Juneau Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Juneau tours and things to do in Alaska’s wild capital: watch humpback whales and orcas in Auke Bay, walk to the blue face of the Mendenhall Glacier, cruise the dramatic Tracy Arm fjord, mush a dog-sled team on an icefield, and feast at a Gold Creek salmon bake. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Juneau by interest
Whatever brings you to Juneau — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Whale watching
Humpbacks & orcas.
ExploreMendenhall Glacier
Blue ice & falls.
ExploreCity & highlights
Alaska’s capital.
ExploreTracy Arm fjord
Ice & waterfalls.
ExploreDog sledding
Husky teams.
ExploreSalmon bake
Wild Alaskan feast.
ExploreHelicopter & icefield
Land on ice.
ExploreJuneau highlights
Whales & glaciers.
ExploreTop attractions in Juneau
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Whale Watching
Humpbacks & orcas.
Mendenhall Glacier
Blue ice & falls.
City & Highlights
Alaska’s capital.
Tracy Arm Fjord
Ice & waterfalls.
Dog Sledding
Husky teams.
Salmon Bake
Wild Alaskan feast.
Helicopter & Icefield
Land on ice.
Nugget Falls
Glacier waterfall.
Auke Bay awayWhale Watching
Humpbacks & orcas.
20 min awayMendenhall Glacier
Blue ice & falls.
Full day awayTracy Arm Fjord
Ice & waterfalls.
Icefield awayDog Sledding
Husky teams.
Gold Creek awaySalmon Bake
Wild salmon feast.
Icefield awayHelicopter Tour
Land on ice.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Juneau visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Long days, whales and full tour schedules.
Peak
July and August are busiest with cruise ships.
Shoulder (May & Sep)
Fewer crowds and good wildlife.
For whales
June to August for the most humpbacks.
Winter
Quiet and cold; most tours pause.
Best overall
June to August for whales, ice and long days.
One day
Whales and the Mendenhall Glacier.
Two days
Add a Tracy Arm cruise or dog sledding.
Three+ days
Add a helicopter icefield tour.
For wildlife
Whale-watching and fjord cruises.
For glaciers
Mendenhall, Tracy Arm and the icefield.
For adventure
Dog sledding and helicopter tours.
On foot
Downtown and the waterfront are walkable.
By tour shuttle
Glacier and camp tours include transfers.
By boat
Whale and fjord tours depart from the harbours.
By tram
The Mount Roberts Tramway climbs from downtown.
Where to stay
Stay downtown for the waterfront and tours.
US dollar
The US uses the dollar; cards are widely accepted.
Whale cruises
Book a sighting-guarantee tour for peace of mind.
Mendenhall
Walk the Nugget Falls trail to the glacier.
Tracy Arm
Allow a full day and pack layers.
Helicopter tours
Book flexible dates for the weather.
Dog sledding
Icefield tours combine flying and mushing.
Salmon bake
Save room for the wild grilled salmon.
Whale cruises
Cruise-day trips fill up — book ahead.
Glacier tours
Kayak and ice hikes fill up — reserve early.
Tracy Arm
Full-day cruises fill up — book ahead.
Helicopter tours
Limited seats fill up — reserve early.
Dog sledding
Icefield tours fill up — book ahead.
Summer peak
July and August are busiest — book far ahead.
Whale cruise
Around $130 for a whale-watching tour.
Mendenhall
From $45 for a glacier visit.
Tracy Arm
Roughly $190 for a full-day fjord cruise.
Dog sledding
Around $210 at a musher’s camp.
Helicopter tour
From $320 for an icefield landing.
How to save
Book combo tours and travel in the shoulder season.
Juneau through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool.
- Best for
- Whales & long days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best.
- Best for
- Quiet & clear.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great.
- Best for
- Snow & quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Closed.