How to Spend a Weekend in Banff!

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Got a few days in Banff and a million things you want to do? I know how you feel, there is so much to see! While you could easily spend a week or two exploring Banff town and the national park, you can get a glimpse of all its glory in just a quick weekend getaway. 

We lived in Canmore and would spend a weekend in Banff when we needed a staycation. To maximize a two-day trip, we crafted this itinerary that hits the mountain-top sites, the tastiest restaurants, and relaxing activities. So even if you’re tight on time, you can have an amazing weekend in Banff!

Day 1

Breakfast – Evelyn’s Coffee Bar 

My perfect start to any weekend getaway is good coffee. Coffee makes the world go round, you know! The best place for coffee and breakfast is Evelyn’s Coffee Bar, conveniently located on Banff Ave. 

They make a mean espresso, which is necessary to fuel all that we have planned for today. But they also have a simple breakfast menu that hits the spot! Their salmon bagel is so fresh and tasty, but the breakfast sandwich is always my go-to. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t skip out on the vanilla scones that are so light and fluffy yet sweet (I’m drooling just thinking about it!).

Evelyn’s is great for a grab-and-go breakfast, or if you have some time to sit and enjoy the views, you will be wowed! They open at 7 am every day of the week. So grab your breakfast and let’s keep exploring!

Morning – Take a stroll on Banff Ave 

With coffee in hand, spend some time getting to know Banff Ave this morning! You can see from the photo above, that the views from Banff Ave are worth a mention! Everywhere you look you can see the stunning Rocky Mountains, which I think is a great intro to your weekend here. 

I always have fun wandering around Banff, so here are a few places I think are worth a stop:

• Cool as a Moose souvenir store – If you’re looking to snag a souvenir to commemorate your weekend here, this shop has the biggest selection and a decent price. The staff are really helpful and friendly, so stop by to browse!

• Banff Candy Store – This is a cute, old-fashioned candy store filled to the brim with sweets like Saltwater Taffy and specialty chocolates – YUM!

• Park Distillery – Spoiler alert: you’ll be heading here for dinner! But, if you want to spend some extra time, daily distillery tours happen at 3:15 pm or you can stop by the bar for a cocktail made with locally distilled spirits.  

• High Rollers Banff – If you like a little friendly competition, be sure to stop by High Rollers for some bowling. They also have a bar and pizza, it’s super fun! Best to book a lane ahead of time because there are only 6 available. 

• The Grizzly House – A staple on Banff Ave, this restaurant might be as old as the Rocky Mountains! I love their quirky decor and Fondue special.

Late Morning – Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain 

Out of all the things to do in Banff (check out our full list here) riding the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain is easily the most popular activity. This 8-minute gondola ride gives incredible panoramic views of Banff town and the expansive Rocky Mountains – to say it’s beautiful is an understatement!

Once you’re at the top of Sulphur Mountain, spend a couple hours checking everything out. There’s a cafe where I always grab some coffee and take in the views or explore the boardwalk – my favorite part. 

The boardwalk leads to scenic viewpoints and away from the crowds. If you take it all the way to the end, you’ll find the old weather station, which has sweeping views of the valley below. It takes me about 1 hour to walk out there and back and it’s a flat, easy boardwalk. 

You can ride the Banff Gondola year-round! I recommend buying tickets in advance, as it can be very busy and you don’t want to wait around all day. Tickets range from $59-$67 CAD, depending on the day.

Purchase your Banff Gondola tickets in advance here!

Lunch – Sky Bistro

While you’re exploring the top of Sulphur Mountain via the Banff Gondola, this is the perfect stop for lunch! The Sky Bistro is a tasty restaurant, but of course, the views are really impressive. Can you imagine dining at 2,289 meters (7,510 feet) above sea level? Well, you’ll get to here!

We have eaten here a handful of times and everything we’ve tried is good. The beef brisket burger is huge and so tasty, but on a cold winter day, I love the clam chowder. They also serve cocktails and beer – nothing’s wrong with a little afternoon pick-me-up! 

Despite this immaculate restaurant setting, prices are actually pretty reasonable. Lunch mains are around $30 CAD and a pint of local beer is $10-$12 CAD. You can dine a la carte or choose to bundle lunch with your gondola ticket! Regardless of which you choose, I recommend making reservations.

You can see both options and reserve your mountain-top dining experience here.

Afternoon – Walk Johnston Canyon

I love visiting Johnston Canyon, how could you not with that incredible landscape? The Upper and Lower Falls are the main attraction here, but I have so much fun wandering around on the boardwalk and admiring the turquoise water that flows below. 

The boardwalk goes to both waterfalls, first to the Lower Falls (1.7 km/1 mile from the parking lot) and then to the Upper Falls, which is 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) further. 

The canyon is open year-round! It’s easy to visit during the summer (except that it can get really busy, especially on weekends). You can still explore the canyon during winter, you’ll just need to have crampons, and best to have some previous ice-walking experience. If you’ve never done a winter hike, I recommend joining this guided ice walk to ensure your safety and learn a bit along the way. 

Johnston Canyon is located 30 minutes from Banff and the easiest way to get there is to drive yourself. Plan on spending a few hours on this activity between the drive time, and to give yourself enough time to explore. 

If you don’t have a car, you can get there via the hop-on hop-off bus (which also includes more iconic Banff sights) or by taking public transportation. The Roam Bus runs from Banff to Johnston Canyon with route #9 for only $5 CAD each way.  

Related Read: Looking for even more hikes during your weekend in Banff? Check out the best hikes in Banff for all skill levels here!

Dinner – Park Distillery

Phew – what a busy first day! You’re probably ready for dinner and drinks by this point. Luckily, I’m taking you to the Park Distillery for dinner. This is Banff’s staple craft distillery, and while we love the spirits here, the food is also phenomenal. So even if you aren’t a fan of booze, you’ll really enjoy the dinner options!

My go-to main dishes are the fresh BC salmon or the chicken sandwich, made with bourbon BBQ sauce. They also have a wide selection of Alberta Beef offerings, and you know what they say – when in Alberta, eat Alberta Beef (that’s a saying, right?). 

As far as cocktails go, you can’t make a bad choice. We both love the Sawback, made with their own chili vodka, and the Floral Sour, made with their very popular gin! If you are here on a Friday, try and catch happy hour with a DJ from 3:30-5:30 pm! Park Distillery is located on Banff Ave, you can’t miss it!

Night – Relax in the Banff Hot Springs 

After a day of adventure, I can’t think of any better way to wind down than relaxing in hot springs with the Rocky Mountains surrounding you. The Banff Upper Hot Springs is just the place for some tranquil mountain views, and they are only a 10-minute drive from Banff Ave. 

Many people visit the hot springs during the day, but we have recently discovered that if you go for an after-dinner soak, there’s hardly anyone there! They are open until 10 pm and the last entry is at 9:30 pm, although I’d recommend double checking the hours as they sometimes change.

The best part of these hot springs is that it won’t cost an arm and a leg to enjoy them! Admission is just $17.50 CAD. There is parking, and it shouldn’t be too full at this hour, but you can also take the ROAM bus number 1 which runs until 11:30 pm (just in case you had too many cocktails at dinner!).

Day 2

Today, you have options on how to spend your morning! Let’s be honest, there are just too many incredible places in Banff National Park that I couldn’t narrow it down myself, so I’m leaving the choice up to you! I will outline two options below, and then the rest of the day’s activities will follow.

Morning Option 1 – Visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

You’ve likely seen photos of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake – they are the poster children for Banff. We love both, and we actually got engaged at Moraine Lake! Visiting is a great way to see the natural beauty of the national park, from turquoise waters and rugged mountain peaks to amazing hiking trails. Plan on spending most of your morning on this activity!

However, visiting these two lakes is not as straightforward as you’d think, you can’t simply hop in your car and drive there because they are so popular. Luckily, we have options and they are pretty close together, so all of these options include stops at both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

• The cheapest way to visit is by taking the Parks Canada Shuttle. This shuttle departs every 20 minutes from the Lake Louise Ski Resort parking lot, from 6:30 am to 6 pm. This option gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and spend as much time at either lake as you’d like. This shuttle is $8 CAD each way.

• The most convenient way to visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise is by joining an organized tour, like this one! This 4-hour tour will provide transportation and your local guide, who will show you exactly where to go for the best viewpoints. I love guided tours when I want to learn more about the area and have all the details taken care of for me. This is the most expensive option at $113 CAD per person, but the convenience of the day makes the price worth it!

• Finally, for an option slightly in between the two, there is this privately operated shuttle through the Moraine Lake Bus Company. We used this shuttle last time and had a great experience! It’s much smaller and streamlined than the Parks Canada Shuttle, and you book it ahead of time so you don’t have to wait in a long line. It is $60-$70 CAD and strikes a good balance of value and convenience.

Once you decide on the best way to get there, you’re in for a treat! Check out our guides on the best things to do in Lake Louise and our favorite activities at Moraine Lake to maximize your time.

Morning Option 2 – Visit the Icefields Parkway

Important Update: Due to extensive wildfire damage, the Icefields Parkway from the Columbia Icefield Visitor Centre/Athabasca Glacier to the town of Jasper is only open for traffic. Drivers must pass through this section of road without stopping at any rest stops or viewpoints. Check 511 Alberta for updates.

Option two for today is another legendary Banff activity – driving the Icefields Parkway! This is the most beautiful stretch of road in Banff National Park. In fact, National Geographic listed this as one of the most scenic drives in the entire world – so you don’t want to skip out on this one!

The parkway connects Banff and Jasper, and you’ll see kilometers of the Rocky Mountains on each side of you, gorgeous alpine lakes, glaciers, and so much more. We like to make a journey out of this route and take plenty of stops along the way to explore. Honestly, there are so many stops that I suggest you read our guide to driving the Icefields Parkway to find out all of the can’t-miss destinations. But, I’ll highlight my absolute favorites!

For quick viewpoints, I recommend stopping by Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, and Sunwapta Falls. 

The big-ticket attraction along this route is the Athabasca Glacier, which is 2.5 hours from Banff. So enjoy the scenic drive to get there because you want to visit the glacier – trust me! It’s so much fun driving on the glacier itself using the specially converted Ice Explorer bus. Once you’re on top of thousands of meters of ice, you can walk around, drink right from the spring, and marvel at this huge ice field. 

The Skywalk is another interesting look at the Icefield, as it’s a glass-bottom suspended bridge that extends over the edge of a cliff – yikes! But the views are absolutely incredible and totally worth any fear of heights. 

You can visit both the Athabasca Glacier and the Skywalk on this combo tour. I highly recommend booking this activity in advance because it’s popular. We didn’t book in advance last time and ended up waiting for hours for a spot on a tour to open up!

This activity will also take most of the morning (and might bleed into the afternoon). I suggest getting up early to get a jump start on the day, it’s totally worth it!

Book your Athabasca Glacier and Skywalk tour in advance here!

Related Read: If you’d rather spend more time exploring this scenic area, check out our guide to the best Icefields Parkway tours!

Lunch

Your lunch options will really depend on your morning activity. If you visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, you’ll probably be back in Banff for a late lunch. But if you are driving the Icefields Parkway you’ll probably still be out exploring, so pack a lunch because there aren’t a lot of options on the road. 

As far as lunch in Banff goes, you have a ton of good options. One of my favorite lunch spots is Rose & Crown for their rooftop bar! Even after a morning out exploring, I still don’t get sick of those mountain peak views, so sitting on the roof and having a tasty lunch is so satisfying. They serve typical pub fare, burgers, pizza, and sandwiches – it’s all super filling and yummy! 

We also love Añejo Restaurant for some Mexican food! Their tacos are soooo good and they have a lot of options, so we usually mix and match so we can try them all. It’s a hard choice, but I think the Pork Carnitas and Crispy Fish are my fave! They have a lunch special on the tacos from 11 am to 3 pm, so pair it with a margarita and you’ve got yourself a nice little lunch. 

You can’t skip out on one of the breweries on Banff Ave either! Banff Ave Brewing and Three Bears Brewing are both amazing for some locally crafted beer and tasty lunch dishes!

Afternoon – Visit Lake Minnewanka 

Did you know that the largest lake in Banff National Park is just a short drive from downtown? Lake Minnewanka is massive and seriously stunning! It is 28 km (17 mi) long and 142 meters (466 feet) deep – talk about impressive. Since this huge lake is only a 20-minute drive, it’s easy to visit and a perfect afternoon activity. You can spend some time hiking in this area on the Stewart Canyon Trail.

But the most popular thing to do is go on the famous Lake Minnewanka scenic boat cruise! We’ve personally gone on this cruise and had fun learning about the lake’s interesting history, but really the views were the standout! Having onboard commentary was super helpful so we could learn about the mountain peaks and spot wildlife. Best of all, the cruise lasts just over an hour and they offer departures every hour, so it’s really easy to fit into the afternoon schedule. 

This cruise is $69 CAD and I think it’s the best way to experience Lake Minnewanka!

You can check the times available and book your afternoon cruise here!

Dinner –  The Juniper Bistro

I suggest taking some time to go back to your hotel, relax for a bit, and freshen up because I’m taking you to my favorite romantic restaurant in Banff for dinner. Juniper Bistro is a little outside of Banff town in the Juniper Hotel. It’s known for its incredible food and even better views!

One thing we really love about Juniper Bistro is that they use seasonal ingredients so the menu rotates to have the best offerings possible. They serve authentic Canadian dishes, like pan-seared duck, freshly caught salmon, and a variety of locally sourced veggies, and cook them to perfection! Check out their menu here to start brainstorming your order (anyone else do that?).

We always try and sit on the patio during the summer, because the views are out of this world! The restaurant has won multiple awards for having the best restaurant views in Banff – so that’s saying something! You can dine at the Juniper Bistro daily for brunch and dinner. I highly recommend booking a reservation because it can get very busy on the weekends.

Night – Party on Banff Ave

While Banff Ave seems busy during the daytime, wait until you see the nightlife in Banff! There are a surprising amount of fun places to go out for dinner and drinks. Maybe you can even find some dancing! 

You can easily stroll down the street and find a lively place, but here are my favorite spots to get you started.

Banff Ave Brewing Co

A visit to Banff Ave isn’t complete without stopping by Banff Ave Brewing Co., especially if you love craft beer as much as we do! They have a wide selection of their own craft beers and the vibe actually gets quite lively at night. 

Their hours vary, so I recommend double-checking before you go. But they are usually open until midnight or 1 am. We stop here for a pint or two before heading off to our next favorite spot, which is…

The Dancing Sasquatch

We love the Dancing Sasquatch! It’s ideal if you want to dance and let loose. There is definitely a younger crowd here, drawn in by the DJ and themed events. The drinks aren’t anything special, but it’s the party atmosphere you’re here for. The Dancing Sasquatch is open Thursday to Sunday from 9 pm to 2 am. 

St James’ Gate Irish Pub

Irish Pubs have a very specific vibe that is fun and cozy all at the same time! The spirits are high and it’s usually pretty relaxed, and that’s exactly what St James’ Gate is like. The food here is really tasty, perfect if you’re hungry late at night! And they have a full bar offering pretty much anything you could want. 

Where to Stay in Banff

Banff National Park is full to the brim with great hotels and hostels – it’s pretty exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming when deciding where to stay! Of course, cost is a big factor when deciding on your accommodation, as well as comfort and all the amenities on offer.

From hotels in Banff town to ones that are a little more out in nature, we’ve put together a list of our favorites for each budget category:

Fairmont Banff Springs – $$$

The Fairmont Banff Springs is easily the most luxurious hotel in Banff. As you can expect, it’s not cheap but the place is simply incredible – it seriously looks like a castle! This is perfect for a romantic weekend away in Banff!

Inside the hotel, you’ll find 11 restaurants, 14 shops, a bowling alley, bars, a top-rated spa, a couple of pools, and so much more. With so much to do in this one-of-a-kind luxury hotel, you’ll honestly feel like you’ll never want to leave!

Rooms here at the Fairmont can be as high as $1,000+ CAD in peak season, so it’s best to book as far ahead as possible! You can check prices and room availability online here.

Banff Rocky Mountain Resort – $$

For those with a mid-range budget, the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort has a beautiful swimming pool, hot tub, and gym, and all the rooms come equipped with kitchenettes or full kitchens. We’d say this is the perfect option for families since two and three-bedroom units are also available.

The hotel is also in a good location that’s just a 5-minute drive away from town, so it’s a great place to enjoy the wonderful peace and quiet of the Banff countryside! Rooms here average around $500-600 CAD per night in the high season, but dip as low as around $129 CAD in the low season. You can check availability and book Banff Rocky Mountain Resort online here.

Banff Inn – $$

Rooms at the Banff Inn have a very affordable price tag, but are also chock-full with all the amenities you could want to have a great stay! This way, you can splurge on those once-in-a-lifetime tours and experiences that make a trip to Banff so memorable.

The hotel is located right on Banff Ave and all rooms are air-conditioned. Inside, you’ll find a hot tub, steam room, and sauna, as well as a restaurant and bar – perfect for a little bit of relaxation after a long day out exploring Banff. Rooms here start at $159 CAD, but don’t forget to book the Banff Inn well in advance as this is one of the most popular hotels in Banff!

Samesun Banff Hostel – $

For folks looking to save some cash while having a blast in Banff, it’s definitely worth checking out the Samesun Banff Hostel. It’s a great place for backpackers or anyone who’s fine with making some new friends and doesn’t mind sharing a dorm. But if you’re keen on privacy, keep in mind that there aren’t any private rooms available here.

A bed in a dorm here starts from around $54 CAD, including breakfast, and can be booked on either Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Important info: Accommodation in Banff can be tricky. You need to book well in advance if you want to have a large selection. I suggest using Booking.com because lots of hotels offer free cancellation so just lock in a place (or two) for now and make the final decision later!

Thanks for reading!

Now that’s how you spend a weekend in Banff! We filled this itinerary to the brim, so pick and choose activities you like, or follow it exactly. Either way, I know you’ll have a great time exploring. We always love spending time in Banff!

If you found this blog helpful, check out our other Canada blogs. We have a ton of resources to help with your travel planning, and there is so much more to explore in this beautiful country (ok, I’m a little biased because I grew up here!). Check out some related reads below to get you started.

Our 16 FAVORITE Tours in Banff (and Why We Love Them!)

How to Get from the Calgary Airport to Banff: Transfer, Bus, or Rental Car 

Guide to Planning the Most Romantic Honeymoon in Banff & Lake Louise