The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Banff

Based in downtown Banff, this affordable inn boasts a central location as well as complimentary bus passes, which you can use to get straight to the town’s ski lifts in a matter of minutes. After a day on the slopes, soothe aching muscles with a dip in the hotel’s indoor hot tubs, sauna and steam room, before tucking into a hearty Italian meal at the on-site restaurant, Meatball Pizza & Pasta, where you’ll also enjoy complimentary breakfast.

A fifth-generation Banff family owns and runs this lodge-style hotel, conveniently situated just 10 minutes from the town center. Relax in your pick of 99 airy guest rooms and drift to the Grotto Spa for an all-natural treatment, set to a backdrop of slate rocks and tumbling waterfalls. After a day skiing, get cozy by the lobby’s stone fireplace, and enjoy complimentary coffee and hot apple cider. When hunger strikes, head to the Evergreen Restaurant and Lounge that champions locally inspired cuisine.

Escape the Banff crowds and head south to the nearby town of Canmore, the home of Mystic Springs. Each of its 40 self-catering residences has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a fireplace, making it ideal for family getaways. Individual entrances wrap around an intimate courtyard and large outdoor heated pool, which is the largest in Canmore and offers scenic mountain views. Come evening, take advantage of the courtyard’s communal barbecues, where you’ll find a picnic area, on-site laundry facilities and vending machines.

Few brunches in Banff set you up for a day in the Rockies like on-site Farm + Fire restaurant’s Cluckin’ Good Time, a fowl-focused feast of pulled rotisserie chicken, free-range poached eggs, homemade hollandaise and garlic-and-herb roasted spuds. Modern, minimalist accommodations range in size from a king double to a loft duplex with two queen beds and a separate sitting area downstairs; most also have mountain views. Hit the lounge for après-ski cocktails by the fire before pan-seared salmon at the in-house restaurant.

A great option for families or groups of friends, Tunnel Mountain Resort offers a collection of cozy condos and cabins, surrounded by pine and fir trees. Sleeping up to six, all the self-contained units have wood-burning fireplaces (complimentary logs are provided), kitchenettes, balconies or patios, and walls decorated with atmospheric sketches of elks, buffaloes and bears. Banff Avenue is 20 minutes on foot, while on-site perks include an indoor pool, bike rental, a kids’ playground, a sauna and a fitness room. Pets are welcome.

At the top end of the budget spectrum are the Peaks Hotel’s Grand Summit Suites, generously proportioned spaces with vaulted ceilings, pinewood walls and views of Mount Cascade or Mounts Tunnel and Rundle; one even has its own patio with seating, blankets and a fire pit. Call in at the fire-warmed lounge for a pint of Banff Avenue pilsner before dinner at La Terrazza, where Italian classics showcase local produce: try the Alberta bison carpaccio with pear purée, fried capers and arugula.

The gardens at this lodge-style hotel abound in juniper bushes and other endemic species such as kinnikinnik, a plant once smoked by explorers and Indigenous tribes. Start the day with a Juniper Benny brunch (bannock bread, braised rabbit, buffalo mozzarella, juniper glaze and poached eggs) and finish it on the patio, accompanying Mount Norquay views with the hotel’s take on a martini. Most rooms also have mountain views through picture windows. Downtown Banff is a 35-minute walk or 10-minute drive away.

Meat-lovers will have to be wrenched away from the in-house restaurant, Tony Roma’s, at Mount Royal, where the celebrated specialities are barbecue ribs, slow-roasted chicken and prime Alberta beef. For après-mountain fun, there’s a rooftop terrace with a small jacuzzi and views of the surrounding peaks and a bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, where you can pair craft beers with sharing platters of Canadian cheese and cured local meats. Hit the on-site library and museum to learn all about Banff Avenue’s most historic hotel.