Calgary is a metropolitan city with a strong history of western culture and is famous for the annual Calgary Stampede rodeo and festival event, which is attended by a million people each year. It’s also known as the gateway to the Canadian Rockies.

Banff National Park is famous for its turquoise glacier lakes, majestic mountain peaks and endless outdoor adventures. Banff is Canada’s first national park and millions of visitors come here every year for activities such as hiking, biking, skiing and camping. Banff is a resort town located inside Banff National Park, and was the first municipality in Canada to be incorporated inside a national park.

The most popular times to visit Banff are in summer from June to August, and in winter from December to March. The shoulder seasons spring and fall offer fewer crowds and more reasonable accommodation rates.

There’s a lot that can be seen in the Banff Townsite within one day, as everything is fairly close. You can see some of the top highlights in half a day, including Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, Vermilion Lakes and Surprise Corner for views of the ‘Castle in the Rockies’. And allow more time if you’re visiting attractions such as the Banff Sightseeing Gondola.

To properly explore Banff National Park and see places like Lake Louise, you’ll want to spend at least two days and ideally up to a week.

It’s easy to drive from Calgary to Banff on the well-maintained Trans-Canada Highway 1, and the drive takes 1.5 – 2 hours.

The closest airport to Banff is Calgary International Airport, located approximately a two hour drive from Banff. There is no airport in Banff.