The Fairmont Banff Springs: Castle Hotel in the Canadian Rockies

The Fairmont Banff Springs Castle Hotel Gay-Friendly in Alberta, Canada – Exploring the Canadian Rocky Mountains around Banff and Lake Louise, there is one thing you seriously have to put on your gay travel bucket list: a visit and stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, also known as “Castle in the Rockies” at Banff National Park. More than 125 years ago, William Cornelius Van Horne, the general manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, wanted to bring the people to the Rockies: “Since we can’t export the scenery, we’ll have to import the tourists”. The first, wooden construction of Banff Springs Hotel was completed in 1888. Today, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel built in the style of a Scottish Knight’s Castle is one of the most remarkable landmarks of Canada and the Rocky Mountains in Alberta.

We stayed for five days on the fourth floor in a room with a Mountain View overlooking the Bow Valley at the convergence of the Bow and Spray River. This area today is also known as Canada’s first National Park. The view, the luxury of the Hotel, the history of exploration and adventure, and the similarity to Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s school of magic, made our stay during our Road Trip through the Rocky Mountains all the way north from Calgary to Jasper for Jasper Pride Festival an unforgettable experience. Enjoy our review of our gay travels as a gay couple with photos, stories, and info for a stay at the famous “Castle in the Rockies” and see the magical Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains through a couple of men’s eyes.

Our Fairmont Mountain View Room

Wow, that was the first word for what we saw out of the window when entering our room on the fourth floor with a stunning Rocky Mountain View. We loved the detailed luxury in the room equipped with a small walk-in wardrobe, elegant furniture of the workspace, and sitting corner next to the window. The king-size bed was made for dreaming while the marble-lined bathroom was equipped with a bath – shower and complimentary shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer from Le Labo (we simply love the sense). Every evening, the room service prepared the bed for our arrival with a bottle of water and a small “good-night chocolate”.

Breakfast & Brunch Buffet with a View

The breakfast buffet was incredibly diverse and full of vegetarian options. The Fairmont Banff Springs menu has everything from freshly baked pastry, selections of cheese and assorted cold cuts, and warm and cold dishes to fresh vegetables and fruits. And try the freshly prepared omelets and freshly pressed orange juice! Additionally, we enjoyed a stunning view over the bow valley through the huge windows of the dining room, which, by the way, was decorated with wooden figures of animals living in Banff National Park. The staff of the “Castle in the Rockies” restaurant was all-around friendly, starting with a warm welcome every morning while seated and a “Bon appétit!” from the kitchen. Enjoy your “Rocky Mountains” breakfast and give brunch a try during the weekends from 11 am on. It is worth every single cent; seriously delicious!

Facilities of the 5-Star Banff Springs

The Banff Springs offers several restaurants, a shopping street on the first floor, a vast indoor pool, and a top-rated outside pool overlooking the Bow Valley. Especially in the morning, when the pool is still an oasis of calm, and the steam of the hot water rises into the blue sky in front of the fantastic scenery, the outdoor pool was one of our favorite spots at Banff Springs. If you want more privacy, treat yourself to a wellness day or spend some time after your outdoor adventures at the award-winning The Willow Stream Spa.

Activities around Banff Springs

Our highlight of the Fairmont Banff Springs was the view from our room from all over the hotel, facing the Rocky Mountains Valley. But there is much more to do in and around the “Castle in the Rockies” in winter and summer. Especially hikers, golfers, and any nature lovers will find pleasure and recovery during their holiday at Banff Springs. Right in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, river rafting, and horseback riding. Especially during winter, dog sledding, snowshoeing, skating, downhill, and cross-country skiing are possible around the SkiBig3 Ski resorts, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, and Norquay. Not far from the Banff Springs Hotel, the Banff Gondola brings you up to the mountaintop with an incredible view over Banff town and Bow Valley.

Résumé of our gay-friendly stay:

Overwhelmed, speechless, magical, unique, gay-friendly – The Fairmont Banff Springs was an experience we would not want to have missed during our Canada Road Trip. The view over Bow Valley, the luxuriously detailed work around the hotel building, the friendly staff from the check-in, restaurants, bars, and spa area, and the amnesties in the room are a treat for body and soul. And don’t worry if you have already planned to stay somewhere else in Banff. Just pay the “Castle Hotel of the Rocky Mountains” a visit, enjoy the view or treat yourself to a spa day (access as well for non-hotel guests possible for a fee). We will come back again since Banff Springs is just a must-do on every trip to Banff – Lake Louise.

Interesting Posts for your Gay Trip to Alberta:

• All you need to know about Jasper Town >
• Activity Tip: Gay Ski Week Canada – Jasper Pride Festival >
• Road Trip Tips: Our Highlights of the Canadian Province Alberta >
• Our Top 13 Highlights of our Road Trip, Alberta from Calgary to Jasper >
• All information for your planning: 14-days Winter Road Trip Alberta Canada >

More of the historical castle-like Hotel

Throughout the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, we discovered several extraordinary and unique, even hidden, places full of history. The best places for photo shoots are inside this knight’s castle-like hotel. We suggest planning the time during your visit to do that on your own or join a free guided tour through the masonry in the Rockies. Again and again, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the Rocky Mountain View through the enormous windows of the Hotel. And don’t miss the details of the window artwork. It is where stories are told about ghosts and the doomed bride. The unique ways of the sun lightening the rooms and halls in all the different wings and floors of the Fairmont Banff Springs are simply spectacular. You won’t regret it to plan some time on your gay travel itinerary for the Hotel exploration.

Now it is time to book your stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs Castle Hotel

Address:
Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff-Nationalpark, 405 Spray Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1J4
Canada

Official Website: fairmont.com/banff-springs/

Contact: Tel.: +1 866 540 4406 (toll-free room reservation for NL: 00 800 0441 1414)

Good to know:
You can reach Banff Town after 5 minutes by car or approximately 15 minutes walking. All over Banff are parking areas where you can park your car for free for a specifically stated amount of time. Join one of the free guided hotel tours to get to know more about the over 125 years of history of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.