Southeast Alaska: Focus on Juneau
Juneau is Alaska's state capital, but it's also the whale watching capital of the world. From boats to Alaska Native culture, we've got lots of ideas for enjoying Juneau!
I am always thinking about Alaska, both because it’s my job and because I really do love it. Today’s topic for our Alaska section is all about Juneau! If you’ve done an Alaska cruise you’ve likely had a stop in Juneau, but it’s also a really cool city to visit on your own. We’ve been here lots of times and have some great ideas for things to do.
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Why Visit Juneau, Alaska
Juneau is the capital of Alaska, so it’s got it’s going on. I’m addition to the standard tourist activities and sights, bring the capital means they’re are a few extra things: the governor’s mansion, the capitol building, and the Alaska State Museum. Within the capitol building there are government offices, but also a really cool collection of Alaska art on reach floor. Everyone is welcome to visit and check out out.
The setting of Juneau is really pretty. The main part of the city is right on the water, with mountains coming directly up from the Gastineau Channel. Across from downtown is Douglas Island with it’s own activities (and great pizza), and then north of town is the Mendenhall Valley and Auke Bay. Visiting Juneau means access to several different sorts of landscapes and a wife variety of activities.
Is Juneau or Anchorage a Better Destination?
I got an email asking me this so I wrote a whole article about the difference between visiting Juneau and Anchorage. Anchorage and Just are very different cities. Juneau is small, quiet and quaint. Anchorage is large, sprawling and very much a city. Both are gateways to different parts of the Alaska wilderness, but I’m unique ways. Anchorage is between the Kenai Peninsula (Kenai Fjords NP and Homer) and Denali NP, but those are both a few hours drive away. Juneau is twenty minutes from the Mendenhall Glacier in the Tongass National Forest, and then there are lots of day trips and flight seeing to other glacier areas. Whale watching from Anchorage means driving to either Whittier or Seward to board a boat tour, but Juneau itself is the whale watching capital of the world.
Choosing which one to visit depends on the activities you’re most interested in and how much time you have. Something else to consider is that from Juneau you can also catch the Alaska Marine Highway to other Southeast Alaska towns or the Alaska Fjordlines to Haines and Skagway, which is a bonus of visiting. For Juneau you’ll need 3+ days, but for Anchorage you’ll need 5 or more. I love both so much, so ask away if you have specific questions about planning to visit one.
Top Things to Do in Juneau
So what are the fun things to do in Juneau? Hmm, where to begin?! I really like that it’s a walkable city with good vibes throughout the neighborhoods. There are parks, tours, hikes and lots of ways to get out on the water, so let’s see what sounds interesting to you! **We do partner with lots of cool businesses and tour operators, so affiliate links are present in our articles and newsletter sometimes, so we may earn a small commission if you choose to book something we’ve enjoyed and recommended.
Whale Watching from Juneau
Indeed, Juneau is the whale watching capital of the world, so there are lots of tires that leave from here, most of which depart from Auke Bay. Humpback whales and orcas are in the waters all around the area, and they’re so consistently present that many operators offer a guarantee that you’ll see them.
We recently went out with Harv and Marv’s, which was really cool. They have smaller whale watching boats and do slightly longer tours than other operators, so they’re able to cover more ground which is great for wildlife sightings. They also do a trip that visits the Sentinel Lighthouse, which is actually really unique for an Alaska boat tour. Know you’ll be in Juneau and want to do this tour, book it here!
Visiting Glaciers
The easiest glacier to visit from Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier. Just north of downtown, you can either drive yourself, get an Uber, or visit as part of a tour. At the glacier there are several trails, a great visitor center, and awesome wildlife opportunities. Some people book canoe or kayak tours on the glacial lake too.
Another way to experience glaciers from Juneau is flight seeing, or song a compound tour that includes another type of activity as well. We flew in Alaska Seaplanes to Norris Glacier and had a beautiful flight and then pack rafted on the glacial lake before hiking on the glacier. Talk about a unique, fun adventure! Want to add this to your time in Juneau, book it here!
Alaska Native Culture Around Juneau
You cannot visit Alaska, and specifically Southeast Alaska, without appreciating Alaska Native culture, and Juneau is a great place for that. The Tlingit peoples have called the area gone and been stewards of the land and waters for thousands of years, so their presence is very strong and beautiful. If you’re just walking, take that l time to visit the totem pole walk along the water to Takhu, the humpback whale sculpture. When you’re downtown there are more totem poles and a beautiful mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich, who was an Alaska Native woman whose activism fought for the acceptance and preservation of indigenous cultures in the state.
Visiting the Sealaska Heritage Center and Alaska State Museum are both great opportunities for learning about the history and current ways of life for the Tlingit peoples. You can see modern arts and preserved artifacts, talk with curators and tribal members, and just really you’ll get a better understanding of Southeast Alaska and its indigenous people.
Fun Juneau Activities
Of course there are lots more things to do when you visit Juneau. Just walking around AWAY from the cruise port is a fun adventure. There are lots of shops and good little restaurants. If you head up the hill, you’ll make it to Cope Park which is beautiful, and then you can see how cool of a city Juneau really is. The Mount Roberts Goldbelt Tram is fun, and at the top there’s another totem pole trail, but currently (July 2026) it’s closed due to an incident during preseason operations. Hopefully it’ll be open again before the end of summer.
Fishing is a fun activity in Juneau, and you can get just a day license if you want. We did a really fun/funny fishing excursion during the chum run where we literally got to cast and reel over and over, landing salmon repeatedly. It was catch and release, but it was a good way to get the kids interested in potential fishing in the future. Also, visiting the DIOAC McCauley Fish Hatchery is a pretty cool activity.
That’s about it for my easy Juneau recap. I think it’s a great destination on its own or if you’re exploring the Inside Passage via the Alaska Marine Highway or a cruise. If you have any questions about planning a visit or need some more recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Alaska trip!