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

Should you visit El Paso or Banff?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between El Paso and Banff can help you decide which place is right for you.

El Paso

El Paso is a low-key, undiscovered, and laid-back city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See El Paso travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a outdoorsy, sporty, and adventurous town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and skiing. See Banff travel costs.

El Paso and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in El Paso or Banff?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Banff. Although El Paso and Banff are popular destinations, Banff has more sights and attractions for tourists. Banff is very popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while El Paso attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Banff is more touristy than El Paso and is popular for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also well known for Lake Louise. El Paso is famous for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is El Paso different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is El Paso or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is an unbeatable place for skiing and snowboarding. However, El Paso is not a skiing destination.

Banff is among the world's best ski destinations. 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.

El Paso is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in El Paso or Banff?

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

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Banff is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Banff. 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.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is El Paso or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Banff is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Banff has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

El Paso has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Is El Paso or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is an unbeatable place for its hiking trails. However, El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Many people visit Banff specifically for its hiking. 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.

El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in El Paso or Banff?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both El Paso and Banff.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Banff offers some nice shopping areas. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Is El Paso or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, El Paso is not a destination known for its beauty.

Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

El Paso is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is El Paso or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Banff is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in El Paso. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is El Paso or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is an unbeatable place for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

For those traveling as a couple, Banff 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.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is El Paso or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Banff is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

El Paso is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's little in the area that appeals to backpackers.

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

Banff is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is El Paso or Banff a more walkable city?

Banff is a very popular place for its walkability. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Banff or El Paso?

How long in El Paso or Banff?

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

Families should spend more time in Banff than El Paso. 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 El Paso. 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 El Paso 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 El Paso or Banff?

In El Paso, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this low-key destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Banff is a small town with plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in El Paso or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in El Paso. 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 might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Banff has to offer.

Five days in El Paso or Banff?

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

Banff is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Banff has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in El Paso or Banff?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Banff. Since Banff is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Paso and Banff, we can see that El Paso 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 El Paso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in El Paso 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 El Paso Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, El Paso or Banff?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of El Paso 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.