Snow is falling and the ski season has begun in Canada’s Banff National Park. Whichever season you want to visit, what better place to stay than in a castle? You have two to choose from — Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Fairmont Banff Springs. Which of these landmark castle hotels is best for you depends on what you want to do while in Canada’s first and most famous national park.
Banff National Park
The national park and, especially, the area around Banff and Lake Louise have hot springs, dramatic waterfalls, rivers and lakes (many of the glacial-fed ones are colored Caribbean turquoise), wildlife like elk and bears, some of Canada’s prettiest mountains, plus hiking and skiing trails galore. Three ski areas — Lake Louise, Sunshine and Mount Norquay — provide some of the best skiing on the continent. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, the eastern gate of Banff National Park is about an hour’s drive from the city of Calgary, Alberta.
There are plenty of hotel accommodations available, but the two best are landmark castle hotels originally built to encourage use of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway which was completed in 1885. So how do you choose which is best for you?
For Lake Louise skiers and for iconic photos of Canada’s most famous lake: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a 40-minute drive deeper into the mountains from the town of Banff. Called the Lake of the Little Fishes by the people of the Stoney Nakota First Nation, this glacial lake is turquoise due to the rock flour from the glacier that’s melting in the mountains above the lake (the color is most opaque in the spring and the waters most reflective in the autumn). Lake Louise freezes in the winter so you can walk or skate on the ice. At other times of the year, stick to the paved path that goes along one side, or hike into the trees for spectacular views from the lookout. It’s even possible to hike up 1300 feet to a tea house that’s been serving fine teas since 1905.
A one-story log cabin hotel was first built on the lake’s shores in 1886; after it was destroyed by fire, another was built in 1894 and called the Chalet Lake Louise. Popular with railway travelers and day visitors from Banff, the chalet quickly grew in popularity. Starting in 1896, architects added to its size and it became more and more castle-like. It got the name Chateau Lake Louise after a massive expansion in the 1920s.
Today Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a luxury property with 539 rooms and suites. If you stay here, you’ll have views over the brightly-colored lake or of the Lake Louise Ski Resort and easy access to the area’s spectacular walks and hikes, as well as to the ski hill. Be sure not to miss the iconic Canadian experience of afternoon tea at one of the immense windows at the aptly named Fairview Bar & Restaurant — while enjoying your pastries you’ll have spectacular views over the lake, the Victoria glacier, and Fairview peak. You won’t be disappointed with the views from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise’s other restaurants and lounges either. Even the spa and pool have views of Canada’s most famous lake.
A stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is ideal for anyone wanting to explore the 160 named ski runs on Lake Louise Ski Resort’s four mountain faces. Ten lifts give you access to the resort’s 4200 acres from early November to mid-May. Hikers and photographers who want to explore the wilderness will love the Chateau too. While there’s plenty of hikes accessible from the hotel, Moraine Lake — which many say is ever more beautiful than Lake Louise — is just a 20 minute drive away.
For Sunshine and Norquay skiers and for those wanting to be close to town: Fairmont Banff Springs
While it’s a short drive from the Chateau to the hamlet of Lake Louise, those who want a more urban mountain experience will prefer staying in the town of Banff.
Called the Castle in the Rockies, the Fairmont Banff Springs is on the edge of town towering over Bow Falls and the hotel’s golf course that sometimes has wildlife walking through the fairways. Towering further over the hotel are Castle Mountain, Tunnel Mountain, Mount Rundle and the Fairholme Range. It’s just a 20-minute walk to Banff’s main streets and its collection of candy shops, restaurants and stores selling mountain clothing and souvenirs.
The hotel first opened in 1888 at a then unprecedented scale in the French chateau style. It originally had space for 280 guests and piped water from the hot springs into its pools. It was expanded several times but had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1926. Originally it was just a summertime resort — Hollywood stars especially came to golf — and opened for the winter season for the first time in 1969. It’s built in the Scottish Baronial style and was named a National Historic Site in 1988.
Today, the Fairmont Banff Springs has 757 luxury rooms and suites. While you’ll admire the views out your room’s windows, don’t miss checking them out from within the heated outdoor pool — it’s open year round. The views from the adjacent indoor pool are almost as lovely. For a quieter pool with views, visit the Willow Stream Spa. In addition to its outdoor hot tub, it has a palatial indoor mineral pool and a series of hydrotherapy tubs complete with powerful waterfalls to combat sore shoulder and neck muscles.
The Fairmont Banff Springs has a range of dining options, but the best views are from the new 360 Dome that sits on a terrace above the pool. It’s available for private dining — though if you choose this spot for a marriage proposal, passersby will likely snap a photo and give you a cheer.
The Fairmont Banff Springs is the ideal castle hotel for those who want easy access to the town of Banff, want to visit the hot springs, and those who want to ski at either Sunshine Village or Mount Norquay.
Sunshine’s three mountains of skiing are a 15-minute drive from Banff. The resort has annual snowfalls of 30 feet on its 3300 skiable acres and the longest non-glacial ski season in the country — usually to late May but occasionally into June. Less than four miles from the town of Banff, Mount Norquay was the first ski resort in the national park. Its earliest opening day ever was October 24, 2020. Known for its steep vertical, Norquay has 60 runs, half easy and intermediate and half categorized as difficult and expert. Norquay is the only resort in the area offering night skiing.
Which castle hotel is best for you? Many can’t decide and end up booking stays at both Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Then your main decision is deciding which castle to visit first.
