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Alaska, United States

Anchorage

Give Anchorage one to two days for museums, a Chugach hike and a flightseeing trip before heading south. Alaska's largest city between the Chugach and Cook Inlet; 2 nights for trails, museums and food. We have mapped 3 sights, 3 activities and 1 outdoor spot here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Anchorage with friendsBrowse 13 places
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Places
13

3 See · 3 Do · 1 Outdoors · 4 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
2

Alaska Glacier Route, Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage

Best season
Jun – Aug

also Dec – Mar

Warmest month
July

18°C / 65°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-4°C / 24°F avg high

Wettest month
September

about 118 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Anchorage

13 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Anchorage across Downtown, Northeast Anchorage and Airport.

  • Anchorage Museum in AnchoragePhoto: Craig Talbert · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Anchorage Museum

    Alaska's largest museum, strong on Alaska Native objects, art and Arctic science.

    Tip Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center gallery is the highlight; allow 2–3 hours.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Rainy day
  • Alaska Native Heritage Center in AnchoragePhoto: Skvader · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Alaska Native Heritage Center

    Dances, storytelling and village sites representing Alaska's major Native cultures.

    Tip Summer has the most demos; a free shuttle runs from downtown in season.

    • Northeast Anchorage
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Summer afternoon
  • Lake Hood Seaplane Base in AnchoragePhoto: Laura Alier · CC BY 4.0
    See

    Lake Hood Seaplane Base

    One of the world's busiest seaplane bases; in winter the lake freezes and many planes switch to skis.

    Tip Drive the lakeshore road for planes parked on the ice against the Chugach Mountains.

    • Airport
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Clear morning

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Anchorage across Downtown to Kincaid Park, Chugach State Park and Lake Hood. 2 of them are free.

  • Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in AnchoragePhoto: James Brooks · CC BY 2.0
    Do

    Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

    11-mile paved trail along Cook Inlet with views of Denali on clear days and moose sightings.

    Tip Rent bikes downtown; ride to Earthquake Park and back.

    • Downtown to Kincaid Park
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Evening light
  • Flattop Mountain Trail in AnchoragePhoto: Brett Nemeth · Google
    Do

    Flattop Mountain Trail

    Anchorage's most climbed peak, 3 miles round trip from Glen Alps with a scramble at the top.

    Tip Parking fee at Glen Alps; the final boulder section is steep.

    • Chugach State Park
    • Free
    • 3 hr
    • Long summer evening
  • Rust's Flying Service in AnchoragePhoto: Rust's Flying Service · Google
    Do

    Rust's Flying Service

    Floatplane flightseeing from Lake Hood, the world's busiest seaplane base, including Denali flights.

    Tip Denali flights depend on weather; book a flexible date.

    • Lake Hood
    • $$$$
    • 3 hr
    • Clear day

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Anchorage.

  • Outdoors

    Kincaid Park

    Large park at the end of the Coastal Trail with miles of groomed and lit cross-country ski trails and frequent moose.

    Tip Rent skis in town and ski the lit loops after dark.

    • Sand Lake
    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

4 places to eat across Downtown and Midtown, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Snow City Cafe in AnchoragePhoto: Snow City Cafe · Google
    Eat

    Snow City Cafe

    Downtown breakfast spot known for reindeer sausage and crab cake Benedict.

    Tip Expect a weekend wait; join the online waitlist.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Breakfast
  • Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria in AnchoragePhoto: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria

    Long-running pizza and craft beer institution in Midtown.

    Tip Lines are long; go before 5 pm or order to go.

    • Midtown
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Early dinner
  • Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill in AnchoragePhoto: Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill · Google
    Eat

    Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill

    Classic seafood and prime rib house with big windows over Cook Inlet.

    Tip Reserve a window table for sunset.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Sunset dinner
  • Eat

    Glacier Brewhouse

    Downtown brewpub with house beers and a wood-fired grill, a fixture on 5th Avenue since the 1990s.

    Tip Reserve ahead for dinner on weekends.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

1 bar or café in Downtown for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • 49th State Brewing in AnchoragePhoto: 49th State Brewing - Anchorage · Google
    Drink

    49th State Brewing

    Downtown brewpub with a rooftop deck facing Cook Inlet and Sleeping Lady.

    Tip Rooftop is best on clear summer evenings.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Evening

Stay

Places to stay in Anchorage in Downtown.

  • Stay

    Hotel Captain Cook

    Downtown hotel with three towers, a short walk from the Coastal Trail, and the Crow's Nest restaurant on the top floor.

    Tip Ask for a high floor facing the inlet or the Chugach Mountains.

    • Downtown
    • $$$

How to fit Anchorage into a trip

Anchorage shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Anchorage month by month

Average daily highs run from -4°C / 24°F in January to 18°C / 65°F in July. September is the wettest month, with about 118 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Anchorage weather and the best time to visit →

Near Anchorage

3 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Anchorage questions, answered

How many days do you need in Anchorage?

Our route notes suggest 1–2 days or 2 nights in Anchorage. On our Alaska Glacier Route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 13 places add up to roughly 23 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Anchorage best known for?

Give Anchorage one to two days for museums, a Chugach hike and a flightseeing trip before heading south. Standouts on our list: Anchorage Museum (Alaska's largest museum, strong on Alaska Native objects, art and Arctic science); Alaska Native Heritage Center (Dances, storytelling and village sites representing Alaska's major Native cultures); Lake Hood Seaplane Base (One of the world's busiest seaplane bases; in winter the lake freezes and many planes switch to skis).

When is the best time to visit Anchorage?

Our routes through Anchorage are best Jun – Aug or Dec – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (18°C / 65°F), the coolest in January (-4°C / 24°F) and the most rain in September (about 118 mm).

What are the best things to do in Anchorage?

Start with Anchorage Museum, Alaska Native Heritage Center, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Flattop Mountain Trail and Rust's Flying Service. Our guide lists 13 places in all, from 3 sights, 3 activities, 1 outdoor spot, 4 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Anchorage?

Our picks: Snow City Cafe (Downtown); Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria (Midtown); Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill (Downtown); Glacier Brewhouse (Downtown). Expect a weekend wait; join the online waitlist (Snow City Cafe).

What is near Anchorage?

The closest destinations in our guides are Talkeetna (about 123 km / 77 mi), Seward (about 126 km / 79 mi) and Homer (about 197 km / 123 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Anchorage with your crew

Open the Alaska Glacier Route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 13 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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