Banff travel guide

Banff falls into place if you give the town and hot springs one day and Lake Louise another.

In 2026, the national park's daily admission is 12.25 Canadian dollars for adults and 10.75 for seniors 65+, and free for 17 and under. A family/group rate of 24.50 covers up to 7 people in one vehicle. The annual Discovery Pass costs 83.50 for adults, so beyond 6 days the pass is cheaper.

The Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttle costs 12.75 Canadian dollars for adults, plus a 3.50 online booking fee. Prices are as of our check date, so recheck for your visit date, and shift town plans around the weather.

Visa and entry requirements for Canada

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Visit Canada (Government of Canada)
• Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (Government of Canada)
• Entry requirements by country or territory (Government of Canada)

Banff National Park's daily admission in 2026 is 12.25 Canadian dollars for adults and 10.75 for seniors 65+, and free for 17 and under. A family/group rate of 24.50 covers up to 7 people in one vehicle. The annual Discovery Pass costs 83.50 for adults, 71.50 for seniors and 167.50 for families.

Paying daily, one adult spends 73.50 for 6 days and 85.75 for 7, so the pass is cheaper from day 7. Two adults staying 3 days pay 6 × 12.25 = 73.50. With a vehicle on the family rate, it's 24.50 a day, the same as two adults. UNESCO listed the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which include Banff, in 1984.

Based on Parks Canada's official fees, checked on 23 October 2026.

The Parks Canada shuttle links Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and the Alpine Start, costing 12.75 Canadian dollars for adults, 6 for seniors 65+ and 4 for 17 and under. Online bookings add a non-refundable 3.50 fee, and phone bookings 5.50.

General parking at the Lake Louise lakeshore costs 42 Canadian dollars per vehicle per day, from 15 May to 12 October, so check your timing. Two adults booking online together pay 2 × 12.75 = 25.50 plus the 3.50 fee, for 29 Canadian dollars. Check on the booking screen whether the fee applies per booking, and compare with the 42 parking fee.

With 2 nights: walk the town and visit the hot springs on day one. Banff Upper Hot Springs costs 19.75 Canadian dollars for adults and 17.25 for seniors 65+ and ages 3 to 17, including a locker token. On day two, take the shuttle to Lake Louise.

With 3 nights: add rest and a town walk on day three. Two adults at the hot springs pay 2 × 19.75 = 39.50. Mountain weather changes fast, so bring a jacket; you can also move the hot springs to the evening after Lake Louise.

Plan meals in Banff around poutine, Nanaimo bars and maple syrup. Poutine is fries topped with cheese curds and gravy; Nanaimo bars are layered chocolate and custard squares. We don't pick restaurants or prices here. After a lake day, have dinner in town to keep travel short.

Visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada usually need an eTA (CAN$7, apply only on the official Government of Canada site); other nationalities need a visa. Park and shuttle fees are as of our check date, so recheck for your dates. Decide between lakeshore parking and the shuttle based on group size and timing. The emergency number is 911.