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

Should you visit Reno or Banff?

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

Should I visit Reno 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.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Reno travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a outdoorsy, sporty, and adventurous town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Banff travel costs.

Reno and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or Banff?

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

How is Reno different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Reno or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is renowned for skiing and snowboarding. However, Reno 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.

Reno is not a skiing destination.

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

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

Reno offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Banff is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Banff has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Reno or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Both Reno and Banff have high quality vibes after the sun sets.

Reno has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

The people in Banff know how to have a good time. 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.

Is Reno or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is renowned for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

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.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or Banff?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Reno and Banff.

Reno has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Banff is a great destination for shopping. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Is Reno or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is an excellent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Reno 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.

Reno is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Reno or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Banff. 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 Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Reno or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is renowned for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Reno or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Banff. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

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

Banff is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in 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 Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Reno or Banff a more walkable city?

Banff is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

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

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Banff or Reno?

How long in Reno or Banff?

In either Reno or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than Reno because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Reno, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

Families should spend more time in Banff than Reno. 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 Reno. 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 Reno 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 Reno or Banff?

In Reno, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vibrant 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 where visitors enjoy the nightlife and food. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Reno or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reno. 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 fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Reno or Banff?

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

Banff might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Reno or Banff?

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

Because Banff is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in 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 Reno and Banff, we can see that Reno 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 Reno would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reno 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 Reno Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Reno or Banff?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Reno 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.