Wondering what to do in Banff on a short break? You’re not alone. Banff National Park logged a record 4.28 million visits in 2023/24, making it the most-visited park in Canada, and one of the toughest places to see efficiently without a strategy.
For this exact reason, I’ve distilled the absolute best things to do in Banff into a smart, three-day itinerary that hits all the icons without needing to rent a car. You can simply just take the ROAM Transit to all of these locations.
Day 1 in Banff ⛰️
If you can, land in Calgary before noon, make your way from Calgary to Banff via your preferred means of transport (approx. 2 hours), check-in, drop bags, and you still have half a day to hit three classic “first-timer” sights without burning out. If you can make it to Banff around noon, you should be all set and ready to explore by 2pm latest.
Johnston Canyon Lower and Upper Falls (2 hrs hike, return)🌲
Few “things to do in Banff” deliver so much scenery for so little effort as the Johnston Canyon hike. This family-friendly trail follows steel catwalks bolted to canyon walls, winds through cool spruce forest, then pops you out beside two gorgeous waterfalls that glow turquoise when the light hits right.
How to get to Johnston Canyon from Banff 🚌
Reaching the canyon without a car is easy: catch Roam Transit Route 9 from Banff High School Transit Hub. The summer timetable (May 16 – Oct 13 2025) starts at 9am and the last bus back leaves Johnston Canyon at 7pm. The ride takes about 35 minutes each way and drops you right at the trailhead.
Johnston Canyon hike 🏃♀️
The walk itself is only 5 km return with roughly 120 m of elevation gain, so allow two hours if you like to linger over for photos. First stop is the Lower Falls. You can duck through the short cave-tunnel for a face-full of mist and a head-on shot of water blasting through limestone. Bear in mind, there will be a line to the cave, but you will get s few minutes of alone time in there for photos and exploration.
Keep climbing another 1.3 km to the Upper Falls, where a platform hangs over the plunge pool. As with the cave at the Lower Falls, you’ll have to wait in line for a bit to get to the platform for a cool close-up photo opportunity. About halfway up, glance back: Mount Castle often frames the canyon like a postcard.
Because the route is built on narrow, spray-slick catwalks, traction can be sketchy after rain or during shoulder season. Wildlife tends to be shy here (at least, you’ll spot plenty of cute squirrels hopping about), but you’re in prime habitat, so keep voices down and bear spray handy in case you decide to go very early in the morning or late at night, when there’s less people around.
Tackling Johnston Canyon on afternoon arrival day lets you bank one of Banff National Park’s headline experiences without burning prime morning light.
☝️ Check the bus timetable, grab water and a wind layer, and you’ll be back in town in time for sunset drinks at the Banff Springs Hotel.
Bow Falls Stroll (45 minutes)💧
Once you’re back in Banff, the Bow Falls walk is the ideal “zero-effort” filler to continue ticking off things to do in Banff, before heading for dinner and sunset cocktails. The waterfall sits a 20-minute walk from Banff Avenue, yet delivers classic Rockies scenery: glacial-blue water fan-tailing over flat limestone shelves, with the turreted Banff Springs Hotel poking above the pines.
How to get to Bow Falls from Banff 🚌
Step out of downtown and head south along Banff Avenue until you spot the wood-and-steel Pedestrian Bridge. Cross, swing left, and keep the Bow River on your right, keep going and in less than a mile, you’ll have reached the trail. The path is flat, stroller-friendly and signed “Bow River Trail.”
Feet feeling lazy? In summer, Roam Transit Route 4 loops from Banff High School Hub to Cave and Basin with a stop at Bow Falls; the service runs roughly every 40 minutes from mid-May to late September.
Bow Falls trail hike 🏃♀️
- The falls face west, so late-afternoon light turns the spray gold, perfect for a quick phone panorama.
- Back up a few steps and you’ll frame the entire cascade beneath the mock-castle silhouette of the Fairmont “Castle in the Rockies”. That’s a money shot that screams “Banff” in one frame.
- Keep walking five more minutes and you can climb the gentle hill toward the hotel itself for a bird’s-eye view, linking seamlessly into cocktails at the Rundle Bar.
Count on 45 minutes return if you dawdle at the viewpoint, longer if you turn it into a photo session. Because the route is riverside, winds can whip through the valley even on warm days. After sundown, the trail is lit but wildlife sometimes cruises the riverbank, so keep noise up and bear spray close just in case.
Drinks at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel 🍸
Follow the riverside path past Bow Falls and, in less than ten minutes, the grey-stone turrets of Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies” loom into view. Stepping inside the historic Banff Springs Hotel feels like you’ve time-warped to a grand alpine resort circa 1920, yet its cocktail culture is thoroughly modern. Aim to arrive just before golden hour so the windows frame Mount Rundle in soft light and your camera captures that bucket-list shot of Rockies peaks, limestone parapets and clinking glasses all in one frame.
Opened in 1888 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Fairmont Banff Springs was one of the very first “grand railway hotels” built to entice affluent travellers onto the new trans-Canada line. Its cultural impact was formally acknowledged when the complex was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988. Locals often call it the “Castle in the Rockies”. It’s both an architectural landmark and a cornerstone of Canada’s mountain-park story.
Start upstairs at Rundle Bar, the hotel’s marquee lounge. Floor-to-ceiling panes face the Bow Valley, and the bartenders turn out craft concoctions. Make sure to try their signature smoked-maple Old Fashioned.
Between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily, Rundle shifts gears for classic afternoon tea: three tiers of dainty sandwiches, warm scones and Banff-made strawberry jam. Reservations are essential; book at least 72 hours ahead.
If you prefer candlelight to picture windows, descend to the hideaway, Grapes Wine Bar. Reviews routinely call it one of the coziest date spots in Banff.
Dress code here is smart-casual. Hiking boots and technical shells are fine until 6 p.m. After that, swap trail gear for clean shoes and a sweater.
How to get to Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel from Banff 🚌
No car? Roam Transit Route 2 runs year-round between downtown Banff and the Fairmont every 30–40 minutes, so you can toast sunset without worrying about a ride back.
Day 2 in Banff ⛰️
Day 2 of your Banff 3-day itinerary is the headline act: sunrise on legendary Lake Louise, panoramic views from the Banff Gondola and Sulphur Mountain and a well-earned soak or craft-beer crawl to close it out. Set your alarm early, pack layers (mornings can still dip below 5 °C in July) and bring plenty of water. Today is why you came to the Rockies.
Lake Louise (6 hours total, from and back to Banff)🖼️
Few places sell Banff National Park worldwide like Lake Louise does. Its unreal Gatorade turquoise water, coloured by glacier silt, mirrors six jagged peaks and draws more Instagram searches than any other spot in Alberta. Catching the lake at sunrise not only dodges the day-trip crowds, it lights the Victoria Glacier pink-orange for photos you can’t replicate later in the day. This will surely be a core memory and THE highlight of your trip!
What to do at Lake Louse 🏞️
Think of Lake Louise as the living logo of Banff National Park. Fed by the Victoria Glacier, its opaque turquoise water owes its colour to rock flour – microscopic silt ground by the ice and suspended in melt-run-off. The lake is more than a viewpoint: within a few hours you can stroll an accessible shoreline, paddle a rentable red canoe, or climb historic switchbacks to a 1901 tea-house perched beside an alpine tarn. Whether you choose the gentle lakeshore ramble or the sweatier Lake Agnes and Little Beehive circuit, arrive early, breathe in the stillness, and let the Rockies’ most famous amphitheatre set the tone for the adventure-packed day ahead.
Lakeshore Trail (easy option) 🏃♀️
Wheel-chair friendly and flat, this 2.5 mile (4km) return stroll hugs the waterline to the delta where meltwater pours in. Budget 1–1.5 hours including photo stops and glacier reflections. You will want to stop in every few minutes to admire the views from all the angles.
Lake Agnes and Little Beehive (moderate option) 🏃♀️
A Banff classic. Switchback 2.2 miles (3.4km) through sub-alpine fir to reach the storybook Lake Agnes Tea House (bear in mind, it’s cash only, open 8am–5pm in summer). Refuel on maple-walnut cake, then climb another 0.6 miles (1km) to Little Beehive for a balcony-view over Lake Louise far below. Round trip runs 3–4 hours, 0.25 mile (400m) gain. Totally doable before lunch if you keep a steady pace.
☝️ The terrain will get a bit snowy towards reaching Lake Agnes, so make sure to layer up and wear proper hiking shoes, as getting back down can be slippery.
Lunch at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise 🥗
Once you’ve circled the lakeshore or powered up to Lake Agnes, reward yourself inside the iconic Fairmont Château Lake Louise. Built in 1890, the “Chalet Lake Louise” was expanded into the present château-style hotel in the early 20th century, becoming a sister to the Banff Springs. Its picture-window dining rooms stare straight at Victoria Glacier, so you don’t sacrifice scenery for comfort.
Head for the Lakeview Lounge: vaulted ceilings, wrap-around patio, and a seasonally-inspired lunch menu. Solo hikers often snag bar stools without a wait, but patio tables book out days in advance. If you prefer white-tablecloth service, the upstairs Fairview Restaurant offers a shorter, produce-driven card and sweeping glacier views. Prices run on the higher end. Budget CAD 30-45 for a main, but the trade-off is warm staff and clean restrooms before you bus back to Banff.
☝️ Ask for the Iconic Peak Cocktail—a nod to the sunset embracing its red and purple glow over the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
How to get to Lake Louise from Banff without a car 🚌
Lake Louise is a very popular route, so make sure to pre-book the ROAM Transit Route 8X express to avoid long lines and secure your seat. The bus stops exactly at the Lake Louise Lakeshore and the ride takes about 50 minutes. The bus runs approximately every hour.
Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain and Sky Bistro Lunch 🌄
After Lake Louise, roll straight into Banff’s other must-do viewpoint. The eight-minute Banff Gondola ride whisks you up 0.43 miles (698m) to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, landing you on a rooftop observation deck with 360° views over the Bow Valley, Mount Rundle and the Banff townsite. The upper boardwalk (0.6 miles/1km return) leads to the 1903 Cosmic Ray Station ruins.
Banff Gondola 🚡
Riding the Banff Gondola is the fastest way to swap downtown coffee aromas for crisp, high-alpine air. Tickets use dynamic pricing: expect roughly CAD 76–81 for an adult. The gondolas fit max 4 people, so if you’re 2 or less people, they will try and fit you in with another group of 2 or less people. You’ll have to pre-pick an approximate time for your return gondola, so if you’re planning on doing the Sky Bistro experience as well, budget in at least 2 hours.
Sky Bistro at the Banff Gondola ☁️
Snagging a brunch reservation at the Sky Bistro immediately after your ride is peak efficiency. This is an all-you-can-eat buffet style restaurant and the experience will set you back 45 CAD per person (alcoholic drinks will come at extra charge). The food itself is ok, but the views are guaranteed to take your breath away!
Sulphur Mountain Upper Boardwalk 🏃♀️
Now, the real wow-moment begins when you step out of the summit building and onto the wooden Sulphur Mountain boardwalk. Suspended at 1.4 miles (2.3km) with nothing but railings between you and six mountain ranges, this one-kilometre, self-guided skywalk joins the modern observation deck to two pieces of Rockies history: the 1903 weather station on Sanson Peak and the 1956 Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site.
☝️UV intensity is 25% higher at this altitude, slap on SPF 50+.
How to get to the Banff Gondola from Banff 🚌
Roam Transit Route 1 links Banff Avenue to the gondola base every 30–40 minutes. In high season the attraction also runs complimentary Brewster shuttles on a similar loop.
Banff Upper Hot Springs Soak (optional) 🛁
Just 3 minutes up the road from the gondola is the steamy Banff Upper Hot Springs, a 1932 bathhouse fed by 100%-natural spring water at 102F (39°C). It’s the highest-elevation hot pool in Canada and a great quad-soother after hiking. There’s no reservation system and you can expect a queue after 3pm. The entry is $17 for adults.
You’ll be able to admire the unbeatable mountain backdrop. However, it can feel like “people soup” by mid-afternoon at peak season.
☝️Bring flip-flops and a towel to avoid the CAD 2.25 rental fee.
Evening Shopping and Craft-Beer Crawl in Banff 🍺
Cap Day 2 back on lively Banff Avenue. Duck into locally owned outfitters like Monod Sports or Rocky Mountain Soap Company for last-minute souvenirs, then pivot to suds:
- Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant – skylit roofgarden, reverse ice water fermented pizzas and the award-winning Grizzly Paw IPA brewed on site.
- Banff Ave Brewing Co. – the OG craft taproom; order a flight and snag a patio stool overlooking the avenue buzz.
- Bonus pour at Park Distillery if gin is more your speed. Every spirit uses glacial water from Six Glaciers above Lake Louise, tying your day’s adventures neatly together.
All three venues sit within two blocks, so you can wander, sample and still call it an early night for tomorrow’s Tunnel Mountain sunrise.
☝️While you’re there, make sure to grab a Maple Beaver Tail.
Day 3 in Banff ⛰️
Your final morning is about slow-burn magic rather than step-count bragging rights. A pre-dawn climb up Tunnel Mountain, breakfast at Banff’s favourite bakery, and two bite-size heritage stops—Cave and Basin National Historic Site and the flower-filled Cascade of Time Gardens—wrap up your what to do in Banff checklist with style.
Sunrise Hike to Tunnel Mountain Peak 🏃♀️
Banff’s most approachable summit rises right behind downtown, so you gain big-view pay-off with minimal travel. The Tunnel Mountain trail starts on St. Julien Road, a 10-minute stroll from most hotels; no car, no bus, just boots on path. From trailhead to cairn is 1.5 miles (2.4km) one way with 0.16 miles (260m) of elevation gain—allow about two hours return at photo-taking pace. Switchbacks climb through lodgepole pine before popping onto a bald ridge that catches first light on Mount Rundle and the Bow Valley.
Tunnel Mountain Peak Hike 🏃♀️
Hit the trail 75 minutes before sunrise, and bring a headlamp and thin gloves even in midsummer. Early season or after rain, the upper dirt sections can glaze with ice. So layer up and wear proper hiking shoes. The summit bench faces east; set up a time-lapse as alpenglow washes over Cascade Mountain.
☝️ Make sure to bring a bear spray (most hotels will provide this to you for free or for a small fee)! As you’ll be hiking before sunrise, when wildlife is extremely active, and there’s been quite a few bear encounters in this area.
Breakfast at Wild Flour Bakery and Banff Avenue Photo Walk 🍵
Back in town, follow your nose to Wild Flour, Banff’s Artisan Bakery Café, on Bear Street. Ranked among Banff’s top breakfast spots for its flaky morning buns and flat whites, it opens at 7am—perfect timing after a sunrise hike. They also do some mean matcha flavours. I got the coconut raspberry matcha and would definitely recommend!
Then stroll the two blocks to Banff Avenue. The street was deliberately aligned in the 1880s to frame Cascade Mountain, giving you that postcard shot of wooden storefronts tapering to a snow-capped pyramid. Early light hits the peaks, traffic is light, and you’ll share the median only with fellow shutterbugs.
Quick Stop: Cascade of Time Gardens for Last Photos 🌸
Cross the Bow River pedestrian bridge to the terraced Cascade of Time Gardens. Built in the 1930s around the Parks Canada administration building, this free pocket-park layers stone staircases, ponds and more than 50 flower species. Look back toward town and you’ll frame Cascade Mountain over Banff Avenue for an iconic Banff shot. The gardens open dawn to dusk all-year-round; deer often browse the lawns at breakfast time, and in December the site hosts the illuminated In Search of Christmas Spirit trail.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site 🍁
Before packing up, make your way to a quick visit of the Cave and Basin, a grotto where three railway workers stumbled upon sulphurous springs in 1883, triggering the creation of Canada’s first national park. Interactive self-guided-tour inside the restored bathhouse explains how Cave and Basin National Historic Site became the cradle of a 94-park system; outside, boardwalks skirt steaming outflows and marsh ponds where red-winged blackbirds trill. Plan an hour for exhibits and the upper boardwalk loop. Entry is CAD 8.50; youth go free.
How to get to Cave and Basin from Banff 🚌
Catch Roam Route 4 (summer) from Banff Avenue. Bring a light jacket—the cave stays humid but the boardwalk can feel breezy.
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