Things to do in Banff

Banff is a town of around 8,300 people at 1,383 metres, the highest incorporated town in Canada, sitting entirely inside Banff National Park rather than beside it: a Parks Canada pass, roughly 11 CAD per adult per day or 22 CAD per vehicle, is required the moment you cross the park boundary on Highway 1 or Highway 1A, even for locals just passing through.

New residents need a documented reason to live here, since the town operates under a federal cap on development. Banff Avenue runs through the centre with shops, restaurants and outfitters; the Whyte Museum, Banff Park Museum and Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum sit within a short walk of each other, and the Fairmont Banff Springs, built in 1888, anchors the south end of town.

Roam Transit covers local routes, and Calgary International Airport is 128 km away, about 1 hour 30 minutes by car or shuttle.