A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Portland, Maine vs. Banff for Hiking, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Portland, Maine or Banff?

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

Should I visit Portland, Maine or Banff? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine is a laid-back, scenic, and picturesque coastal town. The beauty of Portland, Maine is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Portland, Maine travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a sporty, adventurous, and scenic town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping. See Banff travel costs.

Portland, Maine and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Portland, Maine or Banff?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Banff. Although Portland, Maine 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, and small town charm, while Portland, Maine is known for its beaches. Banff is more touristy than Portland, Maine and is known for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also home to Lake Louise. Portland, Maine is popular for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks.

How is Portland, Maine different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is an amazing town to visit for winter skiing. However, Portland, Maine is not a skiing destination.

If you're an avid snow skiier, Banff should be on your list. 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.

Portland, Maine is not a skiing destination.

Is the Food Better in Portland, Maine or Banff? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Banff is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

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 Portland, Maine. The town has grown into a foodie destination that takes advantage of its waterfront setting. Many restaurants make use of the fresh seafood with lobster rolls and oysters on the half shell being popular. You'll also find a lot of dishes that use haddock and whole lobsters.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Banff is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Banff is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Portland, Maine has a few options to choose from. The city has many microbreweries, wine bars, taverns, and pubs. You'll find many places concentrated in the Old Port, which has a charming and fun atmosphere.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Beaches?

Portland, Maine is notable for the beach. However, Banff is not a beach destination.

Portland, Maine is considered a top beach destination. It has many sandy and calm beaches. The water may be too cold to swim, but the beaches are perfect for flying a kite or hanging out with family.

Banff is not a beach destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is an amazing town to visit for its hiking experiences. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

People visit Banff specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. 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.

Many people include a hike when visiting Portland, Maine. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Portland, Maine or Banff?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Banff and Portland, Maine.

Many visitors go to Portland, Maine to go shopping. The town has many nice local boutiques to explore. Head downtown for the best local venues and the most interesting shopping opportunities.

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

Is Portland, Maine or Banff More Beautiful?

You'll find a similar quality of high quality scenery and beauty in both Portland, Maine and Banff.

With stunning beauty, Portland, Maine attracts visitors from all around. Set against the water's edge, the town offers many beautiful scenes and picturesque settings.

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.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Portland, Maine offers lots of family activities. It is a charming town with a number of kid-friendly museums, walks, and waterfront activities. You can visit the Portland Observatory, Bug Light Park, or grab ice cream in the Old Port. There are also children's museums such as the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is an amazing town to visit for couples. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Banff makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

Portland, Maine is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy the beautiful waterfront setting, the fine dining restaurants, and everything that the city has to offer. Head to the Old Port for romantic restaurants and a great atmosphere or catch a show at Portland Stage.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is well known for backpackers. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known 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.

Portland, Maine is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It isn't so much a backpacker destination, but there are some budget accommodation options around town.

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

Banff is a popular place for its public transit. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Banff, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Public transit is quite limited in Portland, Maine. There is a very basic bus system but you really must have a car to explore the city.

Is Portland, Maine or Banff a more walkable city?

Banff is well known for its ease of walking around. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for its walkability.

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

Portland, Maine is generally not a very walkable coastal town. Downtown is very walkable but if you want to travel to other areas you'll need a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Banff or Portland, Maine?

How long in Portland, Maine or Banff?

In either Portland, Maine or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than Portland, Maine because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Portland, Maine, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

Families should spend more time in Banff than Portland, Maine. 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 Portland, Maine. 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 Portland, Maine 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 Portland, Maine or Banff?

In Portland, Maine, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this laid-back destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Banff is a small town with plenty to do. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Portland, Maine or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portland, Maine. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Portland, Maine or Banff?

Portland, Maine is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Portland, Maine. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Banff is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. This town offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Portland, Maine or Banff?

You'll find nightlife and food around the picturesque destination of Portland, Maine. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Since Banff is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Hikers are also drawn to this area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Portland, Maine or Banff?

Portland, Maine has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Portland, Maine 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.