How to Spend ONE or TWO Days in Juneau, Alaska: 1- or 2-Day Itinerary

Looking for the perfect one- or two-day Juneau itinerary? You’re in the right place!

Alaska’s capital may be small, but it certainly packs a punch! Surrounded by mountains, water, and glaciers, Juneau feels remote but also has a compact downtown area that’s easy to explore on foot. What’s not to love?

Whether you’re visiting Juneau on a cruise or spending a couple of nights here, this itinerary will help you make the most of your time! From whale watching and glacier adventures to great seafood and local breweries, here’s how to spend one or two days in Juneau.

Itinerary Overview

If you’re staying in downtown Juneau, you can get by without a car for one or two days. The downtown area is pretty walkable, and most places on this itinerary are around a 15-minute walk away.

However, if you want to explore beyond downtown at your own pace, a rental car will come in handy. It’s especially useful if you want more flexibility when visiting places like Mendenhall Glacier.

Day 1: Start with breakfast downtown, then spend the morning whale watching. After a seafood lunch, explore downtown before ending the day with a local craft beer tour, which also delivers amazing mountain views!

Day 2: Embark on an unforgettable adventure with this helicopter flight and glacier walk! Later, visit the Alaska State Museum and explore Mendenhall Glacier, before ending your trip with dinner and drinks at a local favorite spot downtown.

Day 1 

Breakfast – The Rookery Cafe

Start your day with breakfast at The Rookery Cafe, one of downtown Juneau’s most popular breakfast spots. It opens at 7 am, giving you plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely meal before heading off on your morning whale watching tour.

The café is right in the heart of downtown, so it’s an easy walk if you’re staying nearby. Whether you’re after a hearty breakfast or just coffee and a pastry, it’s the perfect place to fuel up before an exciting morning out on the water. Just note that The Rookery Cafe is closed on Sundays.

Morning – Spot humpbacks on a whale watching cruise

Wildlife lovers, this one’s for you! Whale watching is one of the top things to do in Juneau, and booking the 8:30 am tour means you can spend the morning out on the water before returning around noon.

Juneau is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales, thanks to the nutrient-rich waters of the Inside Passage. During the summer months, hundreds of humpbacks migrate here to feed, so your chances of seeing them are very high. 

You’ll head out on a comfortable, modern boat with large windows and heated cabins, so you can stay warm while still getting great views. There’s also plenty of space to move around, which makes it easy to grab photos when whales surface nearby.

The main highlight, of course, is the wildlife. Humpback whales are the star of the show, and this tour comes with a 100% whale sighting guarantee, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of booking. You may also spot sea lions, bald eagles, and other marine life along the way. We think this is a truly amazing tour, and we’re not the only ones – you can read a whopping 8,000+ reviews here!

It’s also very cruise-friendly, with return transport from the port and multiple departure times available. Since this itinerary works best with the 8:30 am departure, I’d book that one if you can, then enjoy a relaxed lunch back in Juneau afterward.

Lunch – Tracy’s Crab Shack

After your whale watching cruise, head to Tracy’s Crab Shack for lunch. This place is a bit of a Juneau institution and one of the best spots in town to try Alaskan king crab legs!

Just bear in mind that the crab legs are market-priced, so this definitely won’t be your cheapest meal in Juneau. But if you’re only in Alaska for a short time, it’s a pretty iconic experience, and we think it’s well worth the splurge.

The flagship location is in the main dock area, which is especially convenient if you’re visiting by cruise ship. However, there is another location closer to downtown too, so it’s worth checking both if one is particularly busy.

Afternoon – Explore downtown Juneau

After lunch, spend a few hours exploring downtown Juneau. It’s compact enough to wander on foot, with a good mix of local shops and historic buildings, plus waterfront views! Here are a few places that are well worth checking out:

• Walk the Waterfront Seawalk: Stretching along the harbor, this scenic boardwalk offers lovely views over the water and surrounding mountains. Keep an eye out for public art installations, fishing boats, and even the occasional seal or bald eagle.

• See the Alaska State Capitol: Unlike most US state capitols, Alaska’s doesn’t have a grand dome, giving it a much more understated feel. You can admire the building from the outside or pop in for a quick look if it’s open.

• Grab some locally made fudge at the Alaskan Fudge Co.: If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me, this spot is a must! The homemade fudge comes in all sorts of flavors and makes a great snack while you’re exploring. I want to go back to Juneau just to get some more!

• Visit the Sealaska Heritage Institute: Learn more about the cultures and traditions of Southeast Alaska’s Indigenous peoples through fascinating exhibits, artwork, and cultural displays. It’s a great way to add some local history to your afternoon.

• Browse the local shops: Downtown Juneau is full of independent boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores, and souvenir shops. Whether you’re looking for locally made gifts or just enjoy window shopping, it’s a nice way to spend a few hours.

Evening – Experience Juneau’s best sights and brews 

If you’ve only got a day or two in Juneau, this brews & vews tour is one of the best ways to experience the city beyond the cruise docks. Running from around 3:30 pm until about 7:30 pm, it combines two of Juneau’s biggest highlights: spectacular scenery and an excellent craft beer scene.

Juneau’s breweries are known for making the most of their surroundings, using pure glacial water alongside uniquely Alaskan ingredients like Sitka spruce tips and alder-smoked malts. We love this tour because it introduces you to some of its very best breweries without you having to worry about planning the route yourself.

You’ll visit three breweries across different parts of Juneau, including the legendary Alaskan Brewing Company, which has been producing award-winning beers since 1986, plus two other beloved local spots. Best of all, you don’t need a designated driver or to keep arranging taxis! 

It’s not all about the beer, either! Along the way, you’ll stop at some of Juneau’s most scenic viewpoints, including Brotherhood Bridge, where you’ll enjoy incredible views of the Mendenhall Glacier, and Overstreet Park, home to the city’s iconic whale sculpture. 

Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or simply looking for a fun way to see more of Juneau, this small-group tour is well worth booking. It packs fantastic views, unique local brews, and plenty of fascinating stories into one memorable evening. 

Dinner – The Hangar On The Wharf 

After the beer tour, head for dinner at The Hangar on the Wharf. I loved the chowder here, but I have to be honest: it’s more about the location than the menu! The restaurant is housed in an old airplane hangar with big, open windows overlooking the water, so it’s a one-of-a-kind place to have dinner. Plus, the pub fare is pretty reasonably priced, which is ideal because today’s lunch spot was quite expensive.

Day 2

Breakfast – Sandpiper Cafe

Start your second day with breakfast at Sandpiper Cafe, a popular local spot in downtown Juneau. It opens at 7 am, giving you plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading off on your morning helicopter tour.

The portions here are generous, making it a great place to fuel up before an unforgettable day exploring glaciers. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, you’ll find plenty of hearty breakfast options on the menu.

Morning – Take a helicopter tour and walk on a glacier

If you’re going to splurge on one experience in Alaska, make it this one! This helicopter tour and glacier walk is a true bucket list experience, and it’s hard to imagine a more memorable way to see Juneau’s wild landscapes.

I’d recommend booking the 8:45 am tour, which should have you back around 10:15 am. During the flight, you’ll soar over the Juneau Icefield, with jaw-dropping views of glaciers, icefalls, snowy peaks, and rugged mountain terrain below. It’s the kind of scenery that feels almost unreal from the air.

Then comes the real wow moment: landing directly on a remote glacier. From there, you’ll step out onto the ice for a guided walk, giving you the chance to see the glacier up close rather than just admiring it from afar. After all, how many people can say that they’ve actually walked on a glacier?

Yes, this tour is definitely on the pricier side, but it packs a huge amount into a short time. It’s also very cruise-friendly, with pickup included and a guarantee to get you back to your ship on time. If not, they’ll even fly you to your next port of call!

Late morning – Discover local history at the Alaska State Museum

After your helicopter tour, head back into downtown and spend some time at the Alaska State Museum. I’d recommend allowing around 1.5 to 2 hours to explore, as there’s plenty to see.

If you’re interested in learning more about Alaska beyond its incredible scenery, this is one stop you shouldn’t skip. The museum does an excellent job of bringing the state’s history to life, with exhibits covering Indigenous cultures, Russian America, the Gold Rush, natural history, and Alaska’s journey to statehood.

There are also displays showcasing traditional artwork, fascinating artifacts, and local wildlife, making it a great way to put everything you’ve seen on your trip into context. It’s modern, well laid out, and genuinely engaging, even if museums aren’t usually your thing.

Lunch – Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos

By now, it’ll be around 12:30 or 1 pm, making it the perfect time to stop for lunch at Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos. It’s only about a 10-minute walk from the Alaska State Museum and is one of the most popular places to eat in Juneau.

The menu focuses on fresh Alaskan seafood, served in creative tacos that have earned this casual spot a loyal local following. It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for something delicious without spending too long over lunch, as there’s still plenty to see this afternoon. Grab a table outside if the weather’s nice and order a couple of different tacos to share before heading off to Mendenhall Glacier.

Afternoon – Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center 

No trip to Juneau is complete without seeing the famous Mendenhall Glacier. If you don’t have a rental car, I’d recommend booking this shuttle service to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. It’s essentially round-trip transportation, giving you around two hours to explore at your own pace before heading back to downtown. You can book either the 2:30 pm or 3:30 pm departure, depending on whether you’d like a more relaxed lunch or some time back at your hotel to freshen up first.

Once you arrive, there are plenty of ways to spend your time. Start by exploring the visitor center, where you’ll find fascinating exhibits about the glacier and local wildlife. From there, head out to one of the viewing platforms for spectacular views of the glacier itself.

If time allows, take the short and easy walk to Photo Point, one of the best places to capture the glacier on camera. You can also keep an eye out for black bears during salmon season, as they’re often spotted in the area.

If you have a car, visiting independently gives you much more flexibility. If you’ve got your own wheels, I’d recommend hiking the Nugget Falls Trail, a scenic two-mile round-trip walk that takes you right to the base of a beautiful waterfall with incredible views of the glacier. It’s one of the highlights of the area, but you’ll likely need more than the two hours included with the shuttle to enjoy it properly.

Dinner – SALT

End your time in Juneau on a high note with dinner at SALT, one of the city’s best fine dining restaurants. It’s known for its fresh Alaskan seafood and butcher-cut steaks, as well as its expertly crafted cocktails, so in our book, it’s the perfect place to celebrate the end of your trip. The restaurant also boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in Juneau – chin chin!

The menu changes regularly to make the most of seasonal ingredients, so there’s always something new to try. Whether you opt for fresh local seafood or a perfectly cooked steak, you’re in for a memorable meal. Reservations are recommended, especially during the busy summer season, as this popular spot fills up quickly.

Evening – Red Dog Saloon 

Round off your time in Juneau with a drink at the Red Dog Saloon. This is one of the city’s most iconic bars, and we absolutely cannot get enough of this place – we’ll definitely be back next time we’re in Juneau! It’s an atmospheric spot with an Old West theme and sawdust-covered floors that make the place feel really authentic. There’s often live music here in the evenings, so grabbing drinks here is always fun – cheers! 

Related Read: Visiting Juneau by cruise? Check out our guide to the 12 Best Juneau Shore Excursions to find even more top-rated tours that fit perfectly into your port day.

Where to Stay in Juneau

Now that you’ve got your Juneau itinerary sorted, all that’s left is finding the perfect place to stay! Most hotels are clustered in either downtown Juneau or the nearby Mendenhall Valley, so you’ll have easy access to restaurants, attractions, and many of the area’s top tours. To help you choose, we’ve rounded up our favorite hotels for every budget, all conveniently located for exploring the city and joining tours.

Luxury – $$$

Silverbow Inn is our top pick if you’re looking for a boutique stay right in the heart of downtown Juneau! The location is fantastic, as you’ll be within walking distance of the waterfront, restaurants, shops, and many of the attractions we’ve mentioned in this guide.

The rooms are cozy and comfortable, but what really sells us on this hotel are the communal spaces. There’s an outdoor hot tub where you can warm up after a chilly day of exploring, as well as a sun terrace, outdoor fireplace, and lounge. Soaking in a hot tub after a day of hiking around Alaska sounds pretty perfect to us! Breakfast is available in the morning, and there’s also an Italian restaurant on site, so you don’t have to venture far when you’re hungry.

Rooms typically start from around $400 USD per night, although prices vary depending on the season. Check availability and book Silverbow Inn here!

Mid-range – $$

Juneau Hotel is a comfortable stay that offers both space and flexibility. The rooms here come with kitchen facilities, a refrigerator, and even a washing machine, which is so handy if you’re staying for more than a night or two!

We especially like this option for travelers who don’t want to eat out for every single meal. Having your own kitchen means you can pick up breakfast supplies or make something simple in the evening, which can really help keep costs down in Alaska.

The hotel also offers free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and a complimentary airport shuttle, so the practical side of your stay is nicely covered too. Plus, you’ll be within easy reach of downtown Juneau and attractions like the Alaska State Capitol. Rooms typically start from around $260 USD per night. Check availability and book Juneau Hotel here!

Budget – $

Waterfront on Glacier is our budget pick in Juneau, and we think it offers fantastic value for money! It’s in a quieter part of town but still within easy reach of downtown attractions, so you can save some money without feeling completely cut off.

The rooms are fairly simple, but they come with private bathrooms, free WiFi, and kitchenettes, which are really handy if you want to prepare a few meals yourself and keep costs down. Plus, some rooms have mountain or water views, so you can still wake up to some beautiful Alaskan scenery!

There’s also a steakhouse and bar on site, as well as a fitness room, minimarket, and free private parking. The latter is a big bonus if you’re renting a car! Rooms typically start from around $200 USD per night. Check availability and book Waterfront on Glacier here!

Looking for more great spots? Dive into the complete list of Juneau hotels here.

Thanks for reading!

Juneau is one of those places that reminds you just how incredible Alaska really is. Between watching humpback whales, walking on a glacier, sampling fresh local seafood, and soaking up the mountain scenery, every day here feels like an adventure. If you’re visiting during the summer months, we definitely recommend booking your favorite tours in advance, as the most popular experiences sell out quickly.

Before you head off, be sure to check out the rest of our USA travel guides. We’ve created plenty of itineraries, hotel guides, and travel tips to help you make the most of your trip. Or, dive into one of our favorite guides below to help plan your next adventure!

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