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.
Porting in Juneau & Getting Around
The city of Juneau has multiple ports in the area, a total of 4. Three are located right downtown (the AS, CT, and FKL docks) and one more (the AJ dock) is located about one mile down the road. Both times I've ported there with Royal Caribbean we've docked at the AJ dock, and free shuttles were provided through the city which ran about every 10 minutes from the AJ dock to downtown throughout the entire day.
In most cases, getting around is easy. If you're just wanting to explore downtown, you can simply walk around or rent a bike from Cycle Alaska. If you want to head out of town (like towards the Mendenhall Glacier & Visitor Center) you can either call an Uber (very unreliable in Juneau) or book a taxi. There are multiple companies in Juneau, like Evergreen Taxi or Mendenhall Glacier Taxi. 
The last option is catching a ride on Juneau's public bus system. Rides are only $2 per adult, however I personally don't recommend. The bus ride through Capital Transit can take up to 1.5 hours each way with the other stops, and the closest bus stop (the "Dredge Lake Road" stop) to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is still 1.5 miles away. If you do need to take the bus, I recommend getting on the "8 Valley Express" for the fastest ride from the Downtown Transit Center. You can pay in exact cash when you board or through the Token Transit App.
My Favorite Tours in Juneau :
- Whale Watching Tour - Mendenhall Glacier Express Tour - Helicopter & Icefield Adventure
Best Things to Do & Eat in Juneau
If you're only visiting Juneau on a single port day, you're going to want to make the most of your time there. There are plenty of fun excursions to do in the area and doing all the top things in Juneau could easily take a week, but I've gathered a few of my favorite recommendations that I find myself doing every time we're in the Juneau area.
Whale Watching in Juneau is my favorite thing to do. The first time I went in Juneau on a port day I booked outside of the cruise shore excursion, and my boat ended up seeing over 20 humpback whales. The second time I went I booked directly through the cruise and we saw 5 whales, both were incredible experiences. If you want to ensure you see a whale during your cruise, then Juneau is the place to do it - most companies here are so confident they even offer refunds if no whales are sighted. If you want to book whale watching on your own, I've gone with Allen Marine Tours and Harv & Marvs - both were great but I personally loved my tour on Harv & Marvs!
The Mendenhall Glacier & Visitor Center is one of the other top things to do in Juneau. I recommend booking a tour just so transportation is included and you don't have to worry about getting from the port to the Visitor Center area. While you're there, you'll want to take a peak around the Visitor Center, enjoy the views from the overlook & photo spot, and take the easy hike out to Nugget Falls. If you want to get closer to the glacier, you'll need to book a guided hiking tour or a lake tour like this canoeing one!
Port days are usually pretty short, so once you do one or two tours chances are you won't have too much time left over. I recommend using the rest of your time to explore downtown! Once you get past all the jewelry stores, there's plenty of local stores to enjoy and some special sights like the Alaska State Capitol Building and Taku the Whale Sculpture. Don't worry I've listed some of my favorite restaurants in the downtown area below for you to enjoy too.
If you're interested in learning more about local history and culture, you might want to make a quick stop at The City Museum. For just $7 a person you can enjoy local artifacts and rotating exhibits that showcase Juneau's history and local Alaskan culture. If you're wanting to enjoy some of the best views of Juneau & the downtown port area, I recommend trying the Mount Roberts Tramway - if it's a sunny day you'll have amazing views!
I always say, tasting local foods is one of the best ways to explore a new place. As promised, I've put together a short list of some of my favorite restaurants in the downtown Juneau area :
Watch my Juneau Port Day here!
Other Alaska posts you might be interested in :
-> Best Summer Things to Do in Juneau -> Best Things to Do in Ketchikan -> 7 Best Things to Do in Sitka
Pin this Juneau Port Day Guide 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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