Juneau

Glaciers, whales and wild Alaska

Juneau stands as Alaska’s capital on a rugged coastline where mountains meet the sea. The city sits at the edge of glaciers and dense forests, creating a landscape shaped by natural forces. Here, wildlife thrives in parks and fjords, offering chances to see bears, whales and eagles in their habitats. The climate is cool with long summer days and short winters filled with soft snowfall. Visitors experience small-town charm alongside outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking or whale watching throughout the year.

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City in United States

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	10

Read details

5/5

English is universally spoken in Juneau. All services, tours, and signage are in English, and visitors will have no trouble communicating or finding information throughout the city.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Juneau Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Great for glaciers and wildlife adventures. Cruise past ice fields, hike rainforest trails, watch whales and bears and explore scenic fjords and mountain viewpoints.

Place score

8.3

Best at:

Natural sites

Wildlife

Forests

Snow

Sea

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Juneau, United States

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Cruise season May to September: downtown and Mendenhall Glacier are packed on days with several ships in port

Most tours, shops and restaurants close October to April

Whale watching May to September, salmon runs and bear viewing July to September

Don't miss

🧊 Visit the stunning Mendenhall Glacier and Visitor Center
🚠 Take the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway for views
🐋 Go whale watching to see humpbacks in natural habitat
🌊 Hike the Nugget Falls trail to a majestic waterfall
🏛️ Explore the Alaska State Museum’s rich cultural exhibits
🦀 Dine on fresh Alaskan seafood in downtown Juneau

You've been here?

Why travel to Juneau?

Juneau is a dream for anyone who loves big nature and real adventure. The star attraction is Mendenhall Glacier – just a short drive from downtown – but there are dozens of other glaciers, plus fjords, waterfalls and endless hiking trails. Whale watching is world-class, with humpbacks and orcas regularly spotted from April to November. The city itself is quirky and friendly, with a vibrant arts scene and a deep Tlingit heritage. Just know that Juneau is only accessible by boat or plane – there are no roads in or out! The weather is famously rainy and unpredictable, so pack for wet conditions. Cruise ship crowds can swell the town in summer and prices can spike during peak season. Still, the wild beauty here is absolutely worth it.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Shrine of St. Therese Columbarium
2 Alaska State Museum
3 Juneau-Douglas City Museum
4 Perseverance Theatre

🎡Places for activities

1 Eaglecrest Ski Area
2 The "New" Office Building at the Treadwell Gold Mine
3 Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
4 Nugget Falls Trail

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Auke Bay
2 Mendenhall Glacier
3 Nugget Falls
4 Mount Juneau
5 Juneau Icefield

🛍️Shopping

1 Alaska Knifeworks

🎈Events

Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival
Celebration (biennial Tlingit festival)
Gold Rush Days
Alaska Folk Festival
Juneau Maritime Festival
Wearable Art Extravaganza
Fourth of July Parade
Downtown Gallery Walk
Juneau Public Market
Perseverance Theatre Season

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Knowledge before you go

Book summer tours early; lodging and boats sell out.
Juneau is only reachable by plane or ferry; plan transport before you book hotels.
Pack rain gear and layers; weather shifts fast even on “sunny” days.
Combine Mendenhall Glacier trails with a whale-watching cruise; morning departures often feel quieter on water.

How to travel to Juneau

Juneau is only accessible by air or sea – there are no roads connecting it to the rest of Alaska or North America. Alaska Airlines offers regular flights to Juneau International Airport. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry system connects Juneau with other Southeast Alaska towns and the Pacific Northwest. Many visitors also arrive by cruise ship.

Access summary

From Juneau International (JNU): Local bus or taxi to downtown, about 15–30 minutes.
From Seattle: Direct flights around 2.5 hours; cruises along Inside Passage in season.
Alaska Marine Highway ferries connect Juneau with other Southeast Alaska ports and Bellingham.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Juneau

Juneau has a range of accommodation, from cozy B&Bs and boutique hotels to larger chains and wilderness lodges. Book early if visiting during cruise season (May–September). For a unique stay, consider a cabin or waterfront inn.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Super 8 By Wyndham Juneau

8.1

Juneau - Shell Simmons Drive

7.1

Baranof Downtown, BW Signature Collection

8.2

Frontier Suites Hotel in Juneau

8.2

Four Points by Sheraton Juneau

8.4

Best Western Country Lane Inn

9.4

Travelodge by Wyndham Juneau

7.9

Ramada by Wyndham Juneau

7.7

Best Western Grandma's Feather Bed

9.7

Juneau Hotel

9.6

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How to get around Juneau

Downtown Juneau is compact and walkable, with most attractions close together. Capital Transit buses serve the city and outlying areas, including the airport and Mendenhall Glacier. Taxis, ride-shares and bike rentals are also available. For more remote adventures, guided tours and shuttles are common.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+0 %

Daily expenses in Juneau are around 0% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£85	£176	£465
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£45	£98	£225
🍝 Food per day	£34	£72	£213
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£7	£27

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£29
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11
🍟 Fast food combo	£9.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£13
☕ Cappuccino	£4.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.75

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£90
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Juneau is very safe, with low crime rates. Take standard precautions in busy areas and on trails. Wildlife encounters are possible — always follow local advice about bears and keep food secure.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are good, with a regional hospital and pharmacies in town. Outdoor activities can pose risks — be prepared for wet, slippery trails and rapid weather changes. Emergency services are reliable.

Accessibility

Downtown and major attractions are accessible, but some trails and older buildings may not be. Public transport is generally accessible, but remote excursions often involve uneven terrain.

Tap water

Tap water in Juneau is clean, safe and tastes great. Public fountains are available in parks and visitor centers. Bring a bottle to refill while exploring.