My Banff Travel Guide: Where We Ate, Hiked, Stayed, and What I Wish I Packed
- skimzeyblog
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Banff is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been - and if it’s not already on your bucket list, trust me it needs to be. My girlfriend and I visited during the second weekend of June this year and had the most amazing time, hiked through actual fairy-forest terrain, and somehow avoided the big crowds. This guide has it all: my honest food recs, what to skip, what to pack (because I did it wrong), and everything I wish I’d known going in.
📍 When to Go
We went the second weekend of June and it was absolutely perfect. Everything had just opened for the season, so we were able to beat the summer crowds. I highly recommend going early in the season if you can. We never felt rushed, nothing was too crowded, and we still got to do all the major hikes and excursions without the chaos.
📅 A Perfect Day in Banff (Based on What We Actually Did)
Morning: Breakfast at Sudden Sally → Bow River Trail stroll → Hike Tunnel Mountain
Late Afternoon: Banff Gondola at 5:50 PM for golden hour views
Evening: Dinner at Hello Sunshine → Gilmore Girls in bed with snacks (no shame)
🍽️ Where We Ate (And What We Loved)
Lupo - Cozy-chic Italian spot with Carbone Vino vibes and even better food. Get the Diavolo pizza. The bread? Life-changing. Everything tasted so fresh.
The Boss Kitchen + Bar - A solid lunch spot when you’re starving post-hike. Average, but reliable.
The Fat Ox - Located in The Kenrick Hotel. Don’t miss the shrimp pasta. The Summer carrots were also to die for. Kale Caesar? Meh, unless you’re a kale person. But overall such a good restaurant, would 10/10 go back.
Tooloulou’s - Cajun brunch heaven. We split a berry waffle and both got savory breakfasts. Worth the hype. This was recommended to us by several locals.
Sudden Sally - The eggs Benedict here ruined all others for me. That’s not an exaggeration.
Hello Sunshine - Japanese spot with sashimi so fresh it made me emotional. My favorite meal of the entire trip.
The Block - We only stopped in for drinks but the menu looked amazing and the vibe was cozy.
Shoku Izakaya - Sister spot to The Block. Beef bao bun = a spiritual experience. Also loved the gyoza.
Pizzeria Sofia - Exactly what you want after a long hike. Pizza, pasta, perfection.
Snack Recs:
A little popcorn shop on Banff Ave (half maple, half movie popcorn = elite)
BeaverTails - Flat donut situation with toppings. I got the chocolate hazelnut + banana and Neli got the pistachio, both were heavenly. Think - eating McDonalds with your eyes closed level of joy except we were sober.
🥾 Hikes We Loved
Tunnel Mountain - There are two trailheads (we accidentally took the longer one). Views on the way up were unreal - truly looked like a fantasy novel. The summit is a little underwhelming compared to the climb, but still so so worth it.
Sundance Canyon - Lush, mossy, peaceful. One of my favorite trails. Water running over rocks and moss like a little enchanted forest.
Bow River Trail – Easy, flat, and perfect for a jog or a casual walk. Loop gets confusing toward the end, but still worth doing.
🚡 Must-Do Excursions
Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain) – We booked the 5:50 PM slot and it was the perfect time. The lighting was amazing for photos, it wasn’t too crowded, and the views from the boardwalk were unreal. I would eat before or after, there is a cafe and restaurant at the top but based on the cinnamon roll I got at the cafe - you'd probably be better off skipping both.
Radventures Sunrise Lakes Tour – Our hotel booked this for us and it was magical. We saw sunrise at Moraine Lake, canoed on Lake Louise, and had the best guide (shoutout to Dan). Not overly “tour-y”- everyone just dispersed and did their own thing. Highly recommend.
🛍️ Where to Shop
I really expected there to be more shopping here but aside from lululemon and a couple ski shops Banff seems to be more of a knick knack town - which don't get me wrong I am very much into.
Rocks & Gems Canada – Jewelry, stones, fossils - you name it. We had so much fun picking out rings here. They have like every stone or crystal you could ever need.
The Christmas Store - It wasnt even Christmas time when we went but this store was all of my yule-tide dreams coming true.
Vintage Shops - Tons sprinkled around town. We stopped into one across from Ink & Steel and it was so cute!
Dollarama (inside the indoor mini mall) – I know it sounds random, but this dollar store was a lifesaver. Cute $5 umbrellas, ponchos, snacks—everything we forgot to pack.
🌙 Nightlife We Didn’t
Experience, But Got Great Recs For
We were in full cozy mode every night (Gilmore Girls and snacks in bed, no shame), but here’s what the locals told us:
Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub – Divey, fun
Rose & Crown – Classic pub energy
High Rollers – Bowling + drinks + pizza
Eddy Burger Bar – Locals hangout
Magpie & Stump – Rooftop Mexican vibes
Where the Buffalo Roam – Cocktail spot with cozy atmosphere
🍴 More Restaurant Recs (From Locals)
The Bison – Locally sourced, upscale
Chuck’s Steakhouse – Supposed to be amazing, I skipped it because… Dallas.
Three Bears Brewery – Cozy and cute, craft brews
The Grizzly House – Fondue. You’ll leave smelling like it, but people swear by it.
🧳 What to Pack (Because I Did It Wrong)
Layers. It rained every single day, but only briefly. Still beautiful, but you’ll want options.
No heels. You don’t even need kitten heels. Stick to boots or sneakers.
Hooded jacket or raincoat. You’ll thank yourself.
A good crewneck. I wore one nearly every day. (So actually maybe you want two)
Backpack. Bring one—even if you’re not carrying a camera. It’s great for water, snacks, tissues (your nose will run, just trust me), and tossing your layers in.
Tissues. Just do it. The mountain air makes your nose run. Every. Time.
☔ Final Note
Don’t let the weather scare you. I was so nervous seeing rain in the forecast every day—but Banff still managed to be one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited. The rain never lasted all day, and the beauty of this place just kind of… makes everything better. Go anyway.
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