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

Start Here

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

The Alaska Fish House restaurant in Ketchikan, a two-story building with a large sign, outdoor seating, wood firewood, and signs advertising crab legs, seafood, and fish and chips, under a partly cloudy sky.

Skagway vs Ketchikan

View of a mountain lake through a window in a boat or ferry with snow-capped mountains and a partly cloudy blue sky, and some snacks and orange in the foreground.

Getting To Ketchikan

Colorful houses built on stilts along a body of water with trees and hills in the background.

First Timer’s Guide to Ketchikan

A tall totem pole featuring four carved figures in blue hues, including an owl at the top, a human-like face beneath, a fish in the middle, and a bear or dog at the bottom, set against a dark background with neon blue accents.

Historic Waterfront

Plan Your Ketchikan Visit

Watercolor painting of eight blue fish swimming in different directions against a white background.

Salmon Capital

Four blue water droplets in various sizes with reflections and bubbles inside.

Defined by Rainfall

Map showing a route from Port Town to Ward Cove, with travel times of 26 minutes by bus and 13 minutes by car, along with landmarks including Ketchikan Cruise Ship Docks, Walmart, Lighthouse Excursions, and Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary.

What to do in Ketchikan

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.

What to Pack?

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

First Timer Essentials

Cruise vs. Overnight

Mary’s Recommended Experiences in Ketchikan

If you’re deciding what to do in Ketchikan, start here. I’ve personally experienced each of the options below, and they’re the ones I’d recommend first for a day that feels memorable, scenic, and distinctly Alaska.