Banff Avenue
Banff Avenue
4.3
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4.3
1,524 reviews
Excellent
736
Very good
551
Average
194
Poor
32
Terrible
11
FLtrotter
St. Augustine, FL356 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Coming into Banff one of my first thoughts was how new and high scale rustic appropriate everything looks and then my next concern was how expensive it would be to stay and eat in Banff. Anyhow that was mostly true. Echoing a lot of other reviewers… The avenue is adorned with shops not so much ones that befit a backcountry hike looking to head into the park- it had fine jewelry, gourmet chocolates and wines, many gift shops . Frankly Banff and its avenue is over commercialized and seems to cater to those with deep pockets. But at the same time there is a charm to the avenue and its surroundings. We decided to spend a few hours including going to the visitor center and walking up and down the avenue then having a pho lunch at a Vietnamese place. That was more than enough time for us and then we were off to Lake Louise. I don’t imagining us spending days on end in Banff, other than trying for affordable lodging in order to view parts of the park
Written 10 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle P
California20 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Adorable! What a fun place to eat and shop. Loved that the main avenue was closed off to traffic. You could walk with ease even though there was a lot of people. Shopping ranges from high end stores to basic souvenir shops. There is something for everyone. Parking can be expensive but there is free parking on the outskirts of town with a short walk required. We saw elk right next to the free parking area so be careful when driving.
Written 30 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel
48 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This is a great street! There are soo many different food options, all were soo worth the visit (especially the chicken parm from Banff brewing co.) and heaps of touristy shops to get your souvenirs from! Worth going shop to shop to check prices though... Love how the street was shut to cars so it gave more space for people to walk without it being too crowded. Can't wait to go back!
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adrian R
29 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Banff is really about the setting and the surroundings and not the town itself, including Banff Ave. It has a fabricated tourist feel about it, backed up by the fact that every other shop is selling souvenirs. "Tourist Trap" would be an accurate description, but really in the nicest possible way. I initially thought that the 2 hours that I had initially put aside to visit was going to fall short, but it turned out to be plenty. That said, the setting is spectacular, so go for a stroll and soak it in.
Written 24 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Metis gal
Chilliwack, Canada308 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
No shortage of things to see here. I'm very glad we went when we did as even in late September we found it to be quite busy. There are so many shops to check out, some with a little more unique flair, a number of others that carry the standard souvenir style items. Having family visiting from Australia, they really enjoyed many shops along the Avenue.
Written 4 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David n
Manchester, UK4,887 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
Extra-ordinarily picturesque with the mountain at one end of this street. Very easy to take photos from the middle of the road which has pedestrian areas. the street itself is home to a wide range of shops - sweet shops, chocolate, soaps, Xmas shop and lots of eateries, bars and restaurants.
Written 9 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tjnels
Solon, IA332 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We stopped here early on a weekday. Initially, it wasn't very busy and it was pretty enjoyable. After lunch, the crowds had increased considerably. We left when it got busy. We really had seen everything that we needed to see. Lots of souvenir shops- seemed like all the shops had the same things.
Written 24 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pcanders
Toronto, Canada16 contributions
Jun 2022
The main shopping/dining area of Banff Avenue was closed off to vehicles. Paid parking available about a 10 minute walk away and free parking at the train station (about 15 minute walk away). Enjoyed the Spirit of Christmas shop and the Rocky Mountain chocolate/candy shop. Several souvenir shops and some hiking/sporting goods stores. The Bay is the largest store in that area. Several restaurants in the area. There is a grocery store, liquor store, hardware store and small movie theatre just off of Banff Avenue as well. Lots of people out and about.
Written 2 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelrads
New York City, NY552 contributions
Aug 2023
Visited about 15:00 on a weekday after a day of hiking and sightseeing. Massively crowded with cars and people. We were fortunate to find a spot in a pay for parking lot as some one was leaving. While there are some high end stores and restaurants most of the establishments appear to be schlock shops aimed at tourists and touristy restaurants. Throngs of tourists mobbed the streets, lots of kids running around (likely on sugar highs). The views down the avenue and streets towards the mountains was kind of cool, but not worth the touristy aggravation. We stayed just a little over an hour and went back to the Icefields pkwy to check out some lookouts.
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinaNtravel
San Jose, CA2,143 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The main avenue in Banff is both cute and also crowded. Just about every place on the main street is either a souvenir shop, a restaurant, a bakery or an ice cream shop. Now and then we saw some street performers. The evenings are quite crowded with everyone out and about for dinner. All in all, in spite of the crowds, it had an overall quaint feel.
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long does it take you to explore Banff Avenue in summer?
How do I get back to Canmore after PM10?
Please let me know please.
Written 2 June 2019
How is the smoke level in the Banff/Lake Louise area? We're coming from southern BC where the mountains are nearly obscured by the dense smoke.
Written 2 September 2017
Depends on the wind. When we were there, no smoke in Banff, although the mountains were obscured.
Written 6 September 2017
hola! cuánto tiempo sugieren pasar en Banff? es para estar todo el día o solo un par de horas, si es que no vamos a adentrarnos más en las montañas?
Written 18 August 2017
Banff es una localidad muy bonita pero lo interesante son sus alrededores. La localidad en sí no tiene gran cosa, es una calle muy larga llena de tiendas y restaurantes y con mucho ambiente. Lo bonito es subir en la góndola (teleférico), visitar los rápidos del río Bow (que están en las afueras) y los lagos cercanos. Luego lo más interesante es visitar el Parque Nacional de Banff y de Yoho donde están los lagos Esmeralda, Louise y Moraine, auténticas maravillas que se encuentran una hora y media en coche. Por lo tanto lo ideal es hacer dos noches en Banff y recorrerlo todo, merece la pena.
Written 18 August 2017
RitO93
Peterborough & the Kawarthas, Canada
Is there a campsite that is close enough to Banff Ave to walk to? We're camping there this summer and would love to be able to walk to dinner and have a couple drinks! Thanks
Written 25 May 2017
Tunnel mountain is not too far from downtown...but not super close either....
Written 16 July 2017
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