Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Ketchikan?

Q: Is one day enough time in Ketchikan?

One day is generally not enough time to experience the town and surrounding mountains while visiting Ketchikan. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to experience the hiking, the food, the beautiful scenery, and the museums and landmarks. To genuinely appreciate the mountain atmosphere, local flavors, and epic views of the quaint town, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. In fact, many tourists opt for one to three days in the area. After all, The popular town of Ketchikan has many activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Ketchikan?

Most visitors spend one to three days in Ketchikan when visiting. The quaint town offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the hiking, the food, the beautiful scenery, and the museums and landmarks.

Ketchikan is an Alaskan town on the Inside Passage that has grown from a local fishing village into a popular cruise ship port. It's a huge fishing destination, particularly salmon fishing, and there is also a local culture that is unique and fascinating. Native American totem poles are a common sight around the town, which is set against the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. You'll find lots of wildlife and salmon spawning streams that ensure the town feels quintessentially Alaskan.

Do you have one or two days to visit Ketchikan? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Ketchikan?

One day is generally not enough time to experience the town and surrounding mountains while visiting Ketchikan. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to experience the hiking, the food, the beautiful scenery, and the museums and landmarks. To genuinely appreciate the mountain atmosphere, local flavors, and epic views of the quaint town, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. In fact, many tourists opt for one to three days in the area. After all, The popular town of Ketchikan has many activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Ketchikan

Known for it's hiking, Ketchikan sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. You'll find many hikes that will take you through the local vegetation or to impressive viewpoints. Some hikes involve challenging climbs while others are more relaxing. Some visitors prefer to hire a guide to the lead them through the Alaskan wilderness, but the most popular and easier trails are usually well marked.

A few tour suggestions include:

Ketchikan Electric Bike and Rain Forest Hike Ecotour ($161)
Wildlife Viewing and Whale Watching Quest ($195)
“OVER THE TOP TOURS” city highlights, wildlife and more! ($100)

The delicious food of Ketchikan is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this town's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. It's known as the salmon capital of the world for good reason. You can expect some of the freshest seafood around with many local restaurants serving up fresh Dungeness Crab, Alaska King Crab, and Alaskan King Salmon. It's a huge fishing destination and the cuisine reflects that, but even if you're looking for a landlover's menu, you'll find a number of good dishes.

Ketchikan is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The downtown is relatively compact and walkable.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Ketchikan?

As a popular town, Ketchikan offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. A weekend is just the right amount of time to see pretty much everything in Ketchikan. Most visitors prefer to spend one to three days here, and we have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting such as exploring the town and the surrounding mountains. Also, Ketchikan is popular with families and couples which enjoy visiting because the city offers activities specifically for them.

Ketchikan, Alasak

How to spend 2 days in Ketchikan

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Ketchikan, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.

Perhaps the most famous place in Ketchikan is the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

Ketchikan is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It's located at the southernmost entrance to the Inside Passage, so you can expect dramatic natural beauty and a breathtaking setting.