A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bangor vs. Banff for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Bangor or Banff?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangor and Banff can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bangor

Bangor is a welcoming, friendly, and laid back town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Bangor travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a scenic, outdoorsy, and sporty town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include skiing, nightlife, and food. See Banff travel costs.

Bangor and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bangor or Banff?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Banff. Although Bangor and Banff are both popular with visitors, Banff has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Banff is more popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Bangor is known for its museums and attractions. Banff is more touristy than Bangor and is known for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also home to Lake Louise. Bangor is popular for its history as a lumber town.

How is Bangor different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Banff and Bangor. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is an amazing town to visit for snow skiing. However, Bangor is not a skiing destination.

Visitors will find world class skiing in Banff. The town makes a great base for experiencing the three nearby ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay. You can purchase a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and experience the area's best skiing. There's a long ski season and a stunning setting within the Canadian Rockies.

Bangor is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bangor or Banff?

Bangor is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Bangor offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bangor or Banff? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Banff is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Banff is an experience not to be missed. The downtown has bistros, taverns, and many casual eateries. For a more fine dining experience, you can go to one of the luxury hotels, which have nice dining areas. Throughout town you'll find classic Canadian food like poutine, as well as pizza and bar food.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bangor. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Banff is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Bangor is not a good town for nightlife.

Banff offers plenty to do in the evening. It's a great town for partying and it's compact and easy to barhop if you want. For the town's size, you'll find a huge number of bars and breweries to choose from, and there's always something going on.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is an amazing town to visit for the nearby hiking options. However, Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Around Banff visitors will find world-class hiking trails. The town is set within Banff National Park, and is surrounded by world class hiking. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails that wander alongside rivers, lead to waterfalls, or climb mountain peaks. You may also see local wildlife.

Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bangor or Banff?

Both Bangor and Banff are good shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Bangor to go shopping. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Banff. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Is Bangor or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is a well-known place for its scenery and beauty. However, Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Banff is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the low key hikes like Tunnel Mountain hike. There's also the Banff Gondola and several playgrounds in downtown Banff. For adventure activities, check out the Golden Skybridge or Lake Louise.

Bangor is a family-friendly town. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is an amazing town to visit for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

Banff is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. It's a beautiful destination for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. There are countless hikes and stunning natural beauty. There are also spas, horseback riding, and many great restaurants.

Bangor is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Bangor is not a good town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Banff is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

Bangor is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Budget accommodation is available, but most backpackers don't think the visit here.

Is Bangor or Banff Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Banff is a town with good options for its public transit. However, Bangor is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Banff has a few public transit options. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Is Bangor or Banff a more walkable city?

Banff is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

Banff is a very walkable destination. The downtown is very walkable and there are trailheads nearby as well.

Bangor is somewhat walkable. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bangor Worth Visiting? and Is Banff Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Banff or Bangor?

How long in Bangor or Banff?

In either Bangor or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than Bangor because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Bangor, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

Families should spend more time in Banff than Bangor. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Banff, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Banff than Bangor. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Banff that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Banff than Bangor if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Banff.

One day in Bangor or Banff?

In Bangor, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this laid back destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Banff might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bangor or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bangor. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Banff is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Bangor or Banff?

Bangor is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Bangor. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Banff. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Bangor or Banff?

You'll find food and shopping around the laid back destination of Bangor. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Banff is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangor and Banff, we can see that Bangor is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bangor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangor than you might in Banff.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangor Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bangor or Banff?

Bangor has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Bangor and Banff, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.