing in the Canadian Rockies

It almost goes without saying that skiing in Canada is unbelievably good. It’s the reason I first came out here and we’re still absolutely obsessed with the Champagne powder out here.

The first post to check out is our Ultimate Guide to Skiing in Western Canada.

Still need more? Check out some of these posts:

 

Step 4 - Plan your meals

With so much good food and drink in the Canadian Rockies, you’ll have to work smart if you’re going to track it all down.

To begin with, here’s our complete guide to restaurants in Banff. Over 40 restaurant recommendations with something for even the pickiest foodies!