Top 10 Things to Do in Anchorage

Top 10 Things to Do in Anchorage

Planning a trip to Anchorage? This 2026 guide covers the top 10 things to do, from iconic outdoor experiences to local attractions worth adding to your itinerary.

Use this list to compare highlights, discover what makes Anchorage unique, and find tours that match your travel style.

Anchorage, Alaska — Anchorage's Winter City Tour

Highlights of "Anchorage"

Map preview generated from the featured coordinates for this destination.

Use the links below to open each attraction in Google Maps.

  1. 1. Walk or bike the Tony Knowles Coastal TrailView on map
  2. 2. Build Alaska context at the Anchorage MuseumView on map
  3. 3. Visit the Alaska Native Heritage CenterView on map
  4. 4. Hike from the Chugach foothillsView on map
  5. 5. Explore Kincaid ParkView on map
  6. 6. Understand the 1964 earthquake landscapeView on map
  7. 7. Drive Turnagain Arm as a regional excursionView on map
  8. 8. Spend time downtown and along Ship CreekView on map

About Anchorage

  • Location: Anchorage is in Alaska, United States.
  • Known for: Walk or bike the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Build Alaska context at the Anchorage Museum, Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Hike from the Chugach foothills, Kincaid Park
  • Identity: Anchorage is a cultural center.

Top Tours

Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour
Wildlife

Anchorage, Alaska

Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour

Explore Anchorage and Anchorage on a guided route with well-placed stops for views and photos.

4.9 (431 reviews)

From $177

Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier - Best Vacation Value
Hiking

Anchorage, Alaska

Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier - Best Vacation Value

Hike through Matanuska Glacier State Recreational Site on a trail route with wide views and guide interpretation.

4.9 (474 reviews)

From $349

Anchorage Greenbelt Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage Greenbelt Bike Tour

Cycle through Anchorage, linking Campbell Creek Trail, on a guided bike route with neighborhood context and photo stops.

5.0 (5 reviews)

From $159

Coastal Cruise Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Coastal Cruise Bike Tour

Guided Coastal cruise bike tour experience in Anchorage

Chugach Mountain Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Chugach Mountain Bike Tour

Guided Chugach mountain bike tour experience in Anchorage

Singletrack Sampler Private Tour
Sightseeing & City Tours

Anchorage, Alaska

Singletrack Sampler Private Tour

Guided Singletrack sampler private tour experience in Anchorage

Things to Do in Anchorage

  1. 1. Walk or bike the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

    The paved Tony Knowles Coastal Trail follows Cook Inlet for about 11 miles between downtown Anchorage and Kincaid Park, passing Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park, coastal forest, and open viewpoints. A short downtown out-and-back gives a useful sample, while cycling makes the full corridor more practical. Moose and other wildlife can appear even inside the urban trail system, so give animals space and do not treat the route like an ordinary city greenway.

  2. 2. Build Alaska context at the Anchorage Museum

    The Anchorage Museum is much more useful than a generic rainy-day stop: its collections connect Alaska history, northern science, art, and contemporary life. Visit early in an Alaska trip and the exhibits provide context for landscapes and communities you may encounter later. Allow enough time to read and explore rather than squeezing it between unrelated stops.

  3. 3. Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center

    The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a major place to learn about Alaska's Indigenous peoples through exhibits, cultural programs, demonstrations, and outdoor gathering spaces. Approach it as a living cultural institution rather than a collection of historic artifacts. Program schedules vary, so check current offerings and give the visit enough time for both indoor interpretation and the outdoor village sites.

  4. 4. Hike from the Chugach foothills

    Chugach State Park begins at Anchorage's eastern edge and provides access to alpine terrain on a scale unusual for a major American city. Flattop Mountain is the famous objective, but it is not the only choice and its upper terrain can be steep, exposed, icy, or muddy depending on conditions. Match the route to weather and ability, carry layers, and remember that mountain conditions can be very different from downtown Anchorage.

  5. 5. Explore Kincaid Park

    Kincaid Park combines forest, bluff viewpoints, extensive trails, and the southern end of the Coastal Trail close to the city. The trail network supports walking and cycling in warmer months and Nordic skiing and other winter recreation when snow arrives. Wildlife encounters are possible, and visitors should use current trail information rather than assuming every route is equally suitable in every season.

  6. 6. Understand the 1964 earthquake landscape

    Earthquake Park and the nearby Coastal Trail corridor reveal physical evidence of the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and the ground failure that transformed parts of Anchorage. The site is most meaningful when paired with interpretation rather than treated only as a viewpoint. It also fits naturally into a coastal walk or bike ride from downtown.

  7. 7. Drive Turnagain Arm as a regional excursion

    The Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm leaves urban Anchorage quickly for tidal flats, steep mountains, waterfalls, and broad viewpoints. Beluga whales and Dall sheep are possible sightings, but neither should be promised. Use designated pullouts, allow substantially more time than the mileage suggests, and treat destinations farther down the highway as separate regional experiences rather than Anchorage neighborhoods.

  8. 8. Spend time downtown and along Ship Creek

    Downtown Anchorage is compact enough to combine local shops, public art, visitor information, the railroad area, and Ship Creek without repeated driving. It is a useful orientation block before heading into the city's larger trail and park system. Anchorage is spread out overall, so grouping downtown stops together saves time for the outdoor experiences that distinguish the city.

Best time to visit

Choose the season for the Alaska experience you want

  • June through August brings very long daylight, the broadest tour schedules, and peak visitor demand.
  • May and September can be quieter but require more flexibility for weather and seasonal services.
  • Winter transforms the trail system and nearby mountains; short daylight, snow, ice, and cold require a genuinely different itinerary.

Travel tips

  • Carry layers even on summer days; Cook Inlet wind and mountain weather can change conditions quickly.
  • Do not schedule Alaska road trips using Lower-48 assumptions about distance and driving time.
  • Keep food and scented items controlled and follow local wildlife guidance on trails.
  • Use official land-manager information before mountain hikes, especially when snow, wildfire, or trail closures are possible.

FAQs about Anchorage

How many days should I spend in Anchorage?

Two to four days gives enough time for the city's cultural institutions, coastal trails, and at least one Chugach or Turnagain Arm outing without using Anchorage only as an airport stop.

Do I need a car in Anchorage?

Downtown can be explored without one, but a car or organized transportation is useful for trailheads, Chugach access, and Turnagain Arm. Plan by geographic cluster rather than repeatedly crossing the city.

Is wildlife really possible inside Anchorage?

Yes. Moose, birds, and other wildlife use parks and greenways within the municipality. Keep distance and follow local wildlife guidance rather than approaching animals for photographs.

Learn More About Anchorage

Best Tours in Anchorage

Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour
Wildlife

Anchorage, Alaska

Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour

Explore Anchorage and Anchorage on a guided route with well-placed stops for views and photos.

4.9 (431 reviews)

From $177

Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier - Best Vacation Value
Hiking

Anchorage, Alaska

Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier - Best Vacation Value

Hike through Matanuska Glacier State Recreational Site on a trail route with wide views and guide interpretation.

4.9 (474 reviews)

From $349

Anchorage Greenbelt Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage Greenbelt Bike Tour

Cycle through Anchorage, linking Campbell Creek Trail, on a guided bike route with neighborhood context and photo stops.

5.0 (5 reviews)

From $159

Alaskan Wildlife Discovery Tour
Wildlife

Anchorage, Alaska

Alaskan Wildlife Discovery Tour

Guided Alaskan wildlife discovery tour experience in Anchorage

All Day Matanuska Glacier Hike from Anchorage
Hiking

Anchorage, Alaska

All Day Matanuska Glacier Hike from Anchorage

Guided All day matanuska glacier hike from anchorage experience in Anchorage

All Inclusive Castle Turned B&B (2 Night)

Anchorage, Alaska

All Inclusive Castle Turned B&B (2 Night)

Guided All inclusive castle turned b&b experience in Anchorage

All Inclusive Castle Turned B&B (3 Night)

Anchorage, Alaska

All Inclusive Castle Turned B&B (3 Night)

Guided All inclusive castle turned b&b experience in Anchorage

All-inclusive Hatcher Pass Glamping (2 Night)

Anchorage, Alaska

All-inclusive Hatcher Pass Glamping (2 Night)

Guided All experience in Anchorage

All-inclusive Hatcher Pass Glamping (3 Night)

Anchorage, Alaska

All-inclusive Hatcher Pass Glamping (3 Night)

Guided All experience in Anchorage

All-inclusive Kenai Lake Glamping (2 Night)

Anchorage, Alaska

All-inclusive Kenai Lake Glamping (2 Night)

Guided All experience in Anchorage

All-inclusive Kenai Lake Glamping (3 Night)

Anchorage, Alaska

All-inclusive Kenai Lake Glamping (3 Night)

Guided All experience in Anchorage

Anchorage Greenbelt Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage Greenbelt Bike Tour

Guided Anchorage greenbelt bike tour experience in Anchorage

Anchorage Hike and Bite
Hiking

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage Hike and Bite

Guided Anchorage hike and bite experience in Anchorage

Anchors and Rappelling 101: Women’s Climbing Clinic

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchors and Rappelling 101: Women’s Climbing Clinic

Guided Anchors and rappelling 101 experience in Anchorage

Aurora Live Chase Tour

Anchorage, Alaska

Aurora Live Chase Tour

Guided Aurora live chase tour experience in Anchorage

Beginning Singletrack Mountain Biking Clinic

Anchorage, Alaska

Beginning Singletrack Mountain Biking Clinic

Guided Beginning singletrack mountain biking clinic experience in Anchorage

Bike and Hike Tour Anchorage
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Bike and Hike Tour Anchorage

Guided Bike and hike tour anchorage experience in Anchorage

Bike and Tram Girdwood
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Bike and Tram Girdwood

Guided Bike and tram girdwood experience in Anchorage

Chugach Front Range Adventure - 3 Day Youth Backpacking Trip

Anchorage, Alaska

Chugach Front Range Adventure - 3 Day Youth Backpacking Trip

Guided Chugach front range adventure experience in Anchorage

Chugach Mountain Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Chugach Mountain Bike Tour

Guided Chugach mountain bike tour experience in Anchorage

Coastal Cruise Bike Tour
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Coastal Cruise Bike Tour

Guided Coastal cruise bike tour experience in Anchorage

Historic Hatcher Pass

Anchorage, Alaska

Historic Hatcher Pass

Guided Historic hatcher pass experience in Anchorage

Kenai Peninsula Mountain Bike Adventure
Cycling

Anchorage, Alaska

Kenai Peninsula Mountain Bike Adventure

Guided Kenai peninsula mountain bike adventure experience in Anchorage

Knik Glacier Off Roading and Hiking
Hiking

Anchorage, Alaska

Knik Glacier Off Roading and Hiking

Guided Knik glacier off roading and hiking experience in Anchorage