Exploring Calgary and Banff Without a Car

Check two destinations off your bucket list and discover why Calgary and Banff were made for each other. Banff is just 90 minutes west of Calgary with several inexpensive options to get there. Explore the energy of urban life in Calgary and the natural beauty of Banff National Park without a car.

Easy ways to get from Calgary to Banff without a car

AM PM Limousines: Travel in style with a luxury car or party bus to Banff with AM PM Limousines . Rates vary depending on the number of passengers and the vehicle you select from their fleet of world-class vehicles.

Airport Shuttle Express: Take the Airport Shuttle Express with daily service from YYC Calgary International Airport to any hotel or residence in Banff or charter a private van, sedan, or minibus and make your own schedule. Tours of Banff & Lake Louise are also available.

Brewster Express: Brewster Express provides direct shuttle services from Downtown Calgary or the YYC Calgary International Airport  to Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Kananaskis, and Jasper. You can save 15% when you book a round trip.

Banff Airporter: The Banff Airporter  offers a flexible schedule of service between Calgary and Banff, departing from Calgary International Airport.

The Fairy Bus: The Fairy Bus offers daily shuttle service between Calgary, Canmore, and Banff with seven convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in Calgary. Common stops include Downtown Calgary, Crowfoot LRT Station, and the Calgary Airport. With comfortable seating and room for luggage, Fairy Bus is a good fit for solo travellers, families, and small groups.

On-It Transit: On-It Transit Buses run a direct route from downtown Calgary to Banff and fare starts at $10 each way, so you can create a schedule that suits your individual plans. The shuttle runs during weekends and holidays from May to September. Tickets go on sale three weeks in advance of your departure and it is recommended to book your trip early.

Vivo Green: Vivo Green has multiple shuttles leaving daily from the YYC Calgary International Airport and Crowfoot LRT Station. Local tip - you only pay $12.99 if you depart at 6:00 am or 7:00 am during the summer season.

Carpooling: Sharing a ride with friends and family from Calgary to Banff is a great way to save money. You can also check Carpool World to find other travellers and locals looking to carpool from Calgary to Banff. Stay safe when using online car pool services like Carpool World.

Canmore to Banff by bus: If your travels have already taken you to Canmore, you can park in town and take Roam Transit Route 3 to get from Canmore into Banff for only $2.00.

Canmore to Banff by bike: Take the scenic route and travel from Canmore to Banff on the Banff Legacy Trail for a 2-3 hour ride through the mountains.

There are plenty of things to do and ways to explore the Town of Banff as well as many of the big experiences in Banff National Park without a vehicle. The Town of Banff is very walkable, with the main street of Banff Avenue being a popular pedestrian friendly street that runs through the centre of town. Full of shops, restaurants, and photo-worthy sights, you can spend the whole day exploring on foot.

To explore Banff National Park, Roam Transit offers both local and regional bus services in the area. Roam Transit travels throughout the Town of Banff, as well as Canmore and Lake Minnewanka, with one way adult fares for $2.00 or purchase a one day pass for $5.00.

Or hop on board Parks Canada Shuttles  for daily service from the Banff train station to Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, for between $5.00 and $10.00, round trip.

Walk: Explore Calgary neighbourhoods on foot and get a unique perspective of the city. The Beltline, Inglewood, Kensington, East Village, and Chinatown are full of great restaurants, shops, and festivals that are accessible with a 10 – 30 minute walk of downtown Calgary.

Calgary Transit: Calgary Transit is an efficient and inexpensive way to explore Calgary without a car. Bus routes and two C-Train lines make it easy to navigate almost anywhere in the city. The C-Train is free to ride between City Hall Station and Downtown West/Kerby Station in the downtown core. The best part - the C-Train is 100% wind-powered!

Taxi: Taxi and cab services in Calgary are a great way to get direct access to your next destination. You can download the Checker Yellow Cab mobile app to book a taxi on your phone.

Rideshare: Ridesharing applications like Uber  and Lyft are available in Calgary and are a great way to safely navigate throughout the city.

Scooter: During the summer you'll see Bird Canada e-scooters at most high traffic areas in the inner-city. Download the app and start cruising Calgary's scenic pathways.

Bike: Calgary is home to the most extensive network of urban bike paths of any city in North America. Explore the pathways and bikeways in Calgary with bike rentals from organizations like:

• Bow Cycle E-Bikes

• Joe's Garage

• Pedego Electric Bikes

• University of Calgary Outdoor Centre .

Travellers looking for the trip of a lifetime should explore Canada Rail Vacations . Train tours between Calgary and Vancouver on the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer range from four to 13 days. You wind through mountain valleys, past soaring waterfalls, and stop in quaint mountain towns. Guests are shuttled from Calgary to Banff where the train journey begins.