If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Banff, you’ve come to the right place.

Banff is one of the best places to stay in Canada. The area is full of natural beauty, including mountains and lakes. There are many things to do in Banff, such as hiking, biking, skiing and other winter sports.

This article will provide you with information on Best places to stay in banff, best places to stay in banff for couples, where to stay in banff summer, and cheap hotels in banff. Do take your time to go through for more update.

Best places to stay in banff for couples

Banff is a great destination for couples who want to get away from it all. The town itself is small, but there are plenty of activities to do and sights to see within an hour’s drive of the resort. Here are some of our favorite places in Banff for couples.

1. Lake Louise

This iconic lake is a must-see when you’re in Banff, and it’s just a short drive away from the town center. There are a number of restaurants along the shore, as well as hiking trails and other activities nearby.

2. Bow Falls

This waterfall is just a 30-minute drive outside of Banff and offers some fantastic views of nature at its best!

It’s true: Bow Falls is the most beautiful place on earth.

It’s home to more than just one waterfall, it’s also home to one of the most beautiful sunsets you could imagine. The entire area is filled with water—a mixture of lakes, rivers, and streams—and it’s all surrounded by lush green forests. The best part about Bow Falls? You can drive right up to the falls themselves.

You can’t miss them! They tower over everything around them, and there’s nothing else like them in the world.

Once you get there, you’ll want to stay awhile. There are hiking trails where you can walk through the forest and along the riverbanks, or just sit back and enjoy the scenery from your car or camp chair. If you’re looking for something more adventurous than that, though? You can rent a kayak or canoe at one of the many nearby stores and paddle around until your heart’s content!

3. Moraine Lake

This lake is known for its incredible turquoise coloration, which comes from minerals in the water reacting with sunlight during certain times of year. You can hike around this lake or rent boats if you’d like to spend more time exploring these waters!

Moraine Lake is the most spectacular lake in Banff National Park. It’s nestled in a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and is one of the most photographed spots in all of Canada.

The lake itself is formed by glacial activity thousands of years ago. It’s named after the moraines—the piles of debris left behind by glaciers—that surround it. The water is so blue because it’s impure and has a lot of suspended particles (like clay) in it.

In addition to being an amazing sight to see, Moraine Lake also has some interesting facts associated with it:

*It’s one of only two lakes that are entirely within Banff National Park (the other one is Lake Louise).

*It was formed about 10,000 years ago when a glacier receded from this area and left behind a large depression in the earth’s surface known today as a “tarn.”

*The best place to view Moraine Lake is from Tunnel Mountain Road at Tunnel Mountain Chalet where you can see both sides at once without having trees block your view like other viewpoints do (like Bow River).

4. Banff Upper Hot Springs

If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway that’s not too far outside town but still feels like you’re in nature (because we all know how much better your relationship will be when you’re surrounded by trees), then this hot springs might be worth checking out!

5. Lamphouse Hotel 

The Lamphouse Hotel is the newest hotel in Canmore, designed to give a rustic, country lodge feel with barn board walls and animal motifs throughout.

All the rooms are set up for comfort, with top of the range mattresses, Nespresso coffee machines, and Banff Mountain Soap Co bathroom amenities.

The hotel is located right in the heart of downtown Canmore and its numerous bars, restaurants and cafes. 

6. Banff Park Lodge

This cozy, historic hotel is the perfect place to enjoy all that the Canadian Rocky Mountains have to offer. With its original log cabin design, beautiful grounds and natural hot springs, this hotel offers a romantic getaway that will make your trip unforgettable.

Best places to stay in banff

Banff is a great place to visit, and it’s even better when you’re staying in one of the best hotels.

If you’re looking for a place to stay that’s close to all of the major attractions in Banff, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are just a few:

1.  Elk & Avenue

Located downtown Banff, The Elk & Avenue  is a great choice if you’re looking for a place to stay right in the middle of everything. It’s a great location to walk around the town and be close to everything—plus it has free parking so you can road trip all around Banff National Park and the Icelands Parkway.

The hotel itself has few amenities (there’s a very uninviting hot tub in a concrete room), but for location, you can’t beat it!

2. Buffalo Mountain Lodge

If you want to be in the heart of the action of Banff proper Buffalo Mountain Lodge is a great choice for a hotel in Banff. Situated just minutes from downtown, Buffalo Mountain Lodge offers free shuttles for guests to go out for dinner, drinks or downtown shopping.

We loved building a fire in our room as we overlooked our Rocky Mountain view. Staff provides kindling, newspaper, matches, and wood to create the perfect fire for a romantic or cozy atmosphere.

The Sleeping Buffalo Dining Room is a great choice for dinner featuring local fruits, vegetables, and grains plus hormone and antibiotic-free bison and elk raised on their own game ranch. 

3. Mount Royal Hotel

The Mount Royal Hotel is another historic hotel that dates back to 1908 and is located right in the center of Banff. It has an ideal location so you have quick access to anything you could want in Banff. The historic building has a beautiful exterior that likely makes an appearance in thousands of photographs down Banff Ave of Cascade Mountain. 

4. The Moose

The Moose is our favorite hotel to stay on Banff Avenue. They have extremely comfortable rooms, many with fireplaces and AC. However what I love most about The Moose are their rooftop hot tubs and sauna. There’s likely no better place to relax with views of Cascade.

5. The Peaks

The Peaks is a new hotel and is easily now one of the nicest and most modern places to stay in Banff. It’s located off Lynx St just a few minute walk from Banff Avenue.

6. Banff Caribou Lodge

The Banff Caribou Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Banff on a budget. Rooms here are basic, but comfortable.

There are many amenities here, including a full-service spa, a jetted hot pool, steam room, fitness room, and bike rental service.

7. The Dorothy Motel

The Dorothy Motel is a newly launched and renovated motel just outside of downtown Banff. It’s a boutique motel with simple rooms that are well set up to meet travelers’ needs. Pets are welcome at the hotel as they are provided a bed, food and water bowls, a take-home toy, and tasty treats.

8. Banff Springs Hotel

When it comes to luxury hotels in Banff National Park, nothing is more iconic than the long-standing Banff Springs Hotel. It’s one of the best hotels in Banff and for good reason. When you glimpse this grand landmark for the first time, you’ll see why it’s known as The Castle of the Rockies. The hotel has seen guests from all over the world for more than 100 years and to stay here is truly a bucket list experience.

9. Juniper Hotel

This is one of the best places to stay in Banff that is close to downtown, but not actually located in downtown Banff. Juniper Hotel is about 2 kilometers from Banff Avenue, and 6 kilometers from Mount Norquay Ski Resort. It is set on a hill, perched above the Trans-Canada highway, and surrounded by mountains, particularly the views of Mount Norquay are stunning from the hotel.

10. Fox Hotel and Suites

Located downtown Banff, Fox Hotel and Suites is within walking distance to all the main dining and hot spots. What sets Fox Hotel and Suites apart from other hotels in Banff is the large hot pool modeled after the Cave & Basin hot pools.

The original Cave & Basin was Canada’s first national park. We had a two-bedroom suite that echoed the perfect ski lodge setting. For roadhouse dining, we ate at Chilis Restaurant located in the lobby. When you’ve had a busy day of adventures in Banff, sometimes a quick meal at the hotel restaurant is in order. 

Where to stay in banff summer

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Banff this summer, there are plenty of options. But if you’re on a budget, or just want to stay close to the action, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites:

-The Banff Springs Hotel: This hotel is as luxurious as they come, with an amazing spa, restaurants and bars on-site, and easy access to walking paths and mountain biking trails. It’s a great option if you want to make sure you’ll have everything you need right at hand.

-The Banff YMCA: The YMCA has everything from dorm rooms to private apartments with kitchens and laundry facilities—and it’s all reasonably priced! If you’re traveling with friends or family members who want their own space but don’t mind sharing bathrooms, this could be a great option.

-Banff Hostel: If budget is your main concern and you don’t mind sharing with strangers (or even bunking up together), this hostel will save you money while still getting you close enough to town that it won’t feel like too much of an inconvenience when it comes time for dinner or drinks after exploring all day long!

Banff is a great place to visit in the summer. The weather is warm, but cool enough to keep you from getting uncomfortably hot. It’s generally sunny, with almost no rain or snow. You can hike, swim in the lake, or just hang out in town—there’s always something fun to do.

• The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has an indoor pool and spa. You can also take advantage of their fitness center and enjoy fine dining at their on-site restaurant. Rooms start at $250 per night.
• If you’re looking for an affordable option closer to town, try the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort & Spa. Their rooms have views of either mountains or forests depending on which side of the building they’re on; the rooms closest to downtown are cheaper than those further away from downtown but still offer great views if you don’t mind walking a bit more during your stay (the downtown location is about 20 minutes from Banff Avenue). Rooms start at $125 per night

Cheap hotels in banff

Banff might be a resort town, but it’s not just for the rich and famous. You don’t have to pay $500 per night to get your fill of this Canadian beauty spot.

While Banff is known for its ski resorts, it also has a lot of other things to offer—including some great hotels. Here are some of our favorite places to stay in Banff, at affordable prices:

1. The Dorothy Motel

The most reasonably priced motel in Banff is the Dorothy Motel. The Dorothy Motel in Banff, which just underwent renovation, has received some of the greatest customer evaluations of any motel in Banff, not just its more cheap competitors.

One of the reasons the Dorothy Motel is an affordable Banff hotel is its location. It’s located right on the very eastern edge of the Banff townsite. Being ‘far’ away from downtown makes this Banff motel more affordable, but to put it in perspective, it’s only a 4 minute drive or an 18 minute walk to downtown Banff. It’s location is hardly an inconvenience – I love walking along Banff Avenue!

If the location of the Dorothy Motel is a concern, you can take advantage of the free Roam bus passes guests receive for their stay. Conveniently, there is a Roam public transit stop right by the motel, making the Dorothy Motel an ideal place to stay for visiting Banff without a car.

Two other advantages of the Dorothy Motel location are that it backs onto the forest and its close to the Banff Legacy Trail. This paved bike trail between Banff and Canmore is one of our favorite bike rides in Banff and one of the best free things to do in Banff.

Being an affordable Banff hotel, you won’t find a pool or fitness room at the Dorothy Motel, but it’s clean and has all the basic amenities you require in a Banff hotel room, such as a coffee/tea station, flat-screen TV, a microwave and mini-fridge.

Each motel room has a small table and chairs, so you can save even more money on your Banff vacation by self-catering or eating take-out from some of the nearby Banff restaurants.

The Dorothy Motel also warmly welcomes pets. They provide water and food bowls, a bed, treats and a take-home toy for your treasured family pet.

The only real complaint I see from guests at the Dorothy Motel is that you need to pick up your keys at the nearby Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa. This isn’t ideal, but it’s only a 2 minute drive from the Dorothy Motel. This issue is being addressed with mobile check in/check out and mobile key access coming soon.

2. Banff Boutique Inn

The Banff Boutique Inn is another of the best inexpensive hotels in Banff. Tucked away in a well-treed residential neighborhood on the road to the historic Cave and Basin, the Banff Boutique Inn is a another affordable Banff hotel with excellent reviews.

A short 5 minute walk from downtown Banff, the recently renovated Banff Boutique Inn has many elements of a bed & breakfast. There is a fully equipped kitchen for guests to use during their stay, along with a common living room and dining room.

If you are looking to visit Banff on a budget, cooking your own meals will reduce the money you spend on restaurant food. When you take these food savings into account, the Banff Boutique Inn becomes even more affordable Banff accommodation.

Guests of this budget Banff hotel will enjoy a light bite in the morning, with a selection of cereal, oats and hot beverages to choose from.

The Banff Boutique Inn keeps its rooms affordable by limiting full housekeeping service to once every 7 days. Personally, I don’t view this as a negative – I frequently keep my “Do Not Disturb” sign on my hotel room door for days on end to keep housekeeping out. If you’d like more frequent cleaning, it is available at an extra cost.

The cabin-style decor of the Deluxe King Rooms earned the Banff Boutique Inn a spot on the best cabin rentals in Banff.

3. High Country Inn

With an excellent location just two blocks from downtown Banff, the High Country Inn is one of the cheapest hotels in Banff with a pool. Not only does the High Country Inn have a heated indoor pool, but it also has two hot tubs and a cedar dry sauna. You get a lot of amenities for your money at this affordable Banff hotel!

The rooms at this inexpensive Banff hotel are all climate controlled with microwaves, refrigerators and coffee makers. All rooms at the High Country Inn enjoy a mountain view, and most have a private balcony to enjoy the view.

If you’d prefer to save money on your trip to Banff by avoiding an expensive rental car, there are Roam bus stops in both directions just outside the High Country Inn.

The High Country Inn also appears on a few of our other Banff hotel lists. It’s one of the few hotels in Banff with Jacuzzi suites and it’s an inexpensive Banff hotel which allows pets.

4. Banff Park Lodge

Of all the cheap Banff hotels on this list, the Banff Park Lodge has the best location. The Banff Park Lodge is nestled in-between downtown Banff and the beautiful Bow River, offering guests of this inexpensive Banff hotel the best of both worlds – nature and urban amenities.

There’s plenty of things to do near this inexpensive Banff hotel. A short walk north on the Bow River walking path will lead you to the popular Fenlands Loop Trail. If you go south on this easy Banff walk, you can go all the way to the Bow Falls and the iconic Banff Springs Hotel. In addition, two of the best Banff museums are just a short walk along the Bow River.

The Banff Park Lodge has a long list of amenities, giving you excellent value for your money. This inexpensive Banff hotel offers guests a heated indoor pool, a hot tub, steam room and a fitness centre.

5. Banff Rocky Mountain Resort

Hidden away in a forest setting at the corner of Banff Avenue and Tunnel Mountain Road, the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort offers its guests a ton of amenities at a very affordable price.

This inexpensive Banff hotel has an indoor swimming pool, an indoor & outdoor hot tub, a health and fitness club, squash courts, tennis courts and a basketball court. There’s even a play area for the kids!

With the beautiful setting and the long list of amenities, we wouldn’t blame you for spending all your time at this affordable Banff resort hotel. When it’s time to go into town, the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort offers a free shuttle service to town, or you can drive yourself – it’s only 6-minutes away.

In addition to the standard hotel rooms, guests at this affordable Banff hotel can stay in a loft, or a 1-bedroom apartment or even a 2-bedroom apartment. Many of the rooms feature a full kitchen, enabling you to stretch your Banff travel budget even further by cooking a few meals.

We hope you’ve found this article helpful! Banff is a great place to visit and we’re sure you’ll find that there are plenty of places to stay in Banff, Alberta. Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort or a more budget-friendly option, we hope this list has helped you out.