Easiest Alaska & Pacific Northwest cruise ports to explore on your own

Ranked: easiest first

1. Juneau Alaska, USA Easy
   Franklin Street, with shops, restaurants and tour pickups steps away.
2. Ketchikan Alaska, USA Easy
   The four downtown berths are right in town.
3. Vancouver (Canada Place) Canada Easy
   Canada Place is downtown.
4. Seattle Washington, USA Easy
   Pier 66 is about a 10-minute walk from Pike Place Market.
5. Skagway Alaska, USA Easy
   All docks are within about an 8–10 minute walk of downtown Broadway.
6. Haines Alaska, USA Easy
   Downtown Main Street is about 0.5–1 mile, a flat 10–20 minute walk.
7. Seward Alaska, USA Easy
   The Small Boat Harbor (Kenai Fjords tours) is about 1 mile, a 20-minute walk; the Alaska SeaLife Center is about 1.5 miles.
8. Victoria, BC Canada Easy
   The Inner Harbour and downtown are about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away: a flat 25–35 minute waterfront walk.
9. Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) Alaska, USA Easy
   Hoonah village is about 1.5 miles away: a free shuttle runs, or walk the 30–40 minute shoreline path.
10. Glacier Bay & Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising) Alaska, USA Easy
    There's no going ashore.
11. Sitka Alaska, USA Moderate
    From the cruise terminal, take the free shuttle to Harrigan Centennial Hall downtown (about 15 minutes). · Dock or tender
12. Whittier Alaska, USA Moderate
    Whittier is tiny and mostly a transfer point.

How we rank

Ports are grouped by our rating (Easy, then Moderate, then Book a tour). Within each group, the shortest walk to town or the main sights that our guide states comes first, then the shortest stated distance. The quote under each port comes from its guide; check your pier, because some ports have more than one. How we rate ports.