In the heart of Banff, Samesun Banff - Hostel offers a lively atmosphere with ski passes and al fresco dining at The Beaver Bar. Unwind on the sun-kissed terrace or connect to in-room WiFi. Previous guests rave about the helpful staff who make this hostel feel like home.
Banff National Park Information Centre - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
Getting around
Calgary International Airport (YYC) - 96 min drive
Banff Station - 11 min walk
Restaurants
The Canadian Brewhouse - 7 min walk
The Old Spaghetti Factory - 8 min walk
PARK Distillery Restaurant + Bar - 8 min walk
Shoku Izakaya - 10 min walk
Evelyn's Coffee Bar - 9 min walk
About this property
Samesun Banff - Hostel
Located within a 15-minute walk of Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Samesun Banff - Hostel puts you near winter activities like downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. Guests looking for a bite to eat can check out the restaurant, and the bar/lounge is a nice spot to enjoy après-ski drinks. Also, Banff National Park Information Centre and Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau are within a 15-minute walk. Ski passes are also available. Fellow travelers say great things about the helpful staff.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
14 rooms
Arranged over 3 floors
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11 AM
DONE
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - midnight
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum guest age is 18
Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE
Children
No cribs (infant beds)
DONE
Pets
Pets not allowed
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
No onsite parking
DONE
Other information
Smoke-free property
Caters to adults only
Property amenities
Food and drink
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Barbecue grills
Shared microwave
Shared refrigerator
What to do
Karaoke
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Ice skating nearby
Services
Front desk (limited hours)
Tour/ticket assistance
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Facilities
1 building/tower
ATM/banking
Terrace
Ski
Ski passes
Ski lifts nearby
Downhill skiing nearby
Snowboarding nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Snowshoeing nearby
Room amenities
Home comfort
Heating
Portable fan
Iron/ironing board (on request)
Sleep well
Blackout drapes/curtains
Bed sheets provided
What to enjoy
Fireplace
Freshen up
Shower/tub combination
Soap and shampoo
Hair dryer
Towels
Toilet paper
Stay connected
Free WiFi
Food and drink
Shared kitchen access
More
Daily housekeeping
Shared accommodations
Local maps
Special features
Dining
The Beaver Bar - This bar serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Happy hour is offered.
Fees & policies
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a security system on site.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB International
Does Samesun Banff - Hostel offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Samesun Banff - Hostel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at Samesun Banff - Hostel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Samesun Banff - Hostel?
Sorry, there's no onsite parking at Samesun Banff - Hostel.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Samesun Banff - Hostel?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight. Check-out time is 11 AM.
What is there to do at Samesun Banff - Hostel and nearby?
During the winter, enjoy nearby recreation like ice skating and downhill skiing, and return when the snow melts for hiking and mountain biking.
Are there restaurants at or near Samesun Banff - Hostel?
Yes, The Beaver Bar offers alfresco dining.
What's the area around Samesun Banff - Hostel like?
Samesun Banff - Hostel is a short 14-minute walk from Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and 15 minutes' walk from Bow River.
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Reviews
Reviews
8.0
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
8.0
Cleanliness
8.8
Location
8.6
Staff & service
7.6
Property conditions & facilities
Popular mentions
Service staff
Room
Parking
Location
Bathroom
Bed
Breakfast
Ambience
Food
Amenities
Reviews
Verified
8/10 Very good
Dec 31, 2025
Clean room with shower in it
Jessica
Jessica, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 21, 2025
Very helpful staff
Anna
Anna, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 6, 2025
Had a great stay. All the ladies in my room were nice. Staff were awesome. Our bartender was super fun and I met friends to explore Banff with.
Sharon
Sharon, 1-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 7, 2025
Charming and accessible, cool vibe and staff are friendly and helpful. Thank you!
Patrick
Patrick, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 6, 2025
Very friendly staff! End up making great friends.
Omkar
Omkar, 4-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 30, 2023
Nice place to stay, friendly staff. The bartender was fantastic! Overall very pleased with my stay here & will definitely be back in the future!
Scott
Scott, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 6, 2025
Great location close to shops and bus stops. Easy check in and reasonable price. Breakfast included also.
The only downside was that the dorm shower drain was blocked and was not attended to despite letting staff know
chandni
chandni, 3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Sep 10, 2024
Safe and friendly vibes.
Hannah
Hannah, 6-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 9, 2025
Samesun is reliable for having nice hostels. Nice shared areas and good folks. The only issue I ran into was that my truck didn't fit in their parking spots but I was able to find free overnight street parking not far away. Really great location.
Patricia
Patricia, 3-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Oct 31, 2025
Good and reasonable place to stay close to Banff ave and IGA supermarket. Also closeby near Squirell St close to Catholic Church. Its clean. Also room is clean and smell good. My only issue theres not enough space to hang out.
They have common area but it easily filled up with young and bosterous people that likes to drink. Kitchen is nice and well equpped but with few sitting area it get filled quickly.
Overall its a good place to stay esp if you are in a budget.
filomena
filomena, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 17, 2025
I loved the vibe of the place . Place was kept clean . Only complaint would be the AC , felt it was on a high temperature setting and dint cool the room much . It felt stuffy and hot. We kept the windows open all the time.
Veneela
Veneela, 5-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Aug 18, 2024
It was great for what is expected. Good location. Good food/drink special. Breakfast was underwhelming.
Chad
Chad, 1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
May 2, 2024
Love the breakfast in the morning, easy to socialize at the bar downstairs and get some affordable food and drinks. Service was excellent and very close to everything you need. Would definitely stay here again. Only thing is that the bunk beds are creaky so it’s hard to be quiet when you get into bed in the evening and the noise might be an issue for some.
Jana
Jana, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 31, 2025
I had a very pleasant stay at Samesun Banff Backpackers Hostel, and it truly exceeded my expectations. One of the best parts of my stay was the opportunity to meet so many fellow travellers from around the world—it created such a friendly and lively atmosphere.
The rooms were very nice, comfortable, and impressively clean. I especially loved the cozy fireplace and the stunning mountain views, which made the hostel feel extra special after a long day of exploring Banff.
One of the most iconic highlights of the hostel has to be the Beaver Bar. The vibe was amazing, with great music and fantastic drinks available all night. It was incredible to see people partying, socializing, and genuinely having the time of their lives.
A special mention to the hosts—they were extremely kind, welcoming, and very accommodating with all kinds of requests, which made the stay even more comfortable and stress-free.
Overall, Samesun Banff is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for comfort, great views, and an unforgettable social experience. I’d happily stay here again!
Supam
Supam, 1-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Aug 23, 2024
Basic hostel in Banff
Your basic busy hostel. Single beds, nothing special about it. Probably your cheapest option in Banff by far. Breakfast is included which was nice
Verified traveler
1-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 7, 2023
Banff central location!
Parking in Banff a bit challenging
Breakfast (hot) a nice start before hiking
Good daily eats for purchase each day.
Super Staff
Jane
Jane, 3-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 1, 2024
The staff were lovely here - very helpful, friendly, responsive. I was surprised to find it a quiet and pleasant place to stay, despite sleeping in a room with 5 other people. More reasonable price than other lodgings in Banff-you can't get a hotel room for under $500! I returned here after travelling for 4 days because I had a good first visit.
Leslie
Leslie, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 7, 2025
I loved everything about this place!
If you’re on a family trip, this is not the place for you. But as a solo traveler, I couldn’t have been more pleased with the accommodations! I felt so safe and comfortable with the other fellow travelers around me. I’d go to bed early and woke up early with all the beds around me filled and never heard a sound. Everyone was very respectful of others space and property. I will without a doubt stay here again on future trips to Banff!
Daniel
Daniel, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Dec 26, 2023
Quite like a dorm. Good choice for skiing.
Jessi
Jessi, 1-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Aug 27, 2023
Overall: Reception and staff were always helpful. Its a quaint stay, since you're mainly paying for a place to sleep, shower, and rest. First Hostel experience, and I can confidently say I could do again. For budget travelers, adventurers, and newly singled it works.
Michael
Michael, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Jul 27, 2025
Nothing too bad. The room is quite big. However the bunk bed is not steady enough. You can feel bed shaking and the sound when people moving on the top bed.
Bathroom is clean and the toilet paper supplies enough.
Verified traveler
4-night trip
Verified
6/10 Good
Aug 8, 2023
While my stay was good, my only concern is that when parked underneath in there garage some of the roofing fell on to my car and while investigating the situation one of the workers just walked passed me and made no acknowledgment or ask if everything is ok. Theres only 7 stalls when then say limited parking, the girls at the front desk were super welcoming and the accommodations were clean and great.
Jasmine
Jasmine, 2-night trip
Verified
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 7, 2025
This was a great little hostel, very cozy. I don't typically stay in hostels but hotels in the area were way to expensive so I gave this a go. No regrets. I stayed in the all female room and we had our own on-suite bathroom and shower which was great (though it could use a bit more frequent cleaning, it wasn't bad though). Just a thing to note, if you value privacy, the curtains on the bunks don't cover everything, theres one end of the bed that they don't cover. Not a big deal if everyone else around you has their curtains closed, but yeah just a thing to note for people. Didn't find people too talkative, so if you wanted a social hostel, this might not be it, but for my purposes I was happy with it and would stay again.
Rachel
Rachel, 2-night trip
Verified
8/10 Very good
Sep 29, 2023
Very nice receptionist. Clean common area.
I was charged a deposit when I booked. Ended up paying full price even after Orbitz explained I paid deposit two months ago.
Staff was really nice and I don't blame them about the mix up.
Breakfast is toast, boiled egg, pancakes, pineapple rings and cucumber slices. It was nice to start my day with a little something in my tummy.