Getting to BIRS
BIRS is located in a dedicated building (TransCanada PipeLines Pavilion) at the Banff Centre, in the beautiful mountain town of Banff, Alberta, Canada. BIRS participants are housed at the Banff Centre's Hotel. A wealth of information about the centre, the town and the surroundings can be found at the website of the Banff Centre which also provides detailed directions and maps.
Banff is nestled in the Rocky Mountains, approximately 1.5 hours west of Calgary and can be reached by car or by transit from the Calgary International Airport.
Directions by Car
Important: Winter driving conditions in the mountains can be dangerous. Before you decide to drive, please consult the AMA Road Report by searching for "Banff".
From the Calgary International Airport:
Link to Google Maps directions: Calgary International Airport to The Banff Centre.
The Banff Centre's main reception desk is in the Professional Development Centre. When you check in, please request assistance with your luggage and for directions to Corbett Hall.
You should be aware that in order to enter Banff National Park (in which BIRS is located) you need to pay a daily user fee. For more on this, you may go to Parks Canada website.
Long-term parking is available in the parking lot close to Front Desk or at the parkade on the north end of the campus.
Banff/Calgary Airport Shuttles
There are direct shuttles operating between the Calgary International Airport and Banff Centre. Reservations are recommended (and are necessary for the trip returning to the airport). Following is contact information for all the shuttle companies.
The Banff Airporter Shuttle offers a 15% discount to all BIRS participants. To get the discount, enter the promo code at the payment screen. You can contact birs@birs.ca, with your name and workshop code, to obtain the promo code.
Reserve online at: https://banffairporter.com/
Tel: 1-888-HIWAY-01 (1-888-449-2901) in the US and Canada
When booking your shuttle online, you should select "Banff Centre" as your drop-off location.
Given that public transportation from Calgary Airport is somewhat limited, please refer to shuttle timings prior to booking your flight.
The Brewster Banff Airport Express offers a 15% discount on round trips when booked in person or over the phone.
Call to book at 1-866-606-6700 in the US and Canada
Taxi
A private taxi from Calgary to Banff would cost approximately $200 Canadian. You can call (403) 762-4444 to inquire further.
Car Rentals
Rental cars available at Banff and Calgary International Airport:
Avis (1-403-221-1700)
National (1-403-760-3599)
Budget (1-403-226-1550)
Dollar (1-403-760-3881)
Hertz (1-403-762-2027)
Thrifty (1-403-760-3599)
