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. Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars! I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state. If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required). 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 packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.
Planning Your Trip to Anchorage
Getting to Anchorage is easy, and most people fly straight into Anchorage's Ted Stevens International Airport for their trips to Alaska, making it the perfect place to spend a few days of your itinerary - whether its at the beginning or end of your trip. Personally, I recommend spending about 1-3 full days in Anchorage - this gives you time to explore downtown and see some of the top sights without feeling rushed. If you stay longer that's fine too, there's plenty of day trips you can do from Anchorage that I've listed at the bottom of this post!
Most people visit Anchorage during the summer, which I think is the best time to visit. Restaurants and shops will have their full hours, and you'll be able to see downtown at its liveliest. We also have the most comfortable weather during the summer for visitors, but if you visit in the winter there's still plenty to do in Anchorage.
If you're looking for a place to stay in Anchorage for a few days, I recommend booking a place downtown. It has the best concentration of shops, restaurants, and hotel options, plus most day trips or tours offer pick-up and drop-off to this area. My top recommendation is The Wildbirch Hotel - my husband and I have stayed here twice now - it was recently completely remodeled and they have a nice restaurant and coffee shop right in the lobby. Another great option is Salted Roots Basecamp.
Getting around Anchorage can be easy too. If you're just staying downtown then I wouldn't recommend renting a car since you can walk everywhere, otherwise if you're planning to take some day trips or explore other parts of Alaska a rental car is almost essential. Anchorage also has plenty of public buses, and Uber and Lyft are easy options.
1-3 Days in Anchorage, An Itinerary
Day 1 - Explore Downtown
If you only have 24 hours in Anchorage, this is where I'd start. I recommend visiting some local restaurants, exploring nearby shops to find the perfect souvenirs, and adding in some fun activities to learn more about local life and culture. I've listed all my favorite downtown restaurants here, so if you end up staying a few more days, then I'd come back to this list to pick out a few more of my favorites. :) Breakfast : Right now my current favorite is Little Rituals. Their cafe has a cozy space with bagel sandwiches and delicious matcha and coffees. My go-to is their "Big Poppa" bagel and their iced matcha with the signature "Hive Mind" flavoring. Other favorite breakfast spots include Snow City (a popular dine-in restaurant, food can be hit or miss), Crimson (another popular dine-in restaurant) and Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop (they share a space with That Feeling Co. and Johnny's Produce and together offer excellent baked goods, coffee, and fresh pressed juices and smoothies). If you're just in the mood for coffee and a quick breakfast snack, Dark Horse Coffee, The Cubby, Canteen Coffee Co., and Mainline Coffee inside the 5th Avenue Mall are also great options.
Late Morning Activity :
If you're only in town for one day you'll definitely want to set aside some time to do some shopping. I know shopping isn't everyone's favorite, but you can find some truly unique items in the shops downtown - and if you're looking for a souvenir its the perfect place. My current favorite shops are Tiny Gallery and Cabin Fever - both support local artists rather than mass produced trinkets. If you are in the market for a funny t-shirt or sweatshirt, or something that's collectible like snow globes, magnets, or ornaments - I'd head to Polar Gifts, Once in a Blue Moose, or Trapper Jack's Trading Post.
Lunch :
Since you're exploring downtown today, I recommend grabbing lunch at Tequila 61. They have a nice indoor space, and are right downtown. They have excellent Carnitas Tacos and chips & guacamole! Some of my other downtown favorites for lunch include Palmeira Tropical Fusion (super cute interior, also a taco spot), Red Umbrella Reindeer (you have to try reindeer dogs at least once!), and again Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop (if you didn't go for breakfast, they also have great sandwiches and soups for lunch).
Late Afternoon Activity :
If you're staying downtown, there's a few different activities I'd recommend doing in the afternoon of your first day. Because they cater to different interests, you can choose which one you most want to do! Downtown Anchorage Trolley OR Segway Tour If you want to see more iconic areas of Anchorage like Earthquake Park, Ship Creek, and Point Woronzof - then I recommend joining the Anchorage Trolley Tour (either the original 1 hour tour or their special deluxe tour which includes more stops) or the local Segway Tour! Both make various stops around Anchorage, but the Segway Tour focuses on the Ship Creek/downtown area while the Trolley Tour brings you around other popular areas of Anchorage. The Anchorage Museum Another great stop is the Anchorage Museum. Honestly, it's large enough that you could easily spend an entire day here - but it's perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about local history and the native people of Alaska. They also have an entire area for kids with interactive exhibits and a planetarium. Try an Escape Room Honestly, an escape room isn't always at the top of visitor's lists. However, Alaska Escape Rooms has been recognized as the best in the entire nation and ranks in the top 200 of the entire world. I've done their "Conjured Kingdoms" room and it really was the best and most fun escape room I've ever done! If it's a rainy afternoon, this is the perfect indoor activity.
Dinner :
My personal favorite dinner spot downtown is Whisky & Ramen. They have fantastic ramen and some of the best pork buns I've ever had. They're usually booked solid, so I recommend seeing if you can get a reservation before stopping by! Some of my other favorite downtown dinner spots include Crimson (the same restaurant I mentioned for breakfast), Simon & Seafort's (for a more upscale, seafood dinner), Club Paris (for steak dinners) and Crow's Nest at the top of Captain Cook Hotel (upscale restaurant with incredible views overlooking Cook Inlet and downtown). If you're only staying in Anchorage for one night and happen to be a night owl (or your time hasn't adjusted to Alaska yet), you can head out to enjoy the midnight sun or northern lights depending on when you're visiting!
Day 2 : Get Outdoors
Since you're in Alaska, it would be a shame if I didn't encourage you to get outside and see some of the incredible views. On Day 2 of your Anchorage trip, I recommend choosing from the following outdoor activities : Turnagain Arm & Belugas : Turnagain Arm is one of my favorite areas to explore near Anchorage. Depending on the season you're visiting, you might even see Belugas swimming by! Look for their white heads and backs during high tide, usually in the early and late summer, closer to spring and fall. If you want to spend the whole day there's lots of hikes and viewpoints to enjoy, and you can easily go all the way to Girdwood or Hope. If you don't have a car then I recommend joining a full day, small group tour like this one. Head Out on a Hike : Surprisingly (or maybe not) there are lots of really great hikes around the Anchorage area. Some of the best views of Anchorage are found from the tops of Blueberry Hill (easy, 1.5 miles) or Flattop Mountain (a bit more steep, 3 miles). If you want something easier or flatter, try Potter's Marsh (a flat boardwalk area over the marsh where you can often see moose) or Barbara Falls (a short hike to a stunning waterfall). No matter which hike you do, I always recommend carrying bear spray with you and knowing how to use it. Bike the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail One of the best outdoor activities right downtown is heading out on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail! This trail starts downtown and brings you along the coast all the way to Kincaid Park, a spot popular for cross country skiing and where you can often see moose and black bears. Pablos Bike Rentals has e-bikes available, which makes the 11 miles pretty easy. My husband and I biked all the way there and back to downtown in a few hours, so even if you go slow it's definitely do-able! 
Day 3 : Take a Day Trip
One of the things I love most about living in Anchorage is how many amazing day trips are right nearby. Honestly, I could make an entire post just sharing day trips from Anchorage, but some of my personal favorites I recommend choosing from are :
Watch my Anchorage Adventures here!
Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in :
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit -> A Complete Guide to Furrondy Festival in Anchorage -> Best Winter Things to Do in Anchorage
Pin this Anchorage Itinerary for later!
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Hi, I'm Deborah! In 2022 my husband 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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