How to Spend A Day in Canmore, Canada

April 24, 2025
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Located just 20 minutes from Banff, Canmore is an underrated gem for anyone visiting the Canadian Rockies. With stunning mountainscapes, lots of local eats and countless walks/hikes, it is well worth spending a day here.

Having been to Banff and Lake Louise, I wasn’t expecting too much when I ended up spending a night in Canmore on my way to Vancouver. However, it ended up being such a beautiful area with lots of things to do and a more relaxing atmosphere than its famous neighbour towns.

I was there in the beginning of April, so a lot of the bigger hikes were still closed but there were still so many beautiful local walks to do which I really enjoyed, especially as I did not have a car.

I will cover both walks close to the town that can be done without a car and nearby hikes with a car in this guide, as well as my favourite local food stops and accommodation. Leave a comment at the bottom of the article telling me if you’ve been here or are planning to visit soon!

How to get to Canmore?

From Calgary

If you’re arriving at Calgary Airport (YYC) and heading straight to Canmore, there are two main ways to get to Canmore. Option one is to get public transport to the city center (more info here) and then get either a Flixbus (starts at just 15CAD) or Rider Express (~30CAD) bus to Canmore.
The other way is to get a direct bus/shuttle from the airport. Banff Airporter and Brewster Express start at around 80CAD.

If you have a car or are renting one (find good deals here), the drive takes about an hour.

From Banff/Lake Louise

The drive from Banff is only about 20 minutes or 50 minutes from Lake Louise.

There are also local buses that connect to Canmore. Bus 3 from Banff takes about 25 minutes and costs 6CAD for a single ride. If coming from Lake Louise, I’d recommend Flixbus or bus 8X to Banff (10CAD) and then bus 3. Check out exact routes here.

Where to stay in Canmore?

Canmore has some great accommodation options at different budgets. I also found the city super walkable and most places are right in the centre. Canmore is also a great option for more affordable stays when visiting Banff, which is only a short local bus ride away.

Best hostels in Canmore for backpackers:

Downtown Canmore Hostel – I stayed in this hostel and it was super clean with friendly staff and a big common area that you could work or socialise in
Canmore Alpine Hostel – part of the Hi Hostel association, this is a small hostel with peaceful vibes slightly outside Canmore. It is super affordable but you ideally need a car as the bus does not go directly there.

Best hotels in Canmore:

$ Basecamp Lodge Canmore – an affordable stay with really nice rooms in a great location

$$ MTN House By Basecamp – a very highly reviewed hotel with beautiful rooms at fair prices. It is also in a central location to the city center and buses.

$$$ Blackstone Mountain Lodge by CLIQUE – Big apartments at still fair prices, this lodge offers a pool, hot tub and BBQ area.

Things do to in Canmore in one day

Here are my top things to do if you have one day in Canmore – I will be listing a few hike options which you could also make use of if you stay longer in this beautiful town:

Grab breakfast at Beamer’s Coffee Bar

A cute café with lots of seating and a fantastic atmosphere to start your day in Canmore. My favourite part were the huge windows which give you all-around views of the Rockies. The Matcha Latte and Banana Bread were both excellent.

Explore the city center

While only really consisting of one street, I found Canmore city center charming. Lots of local shops, cute souvenirs and tons of unique ceramics.

Wander around, buy some souvenirs and grab a couple of local treats for the afternoon hikes.

Refuel with a quick lunch

Prepare for the afternoon by grabbing a bite to eat, for example with a delicious sandwich from Bella Crusta or a flavourful bagel at Rocky Mountain Bagel Company.

I would recommend grabbing lunch here and really taking in the all-round Rockies views.

Explore Canmore’s surrounds on one of the stunning trails/hikes

The reason I really enjoyed Canmore was that it had really interesting trails accessible right from the town center. On top of that, it has some of the most beautiful hikes in the area just a short car ride away. Here are some of my favourites:

Trails accessible without a car

Policeman Creek Trail

Canmore Engine Bridge

Bow River Loop

Canmore has a lot of trails and hikes accessible from the town by foot. I combined Policeman Creek Trail and the Bow River Loop for an easy, flat hike that took around 2.5 hours. You will find these trails easily on Google Maps or AllTrails.

Other options are Larch Island, Three Sisters Viewpoint, Rundle Forebay Reservoir and Benchlands Ridge Trail & Canmore Hoodoos.

Hikes if you have a car

If you have a car, these are great hiking options in the area:

Grotto Canyon – 4km, 2 hours
Grassi Lakes – 4km, 1.5-2 hours (very popular)
Mount Lady Macdonald – 6-9km, 4-5 hours
Wind Ridge Trail – 12.7km, 5-6 hours
Ha Ling Peak – 7.8 km, 3-5 hours

Check out this blog post for more hikes including full-day ones. Always do your own research on hikes and choose ones suitable to your ability level as well as weather conditions.

Finish the day with dinner and drinks

Canmore has some great options for dinner to finish off a beautiful day. Head to Ramen Arashi for delicious Japanese style food, One98Eight for fancier comfort food or Aprés Canmore for great food and even better Cocktails.

Can you get around Canmore without a car?

Yes, I visited without a car and got there by bus and then walked around. I found the town very walkable and there are lots of trails and hikes accessible from nearby the town.

Is Canmore more expensive than Banff?

Canmore is actually slightly more affordable than Banff, both accommodation and food wise. I would actually recommend staying in Canmore over Banff if you prefer a calmer atmosphere or are on a tighter budget. Banff gets super hectic, especially in the summer and peak winter months, so Canmore is the more relaxed neighbour.

Is there anything to do in Canmore?

There are so many things to do in Canmore. From the hikes and trails mentioned in this article to great food spots to activities. In the winter that includes snowshoeing, nordic skiing, iceskating and more. In the summer, there are fishing trips, Lake Minnewaka cruises, cave tours and more.