A beginners guide to visiting Ketchikan by cruise ship

Just north of the Canadian border, Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska. Founded in August of 1900, Ketchikan is situated on Revillagigedo Island near the Tongass Narrows, the entrance to the Pacific Ocean and the famed Inside Passage.

A historic fishing village with a long-standing Tlingit Native presence, Ketchikan represents both of these worlds while also catering to tourists. For example, Ketchikan has plenty of opportunities for tourists to try their hand at local fishing, and it boasts the world’s largest collection of totem poles spread across four major sites (the most recognizable being Totem Bight State Historical Park).

Since the city is perched on stilts, much of Ketchikan’s downtown sits high above the water. This is particularly prominent in the historic Creek Street district that runs parallel to Ketchikan Creek. Once the town’s Red Light district, Creek Street now hosts tourist shops and, in the fall months, it’s the prime spot to view salmon as they come upstream to spawn.

Ketchikan is also noteworthy for its proximity to Misty Fjords National Monument, offering numerous flightseeing excursions and wildlife boat tours to this pristine section of the Tongass National Forest.

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Known as one of the “big three” Alaska ports of call (together with Juneau and Skagway), Ketchikan is a featured stop on most cruises to the state. Just remember to bring your umbrella when you visit — the city is in the heart of a rainforest and gets about 232 days of rain per year. There’s even a “rain gauge” near the main cruise pier that shows how much rain Ketchikan has had so far this year.

Things TPG loves about Ketchikan

• The historic Creek Street district offers plenty of activities and views.
• There are plenty of opportunities to explore nearby attractions, such as Misty Fjords and the Tongass National Forest.
• You’ll find an abundance of local Tlingit culture.

What we could do without

• It can be a hike to walk from Berth 4 to the heart of town.
• Some ships dock at the more far-flung Ward Cove — a 20-minute drive to and from Ketchikan proper.
• If you’re going to see rain during your Alaska trip, it’ll be here.

Ketchikan fast facts

• Language: English is the official language in Ketchikan.
• Currency: The U.S. dollar is used for all purchases in Ketchikan.
• Time zone: Ketchikan is in the Alaska Time Zone (GMT-8), one hour behind Pacific Standard Time and four hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Arrival details

Ships calling on Ketchikan tie up in the heart of downtown, directly across from most of the city’s bars, restaurants and shops, and just a few minutes’ walk from historic Creek Street. Ketchikan has four berths. Berths 1 and 2 are just steps away from the shops at Salmon Landing and attractions like The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, while Berth 3 is situated near the long-standing Tongass Trading Company shop right on the harbor. Berth 4, the most distant, is about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the heart of downtown.

However, passengers arriving in Ketchikan on board Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania or Regent Seven Seas ships will dock at Ward Cove, a new cruise terminal area situated approximately 20 minutes’ drive west of Ketchikan. Free shuttle buses transport passengers to downtown Ketchikan, with a drop-off point adjacent to Berth 4. While Ward Cove is closer to some of the outdoor shore excursion activities and does contain several shops at the terminal — itself housed in an old cannery — it does require more patience to get into the heart of Ketchikan.

Top things to do in Ketchikan cruise port

Ketchikan offers a plethora of ways to spend your day. Visitors can stroll the quaint streets, go window shopping or sample the superb seafood on offer. They can also get acquainted with the city’s extensive Tlingit history or venture farther afield to places like Misty Fjords for scenic wildlife cruises or flightseeing.

Families would do well to check out The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. This reasonably priced entertainment venue offers fun for the whole family with plenty of showmanship as performers race up tall logs, engage in carving and axe-throwing competitions, and try their best to stay upright in the log rolling competition. While the event is outdoors, sheltered and heated seating keeps guests comfortable.

No visit to Ketchikan is complete without a visit to Totem Bight State Park, one of four locations in Ketchikan where these magnificent works of art are on display. The Totem Heritage Center offers a great collection of Tlingit and Haida totems, and it’s a manageable stroll from town for those looking to visit independently. Totem Bight and Saxman Totem Park are best explored as part of a shore excursion due to their relatively far distance from town.

Creek Street, just a 10-minute walk from the majority of the cruise piers, attracts throngs of tourists, even in the rain. This former red-light district is now a shopping mecca that also offers excellent views of spawning salmon (and the odd harbor seal). Be sure to stop in at Dolly’s House, a former brothel turned into a museum.

Outside of town, Misty Fjords National Monument is an excellent choice for wildlife and nature cruises that depart from Ketchikan. Flightseeing is also a popular option from Ketchikan, though a number of high-profile crashes in recent years make it difficult for us to entirely recommend it.

Hiking is also a popular option in Ketchikan. The trailheads for both Perseverance Lake and Frog Pond are near the Ward Cove docks, convenient for adventurers whose ships dock there.

Related: 15 Alaska cruise mistakes you never want to make

Popular Ketchikan excursions

While Alaska shore excursions can be jaw-droppingly expensive, Ketchikan is one of the few ports that seems to have an excellent balance between relatively inexpensive excursions that last only a few hours and longer, more expensive bucket-list trips like crab feasts, wildlife cruises and flightseeing adventures.

Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour

If you’re a fan of the long-running Discovery Channel show, “The Deadliest Catch,” you’ll be happy to know you can actually set out on one of the ships featured in the show. The Aleutian Ballad, featured in the show’s second season, has been converted into a tourist attraction that sails into the Inside Passage, giving guests a glimpse at what it takes to handle the massive king crab pots and endure life on the Bering Sea.

Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

A number of tours include the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, including excursions that pair it with a crab feast, axe-throwing experience or a visit to Totem Bight State Park. Either way, it is one of the most affordable and surprisingly enjoyable family-friendly experiences in Alaska.

Wilderness exploration cruise and crab feast

This four-hour excursion takes a wilderness cruise to nearby George Inlet, where wildlife is abundant (the best eagle sightings we’ve ever seen have been here), and pairs it with an all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab feast at the George Inlet Lodge. How much crab can one person eat? Find out on this absolutely indulgent excursion.

Town and harbor by duck boat

It’s kitschy and often groan-inducing, but exploring Ketchikan by amphibious duck boat has been a staple of excursions here for decades. Inexpensive, informative and good for the whole family, it makes for a fascinating tour of Ketchikan by land and sea.

How to get around Ketchikan on your own

• On foot: This is the best way to see Ketchikan, as much of the town is accessible within walking distance for most people. Those with mobility issues might want to opt for panoramic tours with several stops, particularly if docking at Ward Cove.
• Taxi: As with most Alaskan cities and towns, taxis are available here but can be difficult to come by, particularly when ships are in port. Services like Uber and Lyft are available, but they can also be expensive and hard to find.
• Bike or scooter: It is possible to rent bicycles or e-bikes from several providers in Ketchikan that can be useful for getting around town.
• Car: Car rentals are not widely available in Ketchikan.

Ketchikan restaurants near the cruise pier

Ketchikan has a number of great restaurants for cruise passengers to indulge in, and they should. The seafood served here is fantastic, and restaurants run the gamut from small grab-and-go shops to venues with harbor views. Look for eateries serving down-home comfort food if you need a refreshing change from the fare on your ship.

Our go-to spot is the Alaska Fish House, which is just steps from Berth 1 and adjacent to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. The salmon chowder here is to die for, and the venue has indoor and outdoor seating — not to mention a variety of local Alaskan beers on tap.

If that’s full, consider Ketchikan Crab & Go, conveniently located next door, inside the shops at Salmon Landing. It also offers plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Other standouts in Ketchikan include The Krabby Krab Shack on Main Street (a welcome addition to the Ketchikan dining scene); The Pioneer Cafe on Mission Street for diner-style, uncomplicated but delicious eats; Timber & Tide, one of the few establishments right at Berth 4; and the always-popular New York Cafe on Stedman Street, a few blocks past the main entrance to Creek Street.

Ketchikan dishes to try

Salmon is our top recommendation here, from chowder to rolls to burgers. You also can’t go wrong with Alaskan crab and other seafood.

For those who aren’t seafood mavens, fear not: Ketchikan has a surprising variety of culinary options, from standard American fare to Mexican, Asian and European-inspired dishes.

Ketchikan cruise port shopping

You don’t have to look far to find shopping options, no matter where you’re docked in Ketchikan. Shops line the length of Front Street along Ketchikan’s berths, and even Ward Cove has its own dedicated shopping area inside the former cannery that now serves as a cruise terminal and welcome center.

Tongass Trading Co., near Berth 3, is a Ketchikan staple that caters to tourists and locals alike. The Shops at Salmon Landing, located across from Berth 1, have been offering tourists plenty of opportunities to spend money since their debut in the 1990s.

But if you walk a few blocks into the town of Ketchikan, away from Front Street, you’ll find more authentic, local shops filled with arts, crafts and more.

Creek Street, too, is filled with shops — some touristic, some local, some chintzy, some expensive. Literary fans will want to stop into Parnassus Books, while those looking for authentic Native art will want to call on Crazy Wolf Studio, just up the street on Mission.

Related: 6 best Alaska cruises for families

Free things to do in the Ketchikan cruise port

It costs nothing to visit Ketchikan’s historic Creek Street neighborhood. There are entrances to its boardwalk from both Dock Street (near Parnassus Books) and Stedman Street (near the New York Cafe). Take a stroll from Creek Street along Married Man’s Trail up into the heart of Ketchikan’s upper town, particularly when the salmon are running, for some great nature views. A salmon ladder observation platform is at the top of Married Man’s Trail and is worth the visit.

While not entirely free, you can take the Cape Fox Lodge Funicular from the base of Creek Street up to the Cape Fox Lodge for a small fee. (Those dining at the Lodge’s restaurant have the funicular fee waived.) Closed for six years, the funicular just reopened in the summer of 2025 and offers spectacular views.

Travelers with kids might want to take an easy 15-minute stroll from Ketchikan’s Berth 1, near Salmon Landing, to the excellent Totem Heritage Playground, just steps from the equally worthwhile Totem Heritage Center (a small entry fee applies for the latter).

Bottom line

Included on nearly every cruise itinerary to Alaska, Ketchikan is a wonderful port where visitors can wander around town or explore the vibrant nature that surrounds the city. Just don’t forget your umbrella.