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The Best Bed and Breakfasts in Banff, Alberta

Stay at a friendly bed and breakfast in photogenic Banff to be close to mountain hikes and turquoise glacial lakes
Stay at a friendly bed and breakfast in photogenic Banff to be close to mountain hikes and turquoise glacial lakes | Courtesy of Buffalo Mountain Lodge / Expedia

With the snow-capped Rockies as its backdrop, pretty Banff – at the heart of Banff National Park – is one of Canada’s most photogenic towns. In winter, it draws skiers for its top-notch slopes; by summer, it’s a wildlife enthusiast’s dream, with bear and elk sightings moments from your doorstep. Stay at one of these friendly B&Bs in Banff, and you’ll have all the energy you need for tackling mountain hikes or visiting luminously turquoise glacial lakes.

Mountain View Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast

A lounge with access to a private patio at Mountain View Bed & Breakfast
Courtesy of Mountain View Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

The name is apt: gaze out the window from the newly built Carriage House at this B&B in Banff, and you’ll discover a full postcard-worthy vista of jagged peaks. Fresh, contemporary stylings fill the two rooms – which can be booked together for a family of four – as they do in the nearby Main House, with its patio and outdoor fireplace. Famous Canadian friendliness comes courtesy of your hosts, Edwina and Kevan, who will happily dish out recommendations for local hikes.

Banff Bear Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast, Apartment

A simple guest room at Banff Bear Bed and Breakfast
Courtesy of Banff Bear Bed and Breakfast / Booking.com

Ever dreamed of living in your own private log cabin? You’ll love this two-bedroom self-contained bed and breakfast hideaway in Banff, with a private terrace facing out towards Mount Norquay and Cascade Mountain – a dreamy spot for watching elk graze or sipping sundowners. Breakfast supplies are provided so you can rustle something up at your leisure, but as it’s just a short walk into town, opt for the breakfast poutine – potatoes, bacon, eggs, cheese, hollandaise – at Tooloulou’s instead.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Bed and Breakfast

The outdoor hot tub patio with cushioned bench seating and a firepit at Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Courtesy of Buffalo Mountain Lodge / Expedia

You’re a 20-minute walk from downtown, but the location more than makes up for it. Buffalo Mountain Lodge is coddled in wilderness on the slopes of Tunnel Mountain – blanketed by wildflowers in the summer and snow drifts in the winter. Rooms at this Banff bed and breakfast come with wood-burning fireplaces for coziness, while a new outdoor hot tub soothes sore muscles after a day’s skiing or hiking. Don’t miss the restaurant, which stars fabulous produce such as bison and elk from the lodge’s own game ranch, and top Canadian wines.

Buffaloberry B&B

Bed and Breakfast

A guest suite with plaid feature wall and en suite bathroom at Buffaloberry B&B
Courtesy of Buffaloberry / Expedia

Homemade pumpkin crunch granola; baked camembert egg custard with caramelized onions; maple syrup-smothered buttermilk pancakes – the breakfast spread at Buffaloberry B&B in Banff is reason enough to stay here. But hosts Theresa and James do more than just cook well, in a bid to make your stay comfortable. Their Western country-style decor – which extends to the warmly lit bedrooms – is enticingly homey, with sandstone fireplaces and characterful metal railings, as well as sink-in leather chairs.

Ambleside Lodge Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast

A large bed with striped bed linen in a guest room at Ambleside Lodge Bed & Breakfast
Courtesy of Ambleside Lodge Bed and Breakfast / Booking.com

From the grand stone fireplace to the wood-paneled ceilings and light fixtures fashioned from horns, this place feels epically Canadian. Book the Hudson’s Bay room at this Canmore B&B and you can cuddle in a rustic wood-framed bed with fuzzy striped blankets (from the country’s iconic department store of the same name). Rise and order a breakfast of chewy waffles or fruit parfait, the perfect start to the day before hiking the trails along the Bow River, just steps away.

Samesun Banff

Hostel

A lounge area with ample seating and a stone-built fireplace at Samesun Banff
Courtesy of Samesun Banff / Expedia

If a dynamic, social vibe is what you’re seeking, this hostel ticks the boxes. On-site bar and restaurant the Beaver dishes up beers and burgers to groups of friends after a day on the slopes, while dorm rooms and laundry facilities make it an affordable pick for longer term stays. No need to splash out on a car hire, either: staff will help sort transport to the ski slopes and the National Park highlights, such as Moraine Lake and Banff Hot Springs.

Cascade Court Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast

A contemporary guest room with wood-panelled feature wall and mid-century seating at Cascade Court Bed and Breakfast
Courtesy of Cascade Court Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

This family-owned B&B in Banff combines decades of hospitality experience, courtesy of owner Clara Tarchuk, with a fresh perspective from her son Randy and his wife Debbie, who joined the team in 2019. Clean, homey rooms have a simple decor of raw wood and white, and there’s a common area when you need space for a quiet afternoon’s reading or a round of board games. The location is serene, even though you’re only a few minutes from the action in central Banff.

Banff Boutique Inn

Bed and Breakfast

A large and spacious guest suit under a wood-panelled roof ceiling with a contemporary fireplace at Banff Boutique Inn
Courtesy of Banff Boutique Inn / Booking.com

Planning on staying a while, to really make the most of all that Banff National Park has to offer? This inn is designed for just that, with full kitchen access from its suites, plenty of storage for your kit (including rental bikes and skis) and free on-site parking. The decor is relaxed and warming, and the Deluxe King category comes with an electric fireplace and an oversized soaking tub for pampering.

Looking for more stays in the Canadian Rockies? Check out our guide to the cosiest cabins in Banff – bookable on Culture Trip.

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