Christmas in Banff is a truly magical experience for many reasons; the snow covered Canadian Rockies, warm hospitality, world class skiing, and a great selection of winter activities make Banff the perfect destination for your 2024 Christmas vacation. Although Christmas is much quieter than New Years in Banff, it is still advisable to book your hotel accommodation early.

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Hotels in Banff know how to celebrate Christmas in style and although many Banff hotels do not offer specific Christmas packages, they are certainly open for business right through the Christmas period, with no shortage of festive dining and celebrations throughout the town.

If you are looking for special Xmas packages offered by Banff accommodations, you may be interested in the following options:

Christmas at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

It is difficult to imagine a more idyllic setting than the Banff Springs Hotel to celebrate the Christmas of your dreams with your family or loved ones. As soon as you arrive at the ‘Castle in the Rockies’ during the holiday period and see the enormous and lavishly decorated Christmas trees and hear the festive music you know you’re in for a truly memorable experience. Throughout the holiday period there is a whole host of fun and festive activities taking place at the hotel – in fact there is so much going on, they produce a special Xmas guide booklet to help you keep up with all the fun!

For families or couples who are looking for luxury accommodation with holiday ‘extras’ included, the Christmas at the Castle Package may be just the ticket. This package includes luxury accommodation, complimentary self parking, a decorated Christmas tree in your room, plus a whole host of festivities taking place over the holiday period. The Christmas package is valid from Dec 16 2024 to Jan 3 2025.

Once you have booked your room, you can look forward to taking part in Christmas activities such as Holiday crafts with Mrs Claus, cookie decorating, gift wrapping, snowshoe tours, Christmas carols, ice skating, Santa letter writing station, family bingo and much much more.
For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining, there are a variety of options including:

Festive Brunch at The Vermillion Room – Dec 22 & 29
A Christmas themed brunch buffet with festive flair in The Vermillion Room, the hotel’s brasserie style restaurant.
11.30am-2.30pm, Cost $90 adults, $45 kids 6-12 yrs

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet – Dec 24
Decadent Christmas Eve dinner buffet in the Vermillion Room.
5.00-9.00pm, Cost $135 adults, $40 kids 6-12 yrs

Christmas Day Brunch – Dec 25
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Christmas Day brunch in the Riverview Lounge, Alberta Room & Cascade Ballroom – sure to impress!
10.00am-2.30pm, Cost $135 adults, $40 kids 6-12 yrs

Vermillion Room Christmas Dinner Buffet – Dec 25
The Banff Springs signature Christmas dinner buffet in the Vermillon Room with local and international holiday specialties.
5-9pm, Cost $145 adults, $45 kids 6-12 yrs

Christmas Afternoon Tea – Daily over the Holidays
Traditional Afternoon Tea with a festive theme in the Rundle Lounge with some of the best views in the Canadian Rockies.
10.30am-2.30pm

For full information about Christmas activities and Christmas & Boxing Day dining at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, be sure to view the official Christmas at the Castle Guide which you will receive on check-in.

Banff Park Lodge

Crave Mountain Grill will be presenting a traditional feast on the evening of December 25th with their Christmas Buffet Dinner. You will find slow roast roast turkey roulade on the menu with all the trimmings, a carving station with overnight roasted AAA Alberta prime rib, west coast cedar plank salmon, rosemary rubbed lamb leg, bison meatloaf, tequila lime shrimp, pasta alla ruota, wild mushroom arancini, roasted cauliflower soup with truffle oil, winter harvest vegetables, salads, charcuterie & seafood appetizers and a wide array of fun and festive desserts. The price for adults is $89, with children 6-12yrs costing $39.
La Terrazza, an Italian restaurant at the Banff Park Lodge, will be offering a plated 6 course Christmas menu on the evening of December 25 with a choice of entrees including free range roasted turkey roulade with celeriac mashed potato and Italian sausage stuffing, OR herb crusted black cod with sweet potato fondant and Champagne beurre blanc, OR duo of AAA Alberta beef with potato gratin and seasonal vegetables, OR organic beet gnocci with leek fondue and buttered peas pistachio. Combined with an equally delicious creamy Italian mushroom soup, prosciutto salad, blood orange granite palate cleanser and a dark and white chocolate torte for dessert, this special costs $89 per person.
To check room rates at the Banff Park Lodge click here.

Rimrock Resort Hotel

The Rimrock Resort Hotel has lots of fun activities taking place over the Holidays, such as children’s crafts, ice skating, cookie decorating, carol singing, Christmas Eve celebration, magician, a visit from Santa on the morning of December 25th, and a selection of venues to enjoy Xmas dinner.
To check rates and Xmas offers for the 2024 Holiday Season click here.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Buffalo Mountain Lodge has a fun filled schedule for a Christmas Getaway offering eggnog and cookies on Christmas Eve, apres ski with festive drink specials, breakfast buffet on Christmas and Boxing Day, Xmas movies with hot chocolate, and a gourmet Christmas dinner at the Prow.

**The above hotel rates are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, subject to change without notice, and generally based on double occupancy. To confirm details and availability for all hotel packages and Christmas dining, please use the links provided.
If you are going to be in Banff for New Year’s Eve, you may also be interested in seeing some Banff New Year hotel packages.

There is no doubt that a visit to the stunning Lake Louise is an unmissable experience for anyone visiting the Banff area. From the turquoise lake to the incredible alpine scenery surrounding it, its pristine beauty has been drawing visitors from across the globe for generations. However, due to the popularity of this Canadian Rockies gem, getting to Lake Louise during peak season requires careful advanced planning to ensure that you do not miss this essential item from your Banff National Park ‘bucket list’.

Driving to Lake Louise Lakeshore (Not Recommended)

If you look at a map or your car’s GPS Navigation you can be forgiven for thinking that driving your own vehicle is the easiest way to get to Lake Louise lake shore, indeed there is a Parks Canada parking lot conveniently located just a short walk from the Lake for exactly that purpose (summer parking fee $21/day). However during the peak summer months, from mid May to early October, parking is extremely limited and will most likely be full from the early hours of the morning until after sunset. If you arrive at the parking lot when it is full, Park Wardens will simply wave you through the lot, and send you straight back down the road in the direction you came. There is no system for waiting for a parking space to become free, you simply have to exit the parking lot and move on to Plan B. However by this time all the shuttle services may be fully booked, meaning that you may need to return another day, which is not only inconvenient, it may not even be possible in your schedule.
For the above reasons, driving your own vehicle to Lake Louise Lakeshore is not recommended, unless you are visiting during the low season (mid October to mid May).
New for 2023, Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles, and only open for official shuttles and commercial vehicles, meaning that driving your own vehicle to Moraine Lake is no longer an option.
To guarantee a stress-free and memorable visit to Lake Louise and/or Moraine Lake, we recommend taking a shuttle or guided tour, as described below.

Lake Louise Shuttle from Lake Louise Ski Resort

Parks Canada Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Shuttles

Parks Canada operates a Lake Louise shuttle service from Lake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola. This is a Park and Ride system, allowing you to drive most of the way to Lake Louise in your own vehicle, comfortably park at the ski resort free of charge, and then take a 15 minute shuttle bus from there to the actual Lake. They offer shuttles to both Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake, allowing you to visit two iconic Canadian Rockies lakes on the same day if you choose.

There are 2 separate routes departing from Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride, one to Lake Louise Lakeshore, and the other to Moraine Lake. Departures for both routes start at 6.30am and leave every 20 minutes until 6pm, daily until October 9 2023. The Lake Connector, which is included in your shuttle reservation, can take you from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake or vice-versa on a first come first served basis every 15 minutes from 8am to 6pm. It is your choice whether you visit one or both lakes, the price is the same. The shuttle back from either lake to the Park and Ride does not require a reservation, and can be taken at any time until the last shuttle at 7.30pm.
The price of the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Shuttle is as follows; Adults (18-64 yrs) – $8, Seniors (65+ yrs) – $4, Youth (17 and under) – free. There is an additional $3 online reservation fee, or $6 telephone reservation fee.
The Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Shuttle is very popular and we strongly recommend making early reservations on the Parks Canada website.
Click here and you will find the shuttle reservations under the ‘Day Use’ tab.

Don’t be alarmed if your preferred day is already fully booked, as 60% of the seats will not be released until 8am MDT two days prior to the date of travel. For example at 8am (MDT) August 25th, additional seats will be released for shuttles departing August 27th. In our experience these late availability seats can sell out quickly, so we recommend making your reservations at 8am sharp!
*Top Tip* – visit the Parks Canada Reservations website ahead of time, become familiar with the shuttle reservations system, and open an account if you don’t already have one. This will save you time on the day, and give you a better chance of getting your preferred time slot!
Website: reservation.pc.gc.ca

Alternative Shuttles

As an alternative to the Parks Canada shuttle above, Wow Banff offers a shuttle on an open top double decker bus starting from the Park and Ride at Lake Louise ski resort and visiting both Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake. The bus leaves the ski resort every hour from 8am to 3pm and, similar to the Parks Canada shuttle above, your time at both lakes is flexible, and you can simply jump on any of their hourly buses back to your starting point. Tickets cost $42.95 for both adults and children.
If you don’t have your own vehicle, the same company can take you from Banff to meet the open top bus at the Lake Louise Park and Ride for $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for children.
Website: wowbanff.com

Another shuttle option from Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride is operated by the Moraine Lake Bus Company. While they specialize in shuttles to Moraine Lake, four of their daily departures allow for a one hour sightseeing stop at Lake Louise Lakeshore before continuing to Moraine Lake. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $25 for children.
To view their schedule and for reservations, visit morainelakebus.com.

Lake Louise Shuttle from the Lake Louise Inn

Fairview Limousine and Shuttle Service offers shuttles to Lake Louise departing from a different location, namely the Lake Louise Inn, where you can park your vehicle. Starting at 8am these shuttles run every 45 minutes until 5pm, have a journey time of 15 minutes, and cost $15 per person and $10 for children (3-11 yrs). Return journeys run between 8.15am and 6pm and are booked at the time of reservation.
They also offer a shuttle from the Lake Louise Inn to Moraine Lake starting at 8am and then every 1hr 15mins until 8.30pm, with a 30 minute journey time, and costing $25 or $15 for children (3-11 yrs). Return journeys run from 9.45am to 10.15pm.
Website: fairviewlimo.ca

Take the Bus from Banff to Lake Louise

Roam Transit offers a daily bus service between Banff and Lake Louise (Village or Lakeshore). The 8X Lake Louise Express departs from the Banff High School Transit Hub on Banff Avenue, in the heart of downtown Banff. There are several departures daily starting at 7am, with the last shuttle being at 10pm, and the journey time is around one hour. Return journeys to Banff depart from Lake Louise Lakeshore starting at 10.27am and end with the last bus at 11.12pm. The return journey costs $20 for adults, $10 for youth and seniors, plus a $3 online booking fee. Children under 13 yrs are free of charge however still require a reservation.

From July 1 to August 27 2023 the 8S Lake Louise Scenic bus service is an extra Roam Transit service which operates from Friday to Sunday and on Canada Day (July 1) and Heritage Day (August 7). This service travels on the slower but more scenic Highway 1A (Bow Valley Parkway) to Lake Louise, with a journey time of 1 hour 23 mins, and is less frequent than the direct 8X Lake Louise Express.

Visitors who wish to see Moraine Lake as well as Lake Louise should book the Roam Super Pass which includes the Parks Canada Lake Connector, a shuttle service which travels between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake every 15 minutes. The Super Pass from Banff to Lake Louise costs $25 return, which is just a $5 supplement compared to the regular fare. Youth and Seniors travel for $12.50 return.

Please note that the Roam Lake Louise Bus is very popular and can sell out several weeks in advance, particularly for the morning departures from Banff.
Early reservations are strongly recommended for all the above Roam Transit services, and can be made at their website roamtransit.com.

Take a Guided Tour from Banff to Lake Louise

If you prefer to be picked up from the door of your Banff hotel and have the services of an interpretive guide, an excellent way to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is on a guided tour.

Discover Banff Tours offer their Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Tour which gives you around 30 minutes at Lake Louise, enough time for photos and a stroll, and around 1 hour at Moraine Lake. This guided tour lasts 4hrs 15mins, with daily departures at 8am or 1pm from your hotel, and prices start at $97 for adults and $49 for children.
Website: www.banfftours.com

The Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls Tour operated by Brewster Sightseeing takes visitors to the famous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, in addition to other spectacular Canadian Rockies sights such as Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park. This is a full day guided tour with lunch included, lasting 9 hours and costing $203 for adults and $132 for children.
Website: www.banffjaspercollection.com

Hop on Banff offers a flexible tour to Lake Louise from Banff which allows you to hop on and off the bus at various locations en route. They have 3 departures per day, leaving at 7.45am, 9.30am and 12.15pm from the Moose Hotel in Banff, calling at Johnston Canyon via the Bow Valley Parkway, Lake Louise Gondola, Chateau Lake Louise (lakeside), and Moraine Lake. Return transport leaves the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at 12.15pm, 3.25pm and 4.45pm. Adults $71.43, Children $61.90.
Website: www.hoponbanff.com

Go on a Guided Hike to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

If you prefer to be active while taking in these incredible pristine lakes, White Mountain Adventures offers an easy guided hike which includes strolls along the shores of both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, as well as a 6km return hike to Consolation Lakes. The tour includes pick up from Banff hotels, an interpretive guide, and scenic lunch. Costing $149 for adults, $104 for children, the van shuttle leaves Banff at 8am, returning around 3pm.
Website: www.whitemountainadventures.com

After a day in Banff National Park, what better way to unwind than a soak or a swim in your hotel pool, or if you are a family with kids, some of the indoor or outdoor pools can be a destination in their own right. Most hotels in Banff have some sort of hot tub or whirlpool, but several Banff accommodations offer a lot more than that, with some hotels offering swimming pools and others having larger hot pools with unique designs or in special locations. Below you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Banff with pools that we regard to be a level above the average hot tub.

The Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets has one of the most popular swimming pools for families with 2 indoor waterslides plus whirlpools. This facility is open to hotel guests only, and is free of charge.

As part of its impressive sports facilities the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort has a 15 metre indoor pool as well as an indoor and outdoor hot tub.

Guests at Best Western Siding 29 Lodge can do laps in the indoor swimming pool, or just relax in the hot tub.

Not surprisingly, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has an excellent selection of pools, with a 20 metre outdoor heated pool (open year round), a 32 metre indoor pool, as well as a shallow indoor pool for small kids plus an indoor jetted hot tub. These pools in the Aquatic Centre are free of charge to hotel guests, while the mineral pool with waterfalls in the Willow Stream Spa as well an indoor and outdoor hot tub are available for an additional charge (currently $69 per day for hotel guests).

The Banff Park Lodge has an indoor heated swimming pool as well as a large Jacuzzi. Guests of the nearby Peaks Hotel & Suites can also make use of these facilities.

The Banff High Country Inn offers an indoor heated pool plus hot tubs which guests at their sister property the Red Carpet Inn can also enjoy.

The Rundlestone Lodge can offer its guests a 45 foot indoor lap pool plus a large whirlpool.

A unique hot pool can be found at the Fox Hotel & Suites, whose grotto-like appearance resembles the historic pools at the Cave & Basin.

The Grotto Spa mineral pool plus a whirlpool can be found at the Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge.

At the Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa you’ll find a large 26 person jetted hot pool which is part of their Red Earth Spa facility, but is free for all hotel guests to use.

The Rimrock Resort Hotel offers its guests an indoor pool as well as a whirlpool as part of their spa & leisure facilities.

The indoor pool, hot plunge pool, and hot tub at the Banff Park Lodge can be used by guests of sister hotel, the Bow View Lodge.

Guests at the Hidden Ridge Resort can enjoy magnificent mountain views from the two outdoor hot pools perched on a ridge looking west down the Bow Valley.

And finally, Tunnel Mountain Resort has an indoor heated pool and 2 indoor whirlpools for its guests to enjoy.

If you don’t stay at a Banff hotel with a pool, you can always make use of the public pool in Banff Alberta, namely the 25 metre swimming pool at the Sally Borden Fitness & Recreation Centre (day pass price $20 adults, $16 4-15 yrs).

Whether you are travelling with your family or you simply like the taste of your own cooking, staying in a hotel, condo or suite with kitchen facilities can be a convenient and cost effective way to visit Banff. With two large grocery stores and a fantastic bakery in town, it is easy to be self sustaining and the following list of Banff hotels with kitchens gives you a wide selection of self catering accommodation to choose from:

Popular with families due to its waterslide, Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets offers a range of Banff accommodations with kitchens for various group sizes in a peaceful location on Tunnel Mountain. Each unit has a full kitchen with a cook-top, oven, fridge, microwave, pots, pans and utensils.

Surrounded by magnificent mountain views on the edge of the town of Banff, Banff Rocky Mountain Resort offers Banff lodging with cooking facilities. Their studio suites, one bedroom condos, two bedroom condos and loft suites each boast a kitchen with a stovetop, microwave and dishwasher, as well as pots, pans and utensils.

Charltons Banff is a Banff hotel with a convenient location close to downtown. Their Kitchenette Suites offer two sleeping areas plus a kitchenette featuring a four burner stove top, microwave, mini-fridge, dishes, and cooking utensils.

With a quiet location on Tunnel Mountain, Hidden Ridge Resort offers a range of modern condo style accommodation in Banff, with one or two bedroom condos as well as some jacuzzi suites. Each unit offers a full kitchen including a stove, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, as well as stylish granite countertops.

Also located on Tunnel Mountain, Tunnel Mountain Resort offers cabins, chalets or suites for 2, 4, or 6 people. Their loft chalets, mountain cabins, one bedroom suites and loft suites each offer kitchen amenities which include a stove top, oven, dishwasher, microwave oven, full size refrigerator, toaster, coffee maker, pots, pans and utensils. If you do not require a full kitchen, their executive suite offers just a microwave, mini-fridge and coffee maker.

There is no doubt that all Banff hotels can offer a welcome change from city living, but if you really want to escape there are some fantastic resorts and chalets hidden away in their own quiet corner of Banff National Park. Each of the following properties has a unique location and charm, and they all offer a way to bring you closer to nature while providing the perfect base for discovering the rest of the Banff and Lake Louise area.

Johnston Canyon Resort is located west of Banff on Highway 1A, between Banff and Castle Junction, and offers cabins and chalets of various sizes. The resort has an idyllic location at the end of a picturesque canyon, which guests can walk up on a series of interpretive trails and bridges that take you past amazing waterfalls and geological formations.

Baker Creek by Basecamp is a charming property located on Highway 1A, approx 15 minutes east of Lake Louise. Choose between 3 types of Lodge Suite or 3 sizes of chalet, each with kitchen or kitchenette. The locally sourced water is magical both for bathing and drinking, and the Baker Creek Bistro provides a fantastic dining experience.

Castle Mountain Chalets are located roughly half way between Banff and Lake Louise on Highway 1A not far from Castle Junction. The accommodation is in the form of log cabins or chalets of varying sizes, each with a kitchen or kitchenette.

Storm Mountain Lodge is found on Highway 93 south of Castle Junction, around 25 mins from Banff. Accommodation is in log cabins which are well appointed and charming, with the type of rustic feel only attainable in such a historic location. The fine dining restaurant is excellent and is well regarded throughout the area.