Banff Entertainment

There are several ways for visitors to entertain themselves during the day, choosing from a wide range of outdoor activities. Banff does not disappoint at night either, as there is always something to do including having a good meal with some drinks; listening to music or dancing the night away.

Eating out

There are more than a 100 restaurants in the town of Banff and it is quite a diverse collection, from Japanese and western to other ethnic cuisines. The many restaurants also make it possible for tourists to find eateries to fit their budgets and tastes quite easily.

Banff Avenue is filled with restaurants and cafes with sidewalk seating areas, perfect for watching the crowds go by. There are also many fast-food and take-out options here. Trendy bars and nightclubs can also be found in this area.

For a special dining experience, have a meal at the opulent Banff Springs Hotel, which not only offers tasty food, but also fantastic views of the mountains from its many restaurants. If you are on a tight budget, a good meal can be had at the YWCA or at the Banff International Youth Hostel cafeterias.

Theatre and music

Night-time entertainment at Banff goes on seven nights a week, and there are many pubs, lounges and nightclubs here. It is quite easy to dance the night away to the latest music at Banff. Having a pint and playing billiards or ten-pin bowling are also popular ways to pass the evening in Banff. The Aurora is one of Banffs trendy nightclubs, with DJs here playing the latest dance music. Magpie and Stump occasionally has live bands, and this is the place to head to if margaritas are your favourite drink.
The Banff Summer Arts Festival is also a great time for visitors interested in performance arts to visit the town, as there are daily performances including dances, instrumentals and plays. Banff has its own theatre which promotes the arts throughout the year by hosting all genres of plays, dances and musical performances.

Shopping

Shopping in Banff is very pleasant, as there are several stores and shops selling various interesting souvenir items. The Bay, Banffs oldest retailer, established in the 1600s, is a department store located on Banff Avenue, and it sells all varieties of merchandise. In addition, there are jewellers and watch-makers, shops selling western outfits and boots, shops with toys and collectibles, and many shopping malls at Banff.
The Banff Book & Art Den retails old and rare books and items connected to the Canadian Rockies. It also stocks new books, toys and art supplies. The store is very interesting and visitors concerned with the history of the area will easily be able to spend an hour here.
Being Canadian territory, Banff celebrates all the usual Canadian national holidays including Christmas, Easter, Canadas National Day, New Years Day and many more.