Best Free Things to Do in Banff
THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Banff
Best Free Things to Do in Banff
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
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Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Scenic Drives
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Showing results 1-30 of 39
What travellers are saying
- Lee LValhalla, NY2,288 contributionsOn the last day of our tour we stopped here to have lunch and take a boat tour. Like most of the lakes in the area a beautiful glacier fed lake with lots of mountains and scenery around. Also a great place to have a picnic by the lake before getting in the bus to finish the vacation with a drive back to Calgary.Written 25 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jsd26Cardiff, UK170 contributionsA nice, shady walk along the Bow River Trail, following the art in nature trail, brings you to the Bow Falls. Wide, impressive and accessible.Written 15 December 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- David nManchester, UK4,888 contributionsExtra-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 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- travelwhileukanMarietta, GA73 contributionsGreat hike with expansive views at the summit. October 10, 2024. There was snow on the trail. 6 degrees Celsius at the trailhead that day. Walking poles and snow cleats were a huge help! Very blustery on parts of trail. A hat with a hood will keep you warm. Wear good boots. Leg gators or rain pants will keep snow off your feet /legs. 2.5 hours round trip for us.Written 12 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Darren BCourtland, VA678 contributionsWe enjoyed riding our e-bikes on the Bow Valley Parkway from Vermillion Lakes to Muleshoe.
The parkway was closed to automobile traffic at the time of our visit. Being able to ride on this beautiful parkway through such amazing surroundings without the fear of being run over by cars was an amazing treat.
Enjoy.Written 13 June 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Christian MCopenhagen, Denmark6,223 contributionsWe, being somewhat middle-aged, huffed and puffed our way up, up, up the +2 km of Tunnel Mountain, until we reached the top with its stunning view of Banff (which is actually prettier at street level), the green valley, the blue river, and the surrounding mountains...
...while children aged 4 and up cheerfully jogged alongside their sweating parents, enjoying the unfamiliar surroundings.
The hike is highly recommended for anyone in reasonably good shape. And, seemingly, no one else experienced the mild bouts of vertigo that I did near the top (and I made it; just with a bit of a racing heart).
The +2 km descent takes less than half the time of the climb, and the sweat quickly dries off as you go down.Written 11 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Lee LValhalla, NY2,288 contributionsOur tour stopped here and had about 45 minutes to walk around and check it out before we headed out on our Bow River float trip. A nice garden to walk around with, it has running water and lots of flowers along with a couple of gazebos. You can also take a picture looking down into the town of Banff.Written 25 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- David nManchester, UK4,888 contributionsA short walk off the Fenland Trail leads you to the first of these three lakes. In winter, they are covered in snow but the surrounding views are super.Written 9 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- David nManchester, UK4,888 contributionsThis "corner" is a short - maybe 15 minutes - from Banff's main street. Well-signposted and on gravel / tarmac to the viewpoint.
The viewpoint itself is up two flights of stairs but the best views of the iconic Fairmont hotel are from the road leading the this viewpoint. When we were there mountain deer were walking around which is a bonus at this quiet time of year.Written 9 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - 용기 강Calgary, Canada2 contributionstwo jack lake sightseeing
Try this 3.0-mile out-and-back trail near Banff, Alberta. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 10 min to complete. This is a very popular area for camping, hiking, and paddle sports, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.Written 12 June 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - L0d0London404 contributionsWorth a drive or take the bus to the Hoogoo view point for great views of the river below.
Very scenic drive just outside town.Written 22 June 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - SBRochester, NY143 contributionsExcellent visitor center with great location and great service: only difficulty was the incredibly long lines. Not sure whether it would be possible to add more staff given the size of the facility, which is a terrific historic building in town.Written 8 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Stewarts Vacation1,532 contributionsWe found these rock formations, on the banks of the Bow River, intriguing. Composed of sedimentary rock covered by harder rock that is more difficult to erode, a needle or tower like natural obstacle is created as the softer rock erodes away. Well, that's the explanation we were given. There is a clear path from the car park to the viewing areas, though some people may struggle with the incline. If you are on Tunnel Mountain, stop by to see these unique formations!Written 1 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dan KArlington, United States99 contributionsEasy to get to, scenic lakes/ponds on the outskirts of the town of Banff.
There is ample parking for those who visit Cascade Ponds.
There are two ponds with small scenic foot bridges that allow visitors to walk out to the small islands on the ponds. There are also a couple of large red chairs available to sit on at the small island.
This is an ideal area for bar-b-ques and picnics.
The mountains provide a beautiful scenic back drop to the ponds.
It is easy to view a nearby waterfall cascading down the side of an adjacent mountain.
Definitely worth a visit.Written 4 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Nik BMuskego, WI22 contributionsThis is an easy relatively flat hike on a smooth trail. Its a beautiful, peaceful lake framed by the gorgeous mountains of Banff NP. There is one fork in the trail (if you are going counterclockwise around the lake) where you may take a wrong turn. If you do, it dead ends in about 100m, so not really a big deal. Highly recommended, especially for a first hike of your trip or those with some physical limitations.Written 23 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
