Surely one of the most scenic towns anywhere in Canada, Banff is backdropped by Mount Rundle in one direction and Cascade Mountain in the other. Around 9,000 people live in Banff, mostly Parks Canada staff and hospitality workers.

The downtown area is ideal to explore on foot. There's a myriad of museums, galleries, cafes and boutiques to visit along the core streets, all with those mountain views!

During the summer months, some sections of downtown Banff are closed to vehicle traffic to provide more space for pedestrians.

The best place to park is the Train Station Parking Lot. It is completely free to park here during the day for up to 9 hours. Downtown Banff is 10 minutes walk away. This lot also convenient for walking the Bow River Trail, cycling to Vermillion Lakes and visiting the iconic Banff sign on Mt Norquay Drive.

A Parks Canada parks pass is required to explore Banff National Park ($22/day for a vehicle of up to 7 people).