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 4 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 Nourish Bistro (110-211 Bear St) are great picks.
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 108 km from Banff. The shortest flight to Banff from the United Kingdom departs from Edinburgh and takes around 7h 57m.
Car
Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car hire from Calgary, which is about 106 km from Banff. You’ll find branches of Avis and Thrifty, among others, in Calgary.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Banff, including Rider Express, Cold Shot and Red Arrow. From Red Deer, the bus ride to Banff takes 137 km and will cost you around £19. From Edmonton, the ticket costs about £25 for a journey of 257 km. The most popular bus station is Banff Banff, Ab, located 0.8 km from the city centre of Banff. Banff Red-Carpet Inn is also a commonly used station, and is 0.7 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Banff
Where to stay in Banff
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Best Western Plus Siding 29 Lodge and Bow View Lodge.
Where to stay in popular areas of Banff
Most booked hotels in Banff
Hiring a car in Banff
Hiring a car in Banff costs £47 per day, on average, or £188 if you want to hire it for 4 days. 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 Avis branch at 317 Banff Avenue, which is 0 km from the city centre.
It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 22% cheaper than airport locations in Banff.
Expect to pay £1.15 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 £13.74 and £18.32. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Intermediate (Ford Escape or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) is, on average, 28% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.
Best car hire deals in Banff
Intermediate
5 adults, 3 Bags
£27/day
Intermediate SUV
5 adults, 3 Bags
£28/day