Banff, AB Hotels

When visiting Banff, there is no shortage of great wine and gourmet food. From the scenic Storm Mountain Lodgeto the Saltlik, local cuisine features fresh seafood, steaks and decadent desserts. After dinner, catch an event or show at the Banff Centrewhere art and culture are proudly showcased every day of the year. Regardless of what season it may be, Banff always has something going on for tourists on holiday in beautiful Canada.

Banff’s Top 10

Banff Events

Ice Magic in January makes Banff a competitive place with ice-carving competitions at Lake Louise. There are various events like cool carving demos and activities for children.

Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival in Banff is one of the largest and most exciting wine and food events in the province Alberta. This spring festival offers travellers a chance to sample massive varieties of beverages and gourmet food.

From May through August, the Banff Summer Arts Festival is a spectacular event that showcases concerts, performances, art walks, exhibitions, and much more.

Canadian Rocky Mountain Arts Festival brings the Banff summer to life with a fantastic art event that is held annually in June.

In July, the Canmore Folk Music Festival offers visitors a musical experience that has been going on for more than 30 years.

Doors Open Banff is a one-day event in August where the public is invited to explore the rich history and heritage of Banff through tours of the town’s finest historical buildings.

At the end of summer, the Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival is a must-see event with brightly coloured dragon-head boats gliding through the calm Lake Minnewanka in the Banff National Park.

In the fall, the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival features everything from films to exceptional speakers that are intriguing and inspiring. Tourists will also find unique gifts like paintings, pottery and jewellery.

Winter Start Festival goes from November to December in Banff and has family-oriented activities and holiday treats like Santa Claus, Christmas crafts and face painting.

The Winter Festival goes for 10 days in Banff and is full of winter fun with events like family swims, cross-country skiing and the Bar Golf crawl.

When To Go

From December through March, snow falls every month. Daytime temperatures will hardly surpass 32°F (0°C) until mid-March, and could drop to 0°F in the evening.

The shoulder months of April through May will have a wide array of weather like blizzards one week and warm sunshine the next. Springtime highs can reach the mid 50s (12°C). When summer comes, the temperature reaches its peak in the low 70s (23°C).

As fall approaches, September through November can turn cold quickly, and tourists and locals await the first snowfall and the start of ski season.

Getting There

By plane, Banff flights will arrive at Calgary International Airport. This airport has major airlines that operate regular flights to and from Calgary every day. The drive from Calgary International Airport to local accommodations takes about two hours and is a distance of 90 miles (145km).

When travelling by car to Banff, take Canada's national Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy). Since Banff is a town inside Banff National Park, you will need to purchase a national park pass at the park gate.

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