Banff Holiday Weather Overview
Banff is a town that is situated in the Canadian state of Alberta and can be found within the borders of the Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Banff is the second highest settlement in Alberta after Lake Louise.
Banff is primarily a resort town and one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations due to the hot springs and beautiful mountain setting that offers a wide range of outdoor activities from skiing to scrambling.
Top places to stay in Banff
When it comes to finding somewhere to stay in Banff there are lodges, cabins, hotels, hostels, campsites and bed and breakfasts to choose from.
If you are visiting for the first time it is almost a shame to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast when you can rent a lodge or log cabin for the duration of your visit. There are almost as many different lodge and log cabin options to choose from in Banff as there are hotels.
Some of the more picturesque of these cabins include the Shadow Lake Lodge, the Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins, the Banff Beaver Cabins, the Johnston Canyon Resort, the Castle Mountain Chalets and the Hi=Banff Alpine Centre.
If you prefer to camp there are campsites such as the Two Jack Lakeside Campground and for those that would prefer to stay in a hostel there is the SameSun Backpacker Lodge and the Hi Rampart Creek Wilderness Hostel.
Food in Banff
Food in Banff ranges from taverns and bistros to beautiful restaurants. If you are vegetarian there is the Nourish Vegetarian Bistro that serves some delicious vegetarian meals to go with the mountainous surroundings.
If you prefer a relaxed and meat filled menu then the Bear Street Tavern is ideal place to grab lunch or dinner, however there are also places such as the Fudgery which serves fudge that even those that don’t like fudge will find themselves craving or the Beaver Tails, a bakery that serves some fantastic local baked goods.
For more up marketing dining the here is the Terrace, the Le Beaujolais and the El Toro Restaurant that provide some fantastic food that puts the surroundings to shame.
Things to do and see in Banff
The attractions in Banff are mostly outdoors and include sites like the Parker Ridge Trail, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, Sunshine Meadows, Vermilion Lakes, Surprise Corner, Cascade Gardens, the Banff Legacy Trail, the Helen Lake Trail and the Cave and Basin National Hitoric Site.
Best month to visit Banff
Banff is perfect to visit all year round, though if you are opposed to the cold, you will want to avoid visiting Banff in the winter. The reasons why you are visiting Banff will dictate the best time of year to visit with the walks being best in spring through autumn and the skiing being at its peak during the winter.
As Banff is situated in the Canadian Rockies there is a chance that snow will fall all year round, even during the summer months. The colder and cooler air means that Banff is an ideal place for those who enjoy winter sports and outdoor activities rather than being a destination for sun worshipers.
Summer in Banff
Summer spans from July to August in Banff is low in humidity and has temperatures that have an average high of 21 degrees Celsius and an average low of 7 degrees Celsius. As Banff is so far north, in the summer the daylight hours can last until as late as 11pm at night.
Winter in Banff
Winter in Banff is between November and March and during the depth of winter the hours of daylight are very short due to its northern location. The average temperature during the winter months is around -12 degrees Celsius with the possibility of cold snaps that plunge temperatures down as low as -30 degrees Celsius.
Spring in Banff
The temperatures warm up somewhat when it reaches April and continue to get warmer until June, with temperatures averaging around 5 degrees Celsius. As the temperatures get warmer some of the low lying snow begins to melt and river can swell to almost their full capacity. This coupled with rainfall in June does mean that there is some risk of flooding in Banff.
Autumn in Banff
Autumn comes to Banff in September and October and the days start to get shorter and the warm days are cooled by the evening winds as the nights draw in. Temperatures drop to around 5 degrees Celsius, staying above freezing during the day and dropping to freezing temperatures during the longer nights.
What to pack and wear in Banff?
It is advisable to have warm clothing with you all year round in Banff, though the summer days are slightly warmer, the nights are cool enough to need long sleeves. In winter you will need thick clothes that can cope with the extremes in low temperatures.
Best months to visit Banff?
July and August are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Banff. The Banff weather averages gathered from Banff weather forecast and Banff weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 19°c and average of 233.5333 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Banff?
December and February are the coldest months with temperature at around -16°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Banff?
June and July receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 151.03mm.
Travelling to Banff? Check out our Weather averages of Banff to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Banff section.