Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

When looking for a Banff hotel, you can’t fail to come across some mention of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The “Castle in the Rockies” has been welcoming visitors from all over the world since 1888. William Cornelius Van Horne, general manager of Canadian Pacific Railway, was responsible for its construction and famously said ‘Since we can’t export the scenery, we’ll have to import the tourists.’ The hotel boasts grand public rooms, a variety of excellent restaurants, a championship golf course and a world class spa. There are almost 800 guest rooms and many visitors to Banff choose to stay here, but even if you stay in a different hotel in Banff, you should make time in your itinerary for a visit to this impressive historic building.

The B&B Option

Staying at a Banff bed and breakfast is a great way to save some money while enjoying the more intimate surroundings a B&B can offer. B&Bs are perfect for those who like to experience a ‘home away from home’ and meet and share travel stories with like-minded people. Breakfast is usually included, and the restaurants of downtown Banff are never very far away for lunch and dinner options. There are several Banff B&Bs to choose from, usually run by long-time locals who can be the best people to advise you on how to make the most of your vacation in Banff.

Location Matters

When looking for a hotel in Banff, one thing you should consider is where that hotel is located. There are several Banff hotels in the downtown area, and staying in the centre of Banff has the advantage of being close to all the usual amenities, such as restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Some popular downtown hotels are the Mount Royal Hotel, Brewster’s Mountain Lodge, and the Banff Park Lodge.
Many hotels are just a short walk from the centre along Banff Ave, such as the the Rundlestone Lodge, the Royal Canadian Lodge, and the Caribou Lodge. While staying out of the centre may involve walking into town for dinner, it is a pleasant walk and these hotels are normally quieter.
No matter where you are staying in Banff, you will not be far from the Town of Banff’s hybrid-electric public transit bus service. These environmentally friendly buses are easily recognized by the wonderful wildlife depicted on the exterior, and just cost $2 for a ride!

Banff Springs Hotel

It is difficult to plan a visit to Banff without coming across some reference of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The sheer grandeur of the building and its stunning setting have been enticing visitors to Banff for over 100 years.
For skiers and snowboarders it may be difficult to believe that the Banff Springs Hotel used to close its doors for the winter until the 1970s when it finally became a year round resort. If you ever get the chance to spend Christmas or New Year in Banff, you will see that the Banff Springs now captures the holiday spirit better than most people can imagine.
For many lucky visitors to Banff, the Fairmont Banff Springs will provide a temporary home, but if you are staying at another hotel in town, you should certainly make the effort to visit the Castle in the Rockies.