What to do on your Day Trip to Banff
Whether you’re road tripping through Banff or perhaps staying in a nearby town like Jasper or Canmore, it is entirely possible to take a day trip to Banff. If you have more time, I would recommend you try to stay longer, but as a local myself, I take day trips to Banff all the time on the weekends. One of the best things about living in Calgary is that Banff is just a drive away.
Banff National Park is honestly one of those bucket list destinations that brings people from all over the world to visit. The pristine lakes and beautiful mountain ranges make Banff the perfect spot for a day trip.
I’ve had the chance to take many drives out to Banff and in this post, I’m sharing with you exactly what I did this winter in Banff. Banff is a destination where you can visit during any time of the year, so although the photos below show a winter landscape, summer would also be a great time to experience these activities as well.
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Morning – Day Trip to Banff
Catch the sunrise in the mountains
I started my drive from Calgary to Banff around 6:00 am. I love sunrises and if I can catch it in the mountains, I’ll wake up at anytime to go. As we get closer to spring, the sunrises are also now a lot earlier and the pink sky that you see on my drive is around 7:20 am in late February. I love the pink and orange sky that peaks over the mountain tops.
If you’re lucky, you may see an alpenglow. An alpenglow is the reddish glow that can be seen near a sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains. These are the little moments that I love about the quiet mornings and evenings. This beauty, if you can catch it, only last a few minutes each day. And I think to be able to see this for yourself is the closest thing to magic there is.
Visit Little Wild Coffee
It’s early in the morning, so you’re probably wondering where to get your first cup of coffee. Stop by Little Wild Coffee in the Town of Banff. Coffee shops in Banff open fairly early, which is nice for those of you who like to get their day started early! If you haven’t packed some snacks for the day, grab some of their bakery items to go.
Take the Banff Gondola up to Sulphur Mountain
Sulphur Mountain is open all year around and is a great day trip idea during any season for sight seeing. Since the summit is accessible by either taking the Banff Gondola or hiking the Sulphur Mountain trail, it’s one of the most popular things to do in Banff. The Banff Gondola base is less than 10 minutes away from the Town of Banff by car and you can get there by driving or taking the Roam Transit.
The price of the gondola ride is not cheap, as the round trip adult cost is $66 CAD + tax. If you’re looking to save some money and you want to add in a hike to your day, the Sulphur Mountain Trail is a great hike to do any time in the year. In the winter, it took me about 2 hours to make my way up.
When you get to the summit, enjoy the views as you make your way along the boardwalk to the historic cosmic ray station and up to Sanson’s Peak. At the Banff Gondola summit, you can also experience mountain top dining at the Sky Bistro.
Afternoon – Day Trip to Banff
Late lunch at Ramen Arashi
As you make your way back from Sulphur Mountain, head back to the Town of Banff for a late lunch. Try out Ramen Arashi, as there’s no better way to warm up than with a hot bowl of ramen. If you enjoy the spicier side of food, I’d highly recommend the Devil’s Arashi Ramen.
Walk around the Town of Banff
In town, there are so many cute shops, cafes and restaurants to explore. There’s just this relaxed vibe that I love and it makes for the best afternoon to just walk around and go souvenir shopping.
My favourite stores that you shouldn’t miss when you’re here in Banff are Jolene’s Tea House, Patagonia Banff, Banff Sweet Shoppe and The Spirit of Christmas.
Evening – Day Trip to Banff
Dine at Bluebird
Get ready for dinner and dine at Bluebird Wood-fired Steakhouse. You’ll find the perfect cocktail to end off the evening with an unforgettable food experience.
Other Day Trip Ideas to Banff:
- Unwind at the Banff upper hot springs
- Dine at Rundle Bar for an elegant mountain escape
- Go canoeing at Lake Louise in the summer or ice skate in the winter
- See the waterfalls at Johnston Canyon
- Go snowboarding at Sunshine Village Ski Resort
- Take in the beauty of Moraine Lake
