Ketchikan is Alaska's southernmost city — a compact island community of over 14,000 people named after the creek that runs through its heart. Originally a Tlingit fishing camp, Ketchikan was founded as a town in the late 1800s and grew into one of Southeast Alaska's most colorful communities.
Ketchikan holds the world's largest collection of Northwest Coast totem poles — carved records of the legends, lineages, and history of the indigenous Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. The famous Creek Street boardwalk — built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek and once the city's notorious red-light district — now houses charming shops and cafes where salmon swim beneath the floorboards.
Ketchikan is also Alaska's rainiest city, averaging over 150 inches of rain per year. Pack waterproof gear regardless of the forecast — and embrace it. The rain is why the surrounding Tongass National Forest is one of the world's largest temperate rainforests, and why the scenery is so extraordinarily lush and green.
Know Before You Go
Hot Tip
Ketchikan, Alaska – Quick Facts
Where You Dock in Ketchikan, Alaska
Pier locations and what's available at each terminal.
Ships dock in the center of downtown Ketchikan — shops and restaurants are literally across the street, within less than a 10-minute walk. The Visitor's Bureau is located on the dock with local maps, excursion information, and transportation guidance.
Getting Around Ketchikan, Alaska
Transportation options once you're ashore.
🚶 Walking
The best way to experience Ketchikan — shops, restaurants, Creek Street, and all the main downtown attractions are within a 10-minute walk of the pier. The waterfront is flat and easy to navigate. Pick up a map at the Visitor's Bureau on the dock before heading out.
🚌 Free Downtown Shuttle
Ketchikan Public Transit runs a free downtown shuttle (blue line) during summer months, every 15 minutes. Stops include the cruise docks, Creek Street, Totem Heritage Museum, and Ketchikan Plaza shopping center. Perfect if walking long distances is difficult.
🚕 Taxis
Available at the dock and run by metered fare. Most taxi companies offer comprehensive 3-hour island tours averaging $75/hour — good value for small groups. Reservations can be made in advance or at kiosks at the pier.
🚗 Car Rental
Two convenient options for independent exploration: Alaska Car Rental will pick you up at the pier, drive you to their center (15 minutes), and let you return the car near the ship at day's end — no wasted time at the rental facility. First City Car Rental will meet you directly at the pier with your car and keys. Rates run $60–$70/day.
Things To Do in Ketchikan, Alaska
Make the most of your time ashore.
🎯 Ketchikan rewards exploration — totem poles, history, rainforest, wildlife, and one of Alaska's most dramatic floatplane excursions:
🦅 Wildlife by Month
May — Black and brown bears, black-tailed deer, moose, seabirds, steelhead trout
June — Humpback whales (in sounds and straits), songbirds, Sockeye salmon beginning to spawn
July — Sockeye salmon peak, brown and black bears, sea otters
August — Mountain goats, shorebirds and Canada Geese, chum and pink salmon
September — Sea lions, migrating raptors, hawks and eagles, coho salmon
🏛️ Museums & Culture
Totem Heritage Center — Established to preserve totems retrieved from uninhabited Native villages — original poles displayed alongside Native artifacts in a climate-controlled setting. The finest collection of original 19th-century totem poles in existence. Guided tours available.
Tongass Historical Museum — Rare artifacts and photographs spanning Ketchikan's history from Tlingit fish camp to gold mining center to timber town to today. A compact but genuinely compelling local history museum.
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center — A short walk from the cruise dock. Interactive exhibits and displays about the temperate rainforest, Native traditions, local ecosystems, and natural resources of Southeast Alaska. Excellent for families and natural history enthusiasts.
Dolly's House Museum — Located on Creek Street — the former brothel of Dolly Arthur, open from the 1920s to 1950s. A fascinating and irreverent look at Ketchikan's infamous past in an authentically preserved historic building.
✈️ Misty Fjords National Monument
One of Alaska's most spectacular wilderness areas — accessible only by floatplane or boat from Ketchikan. Sheer granite cliffs rising 3,000 feet from the water, ancient rainforest, waterfalls, and pristine fjords. Floatplane tours from Ketchikan are the most popular excursion in port and sell out early in the season. Book before your cruise departs.
Beaches & Outdoors in Ketchikan, Alaska
The best beaches, parks, and outdoor experiences for cruise passengers.
🚶 Walking
The best way to experience Ketchikan — shops, restaurants, Creek Street, and all the main downtown attractions are within a 10-minute walk of the pier. The waterfront is flat and easy to navigate. Pick up a map at the Visitor's Bureau on the dock before heading out.
🚌 Free Downtown Shuttle
Ketchikan Public Transit runs a free downtown shuttle (blue line) during summer months, every 15 minutes. Stops include the cruise docks, Creek Street, Totem Heritage Museum, and Ketchikan Plaza shopping center. Perfect if walking long distances is difficult.
🚕 Taxis
Available at the dock and run by metered fare. Most taxi companies offer comprehensive 3-hour island tours averaging $75/hour — good value for small groups. Reservations can be made in advance or at kiosks at the pier.
🚗 Car Rental
Two convenient options for independent exploration: Alaska Car Rental will pick you up at the pier, drive you to their center (15 minutes), and let you return the car near the ship at day's end — no wasted time at the rental facility. First City Car Rental will meet you directly at the pier with your car and keys. Rates run $60–$70/day.
Shopping in Ketchikan, Alaska
Where to shop and what to look for.
🛍️ Ketchikan has excellent shopping — from the typical cruise port retail near the docks to genuinely local galleries and the historic Creek Street boardwalk:
Downtown & Creek Street
Within a 10-minute walk of the cruise terminal — boutiques, galleries, souvenir shops, and locally crafted items including small hand-carved totem poles. Creek Street is the highlight — a boardwalk built on wooden pilings over Ketchikan Creek, once the city's notorious red-light district and bootlegger haven (liquor was smuggled through trap doors in the floors via rowboats on the creek below). Now it houses charming independent shops and cafes with salmon visible in the water below.
Ketchikan Plaza
About 1.5 miles from the cruise docks on Tongass Avenue — the area's only indoor shopping center. A Safeway supermarket, fast food chains, and a small array of stores. Good for practical needs and getting out of the rain. Note: the plaza is closed on Sundays (Safeway and McDonald's remain open).
Dining in Ketchikan, Alaska
Where to eat and drink ashore.
🍽️ Ketchikan is known for extraordinarily fresh seafood — ocean to table is not a marketing phrase here, it's a literal description. Fresh salmon, halibut, king crab, and rockfish are the highlights:
George Inlet Crab Feast
Shore Excursion · Top-Rated on TripAdvisor
Not a restaurant but an excursion — and the top-rated food experience in Ketchikan. A boat trip to George Inlet for an all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab feast in a wilderness lodge setting. See here for more information. Book well in advance.
Alaska Fish House
End of Main Street · Short walk from dock
Fish and chips, fish tacos, burgers, and their famous smoked salmon chowder. Fresh, casual, and right near the pier — the most convenient quality seafood option in Ketchikan.
Annabelle's Keg & Chowder House
326 Front Street · Short walk from dock · Gilmore Hotel
Located in the historic Gilmore Hotel — pub-style food, homemade desserts, and a full bar. Both casual and more formal dining available. A Ketchikan institution with genuine local character.
Bar Harbor Restaurant
2813 Tongass Avenue · Outdoor Dockside Seating
Known for prime rib but also offers excellent seafood, pasta, and vegetarian options. Outdoor dockside seating with waterfront views — a more relaxed dining experience a short distance from the main tourist strip.
Burger Queen
518 Water Street · Casual · $
A small local hangout serving genuinely good old-school burgers and fries. Limited indoor and outdoor seating but beloved by locals. The best budget dining option in downtown Ketchikan.
Top Tours & Shore Excursions
Book before you board for best availability and pricing.
Misty Fjords Flightseeing
⏱ 2 hours (1.5 hours flight time) · Easy activity
Take in the majesty of the 2.3 million acres of pristine wilderness that is Misty Fjords National Monument. Your experie...
Book This Tour →Saxman Native Village & Ketchikan City Tour
⏱ 2 Hours · Low activity
See the sights of Ketchikan on this informative tour complete with great photo stops. Head to the Saxman Native Village ...
Book This Tour →Zipline Adventure Park
⏱ 3.5 hours · Moderate activity
Take a narrated motorcoach ride to Tongass National Park where your adventure will begin. Soar over the Alaskan forest o...
Book This Tour →Ketchikan, Alaska – FAQ
Common questions from cruise passengers.
What is Ketchikan known for?
Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World and for having the world's largest collection of standing totem poles. It's also known for its colorful Creek Street historic district, Misty Fjords National Monument, and exceptional rainforest scenery.
Can I walk from the cruise ship in Ketchikan?
Yes — Ketchikan's cruise docks are right in the heart of town. Creek Street, the totem heritage center, shops, and restaurants are all walkable from the pier.
What is Misty Fjords?
Misty Fjords National Monument is a wilderness area east of Ketchikan featuring dramatic fjords, sheer granite cliffs rising 3,000 feet from the water, and pristine Alaskan wilderness. It's best experienced by floatplane or boat tour.
Does it rain a lot in Ketchikan?
Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in the US — it receives about 150 inches of rain per year. Pack a rain jacket! The locals say "if you can see the mountains, it's going to rain. If you can't see the mountains, it's already raining."
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