Things to do — Banff

Banff is explored by combining town, hiking and excursions. Typical 3-day itinerary:

Day 1 — Banff town and Sulphur Mountain: Banff Avenue (morning, main pedestrian street in summer, outdoor equipment shops, Canadian and Indigenous art galleries), Cave and Basin National Historic Site (original 1883 hot springs founding site of the park, historic visit CAD 8, exhibition on park history and thermal ecosystems), Banff Park Museum (historic 1903 taxidermy, oldest collection of stuffed animals in Canada, CAD 4). Lunch The Bison (211 Bear Street, modern Canadian cuisine with Alberta beef bison, CAD 25-45/person). Banff Gondola (afternoon, 100 Mountain Avenue, 8 min cable car to Sulphur Mountain 2,281 m summit, CAD 64, 360° panoramic view over 6 mountain ranges, 1 km boardwalk trail on summit, Sky Bistro gastronomic restaurant). Evening Banff Upper Hot Springs (Mountain Avenue, CAD 17, hot springs 38-40 °C, particularly magical at sunset or evening under the stars).

Day 2 — Bow Valley Parkway and Lake Minnewanka: Bow Valley Parkway (morning, route 1A alternative to Trans-Canada between Banff and Lake Louise, speed limited 60 km/h, optimal wildlife observation at sunrise — black bears, elk, bighorn sheep), Johnston Canyon (must-stop, canyon with metal walkways anchored in the cliff, 2.7 km return hike to lower falls or 5.4 km return to upper falls, 50-100 m elevation, ideal families). Vermilion Lakes (on the way back, iconic sunset photo on Mount Rundle, accessible by bike from Banff 4 km, rental at Bactrax Bike Rental CAD 12/hour). Lake Minnewanka (afternoon, 15 min away, Banff's largest lake 28 km long, Banff Lake Cruise tourist boat CAD 64 adult 60 min, or Stewart Canyon hike 4 km return, or Two Jack Lake adjacent for kayaking/SUP). Dinner Coyotes Deli & Grill (American Southwest cuisine, CAD 35-55) or Le Beaujolais (French gastronomic, CAD 60-90).

Day 3 — Tunnel Mountain hike or Lake Louise excursion: Option A — Tunnel Mountain hike (1,690 m summit accessible on foot from downtown, 4.3 km return, 300 m elevation, 2h, panoramic view over Banff and Mount Rundle — ideal for sunrise). Option B — Lake Louise + Moraine Lake day excursion (1h by car, mandatory Parks Canada shuttle for Moraine since 2023, CAD 28 return booking 6 months ahead, full day with Lake Agnes Tea House 5.8 km return + Plain of Six Glaciers 10.8 km hikes, lunch Lakeview Lounge at Chateau Lake Louise). Option C — more demanding hike: Cory Pass (13 km return, 920 m elevation, demanding, spectacular panorama over Mt Edith), Cascade Amphitheatre (14 km return, 600 m elevation, climb above Norquay), Sulphur Mountain Trail (free alternative to cable car, 11 km return, 700 m elevation).

Optional excursions: Sunshine Meadows (by cable car in summer from Sunshine Village, CAD 50, alpine meadows, July-August flowers, Rock Isle Lake 3.5 km hike), Banff Wildlife Tour at sunrise or sunset with operator Discover Banff Tours (CAD 60-90, grizzly and elk observation), excursion to Jasper via Icefields Parkway (232 km, 5-7h with stops, one of the world's most beautiful scenic drives — see Lake Louise spot).

Winter — SkiBig3: Banff Sunshine Village (30 min from Banff by shuttle, 3,300 acres, 138 runs, 2,700-2,200 m altitude, powder snow, November-May season), Lake Louise Ski Resort (45 min away, 4,200 acres, 145 runs, world top 10, panoramic Rockies view), Mt Norquay (10 min from Banff, 190 acres, family resort, night skiing Friday). SkiBig3 Pass (1-7 days, CAD 250-330/day adult, equipment rental CAD 50-80/day).