Banff Centre

Banff Town


Perched on the side of Tunnel Mountain, Banff’s flagship arts venue hosts a varied program of concerts, lectures, exhibitions and events throughout the year. It’s also the main focus for big cultural events, including the Banff Summer Arts Festival in July, the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition in August and the Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival in November.

The Children's Festival in May includes lots of free events.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Banff Town attractions

1. Surprise Corner Viewpoint

0.19 MILES

About 1.2km east of Banff Town, the Surprise Corner viewpoint looks out over the rushing white water of Bow Falls.

2. Bow Falls

0.23 MILES

About 500m south of town, just before the junction with Spray River, the Bow River plunges into a churning melee of white water at Bow Falls. Though the…

3. Old Banff Cemetery

0.35 MILES

Banff’s shaded cemetery is worth a visit, especially if you’re interested in the town’s history. Some of the gravestones date back to the 1890s; among the…

4. Fairmont Banff Springs

0.45 MILES

Looming up beside the Bow River, the Banff Springs is a local landmark in more ways than one. Originally built in 1888, and remodeled in 1928 to resemble…

5. Tunnel Mountain

0.56 MILES

It might be Banff’s smallest mountain at 1692m, but Tunnel Mountain is still one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks. The mountain’s distinctive…

6. Banff Park Museum

0.57 MILES

Occupying the oldest surviving federal building in a Canadian National Park and dating from 1903, this museum is a national historic site. Its exhibits –…

7. Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum

0.61 MILES

The Luxton Museum recounts the story of Alberta's indigenous people, with a strong emphasis on the Cree, Blackfoot, Blood and Stoney nations. The displays…

8. Banff Avenue

0.65 MILES

A little over a century ago, Banff Ave was Banff. Initially, the central street was home to little more than a handful of hotels, homesteads and trail…