Banff

Balkan Restaurant

The Balkan restaurant first fired up its grill on Banff Avenue in 1982. The restaurant was the creation of Greek families out of their element in the cold Canadian Rockies who wished to bring the authentic flavors and warm festive atmosphere of the Mediterranean to this high mountain town. Check out their Tuesday and Thursday night "Greek Night" with live belly dancing, Greek dancing and plate smashing.

Banff Avenue Brewery

The local brewery in Banff operates out a darkened second floor space downtown. A good IPA for the craft beer snob, and a selection of other milder beers here for the tourist market. Elk pie and bison stew are on the menu.

Banff Gondola Mountaintop Experience

Banff Gondola

Banff's sightseeing gondola provides visitors with great views of the Canadian Rockies and the town of Banff. The gondola takes you up 698m (2,292 ft) to an elevation of 2,281m (7,486 ft). At the top, there is a restaurant, gift shop, observation deck, photo opportunities, and a boardwalk to nearby Sanson Peak, at the top of Sulphur Mountain. On most Fridays and Saturdays, you can experience a sunset "Alpine Lights" dinner in the Panorama restaurant at the top of the gondola.

Varies seasonally; closed for 1 week in Jan for annual maintenance·$62 per adult ($56 if booked 48 hr in advance)

Banff Park Museum National Historic Site

Come and learn about the animals you may see on your trip to Banff. Guaranteed bear sightings! This historic "cabinet museum" is full of Banff wildlife preserved through taxidermy. Most of the animals on display were killed roughly a century ago.

May 14-June 30: Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM; July 1-Sept 1: daily 10AM-5PM; Sept 2-Oct 12: Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM·$3.90/adult, free with Parks Canada Discovery Pass

Banff Springs Golf Course

If you'd like to play golf, there's a 27-hole public golf course near to and operated by the landmark hotel. Along the season, several golf tournaments are arranged there.

Banff Springs Hotel National Historic Site

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The Banff Springs Hotel is a working hotel, and a recognized national historic site. The oldest part of the famous "Castle in the Rockies" was built between 1911 and 1914 using local Rundle stone (dark limestone) on the exterior, while the interior is that of a grand hotel. Fossils can be seen in the stone flooring. Visitors are welcome to see the public parts of the hotel, while guided tours may be available to show you some of the closed areas.

Free to visit

Banff Upper Hot Springs and Pleiades Massage & Spa

All the amenities of a modern facility are featured in this historic spa and bathhouse, with a backdrop of spectacular alpine scenery. Relax in soothing hot water where travellers have come to "take the waters" for more than a century. For an extra apres ski laugh, guests wishing to amuse can rent a hilarious 'traditional style' bathing costume. The outdoor hot pool is a great place to soak and watch falling snowflakes or the stars. Can be quite busy at times. In late spring, the hot springs flow sometimes drops significantly and must be supplemented with artificially-heated water. The Upper Hot Springs website's "Water" page states whether they are using all hot springs water or are supplementing.

10AM-10PM varies seasonally·$7.30 per adult

Bow Falls

Below the iconic Banff Springs Hotel is the beautiful Bow Falls. It's not the most dramatic waterfall in Banff National Park, but Bow Falls is in the town of Banff and is worth a visit. Easily accessible with plenty of parking for private vehicles and tour buses. You can take in the view from either side of the river.

Bow River Trail

The Bow River Trail is a riverside trail of 0.9 or 1.4 km, which are paved and according to the home page of the Town of Banff even wheelchair accessible.

Bow Valley Parkway

A scenic route from Banff to Lake Louise, running parallel to Highway 1. You have a good chance at seeing different mammals like bighorn sheep, wolves, elk, deer and grizzly bears. There are seasonal travel restrictions.

Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum

Housed in a reproduction of a fur trading post, this museum focuses on the history of the First Nations in the Banff area.

May 1-Sep 30: daily 10AM-6PM; Oct 1-Apr 30: 11AM-5PM·$10/adult

Canoeing & kayaking with Banff Adventures Unlimited

formerly Blue Canoe

Three minutes walk from the centre of Banff, you can find the canoe docks. There, you can rent canoe or kayak to take a tranquil journey on the Bow River. 1- and 2-person kayaks available; canoes seat three. Guided tours in large voyageur canoes are offered twice daily. Purchase canoe vouchers at 211 Bear Street.

$36 per person for one hour

Cascades of Time Gardens

Cascade Gardens

Designed and built in the 1930s, the Cascades of Time gardens cover 1.6 hectares (4 acres) in the Banff townsite, in front of the Administration Building and behind it. The rustic timber and stone pavilions in the garden are Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings.

Flowering from late June to early Sept·Free

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

See the birthplace of Canada's National Park system, where hot sulphur springs were found and the original bathhouse was built in 1887. There are also a couple of short nature trails that are free to access that explain the origin and the give you a view over the pools that are free to access.

Hours vary seasonally, check website·$3.90/person, free if you have Parks Canada Discovery Pass

Chateau Mountain Sports

Renting equipment for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing (skate-skiing & classic). They also rent snowshoes, ice skates, hockey sticks & pucks.

8AM-8PM

Cows Ice Cream

Ice cream cones, shakes, sundaes, and fun cow-related novelty t-shirts and mooooer.

Dancing Sasquatch

Very popular with the locals who like to party and with tourists. Be there by 10PM to avoid long lines on weekends and holidays.

Daily 9PM-2:30AM

Eden

French restaurant using many local ingredients, with some Asian influences. Choice of several set menus (prix fixe) that change seasonally, one of which is vegetarian. 10-time winner of CAA 5-Diamond and "Best of Award of Excellence" Wine Spectator awards.

4-course menu $160; 7-course menu $185

Fairmont Banff Springs Bowling & Entertainment Centre

Canadian 5-pin bowling, neon black-light bowling, an HD golf simulator, and a pool table.

Summer: Sun-Thu 3-10PM; Fri Sat 1-11PM; Winter: Sun-Thu noon-11PM; Fri Sat 1PM-midnight

Fenland Trail

A very good spot for birdwatching all year, and you may also see beaver or muskrat in 40 Mile Creek. May be closed in spring due to calving elk. (Cow elk are very protective of calves.)

Grizzly House

A must-see, this was once a swinger's bar. This uniquely shaped restaurant downtown has telephones at every table with placemats that serve as a map so you can call tables to chat through your dinner. It is a laid-back, fun atmosphere and the food does not disappoint. A typical meal may consist of a Caesar salad to start, then a cheese fondue served with freshly steamed veggies and mouth-watering bread for dipping. The second course is where things get exciting; opt for the hot-rock style of fondue. Rocks are brought to the table and heated to 300 f. Each rock gets its own pot of garlic butter smeared on, first by your server and then by you; each person receives a customized plate of raw fish, chicken, bison, frog legs, AAA-beef, shark, snake, whatever you wish, or dare, to try. Accompanying the exotic mix of possibilities are dipping sauces like chipotle and teriyaki.

Grotto Spa

Mineral pool, hot tub, eucalyptus steam room. Massages and other treatments available.

Mon-Thu 4-9PM, Fri Sat 9AM-9PM, Sun 10AM-6PM

High Rollers

Bar featuring four bowling lanes, pizza, and a selection of craft beers.

Sun-Fri 4PM to late, Sat noon to late

Holiday on Horseback

Trail rides, western cookouts (trail ride and campfire meal), and back-country rides. Wagons are available so that your whole group can go together, including non-riders.

From $46 per person

Hoodoo Trail

A popular walk to the hoodoos (a kind of rock formations) east of Banff.

IGA

This large grocery store also sells ready-to-eat meals to take away.

7AM-10PM

Lake Minnewanka Loop

This scenic driving loop is a short distance from the Banff townsite. It goes up the side of Cascade Mountain to Lake Minnewanka, and back down by a different route. Sights along the way include Cascade Ponds, Bankhead (former site of a coal mining town and the mine), Lake Minnewanka (picnic area, hiking, boat cruises, motor boat rentals), Two Jack Lake, and Johnson Lake. The area is also well known for the bighorn sheep that can be seen on and near the road.

Free

Lake Minnewanka Loop

Great spot to see bighorn sheep next to the road, especially when you get to Lake Minnewanka and the area around Johnson Lake and Two Jack Lake.

Magpie and Stump

A Mexican restaurant that specializes in margaritas and typical Mexican dishes. There is usually at least one night per week where margaritas are half-price, and if you go in early you are almost guaranteed to leave late.

$25-40

Marsh Loop

An easy walk of 2.4 km through the marshlands near Banff. This is a good place for birdwatching and there are good views of Mount Norquay.