Ketchikan, Alaska

A thoughtful guide to Ketchikan: where to go, what to prioritize, and how to make the most of this historic Southeast Alaska port with more depth and less guesswork

Read the Guides

Ketchikan is a waterfront town shaped by rain, forest, fishing and totem poles. It’s easy to reach and easy to walk, but it’s worth slowing down enough to see what makes it different.

Totem Poles

Skagway vs Ketchikan

Alaska Airlines airplane parked at the gate with snow-covered mountains in the background, airport ground crew working on the tarmac.

First Timer’s Guide to Ketchikan

Historic Waterfront

Plan Your Ketchikan Visit

Salmon Capital

Defined by Rainfall

A woman in a red jacket and sunglasses walking through a field of purple flowers, with snow-capped mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Best Time to Visit

Woman standing near a river at the base of a large waterfall, wearing a red plaid shirt, black pants, and brown boots, with snow patches nearby.

Four cruise ships docked at a harbor with green mountains and mist in the background

First Timer Essentials

Cruise vs. Overnight

Two orcas swimming near the surface of the water at sunset, with spray and mist rising around them.

A Day in Juneau

Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls and the Wild Encounters that stay with you

Person wearing a red jacket standing on a sandy patch at the base of a tall, cascading waterfall flowing over rocks in a forested area.

How to Travel around Juneau, Alaska

Visiting us? We’re a landlocked community so making sure you have transportation plans is key!

A large white cruise ship with blue wave designs on the front, docked at a port with a mountainous, forested background and cloudy sky.

Perfect 1-Day in Juneau

If you only have a limited amount of hours in Juneau, discover what are ‘must dos’.

Ketchikan Photo Gallery