Anchorage Tours & Activities
Plan your trip to Anchorage, Alaska — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.
Top things to do in Anchorage
- Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. An 11-mile paved path hugging the Cook Inlet shoreline from downtown to Kincaid Park, offering jaw-dropping views of Denali, Mount Susitna, and tidal marshes. Walkers, cyclists, and skiers share the route year-round, with moose and bald eagles making frequent appearances.
- Chugach State Park. The third-largest state park in the US stretches nearly half a million acres directly behind the city, offering 280 miles of maintained trails including the famed Flattop Mountain — Alaska's most-climbed peak, just 20 minutes from downtown. Hiking, rafting, glacier viewing, and wildlife encounters are all on the menu.
- Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Named one of Conde Nast Traveler's Top 50 US Museums, this downtown landmark weaves together Alaska art, history, ethnography, and science under one expansive roof. The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center and rotating contemporary exhibitions make it a must even for return visitors.
- Alaska Native Heritage Center. Set on 26 acres northeast of downtown, this living cultural center brings together Alaska's 11 major Native cultural groups through live demonstrations, six outdoor village sites, performance halls, and bilingual exhibits. Native cultural demonstrators share traditions in real time, making this one of the most…
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Located 45 minutes south of Anchorage in Portage Valley, this 200-acre open-air sanctuary lets visitors observe brown bears, wood bison, moose, wolves, lynx, caribou, and bald eagles at close range along a scenic 1.5-mile paved loop. It doubles as a legitimate conservation facility rehabilitating injured and orphaned…
- Portage Glacier and Portage Valley. One of Alaska's most accessible glaciers sits 50 miles south of Anchorage in the Chugach National Forest. A one-hour lake cruise brings visitors face-to-face with towering blue ice and floating icebergs, while the Begich Boggs Visitor Center and the 5-mile Trail of Blue Ice offer complementary land-based exploration.
- Turnagain Arm Bore Tide. One of the world's most dramatic tidal bores — a wave up to six feet tall that roars down the narrow arm at speeds approaching 20 mph — can be watched from Seward Highway pullouts at Beluga Point, Windy Corner, or Bird Point. The same corridor offers sightings of beluga whales, Dall sheep, and stunning mountain…
- Lake Hood Seaplane Base. The world's largest and busiest seaplane base operates just three miles from downtown, with nearly 200 float plane departures daily. Visitors can walk or bike the free public path around the lake, watch pilots fuel up and depart on flightseeing charters, or book their own glacier and mountain overflight.
Best time to visit Anchorage
Late June to early August for summer; September–March for northern lights and winter festivals. Summer offers the warmest temperatures (65–67°F), maximum daylight, and green wilderness. Fall through early spring (September–April) provides the best aurora borealis viewing conditions, with peak activity near the equinoxes. Winter also brings Fur Rondy and the Iditarod ceremonial start
Anchorage weather by month
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20 | 12 | cold & changeable |
| Feb | 26 | 16 | cold & changeable |
| Mar | 31 | 18 | cold & changeable |
| Apr | 42 | 28 | crisp & changeable |
| May | 54 | 39 | cool & changeable |
| Jun | 63 | 49 | mild & changeable |
| Jul | 66 | 53 | mild & changeable |
| Aug | 64 | 52 | mild & wet |
| Sep | 55 | 44 | cool & wet |
| Oct | 43 | 33 | crisp & changeable |
| Nov | 27 | 19 | cold & changeable |
| Dec | 23 | 15 | cold & changeable |
Getting to Anchorage
Anchorage is spread out and a rental car gives you the most flexibility, especially for day trips to Portage Glacier, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and Chugach State Park trailheads. For downtown exploration, the People Mover bus system connects major attractions including the airport, Anchorage Museum, and Alaska Native Heritage Center — Route 40 runs between the airport and downtown every 15 minutes during peak hours.
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport — 10 min drive
- MRI Merrill Field Airport — 5 min drive
- ENA Kenai Municipal Airport — 90 min drive
Where to stay in Anchorage
Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.
- Downtown Anchorage. The walkable core of the city puts visitors steps from the Anchorage Museum, Glacier BrewHouse, Snow City Cafe, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail trailhead, and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The majority of the city's full-service hotels are… Good for: First-time visitors, short stays, cruise overnights, non-drivers.
- Midtown Anchorage. A broad commercial belt stretching along Northern Lights Blvd and Benson Blvd, Midtown offers larger hotel footprints, easy highway access, and proximity to big-box shopping and Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria. It is more practical than atmospheric but delivers… Good for: Families, road-trip travelers, longer stays, better value.
- Spenard / Airport Area. The neighborhood flanking Lake Hood and the international airport clusters comfortable midrange hotels along Spenard Road, most offering free airport shuttles. The Alaska Aviation Museum sits on the lake shore, and the eclectic Spenard strip — home to… Good for: Early departures, late arrivals, aviation enthusiasts, one-night layovers.
- Hillside / South Anchorage. A quiet, residential neighborhood rising into the Chugach foothills, Hillside gives hikers direct access to Chugach State Park trailheads including the Glen Alps area and Flattop Mountain. Panoramic views of the Anchorage bowl and inlet come standard; a car… Good for: Hikers, photographers, travelers who want to be first on the trail.
- Girdwood (30 miles south). Technically a separate community at the base of Mount Alyeska, Girdwood functions as Anchorage's ski village and upscale resort enclave. The Alyeska Resort tram, Bore Tide viewpoints, old-growth rainforest trails, and a tight-knit arts scene give it a… Good for: Skiers, romantics, resort travelers, outdoor adventurers wanting mountain immersion.
Where to eat in Anchorage
A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.
Local favorites & classics
- Snow City Cafe. Downtown · Breakfast / Brunch — Repeatedly voted Anchorage's best breakfast by local readers, Snow City serves everything from-scratch — try the Kodiak Benedict with local king crab cake and…
- Orso. Downtown · Italian / Alaskan — Upscale Italian-inspired dining steps from the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, reinterpreting classics with fresh local seafood and hand-cut pasta made in…
- Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse. 610 W 6th Ave · 4.3★ (5,451 reviews)
- Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill. 420 L St · 4.3★ (3,999 reviews)
- Club Paris. 417 W 5th Ave · 4.6★ (1,889 reviews)
- Spenard Roadhouse. 1049 W Northern Lights Blvd · 4.4★ (2,563 reviews)
- Inferno Seafood Boil. 321 E Dimond Blvd · 4.8★ (1,080 reviews)
- Rustic Goat. 2800 Turnagain St · 4.4★ (1,846 reviews)
Cafés, bakeries & casual
- Glacier BrewHouse. Downtown · American / Craft Brewery — Founded in 1996, this nationally recognized brewpub anchors downtown dining with wood-rotisserie meats, fresh-caught Alaskan seafood, brick-oven pizza, and…
- Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria. Midtown · Pizza / Pub — Ranked among the best pizzerias in the United States, this Anchorage institution at 3300 Old Seward Hwy has been operating since 1996. The craft pizza combinations and…
- 49th State Brewing – Anchorage. Downtown · American / Brewpub — A sprawling rooftop patio above West 3rd Ave overlooks Cook Inlet and the Alaska Range while guests enjoy Alaska-sourced pub fare and the brewery's own award-winning…
- Ginger. Downtown · Pacific Rim / Asian Fusion — Open since 2007 at 425 W 5th Ave, Ginger blends Pacific Rim flavors with Alaskan seasonal ingredients in a stylish lounge setting. Dinner only (from 5 p.m.);…
- Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant. Spenard · American / Alaskana — A Spenard institution since the 1960s at 4333 Spenard Rd, Gwennie's is famous for enormous all-day breakfasts, reindeer Philly sandwiches, and walls covered in…
- Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill. Spenard · American / Entertainment Venue — A beloved Spenard hybrid that combines a full-service pub and grill with a second-run movie theater at 1230 W 27th Ave. Order burgers, pizza, and craft…
- Resurrect Art Coffee House. 320 3rd Ave · 4.8★ (1,466 reviews)
- Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop. 718 K St · 4.7★ (1,381 reviews)
A 7-Day Anchorage Plan
- Day 1 — Welcome to Wild Anchorage. Start your Anchorage visit at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center — spend two hours exploring Alaska history, indigenous art, and the immersive Smithsonian Arctic Studies galleries. Grab a coffee in the museum café before heading out. Walk the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, a paved…
- Day 2 — Alaska Native Culture & Heritage. Spend the morning at the Alaska Native Heritage Center on the northeast side of the city — join a guided walking tour of the six traditional dwelling exhibits, watch live cultural demonstrations, and browse the heritage gift shop. Return downtown and visit the Anchorage…
- Day 3 — Chugach Mountains & Trails. Drive 15 minutes east to Chugach State Park — the third-largest state park in the US — and hike the Flattop Mountain Trail for panoramic 360-degree views of Anchorage and the Alaska Range. The trailhead sits at Glen Alps and is well-marked. After descending, drive to Eagle River…
- Day 4 — Turnagain Arm & Portage Glacier. Drive south on Seward Highway — one of America's most scenic drives — hugging Turnagain Arm, a glacially carved fjord. Stop at designated pullouts to watch for beluga whales and check tide charts for the famous Turnagain Arm Bore Tide, a wall of tidal water that can be…
- Day 5 — Floatplanes, Salmon & Urban Wild. Visit Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the world's busiest floatplane base, just minutes from downtown. Watch aircraft take off and land on the lake from the public viewing area, and check out the Alaska Aviation Museum on the lakeshore for historic bush planes and flight exhibits.…
- Day 6 — Alaska Railroad Scenic Adventure. Board the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage's historic depot downtown. Take the Coastal Classic south to Seward or the Denali Star north toward Talkeetna for dramatic views of rivers, glaciers, and wilderness impossible to reach by road. Domed rail cars provide panoramic…
- Day 7 — Midnight Sun & Northern Lights Magic. On your final day, rise early for the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, about 50 miles south near Portage. Drive-through and walk-through habitats showcase rescued brown bears, wood bison, musk oxen, elk, wolves, and lynx in naturalistic enclosures — a rare chance to…
Events & festivals in Anchorage
- Anchorage Fur Rendezvous (Fur Rondy) (Late February through early March (2026: February 26 – March 8)). North America's largest winter festival, founded in 1935 as a gathering for trappers and miners. Features over 50 events including sled dog races, snow sculpting, Running of the Reindeer, fireworks, and live music…
- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race — Ceremonial Start (First Saturday of March (2026: March 7)). Ceremonial start runs through downtown Anchorage at 4th and D Street beginning at 10 a.m.; 37 teams competed in the 54th running in 2026. The official competitive restart takes place the following day in Willow, ~80…
Top-rated tours & activities in Anchorage
Dog Sledding Adventure in Willow, Alaska — 5.0★ (441 reviews)
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Scenic Bike Tour - MOST POPULAR — 5.0★ (293 reviews)
Ultimate Anchorage Winter Wildlife & Sunset Tour — 5.0★ (26 reviews)
Anchorage Ice Fishing Adventure with transportation — 5.0★ (22 reviews)
SUMMER-SUNSET Wilderness, Wildlife & Glacier Experience — 4.9★ (486 reviews)
Anchorage Helicopter Flight with Glacier Landing (1 hour) — 4.9★ (155 reviews)
Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour — 5.0★ (153 reviews)
Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise and Coach Package — 5.0★ (21 reviews)
Anchorage travel FAQ
- When is the best time to visit Anchorage?
- Late June to early August for summer; September–March for northern lights and winter festivals.
- What are the top things to do in Anchorage?
- Top experiences include Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Chugach State Park, Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
- Which airport is closest to Anchorage?
- Merrill Field Airport (MRI) is the nearest, about 5 minutes away.
- Where should I stay in Anchorage?
- Popular areas to base yourself include Downtown Anchorage, Midtown Anchorage, Spenard / Airport Area, Hillside / South Anchorage.
- How do I get around Anchorage?
- Anchorage is spread out and a rental car gives you the most flexibility, especially for day trips to Portage Glacier, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and Chugach State Park trailheads.