5 Reasons to Visit® · Alaska
5 Reasons to Visit Juneau, Alaska, the State Capital You Can’t Drive To
No road connects Alaska’s capital to the rest of North America. You arrive by plane or by sea, and the reward is a small city wedged between rainforest, icefield and fjord, with glaciers and humpback whales minutes from downtown.
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Juneau, Alaska, became the territorial capital in 1906, and it remains one of the most remarkable capitals anywhere: no road links it to the rest of the continent, so everyone arrives by air or by water. Hemmed in by the mountains of the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States, and the vast Juneau Icefield, the city puts glaciers, whales and alpine trails within minutes of the State Capitol. 2026 also marked a turning point: for the first time, Juneau capped daily cruise passengers, aiming for a calmer, more predictable visit. Here are five reasons to go.
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1Things to See & Do
Things to Do in Juneau: A Glacier, a Tramway and a Capitol Without a Dome
Mendenhall Glacier, about 12 miles from downtown, is Juneau’s signature sight and its most visited attraction. Walk the trail to thundering Nugget Falls for the classic view of the ice, and look for black bears feeding on salmon in late summer. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center has expanded its hours again for 2026 after a reduced schedule in 2025.
Downtown, the Mount Roberts Tramway lifts you from the waterfront to about 1,800 feet for sweeping views over Gastineau Channel, with trails and a nature center at the top. The Alaska State Capitol is one of the few state capitols without a dome; it looks more like an office building than a statehouse, and free tours run in summer. From the harbor, day cruises head into fjords such as Tracy Arm to see tidewater glaciers calve into the sea.
2Dining Scene
Where to Eat in Juneau: King Crab, Fish Tacos and a Hometown Brewery
Juneau’s food scene is built on the sea. Tracy’s King Crab Shack on the waterfront is a rite of passage for crab legs and bisque, and Deckhand Dave’s is the locals’ pick for fish tacos made with wild Alaska salmon, rockfish and halibut. Look for salmon and halibut on nearly every menu in town.
Alaskan Brewing Co., founded in Juneau in 1986, is the city’s hometown brewery, and its amber ale is poured all over town. For a dose of gold-rush kitsch, the Red Dog Saloon keeps its sawdust floors and frontier décor, while a growing number of cafés and bistros cater to the year-round crowd.
Where else can you tour a state capitol in the morning and watch humpback whales feed by lunchtime?
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3Recreation
Outdoor Juneau: Humpback Whales, Rainforest Trails and the Icefield
Juneau is one of the best places in Alaska to see humpback whales, which return each summer to feed in the waters around Auke Bay and Stephens Passage. Whale-watching tours often add sightings of orcas, sea lions and bald eagles. Prefer to paddle? Kayak tours explore the channels with the mountains rising straight from the water.
Trails start right in town. Perseverance Trail follows an old mining route into a mountain valley, and the climbs up Mount Roberts and Mount Juneau reward hikers with panoramic views. For something truly memorable, take a helicopter to the Juneau Icefield to walk on a glacier or ride with a sled-dog team in summer. In winter, Eaglecrest Ski Area on Douglas Island offers skiing with ocean views.
4Shopping
Shopping in Juneau: Alaska Native Art and Local Galleries
Downtown’s Franklin and Front streets are lined with shops, galleries and outfitters. The most meaningful purchases are works by Alaska Native artists, from carvings and prints to jewelry and weavings. Look for the state’s Silver Hand emblem, which identifies authentic work by Alaska Native artists, and visit the Sealaska Heritage store for pieces by Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian artists.
The Juneau Artists Gallery, a cooperative run by local artists, is a good place to find original paintings, photography and crafts made in town. Alaska has no statewide sales tax, but Juneau charges a local sales tax, so expect it on your receipts.
5Art & Culture
Juneau’s Art Scene: Northwest Coast Art and the Alaska State Museum
The Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Walter Soboleff Building downtown is a showcase for Northwest Coast art, with a monumental carved and painted cedar screen at its heart and exhibitions celebrating Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. Every two years, Sealaska’s Celebration festival fills the city with thousands of dancers and artists in one of the largest gatherings of Alaska Native people.
The Alaska State Museum, in the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building, holds the state’s premier collections of Alaska Native art, history and natural history. Add the Juneau-Douglas City Museum and a performance at Perseverance Theatre across the channel in Douglas, and the small capital proves to be a serious cultural destination.
Plan Your Juneau Trip
Juneau is at its best from May through September, when the whales are feeding, the trails are clear and daylight stretches late into the evening. Expect rain, since Juneau sits in a temperate rainforest, and pack layers and a waterproof jacket. If you’re arriving by cruise ship, the new daily passenger limits of 16,000 on most days and 12,000 on Saturdays mean steadier crowds; independent travelers can enjoy quieter mornings and evenings downtown. Give it three days: one for the glacier and the tramway, one on the water whale watching, and one for the museums, the Capitol and a long dinner of king crab.
Juneau, Alaska: FAQ
Can you drive to Juneau, Alaska?
No. Juneau is not connected to the rest of North America by road. Visitors arrive by air at Juneau International Airport, by cruise ship, or by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system.
Is Juneau worth visiting?
Yes. Juneau offers Mendenhall Glacier, the Mount Roberts Tramway, some of Alaska’s best humpback whale watching, glacier and icefield tours, fresh king crab and seafood, and major collections of Alaska Native art at the Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Alaska State Museum.
What are the best things to do in Juneau?
Top things to do in Juneau include visiting Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, riding the Mount Roberts Tramway, whale watching near Auke Bay, touring the Alaska State Capitol, taking a helicopter tour to the Juneau Icefield, hiking Perseverance Trail, and visiting the Alaska State Museum and the Walter Soboleff Building.
Is there a limit on cruise passengers in Juneau?
Yes. Starting with the 2026 season, Juneau limits daily cruise ship passengers to 16,000 on most days and 12,000 on Saturdays, under an agreement negotiated with the cruise lines.
When is the best time to visit Juneau?
May through September is the best time to visit Juneau for whale watching, hiking, glacier tours and long daylight hours. Juneau is rainy year-round, so pack waterproof layers.
When can you see whales in Juneau?
Humpback whales feed in the waters around Juneau mainly from late spring through early fall, making summer the peak season for whale-watching tours.
When did Juneau become the capital of Alaska?
Juneau became the capital of the District of Alaska in 1906, moving the seat of government from Sitka, and remained the capital when Alaska became a state in 1959.
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