Banff Town
Banff
The only town within the national park. Banff Avenue faces Sulphur Mountain, and restaurants, shops, and nearby short-trip attractions are concentrated here.
Banff is the only incorporated town within a Canadian national park. It has a population of about 8,000 and sits in the Bow Valley at an altitude of about 1,380 m. Banff Avenue, the main street, faces Sulphur Mountain to the north, with restaurants, outdoor gear shops, and souvenir shops on both sides. Try beaver tails (fried dough pastries) and maple syrup products. You can walk the whole town in half an hour.
Within walking distance are Bow Falls, the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and the Whyte Museum. The town is also the departure point for the Sulphur Mountain gondola, Lake Minnewanka, and Lake Louise, all connected by Roam buses.
Parking is tight in summer, so take the bus or walk. Elk often wander through town, so keep your distance. Restaurants need reservations in peak season.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
- Bow Falls
- Fairmont Banff Springs
- Tunnel Mountain
- Cave and Basin National Historic Site
- Vermilion Lakes
- Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain)