Welcome to Banff! Where mountain cowboys meet good old Canadian charm in the Rocky Mountains. Banff is easily one of the most popular places to visit for anyone looking to experience the rugged Canadian terrain and glaciers, especially since the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most beautiful scenic drives, starts right on the doorstep of the town. While Banff is an incredible place to visit, its limited size does make it quite competitive when it comes to accommodation, with hotels charging higher than normal rates due to their remote location. Well, that’s where hostels come in! Hostels are a great way to reduce your accommodation cost so that you can spend more on excursions. Hostel living is second nature to us, so we’re here to help you find the best hostel in Banff for your vacation. So let’s figure out which hostel is right for you!
HI Mosquito Creek Wilderness Hostel
HI Mosquito Creek Wilderness Hostel, located on the Icefields Parkway, is the ideal retreat for those seeking solace in nature. It offers fantastic access to outdoor adventures, with hiking, scrambling, and biking trails right on their doorstep in the summer and cross-country skiing, ice climbing, and snowshoeing in the winter. HI Mosquito Creek Wilderness Hostel offers beds in a 10-person mixed dorm as well as private family rooms that can sleep up to five guests. In the dorms, solid wooden bunk beds are available, along with a drying rack for clothes and heating in the winter. There are two common-area cabins available for visitors to relax in, a communal living room with a woodfire oven, books, and a guitar, and a large communal kitchen with two stoves, two fridges, and everything you could need to prepare a meal.
This is a hostel for those who want to live the off-grid lifestyle, as there is no running water (no showers), no electricity, and no cellphone reception (actually there is no cellphone reception anywhere on the Icefields Parkway).
HI Banff Alpine Centre
If you’re on the hunt for a hostel in Banff that still offers the serenity of nature but with better proximity to the town of Banff, then HI Banff Alpine Centre might be for you. Downtown Banff is less than a five-minute drive away and visitors can make use of the free bus shuttle, as well as discounted bike rentals and ski packages for Mount Norquay Ski Resort. Visitors can choose between a private room with or without an en suite bathroom or a dorm-style room with either four or six people in a female-only or mixed dorm. All the dorms have bunk beds that come with a reading light, a power outlet, and a full-size locker to store valuables. After a day of exploring the mountains, guests can head over to the on-site restaurant, Cougar Pete’s, for a bite to eat or hit up the on-site bar to play some free billiards, darts, and foosball. The bar also hosts a happy hour. Other outstanding amenities include free parking, free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, a communal kitchen, and a communal lounge.
HI Lake Louise
For those who are looking to stay closer to the Icefields Parkway and Lake Lousie, HI Lake Louise should be your go-to hostel. This is a great hostel with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay. Visitors can choose between a double private room with or without an en suite bathroom or go the more budget-friendly route and book a bed in a four or five-bed dorm room that’s either mixed, male-only, or female-only. Guests can opt to start their day with breakfast at the on-site restaurant or make use of the fully equipped communal kitchen to prepare their own meals. Those looking to enjoy the outdoors will find plenty of trails that leave right from the hostel. Additionally, the hostel runs rafting trips to Kicking Horse River. At the end of the day, guests can relax on the outdoor patio with a cold pint or relax in the sauna and let their worries steam away.
HI Castle Mountain
Sandwiched between Bow River and Silverton Falls sits another fantastic Banff hostel, HI Castle Mountain. This wilderness hostel is perfect for anyone who wants easy access to outdoor activities seeing as there are several trails nearby, Bow River behind the hostel, and outdoor firepits to enjoy. Guests can book a dorm in either a 14-bed female-only or male-only dorm and enjoy access to a cozy communal lounge complete with books, games, a guitar, and a wood-burning oven. After a day of hiking, head over to the communal kitchen to whip up a meal or make use of the barbecues outside to grill up some meats. The hostel is located in Castle Mountain, about a 25-minute drive from Banff and a 20-minute drive from Lake Louise Ski Resort and Summer Gondola.
Samesun Banff
Those looking to book a hostel in downtown Banff should definitely consider staying at Samesun Banff. This is easily the best party hostel in Banff as the hostel offers an electric atmosphere at their on-site bar, the Beaver Bar. Travelers will find plenty of nightly events at the Beaver Bar such as karaoke, music bingo, trivia, and live music, all while meeting other travelers. The hostel is ideally located less than a 10-minute walk from the Banff Visitor Center and the IGA Banff grocery store, offering excellent proximity for anyone without vehicles. Guests will have access to free Wi-Fi and a free breakfast, but there is no parking on-site. Samesun Banff offers dorm-style rooms with six, eight, 10, or 14 beds that are either female-only or mixed. Each room has its own bathroom, fireplace, and lockers as well. Other amenities include a very modern communal kitchen with large fridges for food storage, a launderette, and outdoor barbecues.
HI Rampart Creek
HI Rampart Creek is another wilderness hostel for those who are looking to escape into nature. Located on the Icefields Parkway, this hostel is ideal for those road-tripping on the Parkway or who want to indulge in all the natural attractions nearby. The hostel is located just north of the Saskatchewan River Crossing, about an hour-and-a-half drive from Banff and an hour from Lake Louise. While the hostel may sound out of the way, with the Saskatchewan River Crossing right there, guests will have easy access to the gas station, store, pub, and a restaurant just down the road.
This is easily the best youth hostel in Banff for those who want to try living an off-the-grid lifestyle, as the hostel has no running water, electricity, or cell phone service. Instead, guests can cozy up beside the outdoor fire pit and make new friends, enjoy a steam in the sauna, prepare a meal in the communal kitchen, or head out on one of the many hiking trails, bolted sport-climbing routes, and biking trails located near/at the hostel. HI Rampart Creek offers mixed dorm-style cabins with no more than six beds. Each bed comes with a solar-powered light. The hostel’s remoteness also means it’s one of the cheapest hostels in Banff.
Banff International Hostel
Banff International Hostel is easily one of the best Banff hostels as its central location is perfect for those without a car. The hostel is ideally located just a few blocks from the main restaurants and bars of Banff. Plus, a bus stop is only two minutes away and can bring visitors to Canmore, Banff Hot Springs, or up to Sulphur Mountain. Visitors can choose to book a bed in either a four or six-bed female-only dorm or a bed in an eight-person mixed dorm. Both dorm rooms offer lockers and a bathroom in the room. Guests will have access to free on-site parking and free high-speed Wi-Fi along with access to a computer. Other amenities include a large communal kitchen, an active activities board, a TV lounge, laundry facilities, and a courtyard.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Banff Hostel
When picking a hostel in Banff, it’s all about finding the perfect balance between mountain adventures and comfort. Location is key—consider how close you want to be to downtown Banff or the surrounding ski hills and attractions. We also recommend you check out reviews to get the lowdown on the hostel’s vibe, cleanliness, and overall atmosphere. If you’re a social butterfly or want to ensure you make new friends, opt for hostels with communal spaces, on-site bars, or organized activities to meet fellow travelers. Room configurations matter too—decide between the coziness of a private room or the budget-friendly camaraderie of a shared dorm. Some women and men may even feel more comfortable in a female-only or male-only room, so keep an eye out for hostels that offer that option. Hostels with convenient amenities like communal kitchens for whipping up your own meals, laundry facilities, and shuttles should also be considered. With Banff’s stunning backdrop, finding the right hostel can turn your stay into a seamless mix of adventure and comfort.
Insider Tips For Hostel Living
For a top-notch hostel experience in Banff, a few insider tips can make your stay even more unforgettable. First off, pack some earplugs and an eye mask – you never know when a fellow adventurer might decide to hit the hay or rise with the sun. We highly recommend these all-in-one headphones, headband, and eye mask for sensitive sleepers or travelers who like to fall asleep to white noise. First-time hostel stayers should embrace the communal vibe by participating in hostel activities or striking up a conversation in the common areas. Try to be a good hostel citizen, too – keep noise in check during quiet hours, clean up after yourself, and embrace the diversity of other travelers. If you’re keen on saving some money, make use of the communal kitchen to make your own meals and swap travel stories with other guests. Don’t forget a padlock for the lockers and a quick-dry towel for the shared bathroom hustle. And here’s a game-changer – check out local tips from hostel staff; they know the ins and outs of Banff like no one else.
Want the best rates? We highly recommend booking your stay through Hostelworld.com as you’ll automatically be added to a group chat in the app with other hostel guests who have booked to be there at the same time. This way, you can organize outings or ask questions in advance! With these friendly pointers, you’ll be weaving your own memorable hostel tale against the stunning backdrop of Banff’s mountainous beauty.
Now that you’re an expert on the best hostels in Banff, all you have to do is figure out which one suits your travel needs best! Regardless of which of these awesome hostels you choose, we highly recommend booking your hostel stay weeks if not months in advance. Banff is a popular place and accommodation, especially budget-friendly accommodation, tends to be booked up well in advance.
Comments