Banff has always been a bucket list destination of mine, with its gorgeous scenery and amazing hiking trails. I was finally able to cross it off my list in early September 2018, and put together a short Banff travel guide. About Banff Banff is both the name of Canada’s oldest national park and the name of the main town. The town of Banff is the main commercial center within the national park, with many restaurants, hotels, shops, etc. Banff National Park is one of the most visited national parks in North America and the most popular tourist destination in the Alberta province. Getting to Banff The town of Banff is about a 1.5-hour drive from the Calgary (YYC) airport (You will definitely want to rent a car - there are some public/tour transport options available but having a car allows you to be much more flexible). There is a fee for admission into the national park, and it is valid for any of Banff, Jasper, Yoho or Kootenay national parks. For a single vehicle, it is C$19.60 for a day or C$136.40 for an annual park pass and is good for parking in the lots in town, discounts on entrance to some of the historic site, etc. Based on the price it is worth it to buy an annual pass if you are going to spend 7 days or more in any of the parks. They accept cash or credit cards. What To Do What to do in the Banff area is, obviously, highly dependent on what season you are visiting. In the winter, there will be some great snow activities including Continue Reading