Banff is one of Canada's most popular winter destinations. From great ski hills to beautiful landscapes, Banff has something for everyone. This four-day Banff itinerary has options depending on your preferred style of travel.
There's plenty to do while visiting the town of Banff in Alberta, Canada. The region known for its natural beauty (thanks to the Canadian Rockies, several national parks, and multiple scenic lookouts and lakes) is a favorite for ski and snowboard enthusiasts due to its proximity to three popular ski destinations: Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay.
However, not everyone enjoys winter sports. This Banff winter itinerary provides multiple options depending on how you'd like to spend your holiday. If it's your first winter trip to Banff and you're not sure how to spend the time, we'll give you our personal suggestions too.
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Assumptions
There are a few assumptions we're making here. Firstly, we're assuming that you're arriving early-ish on Day One, and leaving in the evening of Day Four - realistically, this means that you may not have the entirety of either day to use.
Next, we're assuming you have access to transportation. While Banff and the Bow Valley area do have buses and shuttles, the easiest way to get around is in your own car (we recommend a four-wheel drive vehicle with winter tires).
And lastly, we're assuming you're fortunate enough to be in good health. While there are many activities in our Banff winter itineraries that do not require much physical excursion, the Ski/Snowboarding-focussed itineraries can be physically demanding. Please go at your own pace.
Potential pitfalls
As with many winter destinations, the weather may end up dictating what you can and cannot do during your time there. During our most recent trip, an avalanche warning resulted in a last minute change of plans! Similarly, a lack of snowfall may get in the way of your ski trip plans.
If you happen to run into a plan-changing pitfall, don't worry! There are alternate suggestions to many of the activities listed below so you'll always have something else to do. Just make sure to be safe, especially if you're driving through snowy and icy conditions.
Balanced itinerary
The balanced itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors to Banff who want to enjoy everything Banff has to offer in the winter, but also want to be able to relax and enjoy exploring the town or their resort.
Day One
A nice easy first day in Banff that involves checking out Lake Louise. If the weather allows you can take a pair of ice skates along and skate on the lake! Once you're done outside, step into the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for an afternoon snack before heading to Canmore for a lovely dinner to celebrate the start of your holiday in Alberta.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-in | Early afternoon | ||
| Explore the town | Early afternoon | Light | |
| Lake Louise | Afternoon | Light | |
| Grab a coffee or croissant at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise | Afternoon | ||
| Suggested dinner: Bridgette Bar | Evening | Bridgette Bar is in Canmore, about a 20-minute drive from Banff. |
Alternate suggestion
If you don't feel like driving to Lake Louise and want to start your holiday with something more active, consider taking a martial arts class in Banff or Canmore instead. There are a handful of options, and many allow students to drop-in for a single class.
Day Two
It's hike day! It wouldn't be a winter in Banff itinerary without at least one good hike. (Don't worry, it's not a hard one.) There are technically two trails here, the Upper Falls trail and the Lower Falls trail, you should have plenty of time to do both.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Canyon Hike | Morning | Moderate | It's recommended to use crampons to make sure you have a comfortable amount of grip. |
| Explore Banff | Afternoon | Light | You can also use this time to sit in your room and gaze at the mountains. |
| Suggested dinner: Bison Restaurant | Evening |
Day Three
We're suggesting to make this the most active day of your trip by spending it skiing. Don't worry if you don't want to ski though, there's alternate suggestion below.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach Banff Sunshine Parking | 8:30am | The parking lots at all the ski resorts get crowded pretty quickly. It's best to get there early. | |
| Skiing and snowboarding all day | Heavy | ||
| Suggested dinner: 3 Bears | Evening |
Alternate suggestion
Want to do something more relaxing? That's cool, have a spa day at Kananaskis Nordik Spa. Be there around 10am and you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the spa, its offerings, and the beautiful views.
Day Four
It's the final day of our balanced Banff winter itinerary, and we'd like to make it a memorable one. We're going on a dogsled rode with an ethical dog-sledding organization. This is a fairly location-specific activity so it's good to make the most of the opportunity.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-out | 9:00am | The parking lots at all the ski resorts get crowded pretty quickly. It's best to get there early. | |
| Dogsledding | 10:00am | Light | The duration of this depends on the package you book, but the standard is a 2-hour tour with about 45-minutes bus travel to the location and back. |
Alternate suggestion
If you feel like dogsledding might be a bit much for you, or you're a bit more cramped for time, you can try using the morning to check out the Banff Gondola instead.
Pro tip: If you're visiting during the weekend, consider booking your gondola ticket in advance! If you're interested in eating at Sky Bistro, it's worth making a reservation there too.
Relaxed itinerary
This relaxed Banff itinerary is designed for those that want to take it slow. You're surrounded by majestic mountains, might as well take it all in with this cozy itinerary that prioritises comfort and rest.
Day One
Most check-ins take place around 3pm so you won't have a huge amount of time to do things on the first day. That's okay, check-in and then enjoy a comfortable drive over to beautiful Lake Louise; grab a coffee/tea/croissant from the majestic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (same location), and then stop by Bridgette in Canmore for an elevated dinner.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-in | Early afternoon | ||
| Lake Louise | Afternoon | Light | |
| Grab a coffee or croissant at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise | Afternoon | ||
| Suggested dinner: Bridgette Bar | Evening | Bridgette Bar is in Canmore, about a 20-minute drive from Banff. |
Day Two
The most active of our relaxed days begins with a very manageable hike through Johnston Canyon. There are two hiking trails here: Upper and Lower Falls. The lower falls is quicker hike, but even doing both routes is quite manageable. The snowier it is, the prettier this hike is!
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Canyon Hike | Early afternoon | Moderate | It's recommended to have crampons if you're going to do this. These can be rented from within the town you're staying in. |
| Pre-dinner drinks and hang at Rundle Bar | Afternoon | Rundle Bar is located inside the Fairmont Banff Springs. | |
| Suggested dinner: Bison Restaurant | Evening |
Day Three
The Banff Gondola is an eight minute gondola ride that takes you 7500 feet high to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Incredible views and a long boardwalk await you at the top, followed by a mountaintop lunch (or brunch) at Sky Bistro.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banff Gondola | Early afternoon | Light | |
| Brunch/lunch at Sky Bistro | Afternoon | | |
| Suggested dinner: 3 Bears | Evening | |
Day Four
It's your final day in Banff, and you want to take in the beautiful landscape but also take it easy. It's a spa day! (Just remember to leave the spa in time to make it back to your flight home.)
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-out | Morning | ||
| Kananaskis Nordik Spa | 11:00am | The spa opens at 9am, but that's a little early for our relaxed style. |
Skiing itinerary
For avid skiers and snowboarders, you probably already know what you want to do (ski and/or snowboard, duh!). This itinerary is based around getting as much time on the slopes as possible!
Day One
Unless you're arriving very early in the morning (read: before 8am), you likely won't get a chance to ski on your first day in Banff. Instead use the day to get situated and ready for your ski days ahead.
If you need to rent equipment, it's cheaper and easier to do so in the local towns rather than at the ski resorts.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-in | Early afternoon | ||
| Explore the town | Afternoon | Light | |
| Sort out equipment rentals | Afternoon/Early Evening | Light |
Day Two (Lake Louise Ski)
Early start today! The ski resort parking lots get full very quickly so we recommend you're there by 8.30am if you want a full day of skiing.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach Lake Louise Ski | 8:30am | ||
| Ski/Snowboard all day | Heavy | ||
| Visit Lake Louise | 5:00pm | Light | You're already there, it would be a waste not to check it out! |
Day Three (Banff Sunshine)
Similar to Lake Louise, the parking lot at Banff Sunshine Village fills up very quickly. You'll want to be there by 8.30am if you want a full day on the slopes.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach Banff Sunshine Village | 8:30am | ||
| Ski/Snowboard all day | Heavy |
Day Four (Mt. Norquay)
It's likely you won't have a full day of skiing on your final day in Banff. Mount Norquay is the closest ski resort from Banff (it's about 10 minutes drive), so it's an ideal spot to enjoy a morning on the slopes before ending your trip.
| Activity | Time | Exertion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-out | 8:00am | ||
| Reach Mount Norquay | 8:30am | ||
| Half day on the slopes | Moderate | ||
| Return your rental requipment | 1:00pm |
Alternate suggestion
If you've had enough skiing, but still want to try an exciting activity before leaving Banff. Consider dogsledding! The activity takes 3-4 hours, depending on which company and package you choose, but is a fun and unique way to end your time in Banff!
Which itinerary should you choose
Which travel itinerary you choose depends on your preferences. Each of the three provided itineraries has a different travel style in mind though all three are wonderful ways to spend a few days of winter in Banff.
If you've never visited before, or aren't sure what you'd like to do, we recommend starting with the balanced Banff itinerary, and adjusting to your needs.
If you're looking to get into winter sports but are brand new to skiing and snowboarding, we don't recommend jumping straight into the Banff itinerary for Skiing/Snowboarding. Instead opt for the Balanced itinerary, and add an extra day of ski lessons at Mt Norquay (or whichever mountain is most convenient for your stay).
Enjoy your trip!
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