The 6 Best Lake Louise Hotels

1. Moraine Lake Lodge

Moraine Lake is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places in Banff National Park. Due to the overwhelming number of people who wish to visit Moraine Lake, Parks Canada has closed the road to Moraine Lake to private vehicles.

With a little advance planning, there are a variety of ways to get to Moraine Lake, but the best way to guarantee you see Moraine Lake on your trip to Banff is to stay at Moraine Lake. The issue is that there is only one place to stay at Moraine Lake… but for those lucky enough to get a reservation, the Moraine Lake Lodge is a wonderful hotel.

With an envious location in-between the shores of Moraine Lake and the lower slopes of Mount Temple, the Moraine Lake Lodge has one of the most incredible settings for any hotel in Banff.

With a guiding philosophy about getting away from it all, you won’t find any televisions or phones at the Moraine Lake Lodge (although they have started to offer complimentary Wi-Fi to all guests). In addition to Wi-Fi, other complimentary amenities at the Moraine Lake Lodge include free breakfast, concierge service, free canoeing on Moraine Lake and free parking.

Non-guests need to pay $140/hour to rent a canoe on Moraine Lake, but the most valuable included amenity at the Moraine Lake Lodge is the free parking.

You’ll also enjoy being among the first on many great Moraine Lake hiking trails, including the very popular Larch Valley hike, which departs right next to the lodge. Getting ahead of the crowds is a wonderful way to add to your enjoyment of this outstanding Banff hike.

Due to its remote location, the Moraine Lake Lodge will meet all your dining needs. The Walter Wilcox Dining Room is one of Banff’s top gourmet restaurants, featuring the finest regional cuisine from local organic farmers. For simpler fare, the Snowshoe Cafe offers a wide variety of hot and cold meals, pastries, deli foods, etc.

Guests of the Moraine Lake Lodge can choose between staying in a cabin or a room in the lodge. The Moraine Lake cabins offer privacy, wood burning fireplaces and private balconies with views of the lake and mountains. The amenities in the lodge rooms vary, but include either a patio or balcony with excellent views. Some lodge rooms offer a wood burning fireplace, while others offer a gas burning fireplace.

Regardless of your type of accommodation, your stay at the Moraine Lake Lodge will be unforgettable. It is truly one of the best hotels near Lake Louise and ideal for exploring some of the best larch hikes in Alberta.

2. Post Hotel

Sitting on the banks of the charming Pipestone River, the Post Hotel has been renowned as one of the best hotels in Lake Louise for over 70 years.

The Post Hotel in Lake Louise offers a wide variety of accommodations, ranging from standard & deluxe hotel rooms, to suites and 4 very charming cabins. Each room at the Post Hotel comes with wood furnishings, mountain views and a whirlpool bath, while select suites have fireplaces.

After a day of playing in the Canadian Rocky mountains around Lake Louise, treat yourself to a dip in the beautiful Roman inspired saltwater pool. Or, pamper yourself with a treatment at the full service Temple Mountain Spa full-service. Experiences on offer at the Post Hotel spa are body therapies, massages, waxing, facials and nail services.

You will enjoy superb dining at the Post Hotel in Lake Louise. The cozy Fondue Stubli offers traditional Swiss style fondues, while the Outpost is a comfortable English style Pub.

Wine enthusiasts will be in heaven at the Post Hotel. In 2004, the Post Hotel wine cellar received the ultimate praise when it was named a Grand Award winner by Wine Spectator Magazine. Today the wine cellar has a collection of over 30,000 bottles for patrons to choose from.

In November 1990, the Post Hotel at Lake Louise was admitted to the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group, which represents some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the world. In addition, with their unwavering focus on service, cuisine and comfort, the owners of the Post Hotel were named Canadian Hoteliers of the Year in 2011.

3. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The only hotel which can rival the Moraine Lake Lodge for scenery is the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. Surrounded on all side by towering Rocky Mountains, the Chateau Lake Louise is the the only hotel on Lake Louise.

This envious lakeside location offers guests magnificent views of the massive Victoria Glacier and the emerald waters of Lake Louise itself. It’s the ideal place to stay for a two day Lake Louise itinerary.

A sister hotel of the world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, the Chateau Lake Louise is renowned for its level of luxury. With over 500 rooms, the Chateau Lake Louise has a guest room for all tastes, ranging from a simple Fairmont Room, to 1 or 2 bedroom suites with a lake view, to opulent accommodations on the Fairmont Gold floor.

Guests of the Chateau Lake Louise can enjoy a visit to The Spa at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, or enjoy a wonderful meal at one of the six excellent restaurants on site.

Many of the best hikes in Lake Louise depart from the doorstep of the Chateau Lake Louise, including the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail, the Lake Agnes Tea House hike, the Little Beehive hike and the Big Beehive hike. Apres-hike, be sure to take advantage of the Post Hike Stretch Out; one of the many complimentary fitness classes offered at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

With the level of luxury you’d expect at a Fairmont hotel, a stay at the Chateau Lake Louise does not come cheap, but we encourage you to read our full review of the Chateau Lake Louise, and view the current deals offered by Fairmont.

4. Paradise Lodge and Bungalows

It’s fair to say that our top 3 hotels in Lake Louise are all luxury hotels. If you are looking for the best non-luxury hotel in Lake Louise, take a good look at the Paradise Lodge and Bungalows. In fact, the Paradise Lodge currently has better user reviews than the Fairmont (a 9.1 on Booking.com vs. an 8.8 for the Chateau Lake Louise).

A family run business for over a half-century, the Paradise Lodge offers guests a choice between cozy, spacious hotel suites and newly renovated, luxurious cabins. With its log construction and natural building materials, the Paradise Lodge blends in perfectly with its beautiful flower garden and evergreen forest surroundings.

Guests will rest easy knowing that the Paradise Lodge is a 29-time winner of the Alberta Housekeeping Award for its dedication to excellence in cleanliness.

Some accommodations at the Paradise Lodge offer 1-2 bedrooms and/or full kitchen facilities. Add this to the on-site playground and the Paradise Lodge is a great choice for a family-friendly Lake Louise hotel.

5. HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre

You may be surprised at seeing a hostel on the list of the best hotels in Lake Louise. Well, the HI Lake Louise has earned its way onto this list with having very satisfied clientele.

Located next door to the posh Post Hotel, the HI Lake Louise hostel has a wide variety of room offerings. As you’d expect with a Lake Louise hostel, the standard offering here is shared accommodation with 4-6 beds per room. But, this Lake Louise hostel also offers private rooms ranging from a basic double bed, rooms with a private washroom.

You may think that staying at a hostel is not a good option for family accommodation, but the HI Lake Louise hostel has private family-friendly rooms with a loft that sleep up to 6! Kids staying at the HI Lake Louise with their families will love the bonfire nights and the large playroom at this Lake Louise hostel.

Guests looking for affordable, comfort food will enjoy having Bill Peyto’s cafe onsite. If you are looking to self-cater during your visit to Lake Louise (a great way to travel to Lake Louise on a budget), you are free to use one of the two onsite guest kitchens.

If you are looking for the best cheap hotel in Lake Louise, check out the HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre!

6. Lake Louise Inn

We recently stayed at the Lake Louise Inn with our kids during the Banff larch season, making it easier to get to Moraine Lake. We didn’t have to drive far to catch our Moraine Lake shuttle to hike to Sentinel Pass.

As you may guess by our choice, the Lake Louise Inn is a large, kid-friendly Lake Louise hotel with a heated indoor pool and hot tubs. There are a wide variety of room options available at the Lake Louise Inn. As a family, we appreciated the ability to rent a 1-bedroom apartment, as the extra space helps everyone get a better nights sleep. Our room was recently renovated and was nicely appointed.

There are two restaurants on-site at the Lake Louise Inn, including a pizza place and the all-day Legends Restaurant.

Skiers will love the many amenities available at the Lake Louise Inn during winter, including a free shuttle to the nearby Lake Louise Ski Resort, along with ski storage and a ski tune-up area.

If you are looking for a good, affordable Lake Louise hotel which is not a hostel, the Lake Louise Inn is a good option!