Banff: A Three-Day Itinerary

  • Day 1: Banff National Park
    10 minutes (4.4 km) from downtown Banff

    Banff National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers scenic views of the Canadian Rockies. At this park, you can go hiking, horseback riding, camping and skiing depending on the season. You can also visit one of the many hot springs in the area which offers therapeutic and relaxing benefits.

  • Day 2: Lake Louise
    27 minutes (36.3 km) from Banff National Park

    Lake Louise is a beautiful bright blue lake surrounded by mountains that are picture-perfect. You can choose to hike, rent a canoe or take beautiful photos. This lake is an all-season destination with various activities to do such as ice hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing in winter.

  • Day 3: Banff Avenue
    6 minutes (3.3 km) from Lake Louise

    Banff Avenue is a popular street to go to for souvenir shopping and dining. Check out the Banff Park Museum, an institution established in 1895 with displays of taxidermy, botanical and mineral specimens.

Time and Cost Estimates

  • Banff National Park (6 hours, free)
  • Lake Louise (5 hours, free)
  • Banff Avenue (3 hours, $)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $$$

Transportation

Given the distances between the different stops on this itinerary, the best means of transport will be by renting a car. Expect to pay around $xxx for rental fees over three days.

Useful Tips

If you have an additional day to spend, we recommend exploring Moraine Lake, which is famous for its crystal-clear waters and views of the Ten Peaks. For those with less time, consider skipping Banff Avenue and spend some more time at either Banff National Park or Lake Louise.

Airports

The main airport serving Banff is the Calgary International Airport (YYC), which is around 1.5 hours (129 km) southeast of Banff. Alternatively, there is also the Banff Airporter Shuttle which can take you to Banff directly from the airport for a fee of around $xxx.

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