Juneau Day Tours & Attractions
If you're visiting Juneau on your own or as a passenger on a cruise, these are our top picks for day tours.
You might spend your time in Juneau on the water, looking for whales, sea kayaking, canoeing, or rafting.
Or maybe you're after a top-notch glacier experience! In Juneau you can fly over the massive Juneau Icefield on a flightseeing tour, or trek on the ice. You can combine a flightseeing and glacier experience with a third iconic Alaska experience, dog sledding, on a glacier dog sled tour.
Juneau also offers the opportunity to see bears in their natural environment with a quick flight to nearby Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary.
Take in the views of the lush rainforest by exploring the local trails, joining a bicycle tour, or visiting the Glacier Gardens, tucked into the Tongass National Forest.
History buffs will enjoy the Juneau Douglas City Museum.
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Day Cruises
Airboat Tours
Gold Panning Tours
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Fishing Charters
Sea Kayaking Tours
Flightseeing & Heli-Hiking
Dog Sledding
Canoeing Tours
Rafting Tours
Bear Viewing Tours
Bicycle Day Tours
City Sightseeing Tours
Zipline Tours
Sailing & Private Yacht Charters
Glacier Tours
Ski Areas
Walking Tours
Museums & Cultural Centers
Visitor Information Centers
Plays & Performances
Fairs & Festivals
Historic Parks & Sites
Gardens & Arboretums
Whale Watching Tours
Wildlife Parks
Guided Hiking
Gardens & Arboretums
Winter Activities
Points of Interest
Scenic Day Drives
Day Cruises View All
Juneau’s glaciers produce nutrient-dense waters making the waters a prime feeding ground for humpback whales. Alaska Tales’ boats are intimate (49 passengers max), and they’re super-fast, so you’ll get out to see the whales in no time. You also have the option of adding a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center prior to your whale watching tour.
Plenty of whale tours let you watch the orcas and humpbacks as they breach and spout from the water — but not many also let you eavesdrop on the big mammals’ conversations. This 3.5‑hour tour out of Juneau is equipped with an amplified hydrophone system; listen to the whales underwater while enjoying the lush rainforest views. Onboard the North Star — a 48-passenger jet boat with large windows, an outside viewing deck, and a comfortable inside ...more
Airboat Tours View All
Enjoy a thrilling trio of iconic Alaskan activities — heli-flightseeing, airboating, and a glacier landing — all in a compact 3 hours. You’ll also take in some amazing views on this unforgettable excursion out of Juneau with NorthStar Helicopters.
Gold Panning Tours View All
Get a serving of history along with a classic Alaskan feast. The Gold Creek Salmon Bake, a two-hour experience out of Juneau, has been running for more than 30 years. It’s a great meal and an Alaskan tradition. You’re dispatched from your hotel and brought to a corner of the Southeast Alaska rainforest, which saw lots of activity during Alaska’s Gold Rush.
Come on this 1 ½‑hour tour outside Juneau, and you’ll get a big appreciation for prospectors who arrived here more than 100 years ago: This water is seriously cold. But this quick stroll into Alaska’s gold-fever-influenced past offers a fun history lesson, as well as a pleasantly short turn at panning in that icy water yourself — with a guarantee that you’ll score a little gold to take home. Alaska Travel Adventures’ Historic Gold Mining & ...more
Trams View All
Take a five-minute ride from the cruise ship pier to the Mountain House,1,800′ up Mount Roberts, where the Chilkat Mountains, the Gastineau Channel, downtown Juneau, Douglas Island, and Admiralty Island spread out before you. Visit the gift shop, restaurant, live bald eagle display, and nature center. Check out the wildlife viewing platforms and follow the self-guided trail marked by Native totemic carvings for access to upper alpine hiking ...more
Fishing Charters View All
Cast your line targeting halibut, rockfish, lingcod, and salmon
Enjoy a scenic floatplane journey into the vast Tongass National Forest for a day of fishing salmon, char, and trout. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, expert guides will ensure a memorable adventure, complete with high-quality gear and the chance to spot wildlife. This catch-and-release adventure is perfect for cruise ship passengers and offers an authentic Alaskan experience, including snacks and a shore lunch on full-day ...more
Hit the fish-rich waters of Alaska on this unforgettable fishing charter aboard a private yacht. Head out from Juneau for a multi-day expedition that’s perfect for everyone from beginners to hardcore anglers, as well as anyone who wants to join the adventure! Fish, kayak, take the zodiac ashore for excursions, stop in the small towns of Elfin Cove and Hoonah, and fish the Gulf of Alaska.
Sea Kayaking Tours View All
Take a scenic cruise and kayak through gorgeous surroundings as magnificent whales pierce the surface of the water on this six-hour expedition from Juneau. Your destination is the Channel Islands, the whales’ annual feeding ground — and your guides will assess where the most whale activity has been happening.
Glacierview Sea Kayaking with Alaska Travel Adventures offers the opportunity to kayak through Auke Bay while enjoying views of Mendenhall Glacier. You’ll also have the opportunity to see wildlife like whales, sea lions, seals, and bald eagles. Kayaking offers a much more intimate and quiet experience than other boat tours; at the same time, it is perfect for travelers who want an adventure. And even if you’ve never paddled a kayak before, a ...more
Flightseeing & Heli-Hiking View All
Go with Wings Airways and you’ll take off from Juneau in a 10-passenger DeHavilland Otter floatplane and get a lush view of the city as well as the surrounding mountains and ice fields. Opt for a 40-minute flight seeing tour, or book the “Flight and Feast Tour,” which takes you to dine at a 1920’s lodge.
Enjoy a thrilling trio of iconic Alaskan activities — heli-flightseeing, airboating, and a glacier landing — all in a compact 3 hours. You’ll also take in some amazing views on this unforgettable excursion out of Juneau with NorthStar Helicopters.
A tour aboard a TEMSCO helicopter offers beautiful views of Alaska’s Capital City, and up-close exploration of Mendenhall, one of the state’s most accessible glaciers. Look out on alpine lakes, moraines, and crevasses before you land and check out the Juneau Icefield for yourself.
Northstar Helicopters operates out of Juneau and caters to all styles of exploration. The curious glacier observer can simply fly to the glacier and snap photographs from flat or rolling terrain. You can also choose to hike on the glacier itself. If you’re very adventurous, you can even learn how to climb on the ice walls. No matter which option you choose, NorthStar Helicopters will guide you all the way, making sure you get the most out of this ...more
Dog Sledding View All
A tour aboard a TEMSCO helicopter offers beautiful views of Alaska’s Capital City, and up-close exploration of Mendenhall, one of the state’s most accessible glaciers. Look out on alpine lakes, moraines, and crevasses before you land and check out the Juneau Icefield for yourself.
Hop on a TEMSCO helicopter for an Alaskan adventure combining aviation, sled dogs and massive glaciers. Get an amazing view of the gorgeous landscape surrounding Juneau, and then ride along as an energetic team of huskies tours you around the ancient, snow-packed Mendenhall glacier.
Get great views with some hands-on fun — combine a scenic flightseeing helicopter tour with the exhilaration of dog mushing on a glacier with a team of Alaskan Sled dogs!
Canoeing Tours View All
Paddle a canoe in front of the impressive Mendenhall Glacier
Feel the truly unique thrill of walking on an ancient glacier. This unforgettable experience begins with a canoe trip to the glacier, where you’ll don crampons and explore the gorgeous blue ice…no experience required!
Canoe across a lake to Mendenhall Glacier glacier, Keeping an eye out for arctic terns, mountain goats, and icebergs floating in the water. Then, land on the glacier beach and walk about a mile alongside the glacier, exploring as you go — there may even be ice caves to check out.
Rafting Tours View All
Experience the ultimate Alaskan adventure with Above & Beyond Alaska’s Fly-In Glacier Hike & Packraft tour! Explore glaciers in a 5‑hour journey, including flightseeing, hiking, and packrafting. Maximum 6 people per tour.
The focus of the 3.5‑hour Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip is great views of the namesake glacier, which is 1.5 miles wide, 150 feet high, and the most famous part of the massive Juneau Icefield that even John Muir once raved about. Glide along the iceberg-studded lake and scope out the glacier, getting up-close views of hanging glaciers and towering peaks. Keep an eye out for birds nesting in the rocky cliffs, as well as otters, seals, black ...more
Bear Viewing Tours View All
With just a short flight from Juneau, visitors are immersed in bear country
The journey is not just about bears; you might also encounter seals, sea lions, moose, wolves, and an array of birdlife. Ideal for cruise ship visitors, this tour is designed to suit both short and full-day schedules, with snacks and a delicious shore lunch provided on longer trips. Experience the magic of Alaska’s wilderness and its majestic bears in a safe, respectful, and intimate setting.
“Bear” witness to the largest concentration of brown bears anywhere in the world. Admiralty and Chichagof Islands are uniquely accessible; just a short flight from Juneau, and Wild Coast’s daily small-group trips are scheduled to work for cruise ship guests and independent travelers alike. All trips have a net-positive impact on the environment by being 125% Carbon-Negative!
Pack Creek Bear Tours offers fully guided adventures to Admiralty Island or Chichagof Island, each home to more than 1,500 brown bears! After a beautiful 20- or 25-minute floatplane ride, you’ll land on a remote beach. Take a short walk to the bear-viewing area, where you can watch these magnificent creatures for hours in their natural environment.
Bicycle Day Tours View All
Take a spin through Juneau on a fun bike tour. It’s a great way to explore Alaska’s capital city, with lots of scenery and history along the way. Choose from one of several options. There’s a bike and brew tour, which includes seeing the Mendenhall Glacier as well as a tasting of Alaskan beers. Or ride your bike out to Douglas Island for a tram ride, 1,800 feet up Mt. Roberts for some spectacular views. Or custom design your own great bike trip ...more
City Sightseeing Tours View All
This museum sits on the site where Alaska officially became a state. View the exhibits and watch an award-winning documentary about the city. Plus, the City Museum doesn’t end at the building’s walls. From May to September, you can take walking tours of historic downtown Juneau and the Alaska State Capitol.
Tucked inside the lush Tongass National Forest, discover an Alaskan botanical garden unlike anywhere else in the world. A 2012 Reader’s Digest poll chose Glacier Gardens out of thousands of entries as the Most Interesting Landmark in America! Vibrant hanging gardens spill from 15-foot-tall upside down tree “Flower Towers” and elegantly designed landscapes compliment the natural beauty of the rainforest. Explore these unique gardens on a guided ...more
Zipline Tours View All
Sailing & Private Yacht Charters View All
Cruise around Juneau and Glacier Bay on a private sailing adventure
Explore Alaska by chartering the 90-foot yacht Alaskan Story, out of Juneau. It’s the perfect way to see some of the state’s most stunningly beautiful areas, like Glacier Bay National Park, and enjoy lots of opportunities for fishing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife viewing along the way.
Discover Southeast Alaska’s natural wonders aboard a chartered sailboat with Sailing Alaska. Customize your private expedition with experienced captain John Joeright and enjoy all-inclusive meals, comfortable accommodations, and endless adventures on the 46-foot S/V Shamrock. Watch whales, hike, fish, visit local communities, and more — all at your own pace.
Glacier Tours View All
Experience the Juneau Icefield or Mendenhall Glacier on a guided tour. View from the water, go for a glacier trek, or view from above on a flightseeing tour.
Go with Wings Airways and you’ll take off from Juneau in a 10-passenger DeHavilland Otter floatplane and get a lush view of the city as well as the surrounding mountains and ice fields. Opt for a 40-minute flight seeing tour, or book the “Flight and Feast Tour,” which takes you to dine at a 1920’s lodge.
Get great views with some hands-on fun — combine a scenic flightseeing helicopter tour with the exhilaration of dog mushing on a glacier with a team of Alaskan Sled dogs!
Glacierview Sea Kayaking with Alaska Travel Adventures offers the opportunity to kayak through Auke Bay while enjoying views of Mendenhall Glacier. You’ll also have the opportunity to see wildlife like whales, sea lions, seals, and bald eagles. Kayaking offers a much more intimate and quiet experience than other boat tours; at the same time, it is perfect for travelers who want an adventure. And even if you’ve never paddled a kayak before, a ...more
Feel the truly unique thrill of walking on an ancient glacier. This unforgettable experience begins with a canoe trip to the glacier, where you’ll don crampons and explore the gorgeous blue ice…no experience required!
Enjoy a thrilling trio of iconic Alaskan activities — heli-flightseeing, airboating, and a glacier landing — all in a compact 3 hours. You’ll also take in some amazing views on this unforgettable excursion out of Juneau with NorthStar Helicopters.
The focus of the 3.5‑hour Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip is great views of the namesake glacier, which is 1.5 miles wide, 150 feet high, and the most famous part of the massive Juneau Icefield that even John Muir once raved about. Glide along the iceberg-studded lake and scope out the glacier, getting up-close views of hanging glaciers and towering peaks. Keep an eye out for birds nesting in the rocky cliffs, as well as otters, seals, black ...more
Experience the ultimate Alaskan adventure with Above & Beyond Alaska’s Fly-In Glacier Hike & Packraft tour! Explore glaciers in a 5‑hour journey, including flightseeing, hiking, and packrafting. Maximum 6 people per tour.
Northstar Helicopters operates out of Juneau and caters to all styles of exploration. The curious glacier observer can simply fly to the glacier and snap photographs from flat or rolling terrain. You can also choose to hike on the glacier itself. If you’re very adventurous, you can even learn how to climb on the ice walls. No matter which option you choose, NorthStar Helicopters will guide you all the way, making sure you get the most out of this ...more
A tour aboard a TEMSCO helicopter offers beautiful views of Alaska’s Capital City, and up-close exploration of Mendenhall, one of the state’s most accessible glaciers. Look out on alpine lakes, moraines, and crevasses before you land and check out the Juneau Icefield for yourself.
Canoe across a lake to Mendenhall Glacier glacier, Keeping an eye out for arctic terns, mountain goats, and icebergs floating in the water. Then, land on the glacier beach and walk about a mile alongside the glacier, exploring as you go — there may even be ice caves to check out.
Ski Areas View All
Ski Juneau with a 1.5 hr flight from Anchorage or 2 hr 20 flight from Seattle! Ski the slopes with ocean views.
With a 1,620 ft. vertical drop, 640 acres, and impressive backcountry access, Eaglecrest combines big mountain terrain with a local feel in Alaska’s capital city. It’s one of the few community-owned ski areas in the US, offering affordable prices, fewer crowds, and breathtaking ocean views. You can’t drive to Juneau— you have to fly, or ferry, which means shorter lift lines and untracked powder. Whether you are a beginner looking to play in the ...more
Walking Tours View All
This museum sits on the site where Alaska officially became a state. View the exhibits and watch an award-winning documentary about the city. Plus, the City Museum doesn’t end at the building’s walls. From May to September, you can take walking tours of historic downtown Juneau and the Alaska State Capitol.
Museums & Cultural Centers View All
This museum sits on the site where Alaska officially became a state. View the exhibits and watch an award-winning documentary about the city. Plus, the City Museum doesn’t end at the building’s walls. From May to September, you can take walking tours of historic downtown Juneau and the Alaska State Capitol.
Visitor Information Centers View All
Plays & Performances View All
Perseverance Theatre creates professional theatre by and for Alaskans. Founded in Juneau in 1979 by Molly Smith, the Theatre has since grown into Alaska’s flagship professional theatre, serving nearly 15,000 artists and audiences each year. Despite being a community of only 30,000, and only accessible by boat or plane, Juneau has proven to be an ideal home for the Theatre. Community volunteers help build our sets, run our productions and staff… ...more
Fairs & Festivals View All
Historic Parks & Sites View All
Gardens & Arboretums View All
Tucked inside the lush Tongass National Forest, discover an Alaskan botanical garden unlike anywhere else in the world. A 2012 Reader’s Digest poll chose Glacier Gardens out of thousands of entries as the Most Interesting Landmark in America! Vibrant hanging gardens spill from 15-foot-tall upside down tree “Flower Towers” and elegantly designed landscapes compliment the natural beauty of the rainforest. Explore these unique gardens on a guided ...more
Whale Watching Tours View All
Plenty of whale tours let you watch the orcas and humpbacks as they breach and spout from the water — but not many also let you eavesdrop on the big mammals’ conversations. This 3.5‑hour tour out of Juneau is equipped with an amplified hydrophone system; listen to the whales underwater while enjoying the lush rainforest views. Onboard the North Star — a 48-passenger jet boat with large windows, an outside viewing deck, and a comfortable inside ...more
Take a scenic cruise and kayak through gorgeous surroundings as magnificent whales pierce the surface of the water on this six-hour expedition from Juneau. Your destination is the Channel Islands, the whales’ annual feeding ground — and your guides will assess where the most whale activity has been happening.
Juneau’s glaciers produce nutrient-dense waters making the waters a prime feeding ground for humpback whales. Alaska Tales’ boats are intimate (49 passengers max), and they’re super-fast, so you’ll get out to see the whales in no time. You also have the option of adding a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center prior to your whale watching tour.
Wildlife Parks View All
Guided Hiking View All
Glacier views • Ice climbing • Heli-hiking
A tour aboard a TEMSCO helicopter offers beautiful views of Alaska’s Capital City, and up-close exploration of Mendenhall, one of the state’s most accessible glaciers. Look out on alpine lakes, moraines, and crevasses before you land and check out the Juneau Icefield for yourself.
Feel the truly unique thrill of walking on an ancient glacier. This unforgettable experience begins with a canoe trip to the glacier, where you’ll don crampons and explore the gorgeous blue ice…no experience required!
Experience the ultimate Alaskan adventure with Above & Beyond Alaska’s Fly-In Glacier Hike & Packraft tour! Explore glaciers in a 5‑hour journey, including flightseeing, hiking, and packrafting. Maximum 6 people per tour.
Canoe across a lake to Mendenhall Glacier glacier, Keeping an eye out for arctic terns, mountain goats, and icebergs floating in the water. Then, land on the glacier beach and walk about a mile alongside the glacier, exploring as you go — there may even be ice caves to check out.
Northstar Helicopters operates out of Juneau and caters to all styles of exploration. The curious glacier observer can simply fly to the glacier and snap photographs from flat or rolling terrain. You can also choose to hike on the glacier itself. If you’re very adventurous, you can even learn how to climb on the ice walls. No matter which option you choose, NorthStar Helicopters will guide you all the way, making sure you get the most out of this ...more
Gardens & Arboretums View All
Tucked inside the lush Tongass National Forest, discover an Alaskan botanical garden unlike anywhere else in the world. A 2012 Reader’s Digest poll chose Glacier Gardens out of thousands of entries as the Most Interesting Landmark in America! Vibrant hanging gardens spill from 15-foot-tall upside down tree “Flower Towers” and elegantly designed landscapes compliment the natural beauty of the rainforest. Explore these unique gardens on a guided ...more
Winter Activities View All
Hit the slopes at the community-owned ski area with breathtaking ocean views
With a 1,620 ft. vertical drop, 640 acres, and impressive backcountry access, Eaglecrest combines big mountain terrain with a local feel in Alaska’s capital city. It’s one of the few community-owned ski areas in the US, offering affordable prices, fewer crowds, and breathtaking ocean views. You can’t drive to Juneau— you have to fly, or ferry, which means shorter lift lines and untracked powder. Whether you are a beginner looking to play in the ...more
Points of Interest View All
Juneau is a popular whale viewing spot, but you can also see sea lions, eagles, bears, and more. See our list of spots and tours.
Don’t look for a dome and don’t look for big grounds; Alaska’s capitol building is one of the few that have neither. That’s because the territory of Alaska had trouble securing funding and land for the building, relying on local residents to provide funding. Completed in 1931, it housed the federal government until statehood in 1959. Today, the large, boxy building — and the location — aren’t popular with locals, but efforts to fund a new… ...more
A highlight for many visitors, this chapel lies 22 miles north of Juneau off of the Glacier Highway. As Juneau’s expensive waterfront homes peter out, the Shrine of St. Therese appears on your left. It’s in a stunning setting, on an island with crashing surf, mountain views, and a rugged coastline, where you can look for humpback whales and sea lions. Take the trail from the parking lot back to a caretaker’s headquarters, a small stone… ...more
One of the most interesting natural features near Juneau, this spectacular waterfall plunges about 377 feet down the rugged mountainside into Mendenhall Lake about three-quarter miles south of the active face of Mendenhall Glacier.
This 12-mile glacier is part of Tongass National Forest and its visitors’ center is just a half mile from the glacier’s face. Once dubbed the Auk Glacier by John Muir (after a member of the Tlingit tribe),