Banff Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Banff tours and things to do in the heart of the Canadian Rockies: ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, marvel at turquoise Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, walk on the Athabasca Glacier along the Icefields Parkway, cruise Lake Minnewanka, and hike Johnston Canyon. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect mountain escape.
rating
Explore Banff by interest
Whatever brings you to Banff — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Banff Gondola
Sulphur Mountain.
ExploreLake Louise & Moraine
Turquoise lakes.
ExploreColumbia Icefield
Glacier walk.
ExploreLake Minnewanka
Scenic cruise.
ExploreJohnston Canyon
Waterfall hikes.
ExploreTown fun
Rides & activities.
ExploreWildlife & e-bike
Elk & bears.
ExploreScenic drives
Icefields Parkway.
ExploreTop attractions in Banff
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Banff Gondola
Sulphur Mountain.
Lake Louise
Iconic lake.
Moraine Lake
Ten Peaks.
Columbia Icefield
Glacier walk.
Lake Minnewanka
Scenic cruise.
Johnston Canyon
Waterfall trail.
Bow Falls
Town waterfall.
Wildlife
Elk & bears.
Banff in 3 days
- 1Day 1: town & gondola
- 2Day 2: Lake Louise
- 3Day 3: Icefields Parkway
- 4Glacier walk
Banff with kids
- 1Banff Gondola
- 2Lake Minnewanka cruise
- 3Johnston Canyon
- 4Wildlife spotting
~45 min awayLake Louise
Iconic lake.
~1 hr awayMoraine Lake
Ten Peaks.
~3 hrs awayColumbia Icefield
Glacier walk.
~15 min awayLake Minnewanka
Scenic cruise.
~30 min awayJohnston Canyon
Waterfall trail.
Full day awayIcefields Parkway
Scenic drive.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Banff visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
The best time for lakes, hikes and the Icefields Parkway, with warm days and all roads open.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, quieter days with golden larches and fewer crowds, ideal for scenery and wildlife.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
World-class skiing, frozen waterfalls, icewalks and magical snowy landscapes.
Lakes season
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are at their turquoise best from late June to September.
Peak months
July and August are busiest — book tours, shuttles and stays well ahead.
Larch season
Late September brings golden larch trees, a spectacular and popular time for photos.
One day
The gondola and a lake cruise.
Three days
Add Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway.
Five days
Add Jasper, hikes and more lakes.
Winter trips
Ski, icewalk and enjoy the hot springs.
Hikers
Time for canyon and mountain trails.
With kids
Gondola, cruise and easy canyon walks.
Tours & shuttles
Guided tours and shuttles are the easiest way to reach Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway.
Rental car
A car offers freedom, but parking at popular lakes is very limited and fills early.
Roam transit
Banff’s Roam public buses link the town with key sights and trailheads in summer.
Walkable town
Banff townsite is compact and walkable, with shops, dining and Bow Falls close by.
Park pass
A Parks Canada pass is required to enter Banff National Park — buy it in advance or at the gate.
Winter driving
In winter, roads can be snowy and icy; guided tours take the stress out of mountain driving.
Canadian dollars
Banff uses the Canadian dollar (CAD); cards are widely accepted across the park and town.
Book early
Lake shuttles, the gondola and Columbia Icefield tours sell out in summer — reserve well ahead.
Dress in layers
Mountain weather changes fast; bring warm layers and rain protection even in summer.
Park pass needed
A Parks Canada pass is required; have it ready when entering the national park.
Wildlife safety
Keep a safe distance from wildlife, never feed animals, and carry bear spray on backcountry hikes.
Start early
Arrive early at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake to beat crowds and parking limits, or take a tour.
Lake shuttles & tours
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tours sell out — book ahead.
Banff Gondola
The gondola is very popular — reserve early.
Columbia Icefield
Glacier and Skywalk tours fill up — book ahead.
Lake Minnewanka cruise
Scenic cruises sell out in summer — reserve early.
Guided hikes
Johnston Canyon and icewalk tours have limited places — book ahead.
Summer dates
July and August are busiest — reserve everything well ahead.
Banff Gondola
Around $50–70 for a Banff Gondola ticket up Sulphur Mountain.
Lake Louise tour
About $90–140 for a guided Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour.
Columbia Icefield
Roughly $160–220 for a full-day Icefield and glacier tour.
Minnewanka cruise
Around $55–75 for a scenic Lake Minnewanka cruise.
Johnston Canyon
About $70–110 for a guided canyon hike or icewalk.
How to save
Join group tours, combine sights and travel in shoulder season.
Banff through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Lakes & hikes.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
- Best for
- Golden larches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Crisp & quiet.
- Best for
- Ski & icewalks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold, snowy.
- Best for
- Quiet, thawing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lakes still frozen.