Planning a Trip

Getting There

If you're flying into Calgary and heading straight to Banff, call and reserve a seat on the Banff Airporter (tel. 403/762-3330; www.banffairporter.com). Vans depart from Calgary Airport roughly every 2 hours; a one-way ticket costs C$55.65.

The closest VIA Rail train service is at Jasper, 287km (178 miles) north. Brewster Transport (tel. 403/762-6767) offers an express bus between the two park centers five times weekly for C$77 one-way.

Greyhound (tel. 800/661-8747 or 403/260-0877; www.greyhound.ca) operates buses that pass through Banff on the way from Calgary to Vancouver. One-way fare between Banff and Calgary is C$26.09 (C$28.72 on weekends). The depot is at 100 Gopher St. (tel. 403/762-6767).

If you're driving, the Trans-Canada Highway takes you right to Banff's main street; the town is 129km (80 miles) west of Calgary.

Visitor Information

The Banff Information Centre, at 224 Banff Ave., houses both the Banff Tourism Bureau and a national-park information center. Contact the office at P.O. Box 1298, Banff, AB T0L 0C0 (tel. 403/762-0270; www.banfflakelouise.com). The center is open daily June 15 to October 15 from 9am to 9pm and the rest of the year from 9am to 5pm. Ask for the Official Visitors Guide, which is packed with information about local businesses and recreation. For information on the park, go to www.pc.gc.ca.

Orientation

Banff is a simple place to understand; Banff Avenue is the main drag running north-south, with the Bow River bridge at the south end. Bear Street, which has become increasingly developed as Banff has grown in recent years, parallels Banff Avenue one block west.

Just beyond the river stands the park administration building, a historical landmark, in the midst of well-kept grounds. Banff Avenue ends on the south side of the bridge, splitting into a T; to the left are the Banff Springs and the Banff Gondola; turn right and you'll be on your way to Cave and Basin Hot Springs, where the park was born.

At the northwestern edge of town is the old railroad station, and a little farther northwest the road branches off to Lake Louise and Jasper. In the opposite direction, northeast, is the highway going to Calgary.

The Greyhound and Brewster Bus Depot (tel. 403/760-8294) is located at the corner of Gopher and Lynx streets, at the north end of town, about a block west of Banff Avenue.

Getting Around

Banff offers local bus service along two routes designed to pass through downtown and by most hotels. Service on the Banff Bus (tel. 403/760-8294) is informal, but there's generally a bus every half-hour. One route runs from the Fairmont Banff Springs down Banff Avenue to the northern end of town; the other runs between the train station and the Banff Hostel on Tunnel Mountain; the fare is C$1. The bus operates in summer only. For a taxi, call Banff Taxi and Limousine at tel. 403/762-4444.

For a rental car, contact National at Caribou and Lynx streets (tel. 403/762-2688), or Banff Rent A Car, 204 Lynx St. (tel. 403/762-3352) For a less expensive but reliable vehicle. Avis, Budget, and Hertz also have offices in Banff. Reserve well in advance as cars are frequently sold out.