What are the best things to do in Anchorage?
Top picks in Anchorage include Anchorage Museum, FOAST Law Enforcement Museum, Alaska Veterans Museum, Resolution Park. See the full list and itinerary on this Anchorage travel guide.
🇺🇸 United States travel guide
North America · North America
Anchorage Travel Guide
Anchorage, United States
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Why visit Anchorage
Travel guide for Anchorage, United States — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
Anchorage is a stop in United States, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Anchorage Museum, FOAST Law Enforcement Museum, Alaska Veterans Museum instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 120–280 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures
Weather
Diverse — temperate to subtropical
Experiences
Things to do in Anchorage
1
Anchorage Museum
2
FOAST Law Enforcement Museum
3
Alaska Veterans Museum
4
Resolution Park
5
Alaska Zoo
6
Oscar Anderson House Museum
7
H2Oasis Indoor Water Park
Budget travel
Free things to do in Anchorage
Resolution Park
H2Oasis Indoor Water Park
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Anchorage itinerary (3 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Anchorage Museum
- Visit FOAST Law Enforcement Museum
- Visit Alaska Veterans Museum
- Eat at Kriner's Diner
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Resolution Park
- Visit Alaska Zoo
- Visit Oscar Anderson House Museum
- Eat at Yak and Yeti
- 3
Day 3
Markets, parks & hidden corners
- Visit H2Oasis Indoor Water Park
- Eat at Hula Hands
Budget
Anchorage trip cost
Budget
USD 55–90
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 120–280
per person / day
Luxury
USD 320–530+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Anchorage, United States. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Anchorage
Estimated total (USD)
$3,300
≈ $1,650 per person · $471 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $200/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Anchorage mid-range ground costs (budget 55–90 · mid 120–280 · luxury 320–530+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
Kriner's Diner
Yak and Yeti
Hula Hands
Arctic Roadrunner
Sami's City Diner
Gwennie's
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Puffin Inn of Anchorage
TownePlace Suites Anchorage Midtown
Anchorage Marriott Downtown
Motel 6 Anchorage - Midtown
Shopping
- Anchorage Fifth Avenue Mall
- Anchorage Market and Festival
- Dimond Center Mall
- The ULU Factory
- House of Harley-Davidson Anchorage
- Glenn Square
Nightlife
- Bernie's Bungalow Lounge
- Chilkoot Charlie's
- Darwin's Theory
- Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse
- 49th State Brewing Company
Museums & culture
- Anchorage Museum
- FOAST Law Enforcement Museum
- Alaska Veterans Museum
- Oscar Anderson House Museum
In pictures
Anchorage gallery
Photos: Quintin Soloviev, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Nils Öberg, Scott A. Johnson, http://scojo.us, Piergiuliano Chesi, Paxson Woelber — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Anchorage travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Anchorage?
Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures.
How many days do I need in Anchorage?
Plan at least 3 days in Anchorage for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Anchorage?
Popular stays in Anchorage include Homewood Suites by Hilton, Puffin Inn of Anchorage, TownePlace Suites Anchorage Midtown. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Anchorage cost?
On the ground in Anchorage (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 55–90 per person per day, mid-range about 120–280, and luxury about 320–530+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Anchorage, United States. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
Keep exploring
