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A guide to visiting Banff for the first time

A guide to visiting Banff for the first time

A guide to visiting Banff for the first time

How to make the most out of your short trip to Banff! Travel tips for how to get to Banff, traveling around, and staying in Banff. All without renting a car and traveling on a budget.

Where is Banff? Banff is located 127km west of Calgary, Canada. Tucked away in the Canadian Rockies, Banff is the perfect “home base” for exploring Banff National Park.

Why visit Banff? Growing up my grandmother always went on and on about how beautiful the Canadian Rockies are and how much she loved visiting Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. Naturally, I put those places on my bucket list. But with only a few days in the area, just how do you make the most of a trip to Banff? More importantly, how do you do travel while on a budget ?

I’ll get into how to get to Banff, where to stay, and how to get around without a car. To get the most out of a short trip to Banff, check out the best itinerary for a long weekend in Banff.

First of all, how do you get to Banff without spending too much money?

Getting to Banff

The easiest way to get to Banff is through Calgary. Whether you rent a car or decide to go via bus, getting there won’t take more than 2 hours.  Renting a car isn’t a cheap option, and may only make sense if you’re a group of 3 or more people. Seeing as this was a solo adventure for me, I opted for using the buses.

Bus option 1 - ON IT Bus

On IT provides the cheapest transportation to Banff. For only $10 you can get from downtown Calgary to the center of Banff. If you’re arriving via Calgary international airport, you first have to get to downtown Calgary (bus 300). Keep in mind that the 300 bus only runs every 30 minutes. You should allow for at least 2 hours between your flight’s arrival, and the On It bus departure. Sadly, my flight was over an hour late and I ended up missing the 300 bus into town.

public bus in Alberta

Bus option 2 - Private Bus

There are a few different bus companies that offer transportation directly to Banff from Calgary International Airport. However, these buses are a bit more expensive (between $70 and $80). I highly suggest booking in advance!

Bus companies: Banff Airporter / Brewster Express

Note: give yourself at least 90 minutes – 2 hours between your flights’ arrival time and bus departure. Getting through customs at YYC can take really long time.

Poparide

Poparide is a ride-sharing app that allows you to find a ride with others. Very similar to Blablacar. 

For only $26, I went from Banff to Calgary, which is significantly cheaper than some of the buses. Remember that you can look from Calgary airport or Calgary center and use bus 300 to get there.

Note: people sometimes add trips last minute, so I recommend looking at their site up until 3 days before you leave.

Staying in Banff

Where to stay in Banff? Obviously, the cheapest option when it comes to staying in Banff is finding a campground. However, it’s not always easy having all your camping gear with you. So, if camping isn’t possible, the next most affordable option is a youth hostel. 

When choosing a hostel, you will find a few options in Banff as well as Canmore (which is only a few kilometers away.) 

To be blunt, Banff is more expensive, and Canmore is further from the main bus lines to visit the National Park. So, you will have to weigh your options. Since I was in Banff for only a few days, I decided to stay on the edge of downtown Banff. If I had rented a car though, I probably would have opted for Canmore, seeing as it’s cheaper. There are a few different youth hostels in the area. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any cheap Airbnbs or even a couch surf. Therefore, be prepared to pay at least $50 a night for a bunk in a youth hostel. For anybody who has gotten used to staying at hostels in other countries; Banff is expensive. 

I stayed at the Samesun, however, I was quite disappointed so I wouldn’t recommend it. Also keep in mind that high season starts in June, and prices are nearly double. 

Getting around Banff and the National Park

Let me start by saying, the public transportation in Banff is amazing! The Roam public transport system has made it simple to get around Banff, as well as the main sites within the National Park. With 9 different routes, you can visit the must-see sites without renting a car. Personally, I love how easy it is to get around without a car. Plus, it encourages people to use public transportation!

Banff public transit

Prices will depend on what route you take, but day passes are available for most routes. For $25 you can get a day pass out to Lake Louise. Which includes the shuttle bus out to Moraine Lake.

Useful travel tips for visiting Banff National Park

Feeling inspired to visit Banff National Park? Here’s a quick FAQ for planning your adventure to Banff Canada.

How much does it cost to get into Banff National Park?

The daily admission fees are as follows: Adult ($10.50), Senior ($9.00), Youth (free), Family/Group ($21.00).

When is Banff National Park open?

Banff National Park is open all year. However, certain roads and areas are not accessible during the winter season. For more information, you can contact one of the visitor centers.

When is the best time to visit Banff?

The summer months are going to be the busiest of the year. June is a great time to visit if you want to avoid the peak crowds and have access to all the different hikes (many areas are still unaccessible in May due to snow). Otherwise aim for September when crowds have thinned out and the colors start changing.

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