What To Do In Ketchikan In One Day (Perfect 2025 Itinerary)

If you’re headed to Alaska on a cruise from Seattle, there’s a good chance Ketchikan will be your very first stop — and your first real chance to get off the ship, stretch your legs, and start soaking in the Last Frontier.

So of course, you’ll want to make the most of it.

But what should you actually do? For being such a small town, Ketchikan is absolutely packed with things to see and experience. If it’s your first stop (and especially if it’s your first cruise), the half-day time frame can feel a little overwhelming. It’s a “choose your own adventure” situation… except you only get one page before the book ends.

So I’ll say this right up front: you won’t be able to do everything. Not even close. But you can have an amazing, authentic, and even relaxing experience — if you plan wisely and stick to things close to the port.

Here’s what I’d recommend.

Excursions vs. Exploring The Town

Most cruises don’t spend very long in Ketchikan. On our last cruise, the ship was cleared at 7:15 a.m. and the all-aboard was at 12:45. That’s barely over five hours. You’ll need to trim your wishlist hard and decide early how you want to spend that time.

The first big fork in the road: Will you explore town, or do an excursion? You likely won’t have time to do both.

Excursions can be amazing, especially if it’s your only shot at a bucket-list activity — flightseeing, kayaking, snorkeling, bear watching, or a crab feast. But you probably won’t get to walk the docks, see Creek Street, visit any museums, or experience the character of the town itself.

In contrast, exploring on your own gives you a taste of authentic Ketchikan — historic storefronts, totem poles, lumberjack shows, and great local food — all within walking distance. That’s the option we usually pick, and the one this guide leans toward.

If you do want to book an excursion, consider going direct with the operator instead of through your cruise line. It’s usually cheaper, and they still guarantee to get you back to port in time. Just double-check return times — always.

Also worth saying: some people skip the hustle and use Ketchikan as a chance to relax. Sleep in, go ashore for brunch, and then head back to enjoy the nearly empty ship. If you’re cruising for calm, that’s a valid — and underrated — option too.

Getting Around In Ketchikan

Ketchikan is ridiculously easy to navigate. With only about 8,000 residents and over a million annual visitors, the town is built to handle foot traffic — even if it groans a bit under the weight in July.

The city hugs the coastline, with one main road (Tongass Avenue) stretching about 30 miles along the water and only a handful of side streets.

If you’re sticking to downtown (and most people should), you can walk everywhere. But if your knees disagree or the weather gets fussy, here are your transportation options:

• Free Downtown Shuttle: Runs May–September on a loop through major sites. Great if you don’t want to hoof it.
• Uber/Lyft: Available but not guaranteed. Drivers are locals, and it’s usually cheap given the short distances.
• Rental cars: Overkill unless you’re headed far out of town.
• Taxis: Reliable, but slower than Uber and more expensive than the bus.
• Municipal Bus: Runs 7 days/week and can get you nearly anywhere. A $5 day pass is available at City Hall. (Note: plan around their limited Sunday schedule.)
• E-bike and golf cart rentals: A fun, fast way to zip around the waterfront.
• Excursion shuttles: If you’re on a booked tour, they’ll handle transport.

Pro tip: Don’t mess around with air taxis or ferries unless you’re absolutely certain about the timing. Nothing ruins a cruise like waving goodbye from shore.

To-Do List For One Day In Ketchikan

Ketchikan offers a ton of options — way more than you can do in one morning. So how do you choose?

Prioritize experiences that are unique to Southeast Alaska. You can ride a bike or go hiking anywhere. But tidepool snorkeling in cold Pacific waters? Seeing carved cedar totems in a rainforest? That’s Ketchikan.

Here are the top activities I’d recommend, whether self-guided or via local tour groups:

1. Creek Street

If you only have time for one thing, Creek Street should be it.

This iconic boardwalk was once the town’s red-light district — brothels on stilts over a salmon-filled creek. Today, it’s a colorful stretch of shops, galleries, and museums that still tells the story of Ketchikan’s salty past.

Stop in at Dolly’s House Museum, home of Creek Street’s most famous madam. It’s preserved almost exactly as she left it, and the guides do a great job sharing her story.

Want a deeper dive? Book a walking tour. It’ll save you time and add some great local color.

2. Totem Bight State Historical Park

Southeast Alaska is Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian land, and the totem poles here are a living reflection of that culture.

Totem Bight (about 10 miles from town) is one of the best places to see them. You’ll find restored poles, a traditional clan house, and interpretive signs that actually explain what you’re looking at.

If Totem Bight is too far for your timeframe, try:

• Saxman Native Village (closer, often part of bus tours)
• Totem Heritage Center (downtown, museum format)
• Potlatch Totem Park (another solid option)

We’ve done these both on our own and with tours. Either works, just don’t skip them.

3. The Deadliest Catch Tour

Yes, that Deadliest Catch. The Bering Sea crab-fishing show.

In Ketchikan, you can hop aboard a real working vessel used on the show and watch as the crew hauls traps, handles king crab, and shares what it’s like to survive 40-foot waves in the Gulf of Alaska. The crew is charismatic, the stories are wild, and it’s surprisingly family-friendly.

Tours last about 90 minutes and depart near the cruise dock.

4. Tidepool Snorkeling

Ready for something unforgettable? Put on a 7mm wetsuit and go snorkeling in 55-degree water.

It sounds crazy, but it’s one of the most unique experiences you’ll find here. You’ll spot sea stars, crabs, anemones, and occasionally even seals or whales in the distance.

Check out Snorkel Alaska for Ketchikan’s best scuba experience, they’ve been at it for years.

5. Kayaking Excursion

Prefer to stay on top of the water? Rent a kayak or join a guided paddle around Orcas Cove or Eagle Island. It’s peaceful, scenic, and sometimes filled with wildlife — sea otters, eagles, maybe even a humpback in the distance (but don’t count on it…)

For most people, the best kayaking options in Ketchikan are the Eagle Island Excursion or a paddle around Orcas Cove. Both will take most of the time you have available, but you should still be able to grab a bit to eat afterward.

6. Float Plane Tour

If you have the budget for it, a float plane tour might just be the most fun you can have in an hour or two.

The trips typically aren’t long, but you’ll be able to see P.O.W. Island, Tongass National Forest, and Misty Fjords National Monument before heading back to the ground. Be sure to bring a camera as you’ll want to preserve the sights.

If you’re only booking one flightseeing trip on your cruise, though, you may want to save your wallet for the helicopter glacier tours in Juneau or Skagway.

7. Lumberjack Show

If you like Thor, you’ll love this show. Rippling muscles…long hair flying…it’s got all the good stuff. Just leave your wife on the ship.

I’ll admit it, it’s a bit touristy — but it’s also genuinely fun.

The show featured real (and extremely athletic) lumberjacks who compete in 12 different events from sawing to tree climbing to log rolling.

If you’ve never experienced anything of this nature, it’s a fun (albeit spendy) way to spend your time on shore.

As an added bonus, this show is located less than a block from the dock so you’ll have time to see a bit of the town as well. It’s appropriate for all ages so bring the family!

8. Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

Want to learn more about the land you’re cruising through? This downtown museum covers local wildlife, Native culture, forest ecosystems, and even the logging history of Ketchikan. It’s inexpensive, informative, and rarely crowded.

Good rain plan, too.

9. Tongass National Forest

The Tongass National Forest might be the most picturesque location around Ketchikan and there are tons of ways to experience it.

Because of the vastness of the landscape, you’ll want to charter some sort of transportation to show you around. You can have your pick from buggies, planes, jeeps, and more.

10. Ketchikan Duck Tour

The Ketchikan Duck Tour is a good chance to see the town and get out on the local water if you’re not up to walking.

You’ll spend your time on an amphibious tour truck with a guide who will show you the sites in town before heading down into the water.

11. Bear Tour

I’ll be honest, at least 70% of my reasons for going to Alaska were to see a bear. Hopefully tons of bears. So if you can’t wait any longer on your cruise, Ketchikan is a great place to see bears!

Seeing bears is pretty seasonal so you’ll want to check ahead of time what times of year the tours actually have tickets available.

Tours typically visit either Neet’s Bay or Traitor’s Cove and both are great spots if you’re with a knowledgeable guide!

Where To Eat In Ketchikan

If you’re trying to see and do as much as possible in Ketchikan, don’t waste your time eating both meals in town. Either eat an early breakfast on the ship or a late lunch when you board.

Not having time to enjoy more of the food here is a real downer because there are some great spots. However, in order to keep you from drooling too much, I’ll only recommend one breakfast place and one lunch place.

Alaska Crepe Co. – This is a must-have for anyone stopping in Ketchikan. A huge assortment of savory and dessert crepes will provide almost anyone with something they love (not to mention that this is one of the only eateries in town open on Sundays).

Alaska Fish House – Enjoy anything from world-class fish & chips to salmon chowder or Dungeness crab. It’s excellent fresh seafood without all the trapping that comes with a fine dining restaurant!

If you’re a foodie and want your stop in Ketchikan to revolve more around some dining options you’ll want to consider the George Inlet Lodge Crab Feast which is a 2.5 hours experience including a tour and a private dining experience.

There are also pub crawls that experience local cuisine and other tasting tours are readily available.

Conclusion

Whatever you decide to do in Ketchikan you’ll likely love every second you spend here and wish for more time.

There are tons of activities within walking distance of the port so the real problem of planning out a single day in Ketchikan is knowing what to skip.

As my parting advice, I’ll tell you two things:

Firstly, have your trip planned out before you step on shore. You’ll want to have your tickets in hand and your every step planned out to avoid wasting your precious time.

Secondly, don’t be an obnoxious tourist. Ketchikan is a city of 8,000 people that receives over 500 cruise ships and 1,000,000 visitors per year…don’t be the person they remember.

So go, have fun, and make some Alaskan memories that will last a lifetime!

p.s. if you’re on an Alaskan cruise, be sure to check out our one-day itinerary for Juneau which might be your next stop!