My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska. Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars! I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates. To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi. For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.
Getting to Juneau and Where to Stay
Even though Juneau is the capitol of Alaska, you can't actually drive to Juneau - making a stay here quite unique! This means the only ways to get there are by boat (cruise, charter, or marine highway) or by flight. For my first trip to Juneau my husband and I took the 1.5 hour flight from Anchorage, but on our most recent trips we were one of many visiting Juneau via cruise - both are great ways to visit the capitol city.
If you're visiting and want to spend the night in Juneau my best recommendation is the Silverbow Inn - my husband and I stayed here ourselves and not only was it very centrally located, but the staff and accommodations went above and beyond. This boutique hotel had fresh cookies, an included breakfast, and the best part? Their outdoor rooftop hot tub with views overlooking the cruise port & downtown. If they're sold out or you aren't able to get a room, I would recommend looking into The Alaskan Hotel & Bar for something unique or the Best Western Grandma's Feather Bed for something cozy.
My Favorite Tours in Juneau :
- Whale Watching - Mendenhall Glacier Adventure - Helicopter Ride & Icefield Landing
13 Best Things to Do in Juneau
1. Test the Local Food Scene
Eating out is one of my favorite ways to explore a new city, especially if it's my first visit there. I do have my own personal list of favorite restaurants in Juneau, but if you're on a time crunch, then the best way to explore the local food is through a guided food tour! This specific tour visits a couple of my personal favorites - just make sure to get the King Crab at Tracy's and the Halibut Tacos at Deckhand Daves!
2. The Upside Down Forest
This hidden gem in Juneau is a bit underrated in my personal opinion. Just make your way to the Glacier Gardens, a family run nursery and landscape company. For just $26.95 a person you'll get to join one of their shuttle tours through the rainforest, where you can see wildlife (our tour saw a black bear!), bits of the Tongass National Forest, and even the special, upside down trees pictured above. You'll even have the opportunity to stop for a unique overlook of Juneau and Fritz Cove - just hope for clear weather! 3. Nugget Falls One of my personal favorite thing to do in Juneau is to hike out to Nugget Falls - one of the largest waterfalls you can visit in Alaska! Not only can you get up close and personal (make sure to bring a poncho & watershoes if you want to get close), but the hike itself starts at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and is very easy and flat - making the 2 mile trip accessible to just about anyone. Even though most of it is paved, depending on recent rainfall amounts the rest of the trail might get a little muddy, and you might have to cross a small river to get to the base of the waterfall, but it's worth it. In the summer months, you can expect large crowds of people if there's a cruise ship in port. 
4. Mendenhall Glacier & Visitor Center
Right next to Nugget Falls is the Mendenhall Glacier & Visitor Center! Just from the parking lot you can view the Mendenhall Lake & Glacier for a small fee of $5 per person per day, or $15 for the season (anyone 15 and younger are free). Even though I highly recommend hiking out to the waterfall, you can also just head to the end of Photo Point Trail to get a better view of the glacier and lake, and inside the Visitor Center you can watch a movie and learn more about the area through their multiple video exhibits. If you really want to get up close to the glacier, you'll need to take one of the guided tours in the area. 
5. Go Hiking!
Right across the parking lot of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is the Steep Creek Trail, a 1/4 mile elevated boardwalk loop with great bear & salmon viewing chances. Depending on where you're planning to stop on your visit to Alaska, this might be your best bet to see black bears up close, so I highly recommend a stop here if you're already in the area! If you want something a bit more challenging, I would recommend looking into the Mount Juneau Trail or the Mount Roberts Trails.
6. Whale Watching
Juneau is hands down one of the best places to go whale watching, so much so that most whale watching tours here will give you a full refund if you don't see a whale. I've been multiple times in Juneau alone, and even though other wildlife sightings might be rare, you'll definitely see a whale. During one of my whale watching tours in Juneau, our boat saw nearly 20 humpback whales - the most I've ever seen at once - and they just happened to be the closest I've ever seen them too. 
7. Visit the Alaska State Capitol
Like we mentioned above, Juneau is actually the capitol of Alaska, contrary to most people thinking it's Anchorage. Juneau also happens to be the only State Capitol you can't actually drive to. If you happen to visit on a summer week day they offer free guided tours of the inside, otherwise you can always take a self-guided tour during regular business hours. The state capitol building (pictured above) is located right downtown and was built in 1931. 
8. Juneau-Douglass City Museum
Located right next to the State Capitol Building is the city's local museum! For only $7 per adult ($6 for seniors), you can browse their collection that showcases Juneau's history. There are permanent exhibitions like their collections on fishing, mining, and Alaska Native history, as well as some rotating exhibits like on the history of the telephone. If you want to learn more about the city's past & history of the area, this is the best place to do it. 
9. Tahku the Whale Sculpture
If you're looking to see a whale up close but don't have time to take the whale watching tour I recommend, then the next best thing would be visiting the Taku the Whale Sculpture. If you get the timing right with the water fountains and squint just a little, it might even pass as a real whale...or you can at least take a photo to fool your friends back home. You can find Taku at Juneau's downtown waterfront. 
10. Rainbow Crosswalks & Murals
If you happen to be exploring on foot, then dotted throughout downtown Juneau you'll find a variety of unique murals and this rainbow crosswalk (at the intersection of Main St. & Front St.). It's hard to share their exact locations, but the most famous is of Elizabeth Peratrovich, a blue mural found on the downtown library building.
11. Mount Roberts Tramway
If you're looking to enjoy the best views of Juneau, then there's no doubt you'll find some of them at the top of the Mount Roberts Tramway. Ticket prices continue to go up each year, but last time I checked a full day, adult ticket cost $60 - meaning you can ride as many times as you want in a single day. Lines can get long during summer if there's a cruise in town - so I recommend going early if you want to avoid being super crowded inside the tram. Once you get to the top you can watch a video to learn more about the Tlingit people, try some Alaskan cuisine, or even head out on a hike! 
12. Explore the Tongass National Forest
As the USA's largest national forest, the Tongass National Forest spans over 16.7 million acres. The best ways to experience the forest from Juneau are via hikes, overnight visits to public use cabins, and spelunking in the limestone caves. You can see bits of the forest at Glacier Gardens, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, and at the Juneau Icefield. If you've rented a car, you can also head out to the Auck Recreation Area (known for camping, it's beach areas, and public use shelters) or the North Douglass Area (known for the incredibly beautiful coastal views). 
13. Helicopter to a Glacier
One of the most bucket list worthy experiences in Juneau (if not all of Alaska) is to take a helicopter ride out to a glacier! Although tours can be a bit spendy, I highly recommend adding this experience to your itinerary if you're able to. You'll view the most beautiful views of the Juneau area and nearby Icefields from the helicopter during your roundtrip flight to Herbert Glacier - where you'll be able to get out for a guided glacier walk!
Watch my Juneau Adventures here!
Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in :
-> 7 Best Things to Do in Ketchikan -> 7 Reasons to Visit Sitka, Alaska -> 7 Best Tours in Alaska
Pin this Guide to Juneau for later!
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Hi, I'm Deborah! In 2021 my husband Tyler convinced me to move to Alaska. After living here for a year (then leaving to take a year long world trip) we realized there was no place we loved more. So now we're back - and I'm here to share all my best tips and hidden gems to make Your Alaskan Adventures the best they can be. \\\ My blog is free to read, but some links may be affiliates. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Learn more here. \\\ |
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