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.
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, The Fat Ox of Banff (415 Banff Ave) and The Chimney Corner (1 Sunshine Access RoadPO Box 1510 Stn Main) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in 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.
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 Australia departs from Adelaide and takes around 22h 09m.
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 Thrifty and Avis, among others, in Calgary.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Banff, including Rider Express, Red Arrow and Ebus. From Edmonton, the bus ride to Banff takes 266 km and will cost you around $106. From Lloydminster, the ticket costs about $127 for a journey of 604 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.
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hi Banff Alpine Centre - Hostel and Homestead Inn Banff.
Hiring a car in Banff costs $116 per day, on average, or $580 if you want to hire it for 5 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.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 19% more expensive than at Calgary.
Expect to pay $2.09 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 $24.97 and $33.29. Intermediate (Honda Civic or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Banff, while also 9% cheaper than other types, on average.