Locals Shared The 6 Biggest Banff Tourist Traps & What They Think Is Overrated
Read this before you travel!
Lake Louise was named as a tourist trap in Banff. Right: Bear tours were also named.
Banff is one of Alberta's most visited places and for a good reason. With gorgeous natural scenery and impressive wildlife, it's no wonder tourists flock to the park every year.
However, some spots are less of a hit with visitors for a number of reasons, like crowds and costs. Narcity asked readers on Instagram to reveal some of the spots they think are overrated tourist traps and people did not hold back!
According to locals, here are six tourist traps to avoid.
Lake Louise
With its bright turquoise water and spectacular mountain views, Lake Louise is usually one of the first stop for any tourist visiting Banff National Park.
But despite being one of Banff's most famous tourist spots, Lake Louise really didn't win some readers.
Visiting Lake Louise can definitely be an ordeal with limited parking and you'll usually be fighting with hundreds of tourists to get photos of the view.
"There's way more other lakes like that," one person said.
Sky Bistro
This mountain-top restaurant definitely has some unreal views but visiting is pricey. Grabbing the Banff Gondola up to the Sulphur Mountain summit, where the restaurant is based, starts from $58 per person. And that's before you buy a meal.
If you do want to visit, the restaurant offers packages including the gondola ride, an appetizer and an entrée that start from $98. While it's an experience, it certainly isn't a cheap date.
Shuttle buses
Banff National Park spots including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are known for getting extremely busy in the summer, so shuttle buses run from the town of Banff to these sites.
However, locals said the buses are overrated.
That being said, if you do want to visit Moraine Lake this summer, shuttle buses are the only choice as Parks Canada recently announced that Moraine Lake Road will be closed to private vehicles.
Fairmont Banff Springs
Another spot that wasn't a hit for locals is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The stunning mountain-side hotel is notoriously pricey with rooms starting from around $700 per night.
Google Reviews for the hotel are pretty great across the board, currently rated 4.7 out of five. However, some reviews do mention the cost as a negative.
Bear Tours
Locals also weren't a fan of the paid guided tours you can take in the national park to spot bears. Bears are all over the national park and you can often spot them while out and about.
All of it!
A lot of people were quick to say the whole Banff experience is overrated. Ouch!
The national park can get very busy, especially over the summer, with pricey accommodations and busy restaurants. Popular sites like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake can also be packed in peak season too.
However, Banff is also such a unique place that it's definitely worth a visit.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
- This Super Rare White Grizzly Bear Was Just Spotted In Banff (PHOTOS) ›
- A Viral Banff Bear Fathered A Wild Amount Of Cubs & The Nick Cannon Jokes Are So Good (PHOTO) ›
- Banff Was Just Roasted On 'The Late Late Show With James Corden' For The Most Random Reasons ›
- These Are The Biggest 'Tourist Traps' In The World & 9 Canadian Spots Made The List - Narcity ›
- This Small Canadian Town Is A Bucket List Holiday Trip That's Bursting With Festivity (PHOTO) - Narcity ›
- 5 of the biggest tourist traps in Alberta, according to locals - Narcity ›