Sitka

The former capital of Russian America, Sitka blends Tlingit culture with Russian heritage, and its seascapes and wildlife are just as impressive.

Sitka is a unified city and borough on the west coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska, facing the Pacific Ocean. It was once the capital of Russian America, and the 1867 transfer ceremony for Alaska took place on Castle Hill. St. Michael's Cathedral and the Russian Bishop's House preserve the Russian legacy, totem poles stand in the forest of Sitka National Historical Park, and the Alaska Raptor Center rehabilitates bald eagles. Out on the water you can watch sea otters and whales and look across to the volcano Mount Edgecumbe. May to September is the best time to visit. The gateway is Sitka Airport, and you can also arrive by cruise ship or ferry.

Destinations

• Sitka

Itineraries

• Southeast Alaska Inside Passage Independent Tour – Skip the cruise ships and use regional flights and ferries to explore Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Glacier Bay, and Skagwa…