Banff vs. Lake Louise, Canada
When I use to hear about Banff, I automatically assumed Lake Louise. After a bit of research before my trip, I came to find that Lake Louise is in fact, very different from Banff! Now, this might just be me, but if any of you also think the same, I thought it would help to provide a few tips and recommendations for planning your time wisely between the two locations!
P.S. Everything is linked to make it easier for you!
Banff vs. Lake Louise
Banff is a small town about an hour and a half outside of Calgary, Canada. Lake Louise, however, is about another 45 minutes north west of Banff, and a much more remote town!
Banff
For Banff, I’d recommend 2 to 3 days at most. There are tons of things to do there, but not so much that you wouldn’t be able to cover everything within this time frame! Banff is filled with the cutest restaurants, shops and attractions. Any tourist will be able to easily find everything they need within walking distance (although, I don’t recommend this considering how cold it is there)!
Lodging:
I stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs, and would recommend this location to anyone! The property looks like a castle and when you step inside, every room is grand with a different decor. There were nights where I just walked around exploring, it was mesmerizing and you felt as if you were inside of a fairytale!
Tips:
Restaurants I’d recommend:
Bear Street Tavern- They have the BEST pizza! I’d recommend trying the ones with elk (how often do you get a chance to have elk on your pizza?) and making sure to dip it in their famous honey and rosemary olive oil combo! Plan to go during non busy hours because they do get backed up!
Tooloulou’s- Great brunch spot with fun drinks, but save room for dessert as they offer irresistible options!
Block Kitchen and Bar- This is a good option if you want a more casual dinner. They have a wide variety of Korean tapas, everything I tried here was delicious!
Bonus- Be sure to stop at the Starbucks downtown! I know you are probably thinking, “really?'“ But, Yes! Really! The drinks at this location doesn’t taste like your average Starbucks! The ingredients and quality were not like your typical Starbucks, I felt like I was drinking a gourmet made concoction every time I went, and it was daily!
Must See Attraction:
If there is anything I would STRONGLY recommend you do while in Banff, it would be to take the gondola ride up Sulfur Mountain! The ride up and down the mountain in itself is worth the trip but while on top of the mountain, you’ll see views that are truly unforgettable! This is by far, my favorite, most memorable part of the trip!
Lake Louise
Unlike Banff, Lake Louise is a much more remote town, you are literally between huge mountains with nothing nearby except for a few hotels. But if your goal is to go for the hikes, there are endless options and is perfect if you want to truly get away and disconnect since there isn’t much around outside of the beautifully snow packed mountains! If you want to go for the view of Lake Louise, I’d recommend a day trip and staying in Banff. But if you plan on hiking, I’d recommend 2-3 days since the options are endless and a few of them can take a full day.
Lodging:
I stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Here, you’ll find yourself standing in a different type of fairytale. This property is located right in front of the famous turquoise, glacial fed, Lake Louise (I included a view of the lake in the title above and another from my room below). Although, I don’t think any picture will ever do this place justice, it is something I wish everyone could experience at least once!
Tips:
1. Do not go during the winter if you want to see the true beauty of Lake Louise as it is frozen during winter, and the Fairmont converts it into an ice skating rink!
2. If you plan on hiking, you are wrong if you think you can get away with hiking in your average athletic shoe! I tried this and it was a slippery mess! There are shops at the fairmont where you can buy hiking gear but it is limited and over priced. I’d recommend coming more prepared than I was with the proper shoes, clothes, and equipment!
3. There were no stand out restaurants, plan to come here only for the view itself and the hikes! I found myself driving back into Banff for a good meal! I’d recommend staying in Banff and driving into Lake Louise for the day!
Overall
It was a fun and amazing trip, I would definitely recommend it if you are use to doing the typical tropical paradise vacation and want something different! I spent an entire week there and in hindsight, would change it to 3-4 days tops!
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions in the comment section!
Xoxo, Lena
If you find yourself staying at the Fairmont in Lake Louise, be sure to opt for a lake view room! It is absolutely breathtaking!