I just got back from a six day trip to Banff in February and I did so much. Here I have compiled my list of five Banff winter tips that helped me have an amazing trip. Use these tips to help you plan and enjoy your trip to Banff in the Winter!
Pack warm clothes
I did my due diligence and checked the weather before I left and it said -10 Celsius would be the coldest temp. The joke was on me because when we arrived it was -20 and it felt like -27 with the wind chill. I am glad I packed a toque, mittens, base layers, and multiple sweaters, but I wish I had brought snow pants, a ski mask, and a balaclava. You should bring super warm ski socks and boots, even if it says the weather will be nice. I found out these cold snaps happen quite often. At one point during my trip I was wearing four layers (all the pants I brought except the jeans) and I was still cold. One of my biggest Banff winter tips is to pack extra warm clothes.
Don’t waste your money on renting a car
There are plenty of buses that will drive you from Calgary to Banff and drop you off right at your hotel! We took Banff Airporter and loved it. The bus had plenty of room and blankets to cover up with. We really enjoyed the ability to watch the mountains grow up on the drive and not need to worry about where we were going. The buses in Banff are consistent too. When we checked into our hotel we received a free three day bus pass for inside Banff. The buses also take you to Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon, but keep in mind these buses leave Banff and have an extra charge. You should book in advance online to ensure you can get the bus times you prefer.
Don’t listen to opinions
A friend told us not to bother going to Lake Louise. They did not think it could compare to the Banff Gondola. I am so glad we didn’t listen because our day at Lake Louise was my favourite day. I went skating, on a horse drawn carriage ride and had an amazing dinner. On top of that the views of the lake in winter are so beautiful! Take all opinions with a grain of salt and if you are interested, then go see for yourself.
Plan out your food
If you are used to living in a big city and Ubering food at midnight, then you might be surprised if you try to do the same in Banff. When I opened up the app there were no restaurants available in Banff. Some restaurants also close earlier, so if you have one in mind, make sure to check their open hours. If you book a resort that offers an en-suite kitchen, you can grab some groceries at IGA. This was something I loved, especially on the colder days when I spent a little more time in my room. We also made paper bag lunches for days we planned to be out all day.
Don’t skip out on something just because the weather is cold or cloudy
Some of my favourite days in Banff were cloudy and very cold. Since I only had five days, I had to take advantage of the time I had. If you are staying longer, then you can get away with moving activities around. If you don’t have time for that, then bundle up and go enjoy the views anyways. I braved the Banff Gondola on a cloudy day and it was gorgeous and I went to Lake Louise on a freezing day. On my last day I finally braved the hot springs. I am so glad I did everything on my list instead of bundling up in my hotel room to stay warm. Wear layers, drink warm fluids, go inside when you get too cold, but head out anyways!
I hope these five Banff winter tips will help you enjoy your next trip! If you are curious what I packed for this trip which included Vancouver and spanned eleven days, then check out my Vancouver and Banff Packing List.
See you next time!
xoxox Bee
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