United States (Alaska) Alaska Sitka
Most ships dock at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, 9 km north of town, with a free shuttle downtown. Smaller ships tender ashore.
From the cruise terminal a free shuttle takes about 15 minutes to Harrigan Centennial Hall. Book a shuttle time in advance at sitkadock.com.
Sitka, on the west coast of Baranof Island and facing the open Pacific, was the capital of Russian America until 1867, when Alaska was handed over to the United States in a ceremony on Castle Hill, in the town centre. Its Russian and Tlingit heritage sets it apart from the other ports of the Inside Passage. Most large ships dock at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, about 9 km (5.5 miles) north of town, with shuttle buses to the centre. Smaller ships anchor in the bay and take passengers ashore by tender, close to downtown.
In the centre, St. Michael's Cathedral keeps Russian icons from the 19th century, most of them saved from the fire that destroyed the original building in 1966, and the Russian Bishop's House, completed in 1843, is one of the few Russian colonial buildings left in North America. Sitka National Historical Park, a short walk from the centre, has a coastal trail lined with totem poles and marks the site of the 1804 battle between the Tlingit and the Russians. Other visits include the Alaska Raptor Center, which cares for injured bald eagles and other birds of prey, the Fortress of the Bear, with orphaned brown bears, and boat trips in Sitka Sound to see sea otters and whales.
From the ship to the centre
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Free terminal shuttleBuses from the terminal to Harrigan Centennial Hall while ships are in port. Reserve a queue time at sitkadock.com; without one, use the standby line.About 15 minFree
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Tender to downtownShips at anchor land passengers at Crescent Harbor, next to Harrigan Centennial Hall, or at the O'Connell Bridge dock, about 600 m away.VariesIncluded
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On foot downtownFrom Harrigan Centennial Hall along Lincoln Street to St. Michael's Cathedral, Castle Hill and the Russian Bishop's House. Compact and flat.5-10 minFree
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Sitka National Historical ParkAlong Lincoln Street and a paved path to the park visitor centre and the Totem Trail, about 1.5 km from Harrigan Centennial Hall.15-20 minFree
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The RIDE, Red LinePublic bus along Halibut Point Road, past the cruise terminal, hourly, Monday to Friday only, 6:30 to 18:30. Mainly for residents.About 20 minAbout $2
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Taxis and van toursSeveral local taxi and van companies. Useful for Fortress of the Bear, about 9 km east of downtown by road.10-15 minSet by company
Map of Sitka
Climate
Average daily temperatureMild and wet: average temperatures of about 14 °C in July and August and 2-3 °C in winter. June is the driest month (about 75 mm); from September it rains about 300 mm a month. May to August are the best months.
Cruises from Sitka
Seattle· at sea ·SitkaSkagway· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)Ketchikan· at sea ·
Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·Sitka· at sea ·· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)JuneauKetchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·KetchikanIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)SitkaSkagwayJuneau· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·KetchikanIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Sitka· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)· at sea ·SitkaKetchikanVictoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·Sitka· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)KetchikanVictoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)· at sea ·SitkaJuneau· at sea ·Ketchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·KetchikanIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)· at sea ·Sitka· at sea ·· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·KetchikanSitkaSkagwayIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Juneau· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSeattle· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Sitka· at sea ·· at sea ·· at sea ·VancouverSeattle· at sea ·SitkaSkagway· at sea ·JuneauIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Ketchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleNo cruises match these filters. Try another month or clear the filters.
Tips for your call
- Shuttle timesOn busy days the terminal shuttle works with reserved times, and a return reservation may be needed. Book early at sitkadock.com and allow time to get back.
- Dock or tenderIn the port calendar, "DOCK" means the cruise terminal and "ANCHOR" means tenders to downtown. Small expedition ships use other docks with their own transport.
- National parkSitka National Historical Park has no entrance fee. Its 3 km of trails through the rainforest, with the totem poles, are flat and wheelchair-friendly.
- Raptors and bearsAlaska Raptor Center: adults $17, children $8, paid on arrival. Fortress of the Bear: adults $20, youth $10; its online tickets can sell out on ship days.
- Sheldon Jackson MuseumClosed for renovation until 2 December 2026. Normally $7 for adults and free for under-18s. Check before a 2027 visit.
- RainSitka is wet: about 75 mm of rain in June and over 180 mm in August. Bring layers, a rain jacket and shoes for wet paths.
Accessibility
The cruise terminal has ramps and accessible restrooms, and its shuttle is wheelchair accessible. The RIDE buses are accessible. A paved path leads from downtown to the national park, whose trails are wide and fairly flat; only the ground floor of the Russian Bishop's House is accessible.
In pictures
