Sitka USA
Country: USA · Region: Alaska · Arrival: tender · Currency: US Dollar
Sitka is a port city of 9,000 on Alaska's Inside Passage with rich Russian colonial and Tlingit Native heritage, accessible only by air and sea. It attracts about 250,000 visitors annually and offers abundant cultural, historical, and natural attractions.
Top sights
Sitka National Historical Park, St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Castle Hill, Sheldon Jackson Museum, Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka History Museum
Things to do
- Sitka National Historical Park
- Features totem poles, the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center with traditional Tlingit exhibits, the Russian Bishop's House from 1843, and park trails through temperate rainforest.
- Alaska Raptor Center
- A 17-acre facility where bald eagles, hawks, falcons and owls from across the Western United States are treated and viewed up close.
- Castle Hill
- Historic site where the American flag was raised when Alaska was transferred from Russia to the US in 1867 and again in 1959 as the 49th state.
- Sheldon Jackson Museum
- Alaska's oldest museum housed in the state's first concrete building (1897), containing a superb collection of Alaskan Native cultural and historical artifacts.
Where to eat
- Ludvig's Bistro
- Mediterranean restaurant open Tuesday–Saturday noon–9PM with dinner entrees ranging $18–28.
- Highliner Cafe
- Internet cafe serving gourmet espresso drinks, freshly roasted coffee, bagels, and freshly baked Scandinavian pastries.
Bars and nightlife
- Ernie's Old Time Saloon
- Local saloon open Monday–Saturday 8AM–2AM with pool table and live music Friday and Saturday nights, cash only.
Forecast for Sitka
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Weather in Sitka by month
Averages from 2015 to 2024, not a forecast. Within about two weeks of a date, the live forecast above is the one to trust.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38°F | 32°F | 13.9 in | 22 |
| February | 38°F | 29°F | 10.2 in | 18 |
| March | 40°F | 32°F | 8.4 in | 19 |
| April | 46°F | 37°F | 8.3 in | 18 |
| May | 54°F | 44°F | 5.4 in | 16 |
| June | 59°F | 50°F | 5.0 in | 19 |
| July | 62°F | 54°F | 5.8 in | 18 |
| August | 63°F | 55°F | 9.2 in | 20 |
| September | 58°F | 50°F | 12.3 in | 21 |
| October | 50°F | 43°F | 15.4 in | 21 |
| November | 42°F | 35°F | 14.2 in | 22 |
| December | 38°F | 32°F | 14.5 in | 22 |
Getting around
The downtown area is walkable on foot, with a free municipal Wi-Fi system; cruise passengers arriving at the Old Sitka Dock take a free 15-minute shuttle bus to downtown Harrigan Centennial Hall.
What to eat
Sitka has about 17 restaurants offering Mediterranean, Mexican, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine, with Ludvig's Bistro serving Mediterranean fare.
Tips
Bring your mobile device to use Sitka's free municipal Wi-Fi system, which was funded by cruise ship docking fees and aids navigation downtown.
Best for
Russian history, Native culture, wildlife
More ports in Alaska
Glacier Bay · Hubbard Glacier · Icy Strait Point · Juneau · Ketchikan · Seward · Skagway · Victoria · Whittier