Your Travel Guide to a Long Weekend in Banff
The winter wonderland that made us fall in love with the mountains.
What to do, where to stay, and what to eat while visiting Banff in the winter.
Jordan and I's childhood's didn't include ski trips or trips to the mountains, so when we visited Banff, we were blown away by the giant mountains and breathtaking views. A quaint little town that had both plenty to offer, but didn't feel overwhelmingly big, Banff is still one of our favorite trips we ever took.
Keep reading for some of our favorite things we did, where we stayed, and some of our favorite food spots.
A travel guide to Banff:
We flew into Calgary and rented a car that we drove to Banff. The drive was only about 1. 5 hours and felt totally doable, plus, we were glad to have a car for our day trip to Lake Louise and to be able to drive when it was too chilly to walk certain places. This was the first time we used Turo, a car rental service that allowed us to use someone else's car instead of renting from a big rental car company-- 10/10 would recommend!
Where to Stay:
Moose Hotel & Suites: While there are many wonderful looking hotels to stay at, we ultimately chose Moose Hotel & Suites. It was affordable, offered parking, and had an amazing rooftop hot tub with views of the mountains that we just couldn't pass up!
They also had a beautiful lobby with a fireplace and the staff was so kind to us. The rooftop hot tub was the perfect end to each day and a great way to warm up after being out in the cold.
Where to Eat:
-The Grizzly House for Fondue (such a fun experience!)
-Pacini
-Fairmont Lake Louise Bar for hot chocolate
-The Maple Leaf
What to Do:
Banff is the perfect mix of a small town feel with lots to do! We loved that there was so much within walking distance or a short drive of our hotel. Here are some of the fun activities we did while we visited:
-Enjoyed ice sculptures from the SnowDays festival (happens in January)
-Hiking: We hiked up Sulfer Mountain and rode the Banff Gondola back down. This was a challenging hike, but had some of the most beautiful views!
-Shopping in downtown Banff
-Visit Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
-Ice skate on Lake Louise
-Enjoy the ice sculptures from Ice Magic event
-Grab a drink at the Fairview Bar & Restaurant
-Hot tub at the hotel
