Nestled in the thriving Rocky Mountains, Banff is a haven for outdoor adventures and leisure pursuits. This year-round destination offers something for everyone with the main happenings taking place between the downtown core and the surrounding wilderness.
For that reason, the best places to stay in Banff gather around these areas where you can get the best of both worlds. Many of these accommodations are the top-rated Airbnbs, some of which fit a large family while some others are catered to couples on a romantic retreat.
Our curated list breaks down the ten best Airbnbs in Banff so you can browse and pick your gem!
10. Private Mountain Chalet in The Heart of Banff
Price: $$$
No. of guests: 6
Bedroom: 3
Rating: 5/5
Surrounded by gigantic mountains with a walking distance to downtown Banff, the two-story Black Bear Chalet is a top call for a big family reunion. Its high vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows let the inner living space be flooded with sunlight, creating a cozy family bond by the gas fireplace.
Each bedroom is attached to a sleek en-suite bathroom allowing you to rest your tired bones in a deep tub or walk-in shower. Lovely touches are found across the house with unique ornaments, arts, and thoughtful amenities adding a unique identity to the living space.
Comfy and dreamy the house can be, you don’t want to spend all day indoors because the real accent lies in the surrounding nature. Head outdoor and immerse yourself in the serene wilderness that Banff has to offer! The hidden hiking trail up the Tunnel Mountain is perfect for forest bathing and soaking in that brooding scenery of the bare mountains. Black Bear Chalet is available for a minimum booking of two nights with a capacity of six guests.
9. Banff Log Cabin
Price: $$$
No. of guests: 2
Bedroom: 1
Rating: 5/5
Ready to have your breath taken away? Sharon’s hand-built backcountry cabin perched by the mountains becomes a cozy home-sweet-home that welcomes you from a long day wandering in the wild.
This massive Airbnb speaks for a romantic getaway to top your bucket list if you’re on the way to finding a perfect honeymoon nest. Emerging as an enchanted postcard-like castle, the cabin is nestled in a peaceful neighborhood at the base of the Rockies.
A big bonus for the house is a complimentary breakfast with freshly baked muffins and fruit cocktails delivered to your doorstep every morning to get you ready for the day.
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8. Bampton Cabin
Price: $$
No. of guests: 2
Bedroom: 1
Rating: 5/5
What an ode to woodsy space to conjure up thoughts of slipping off the grid. Imagine living in the heart of a national park but steps away from the main happenings of Banff Avenue.
Satu and Ollie’s handsome cabin delivers a conventional lifestyle blended with a modern, minimalist sensibility where two people can snuggle up comfortably in a little mountain retreat.
This compact, intimate house offers a good old-fashioned seasonal hibernation. It has a cozy bedroom with a queen-sized bed that looks over the living lounge and kitchen.
Want to stay put during the freezing winter? Then spend the whole afternoon cooking your own meal in this fully-equipped kitchen before soaking up the mountain air from the private patio. Wondering what to do out there? Take on a hiking trail to Bow River and Tunnel Mountain or enjoy a shopping spree that Banff has to offer.
7. The Ugly Bunny Guest House
Price: $$
No. of guests: 4
Bedroom: 1
Rating: 4.96/5
Staying at the Ugly Bunny isn’t ugly at all! Bring your Banff getaway to new heights and max out the best comfort of home in a quiet neighborhood at the base of Tunnel Mountain.
Right here, Caylen’s beloved mountain home is tastefully converted for couples and small families alike. She dedicated one lower level floor and turned it into a fully-stocked guest room with one spacious bedroom. Here you have a King bed while the Queen sized pull-out is found in the living room. With a guest-centric approach in mind, Caylen goes out of her way to set up a wood-burning fireplace and upright piano. Even those who wanna stay put for small talk in the cozy setting all day long, Caylen’s house ticks all the boxes.
The kitchenette is definitely one of the highlights here. Instead of digging the nose into all the bells and whistles that drive up the rate, Caylen spruced it up with all the handy tools you need to get by – practical and well-built. From an induction hot plate, fridge, and microwave to a French press, Cuisinart coffee maker, blender, and utensils – dishing up your daily breakfast right after you get out of bed is never a luxury here.
And once you’ve finished the meal, get ready to take on one of the hiking trails just behind the house and you’ll soon find yourself in the heart of Banff Avenue within five minutes.
6. Banff Mountain Home – The Real Rockies Experience
Price: $$$
No. of guests: 11
Bedroom: 4
Rating: 4.77/5
Either it’s a family reunion or a get-together with your besties, this mountain home gives you the best of mountain life with a vintage feeling. All four bedrooms are attached with private bathrooms so you have your own sense of privacy.
This roomy mountain home is located right in the heart of Banff, allowing you to soak in the most famous national park of Canada without any hassle. The chef’s kitchen is appointed with more appliances than your basic needs, so make sure to cook up a BBQ or your favorite family meal before checking out!
Its golden location by the main strip of Banff lets you keep up with all the happenings. Two nights is the minimum booking period to stay at this mountain home which can host up to 11 guests.
5. Rocky Mountain Retreat – Enormous House Sleeps 23
Price: $$$
No. of guests: 23
Bedroom: 10
Rating: 4.77/5
Looking for a decent place to host a big bonding reunion? This Rocky Mountain Retreat comes in handy with ten enormous bedrooms sleeping up to 23 people!
Multiple compartments scatter through all four floors, providing you a luxurious but homey atmosphere. Amongst those, the game room is much likely to be your favorite place in the house! Get ready to be spoiled with a plethora of recreational activities including dart board, arcade, football table, and game consoles!
Each bedroom comes in a neat, modernist, and stylish design to give you a good rest every night. This Rocky Mountain Retreat has a warm ski lodge feel to it, giving you another reason to book for a long ski weekend. The minimum booking window is three nights and can host up to 23 people.
4. Feel at Home in the Rockies! Cozy Condo with Hot Pools Access
Price: $$
No. of guests: 3
Bedroom: 1
Rating: 4.51/5
Who can say no to a hot tub to rest their cores after a long travel day? That’s why Leavetown’s Airbnb comes into play.
This charming one-bedroom condo is everything you’ve ever imagined of a mountain getaway. Perched on the slope of Tunnel Mountain, the two-story condo opens out over the lush mountains with a shared hot tub waiting right at your doorstep.
Rain or shine, the wooden condo looms as a fairytale-like castle tucked away at the base of the thriving Rocky Mountains. Its proximity to Banff downtown lets you keep up with all the main actions during the day before curling up by the wood-burning fireplace after dark.
3. Stunning Mountain View Penthouse + Rooftop Hot Tub
Price: $$
No. of guests: 6
Bedroom: 2
Rating: 4.92/5
Is there anything better than lounging back in a hot tub watching the starry nights through a glass roof? Well if that sounds like a dream come true, book ahead with Yuki and Charlie’s 2-bedroom condo. This Canmore-based entire penthouse is only a 6-minute drive to Banff National Park and can sleep up to six guests.
Each of the house’s compartments boasts an impeccable view of the mountains. That means elk and bighorn sheep are gonna be your neighbors all day long, either when you’re resting up in the lofted master bedroom or grilling some BBQ in the kitchen. The timber trim and high ceilings give it a rustic mountain feel and with the sun-flooded living room, you will feel like being part of nature without having to step outdoors.
The open floor plan makes it easy to move between the living room, kitchen, and dining area. But there’s one place you want to spend most of your time in: the game lounge. It’s stocked up with board games, a TV, a fireplace, a plush couch to finish your book, and a private balcony to kick back in the evening breeze.
2. Cascade Cabin Bed and Breakfast
Price: $$
No. of guests: 5
Bedroom: 2
Rating: 4.97/5
Two local healthcare professionals, Shawn and Cassandra, put up a wing of their mountain home to welcome guests, all planned out with a thoughtful touch.
As parents of two, these super hosts completely understand how important it is to bring out the best comfort of home even when you’re away. So bring your big family here to share and curl up under allergy-free duvets and pillows out of the two bedrooms. And with a big sofa bed in the living room, you can tag up to five people here without any hassle.
On any given morning, you’ll find three types of cereal, fresh seasonal fruits, spreads of all types, artisan bread, eggs, and locally roasted coffee waiting on the countertop. Now that’s the perfect time to be creative with a hotel-graded homemade continental breakfast recipe! The little downside is that there won’t be any stove in here but we believe a two-burner induction hot plate and microwave work just fine.
The excellent location is just one of the perks of this Trappeur-style cabin. Take a short walk to Bow River Bridge, soak in the mountain sunlight on a morning exercise, and cap off your day at one of the local restaurants in downtown Banff. Even if you don’t feel like driving or stepping out on foot, hail a Roam bus at the station just across the road from your door. Now if you’re telling us you’re hitting Banff on your own bicycle wheels, rest assured as Shawn and Cassandra already set up a bike storage to lock your stuff with extra safety.
1. Cozy Rocky Mountain Suite
Price: $$$
No. of guests: 5
Bedroom: 1
Rating: 4.93/5
Just a short 30-minute drive from Banff and ten minutes from Canmore, you’ll end up at one of the best gems in Dead Man’s Flat for families with kids!
Call it a great escape where you let your kids immerse into nature while you get a decent break for yourself over the weekend. Its proximity to the river, ski hills, and cycling trails give you the best of fun during the day before warming up with the avant-garde in-slab heated floors when night falls.
The picture-perfect view from the house engulfs the whole mountainous area, giving you a peaceful vibe to chill out with your loved ones. The Airbnb is available for a minimum booking window of two nights and can host up to five guests.
Now that you’ve figured out your accommodations, check out these best Banff restaurants to eat at!