Banff Live Cam

Situated conveniently just off Highway One, we are just a couple blocks away from the heart of downtown. Whether you are a long-term traveler, first-time tourist or someone in between, the Banff International Hostel provides simple, comfortable and clean accommodation to suit your traveling needs.

There is no end of events and festivals to pass the time in Banff. Our convenient location with a 10 minute walk to the town centre means you won’t miss a thing.

Banff Farmer’s Market - The market is held every Wednesday beside Central Park; come and stroll through the rows of tents featuring everything from fresh produce, regional delicacies and local artisans.

Banff Summer Arts Festival - Showcasing artists from around the world, the festival features jazz, orchestral and chamber music; opera; contemporary and classic dance; literary readings, mountain films and more.

3rd Annual Dragon Boat Festival - The races are held each day just outside of town on Lake Minnewanka 9am to 3pm; and cultural exhibitions are featured in Banff Avenue Square. A free shuttle bus service is available from the town to the lake.

RBC GranFondo - Meaning “big ride” loosely translated from Italian, this is a 142km cycling event geared to everyone from amateur to competitive riders. The route starts and ends in the town of Banff and follows up through the Rockies.

Lake Louise Fall Festival - Fall is a beautiful time to visit Banff National Park. Stay in Banff and enjoy a day trip to Lake Louise to enjoy the golden larch trees and other events the area has to offer.

Subaru Banff International Triathlon - Come watch competitors swim, cycle then run in a bid to be the winner, set against the stunning scenery of the Rocky Mountains.

Annual Melissa’s Road Race - Cheer on competitors as the run the 10k or 22k road races around the Banff townsite.

Culture Days - Part of the Canada wide celebration of National Culture Days, Parks Canada, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and local galleries combine with the Banff to centre to showcase local culture.

WordFest - This festival features over 65 literary artists and takes place in Banff and Calgary.

Banff Mountain and Book Festival - More than 30 events over 9 days featuring mountain themed films and speakers all over the world.

Bon Appetit Banff - A great event for gastronomes, this 10 day festival features participating restaurants offering three course prix fixe menus for $25, $35 or $45 per person. A cost effective way to sample some of Banff’s best cuisine.

Christmas in the Rockies - Get geared up for the holiday season in the middle of the Rocky Mountains with activities that will delight any age. Cascade Plaza features cookie decorating and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap. Free wagon rides through the streets of Banff give a chance to hear the Castle Carolers. At 5:30, don’t miss the Santa Claus Parade of Lights.

SnowDays - A month long festival featuring mid-week activities and week-end festivals. Activities include skating, ice climbing, ball hockey, ice carving, curling, snow sculptures and lots more!

Ice Magic Festival - Professional ice carvers create masterpieces out of ice on the grounds of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Family Day in Banff - Free ice skating and curling with Slide & Glide at the Fenlands Recreation Centre from 11 to 4 and free swimming at Sally Borden.

Lake Louise Pond Hockey Classic - Stay in Banff and enjoy the short trip to Lake Louise to catch the quintessential Canadian game played on one of Canada’s most famous lakes.

Banff Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival - An event showcasing food samples from Banff’s popular restaurants and wine. beer and spirits from around the world. Exact dates TBA.

Whether you want to spend just a season or a whole year in Banff, there are lots of opportunities for work available in and around town. There are job vacancies year round but for the most selection of seasonal positions it’s best to arrive in October to start in November/December for a winter seasonal job; or in April/May for a summer seasonal job. Whenever you are arriving, the biggest thing to remember is to make sure you have packed at least one outfit that will be appropriate for meeting prospective employers and attending interviews.

Banff has lots of jobs available in many industries, but the hospitality industry is the biggest employer. Before deciding on what type of job to apply for ask yourself why are you looking for work. Is it to make more money for traveling? To gain experience or career advancement? A job to pay the bills while you enjoy all Banff has to offer? Answering why will give you some ideas as to which job types you want to apply for and if it will fit into the Banff experience you are looking for.

There are a lot of resources available around Banff to help your search go as smoothly as possible. With a little perseverance and effort, you can find the job that’s perfect for you! Once you’ve found that perfect job, the next step is to secure yourself somewhere to live. Many employers offer staff accommodation which is typically a shared room with at least one other person. If you would prefer your own room or you work for an employer without staff accommodation then there are options available.

Touring Banff townsite and area provides the perfect blend of cultural and natural attractions, and indoor and outdoor activities. Those passing through can get a sense of our mountain community on a 2 to 3 hour driving tour, or your clients can spend several days exploring streets and trails, poking through museums and heritage sites, and discovering special places of scenic beauty.

Banff and Lake Louise have a long tradition of hosting international guests. From five-star elegance to the cozy comfort of private chalets, we've got more than 100 hotels, motels, condominiums resorts, lodges and bed & breakfasts that will make you feel at home whatever your tastes. Let our vacation assistant help you. Select the area you wish to stay, and the vacation assistant will provide a full directory to choose from.

Dining in Banff and Lake Louise is an experience not to be missed, with more than 100 eating establishments to choose from, everything from ethnic cuisine to local Alberta beef, fine dining, family restaurants and cozy cafes, whatever you palette or mood we have something that is sure to please. Let our vacation assistant help you. Select your location and dining choice and the vacation assistant will give you a full directory to choose from.

The Calgary International Airport is a modern and uncrowded facility, handling major airlines from around the world with frequent non-stop and direct flights.

The Banff/Lake Louise Tourism Bureau is a non-profit, membership-based marketing association. Our professional team can help you organize your tour – from planning to marketing to booking. We’ll suggest itineraries to suit your group’s interests and price range, help you source block space, and put you in touch with our more than 800 members, representing all business sectors servicing visitors and the travel and trades in Banff and Lake Louise.

In cooperation with our federal and provincial tourism authorities, we organize familiarization trips for group tour planners. Come discover for yourself our facilities, activities and scenic beauty.

The natural beauty of Banff and Lake Louise provides the perfect backdrop for festivals and special events, from food and wine festivals, to sporting competitions, to international celebrations of the performing arts.

Its primary focus is on attracting business from the out-of-town leisure, convention, meeting and incentive travel markets and directing that business to member companies and organizations. A complementary aim is to enhance the experience of visitors to the area and to create an awareness within the community of the value of tourism and of the product we offer to visitors.

The Bureau is comprised of more than 1,000 member companies representing all sectors of Town of Banff business, as well as other tourism-related businesses within the Park and select members from outside the Park. Partnerships which will meet Bureau objectives are also developed with major businesses and compatible tourist jurisdictions.

The policy and operating procedures of the Bureau are monitored by a Board of Directors who are elected by the membership with one being appointed by Town Council. All membership sectors are represented on the Board, providing the opportunity for sectoral participation in Bureau affairs. In addition, a number of permanent committees reporting to the Board have been established to represent key areas of our business.

The Bureau receives financial investment from a number of sources with principal funding received through a contractual relationship with the Town of Banff. Other sources include out-of-town memberships, publication advertising and member co-op promotions and event sponsorships.

The Bureau's Mission Statement is, "To contribute to the social and economic growth of the area by providing direction and coordination to maintain, enhance, and promote Banff National Park as a year-round Canadian tourist destination area and to enhance the experience of visitors to Banff National Park".

In the midst of this wild mountain landscape, the town of Banff has become an internationally renowned cultural centre. Banff's colourful past is preserved in museums and historic sites, while a variety of galleries present works of art by local, national and international artists.

Designated a National Historic Site, the great stone structure of the Banff Springs Hotel is more than a century old and is the landmark most often associated with Banff. Its builders imported architectural ideas and construction materials from around the world. When it opened in 1888, the 250-room hotel was the largest in the world; it now has 815 rooms.

The beautiful, fragrant Cascade Gardens at the Banff National Park Administration Building are well worth wandering through during the summer. Ponds and cascading water add special interest to this lovely spot, making it a popular setting for photographs.