Mountain town in Alberta, Canada
Banff for solo travelers
Is Banff good for solo travel?
Rocky Mountain town inside a national park, ideal for turquoise lakes, hiking and skiing. Prices and crowds are high in summer, and you need a car or shuttle for many trailheads.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Use hiking partners on remote trails and tell someone your route. |
How to meet people in Banff
Hostels with common rooms, guided group hikes, climbing gyms and shuttle seats from town make it easy to meet other travellers.
Good things to do alone
- Hike Sulphur Mountain or Tunnel Mountain at sunrise
- Soak in the Upper Hot Springs
- Book a canoe on Lake Louise
- Walk the Bow River Falls trail
- Drive the Icefields Parkway to Jasper
Where to stay in Banff
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Banff townsite (Banff Ave) | Walkable base for restaurants, shops and shuttles |
| Tunnel Mountain | Quieter stays, campgrounds and a short walk to town |
| Canmore (30 min away) | Cheaper rooms and locals' cafés outside the park |
Solo travel across Canada
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Montreal | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Toronto | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Banff | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Quebec City | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Whistler | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Ottawa | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Calgary | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Victoria | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Jasper | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Halifax | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Tofino | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kelowna | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Niagara Falls | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Edmonton | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Yellowknife | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Mont-Tremblant | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Prince Edward Island | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Banff good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Rocky Mountain town inside a national park, ideal for turquoise lakes, hiking and skiing.
How do you meet people in Banff?
Hostels with common rooms, guided group hikes, climbing gyms and shuttle seats from town make it easy to meet other travellers. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Banff?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Banff safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Use hiking partners on remote trails and tell someone your route.
More about Banff
Going to Banff solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Banff meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.