Don’t Visit Banff Without Reading This (Canadian Rockies Tips!)

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Dreaming of an adventure in the Canadian Rockies? This guide has all the essential tips for planning a trip to Banff and beyond—like the best time to visit, how to get around, can’t-miss experiences, and our favorite places to eat (because good food is non-negotiable!).

Lake Louise Banff Canada
Posing in front of the iconic Lake Louise

The Canadian Rockies are one of the most magical places in the world, but it’s not a place you can go and “just wing it”. 

From accommodation that books up months in advance to iconic spots where a pre-booked shuttle is a requirement (I’m looking at you, Moraine Lake!), we’ve put together all the essential tips plus some insider advice that will help you have the most epic trip in the Canadian Rockies.

Psst! Don’t miss our full guide to the very best things to do in Banff!

Our personal experience in Banff 

Lake Louise throwback Banff Canada
2013 on our honeymoon
Lake Louise Banff Canada
Same spot 10 years later with our daughter!

We first explored the Canadian Rockies on our honeymoon in 2013. With a shoestring budget, we skipped the fancy honeymoon suite in favor of private rooms in hostels, fueled our adventures with cheap eats, and toasted each day with boxed wine. 

But honestly, the magic of the Canadian Rockies didn’t require a big budget — the jaw-dropping scenery was the real luxury.

Ten years later, we came back to celebrate our anniversary. This time, things looked a little different: we had a toddler in tow, a campervan as our home base, and a bit more wiggle room in the budget. 

But the mountains? Still just as breathtaking. It was a totally new experience, yet somehow just as unforgettable — and we’re already dreaming about our next trip back.

Canadian Rockies Guide

If you know what you’re looking for, click on the links below to jump down to that section. Or just keep scrolling to read it all!


Tips for visiting Banff & the Canadian Rockies

Okay, time to share just a handful of tips I think are helpful. If you’re planning to travel to this area, be sure to save these!

1. Start your days early

Early mornings means you’re less likely to run into as many people on the trails

By 10 a.m., trails start to get busy. Set those alarms and wake up early. You may even see some epic sunrises!

Personal note: I kept seeing other people talk about starting trails at 4 a.m., but that wasn’t possible for us (traveling with a toddler). I’m not saying you need to get up at a crazy hour or start your day while it’s still dark if you don’t want to. But get going as soon as you’re able in order to beat the masses.

2. Pack for all weather

Big Beehive Trail Banff National Park Canada

Even if you’re visiting in the middle of summer, pack a puffy down jacket, a beanie hat and gloves. Trust me! 

It gets cold at night, even in the summertime.

You’ll also want some good shoes for hiking, and bear spray if you plan to do hikes that are even slightly off the beaten path. 

Good to know: I’d recommend packing 1-2 nicer outfits (nothing all that fancy is necessary) for dining in town. But know that the dress code in Banff tends to be on the more casual side. No need to really dress up!

3. Know what you need to make reservations for

The Lake Louise shuttle

I kind of hate committing to things in advance because I’d much rather see how I feel on a particular day and then decide. But, you just can’t really do that in Banff area.

Book in advance:

Here are 2 things you’ll likely do that need to be booked in advance:

  • Shuttle to Lake Louise: the parking lot fills up very early during peak season, and shuttles are the most popular way to get here now.
  • Shuttle to Moraine Lake: you cannot self-drive. The only way to get here is by shuttle, which needs to be reserved in advance

As far as restaurants go, we were able to mostly just show up. We had a short wait a few times, but we’d just wander town a bit while we waited.

 That said, if there is a particular restaurant you really want to go to, I’d suggest reserving your table (especially if it’s a “nicer” restaurant).

4. Travel during shoulder season if possible

Lake Agnes Teahouse Banff Canada
The crowds in front of the Lake Agnes Teahouse (when we traveled there in September)

I know this isn’t possible for everyone, so ignore this if it doesn’t apply to you… 

However, if you have the flexibility, I would strongly suggest visiting Banff outside of the months of July and August

September or even early October are amazing times to still be able to see the iconic sights and do the classic hikes with fewer crowds to deal with.

Both times we’ve visited Banff have been in September (beginning just after Labor Day), and the crowds get thinner and thinner as our trip goes on. I can’t even imagine how crowded it would be in July and August.

When I’m traveling I expect crowds in cities, but personally, I don’t like crowds in nature. If you feel similarly, you will be put off by the masses of people.

The weather we’ve had in September has been great, so I’d highly recommend it if you can swing it! May and June could be good as well, however, there will still be snow in some areas, making some hikes difficult.

5. Get outside of Banff too

Kananaskis Alberta Canada
Views of the Kananaskis from our backpacking trip to The Point campground

This one is kind of hard to internalize because there are so many things to see in Banff and they are all worth it. 

However, Banff gets way more love (and publicity!) than all the surrounding areas that are equally beautiful and (way!) less crowded.

For example, Yoho National Park and the Kananaskis area are both well worth checking out. 

One big highlight of our trip was doing a backpacking trip in the Kananaskis (Point Campground) where we saw very few people. It felt worlds away from very crowded Banff, but was just as beautiful.

6. Be prepared for limited cell signal 

Canoeing on Moraine Lake

You’re in the mountains, after all! 

Cell signal will be just fine in the main towns (and in some random areas), but just assume that once you head out for a day of exploring, you won’t have cell service.

Download your offline maps as well as your Alltrails (for any hikes you plan to do). For this reason, it’s also a good idea to have a route in mind and a plan for the day because you likely won’t be able to look things up on the fly.

7. Lake Louise and Banff are 40 minutes apart

Lake Louise Banff Canada
On the shores of Lake Louise

We’ve been there before and I totally forgot about this.

This means if you plan to stay near Lake Louise but you want to go into Banff for dinner, you’ll have just under 2 hours of driving round trip.

Totally possible to do (we did!), but it’s just something you will want to plan for.

If your trip is long enough, you could choose to stay in Banff for a few nights, then in Lake Louise for a few in order to minimize your time driving between them.

8. Camp if possible 

Camping at The Point campground in Kananaskis Alberta Canada
The Point backcountry campground in the Kananaskis

This area of the world is perfect for camping! 

It’s also the cheapest way to explore this notoriously expensive area, and the best way if you don’t want to plan 6+ months in advance.

There are some very nice hotels in the Banff, Jasper, Canmore areas, but they book up well in advance. (If you’re planning for next summer, you’ll want to book by March for the best selection.) Plus, hotels in this area are very expensive, so camping can be a much cheaper alternative.

If you are traveling during the summer months, you’ll still want to reserve your campgrounds early (or plan only to camp at first come first serve spots). 

But if you’re going during shoulder season (like we did), we were just fine booking a couple of days in advance or doing first come/first serve.

9. Determine your top “must dos”

Mountain biking in Banff Canada
We rented mountain bikes in Banff on our first trip, but didn’t have time to do that when we returned

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can’t do it all.

You could live in this area for years and still only scratch the surface of all the beautiful hikes and things to do. There is just SO MUCH here.

This is why I think it’s a good idea to sit down and determine your top priorities.

If you are a big planner (like me!), you might even want to make your “secondary priorities” list: Things that would be great, but you won’t be heartbroken if you miss them.

Best time to visit Banff & the Canadian Rockies

Moraine Lake Banff Canada
Moraine Lake views from the shoreline

The Canadian Rockies are stunning year-round, but the experience changes drastically with the seasons

Summer (June–August) brings long days, warm temps, and access to high alpine hikes—but also big crowds and high prices. Winter (November–March) is a snow-lover’s dream, with world-class skiing and frosty mountain magic.

We prefer to stick to the shoulder seasons for visiting Banff & Jasper. September—right after school is back in session is our top recommendation. 

You’ll still get gorgeous weather and full trail access, but with fewer crowds, golden larch trees lighting up the mountainsides, and better chances of finding campsites or accommodations. We think it’s the perfect balance of good weather and thinner crowds (though don’t get us wrong, it still gets crowded—especially Banff & Lake Louise).

How to get around

Icefields Parkway Canada-2

The Canadian Rockies are vast and wild—and having your own vehicle is essential for making the most of your trip. 

Public transportation is limited, and many of the region’s best hikes, lakes, and hidden gems are far from town centers or shuttle routes. Plus you’ll have the freedom to go at your own pace and make spontaneous stops (our favorite way to find hidden gems!).

We recommend getting a rental car, or renting a campervan and camping along your Canadian Rockies road trip. 

Renting a campervan

Canada campervan rentals
We drive our own campervan up to Banff, but you could rent one in the area if you wanted to test out the experience

We’ve done this trip both ways—and traveling by campervan was hands-down our favorite. It gives you ultimate flexibility, saves on accommodation, and lets you stay closer to the trailheads and cut back on pre-sunrise travel time. 

If you don’t have a campervan of your own like we do, you can still have the ultimate campervan experience… just rent one! We have an entire article on the best campervan rentals in Canada to help you find a company and van that suits your needs. 

PS: There are plenty of campgrounds throughout Banff, Jasper, and beyond, many with jaw-dropping views. Just be sure to book in advance if you’re traveling in peak season.

Things to do in the Canadian Rockies

Big Beehive Summit Banff Canada
The Lake Agnes Teahouse/Big Beehive hike was our favorite

If you’re looking for the very best things to do in the Canadian Rockies, here are our top recommendations: 

  1. Hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse (+ continue on the Beehive hike)
  2. Rent a canoe
  3. See Moraine Lake
  4. Drive the Icefields parkway
  5. Hike the Valley of 5 Lakes trail

We have an entire article dedicated to the best things to do in Banff & more, where we share details and tips for first-time visitors.

Can’t-miss food spots in the Canadian Rockies

Wagashi Tea House Canmore Canada
Wagashi Tea House in Canmore

Alright, are you ready for the best part? If you consider yourself a foodie, like us, you’ll love these next recommendations…

Our favorite restaurants and food experiences in Banff, Jasper and Canmore!

We love finding amazing places to eat on our travels. And for the sake of “research”, we did a LOT of eating on our trip to the Canadian Rockies!

Below is a list of our favorites with some tips on what to order.

Good to know: We have some fine-dining experiences that are worth the splurge, but most of these are reasonably-priced spots as well as a couple of budget picks!

Save this for your trip to the Canadian Rockies!

Tip: If you haven’t already watched this video of my favorite Google Maps hack, be sure to do so in order to save these restaurants!

Banff food recommendations

Magpie and Stump Banff Canada
Magpie and Stump
  • Magpie and Stump: Mexican spot with colorful decor and a fun atmosphere. The GOAT nachos are amazing! We split them and it was more than enough for the 2 of us (plus Juniper!). The margs are good too! If you’re here on a nice day, their rooftop is fun.
  • Ramen Arashi: This is the best ramen we’ve had outside of Japan! The shop is a hole-in-the-wall spot on the second floor of a sort of strip mall. You can certainly eat in, but it also makes a good picnic as they do to-go orders. We ordered the Black Arashi and Miso Tonkotsu and both were fabulous!
Hankki Korean Streetfood Banff Canada-2
Hankki
  • Hankki: Korean street food, this is probably the cheapest (good) meal you’ll find in Banff! Recs: Korean fried chicken bowl, Bulgogi bowl, honey butter fries. We got all 3 in large sizes and our total bill (with tip!) was $35 Canadian. Order this to go and walk across the street to Banff Central Park for a killer picnic spot!
  • Wild Flour Bakery: Cute little bakery and sandwich shop. This is a great spot to get take-away sandwiches for bringing on a hike. Also, their banana choco chunk muffin is super good!
  • Hello Sunshine: We didn’t get to eat here, but every day they have a happy hour from 4-5 p.m. where they have half-off sushi rolls!
Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant Banff Canada
Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant
  • Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant: Casual spot for beer (not a huge selection, but decent), cocktails, and food. We’d recommend their cauliflower app (super good!) and their pizza (we got 2 and our favorite was the mushroom!). 
  • The Grizzly House: We went here on our honeymoon and it is a fun spot for a unique meal. They specialize in fondue, particularly ones featuring different meats – elk, venison, bison, etc.
  • The Eddie Burger Bar: Casual spot for a good burger. Very satisfying after a long hike (we speak from experience!).
  • Saffron Indian Bistro: Didn’t go on this trip, but it looks great and the smells kept calling us in! Too many places to eat, not enough time!
  • Block Kitchen + Bar: Another one that is on our list for next time, this Asian fusion spot looks great!

Lake Louise food recommendations

Truffle Bar from the Trailhead Cafe at Lake Louise Banff Canada
A truffle bar from the Trailhead Cafe
  • Trailhead Cafe: Great spot to pick up breakfast or sandwiches to go. We got some goodies before catching the shuttle to Moraine Lake. We loved their truffle bar and the Trailhead Breakfast Wrap. 
  • Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Hotel: This is a splurge ($85 per person), but such a cool experience. Make reservations in advance.

Jasper food recommendations

Jasper Brewing Company Canada
Jasper Brewing Company
  • Jasper Brewing Company: Great spot for a beer or cocktail and some pub grub.  
  • Sunhouse Cafe: This feels like eating in a secret greenhouse! Such a good breakfast spot! We loved the Turkish eggs and the key lime French toast. They also have great coffee.
  • Kumama Bistro Canteen: Hidden gem located at a lodge, you can still dine here even if you’re not staying at the property. Their breakfast sandwiches are excellent, and the dinner menu looks great as well.

Canmore food recommendations

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.
  • Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.: Local favorite spot for bagel sandwiches for breakfast and lunch.
  • Sauvage: If you’re a foodie and are up for a splurge, their 7-course tasting menu is a great dining experience. Their menu features foraged ingredients and the setting is beautiful. Make reservations in advance. They also do brunch which is less expensive/fancy.
  • Wagashi Tea House: Located inside a garden store, you definitely wouldn’t stumble upon this by accident. This teahouse feels like such a hidden gem. We’d recommend coming for lunch (their bento boxes are great as is their ahi poke bowl!). We also recommend getting tea (it is a teahouse, after all!) and their matcha soft serve.
Wagashi Tea House
Wagashi Tea House
  • Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.: Great pizzas in a casual atmosphere. We loved the “bison, fig & brie” as well as the “farmers market”.
  • Core Values Cider: Loved their ciders (not too sweet!). We got a mixed 4-pack to go!
  • Le fournil Bakery: Excellent pastries and coffee. We particularly liked the blueberry danish.
  • Tank 310/Grizzly Paw Brewing: We didn’t make it here (not enough time), but the venue looks so cool. This would be a great spot for beer and food! 

Hope this is helpful for all my food-loving-friends out there! I’d love to hear if you go to any of these places (tag us, message us, send us pics – we love it all!).


Plan your trip to Canada

We have tons of resources on traveling in Canada and destinations throughout the country. Check out our Canada Homepage for resources on itinerary planning, campervan rentals and more! Or choose to read some of our favorite articles below:

Don’t miss your chance to grab our Canadian Rockies Pocket Guide!

Canadian Rockies Pocket Guide

This (totally FREE!) pocket guide is a condensed version of all the things you should know BEFORE & DURING your trip to the Canadian Rockies!

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Planning a trip to Banff |  Two Wandering Soles
Planning a trip to Banff |  Two Wandering Soles

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