Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Canada / Banff / Fairmont Banff Springs
Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta, Canada · Fairmont · High Luxury
Canadian Pacific opened Banff Springs in 1888 as one of Canada's earliest grand railway hotels, a Bruce Price Scottish Baronial wooden pile inside what is now Banff National Park. Walter S. Painter's eleven-storey stone tower (1914) and John Orrock's Rundle-limestone wings after the 1926 fire rebuilt it as the Castle in the Rockies. At 1,414 metres above sea level overlooking Mount Rundle and Bow Falls, the Chateauesque complex became a National Historic Site in 1988.
- 724 rooms
- Opened 1888
- Neighborhood: Bow Falls
- Rooms from 225 sq ft (21 m²)
- Architect: Bruce Price
About Fairmont Banff Springs
- Bruce Price designed the original wooden house for 280 guests.
- Walter S. Painter's 1914 concrete-and-stone tower, a $2 million job, briefly ranked among the tallest buildings in western Canada.
- World Travel Awards named it Canada's Leading Hotel in 2025; Condé Nast Traveller readers ranked it ninth that year.
- Conference-center works are on track for February 2027.
- Entry-level rooms start at 225 sq ft (21 m²).
History
Fairmont Banff Springs opened in 1888 as a grand railway hotel built by the Canadian Pacific Railway under Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, designed by architect Bruce Price in the Scottish Baronial style. Known as the 'Castle in the Rockies,' the property sits inside Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 1926 fire destroyed the original wooden structure; the current stone castle was rebuilt and expanded through the 1920s. The hotel has hosted royalty, world leaders, and countless celebrities over its 135-year history.
Restaurants and bars
- Rundle Bar — Bar
Experiences
- Golf at the Stanley Thompson-designed course — Championship golf on the Stanley Thompson-designed course at the resort, described as among Canada's top courses.
- Fairmont Spa — Award-winning spa with pulsating waterfalls and mineral pools, echoing the hot springs that drew early travellers.
- Heli-hiking from CMH Bugaboo Lodge — Six-night From Castles to Clouds itinerary with Canadian Mountain Holidays: three nights at the hotel, then heli-hiking in the Purcell Mountains.
- Hiking and trails — Hiking and biking, with access to the Town of Banff and many town trails.
- Afternoon tea — Banff afternoon tea with scones, house-made preserves, pastries and finger sandwiches, with mountain views.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Golf course
- Pet-friendly
- EV charging
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Recommended (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- AAA Four Diamond (2025)
- Canada's Leading Hotel 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
Open Fairmont Banff Springs in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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