It can be tough to decide where your travels should take you next. Should you travel domestically or where you can be immersed in a new-to-you culture? A place that boasts natural beauty or a location that has art, shopping, and great food? Mountains or ocean? The answer is both, to all of the above. Because with Sitka, Alaska, you can have it all. There are many reasons why Sitka should be your next vacation destination, but we’ve picked what we think are the Top 5 (in no particular order).

Overlooking St. Michael’s Cathedral and the Three Sisters mountains from Baranof Castle Hill

Reason #1: Witness Alaska’s Breathtaking Nature and Wildlife

Sitka is known for its incredible landscape and wildlife viewing adventures. Our town is located on a mountainous island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, so when we say you can have both mountains and ocean, we meant it! Our jagged peaks reflecting in the sea waters is a sight you won’t forget. You’ll be in awe going on your whale watching tour, seeing humpbacks bubble net feeding or breaching with rugged peaks touching the sky in the background.

 Enjoying a sunny hike

If you’re wanting to explore Sitka by land, then consider booking with Tongass Treks and take a private, guided hike up into the alpine or into the Tongass National Forest. You’ll see plenty of eagles and ravens, and might even see some bear sign along the way.

If you’re a water-lover, schedule a snorkeling adventure with Selkie Snorkels, who will equip you with thick wetsuits and snorkel gear to keep you warm while you swim around kelp beds. Keep your eyes peeled, as there is lots to see in the ocean! Giant Pacific Octopus, rockfish, crab, and abalone are just some of the creatures you might spot during your swim.

Gearing up for a snorkel tour

Thrill-seekers can try out Sitka Zodiac Adventures for an intimate tour along the coastline and into pristine bays. Follow their local guides and captain your own inflatable boat through Sitka Sound while you learn about the people and the wildlife that call Sitka home. Although not sold as a wildlife tour, animal sightings are common and can include: sea otters, sea lions, humpback whales, orcas, various seabirds, or even coastal brown bears!

Meeting sea lions on a Zodiac adventure

Reason #2: Immerse Yourself in Tlingít Culture

Sitka is the ancestral home to the Tlingít peoples, who call this land Sheet’ka Kwaan. Tlingít history, art, and culture are prevalent no matter where you go in Sitka, and this immersive experience truly makes Sitka extra special.

One way to discover the Tlingít way of life is with Sitka Tribal Tours, who offer two different tour options that vary in length. Their Explore Sitka Cultural Tour is a 2.5 hour bus tour that covers a history briefing during your ride, stops at Sitka National Historical Park, and ends with a traditional Tlingít dance performance at the Naa Kahidi Community Tribal House. Their 3.5 hour tour includes everything from the first, but adds a visit to the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center as well.

Meeting a snowy owl at the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center

Consider a walking tour of Sitka National Historical Park, either self-guided or from one of the park’s Rangers. The 107-acre park preserves and interprets the site of a Tlingít fort and the battle fought between the Russians and the Tlingíts in 1804. The main building houses authentic original totems, a fine indoor museum artifact display, and an active Tlingít arts program/studio where the public can watch and talk to local Alaskan Native artists while they work. A flat walking trail leads past numerous hand-carved totems to the site where the Tlingít fort once stood.

Take some Tlingít culture home with you by shopping at some of our local galleries for Alaska Native art. Xút’aa Hídi is a Native-owned and operated gallery that provides Sitka with authentic Indigenous fine arts. Both the serious collector and the casual shopper will find art, jewelry, and other wares created and designed by Indigenous artists. Come learn about art forms, traditional ways of life, and find a unique souvenir that directly supports local artists.

Tlingít art at Xút’aa Hídi

Reason #3: Easy to Travel To

When people think of Alaska, a lot of times they think about how far away it is; after all, it is both the northernmost and westernmost state in the United States! However, Sitka is located in Southeast Alaska, which means we’re closer than you think.

Although Sitka is only accessible by air or sea, there is daily jet service from Alaska Airlines that links Sitka with Seattle, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Small plane service is also available to towns throughout Southeast Alaska, from carriers like Alaska Seaplanes.

Snowy flight over Southeast Alaska

Sitka is a year-round port of call for the Alaska Marine Highway System, which makes a stop once a month. These state-operated ferries provide an extraordinary opportunity to navigate the Inside Passage at a leisurely pace. Many cruise lines, large and small, also have Sitka as a port of call from April through September. Whether you want to get to Sitka by ferry, on a traditional cruise, or have a more personal adventure on a small-ship cruise, you won’t regret taking your time to get here.

Matanuska Ferry near Mt. Edgecumbe in Sitka Sound

Reason #4: Small Town with Big-Time Amenities

Although Sitka has a population that’s less than 9,000 people, there are countless things to do here anytime of year. Shopping, dining, art, music, and special events are all parts of life in Sitka that make it feel like a much bigger town than it is.

Our downtown area is centrally-located and many locally-owned businesses are within walking distance of one another. It’s easy to spend an afternoon popping in from shop to shop, looking for those special souvenirs to take home. Try Alaska Pure Salt Co.’s Spruce Tip Salt, made here in town; shop for an ornament, sticker, or print at one of Sitka’s numerous galleries; or take home some of our tasty wild seafood, like smoked salmon, from Simply Salmon Express.

Alaska Pure Sea Salt’s storefront

You wouldn’t think a small town would have so many great dining options, but Sitka proves that wrong. As we’re right on the ocean, this is the place to get world-class seafood dishes, caught locally (and sometimes even that same day). In fact, Beak Restaurant prides itself on carrying local caught black cod, halibut, rockfish, and salmon, along with special dishes featuring locally-harvested gooseneck barnacles and pink scallops. Ludvig’s Bistro also boasts Mediterranean-inspired fare with local ingredients, such as beach asparagus, wild mushrooms, and spot prawns. If a brewery is more your taste, Harbor Mountain Brewing Company and Campfire Kitchen share a space to bring you locally-crafted brews and wood-fired pizza. No matter what you’re in the mood for, rest assured you’ll find something tasty in Sitka.

Pizza and a beer at Harbor Mountain Brewing Co. and Campfire Kitchen

Our town takes pride in our art and music scene, with multiple events and concerts throughout the year. The Greater Sitka Arts Council (GSAC) hosts the Monthly Grind from October through April, an event once a month for locals and visitors alike to see others showcase their musical and creative talents. GSAC also puts on Wearable Arts, a fashion show from local artists often using unusual materials, and the biannual Art Walk, where downtown merchants stay open late to feature new collections by local artists (often hosting live musicians too!). Be sure to check out the Sitka Arts Guide here to dive deeper on Sitka’s art scene.

There is also the Sitka Music Festival, Alaska’s premier classical music festival held each June, with concerts and special events such as the popular Crab Feed and Boat Cruise. The Alaska Day Festival happens every October to commemorate the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States. These celebrations include a reenactment ceremony, a period costume ball, dances, dinners, contests, and even a parade! When the first weekend in November rolls around, be sure to check out Sitka WhaleFest, an annual marine science symposium with cruises, a banquet, shopping bazaar, music, a 5K fun run, and more.

Whales bubble net feeding

Reason #5: See a Glimpse of Russian America

Did you know that Sitka used to be the capital of Russia’s American colony? Many Russian buildings are still standing today, such as St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the Russian Bishop’s House, Building 29, and a replica of the Russian Blockhouse. These remain as reminders of Russian America’s tangible history. Even 150 years later, St. Michael’s Cathedral still opens its doors for the reading of the Divine Liturgy every Sunday to a small, but almost entirely Tlingít, congregation. The Tlingít congregation is largely due to Bishop Innocent’s mediation between the Russian and Tlingít peoples.

Downtown Sitka and the St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Built in 1844-48, St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral was destroyed by fire in January of 1966. Many of the precious icons and religious objects were salvaged and are in the rebuilt structure. You may enter the church to see these relics up close (and take in the bright, Robin’s Egg Blue ceiling).

The Russian Bishop’s House is the oldest intact Russian building in Sitka. It was built in 1842 by the Russian American Company as a residence for the Bishop of the Orthodox Church. It has since been restored to the 1850s historic period when it functioned as a school, Bishop’s residence, and a chapel, and is managed by the National Park Service.

Sitka’s Russian Bishop’s House

Visit visitsitka.org/things-to-do for more planning inspiration for your trip to Sitka!