Overview
Langley is a small waterfront town on Whidbey Island in the northern Puget Sound of Washington State. It's charming historic downtown, bustling with galleries, is a popular spot for whale sightings.
1 sights · 5 things to do · 1 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Langley
Langley Whale Center
The Whale Center gives visitors a chance to learn more about the endangered Southern Resident orcas who visit the area each fall/winter, and about the North Puget Sound Gray Whales, a small, unique population of 10-12 Gr…
Island Shakespeare Festival
Island Shakespeare Festival is a professional regional repertory theater company, and offers free outdoor performances of Shakespeare's plays, and other classical works, during the summer. The summer season runs Thursday…
Mystery Weekend
A fake newspaper story is run in the South Whidbey Record or a fake newspaper can be purchased from the Visitor & Information Center, detailing the persons involved. The players are instructed to search every store f…
Choochokam
The city closes most of First St and Anthes Ave south to Third St. Artists from around the Northwest showcase their art, while local musicians perform on a downtown stage.
Whidbey Island Fair
This is one of the biggest community gatherings of the year. The fair has such a local impact, that Island Transit will run special shuttles between Langley and the Clinton Ferry, as well as shuttles between Oak Harbor a…
Djangofest NW
This five-day festival celebrates the gypsy jazz style of Django Reinhardt, and featues workshops, concerts, and impromptu jam sessions around town.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Seattle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PAE Seattle Paine Field International Airport, Everett — 11 mi away. Directions
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 36 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 41 mi away (major hub). Directions
Langley is several miles north of State Route 525 (WA-525).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Langley Whale Center, Whidbey Island Fair
- Lunch Ikaika Grill
- Afternoon Mystery Weekend
Day 2
- Morning Island Shakespeare Festival, Choochokam
- Afternoon Djangofest NW
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
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Photos
Map
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Understand
Langley is located on the south end of Whidbey Island, overlooking the Saratoga Passage towards Camano Island. It is the third largest incorporated area on Whidbey. Langley was founded in the 1800s by Jacob Anthes, and was named for J.W. Langley of Seattle. In 1902, Mr. Anthes built a logger bunkhouse that is still standing in the downtown core and serves as a museum. Langley was incorporated on February 26, 1913.
Get in
By car
Langley is several miles north of State Route 525 (WA-525).
- From Clinton (and the ferry terminal to Mukilteo), turn north onto Langley Rd.
- From Freeland and the rest of Whidbey Island, turn north onto Bayview Rd.
By public transit
Place Island Transit
Scheduled bus services on Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Service on Whidbey Island includes to Clinton, Coupeville, Freeland, Greenbank, Langley, Oak Harbor with off island connections to Anacortes. Service on Camano Island includes off island connections to Everett and Mount Vernon.
By shuttle
Place Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle
Provides transportation service between communities on Whidbey and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Get around
By taxi
See
Langley is a tourist destination and many businesses promote themselves in tourist pamphlets. Langley is home to a 1930s-era movie theatre, a grocery store of the same vintage, and several restaurants.
See Langley Whale Center
The Whale Center gives visitors a chance to learn more about the endangered Southern Resident orcas who visit the area each fall/winter, and about the North Puget Sound Gray Whales, a small, unique population of 10-12 Gray whales who find sustenance in the waters of Saratoga Passage and Possession Sound every March-May.
Do
Do Island Shakespeare Festival (ISF)
Island Shakespeare Festival is a professional regional repertory theater company, and offers free outdoor performances of Shakespeare's plays, and other classical works, during the summer. The summer season runs Thursday-Sunday from July to mid September, with up to three plays in repertory at the height of the season.
Do Mystery Weekend
A fake newspaper story is run in the South Whidbey Record or a fake newspaper can be purchased from the Visitor & Information Center, detailing the persons involved. The players are instructed to search every store for a box of cards, with a clue to the Murder mystery game printed on each card. Various locals play the parts of characters in the story, and players are invited to question them for information. The players who believe they have solved the game may submit their solutions and enter into a drawing of prizes.
Do Whidbey Island Fair
This is one of the biggest community gatherings of the year. The fair has such a local impact, that Island Transit will run special shuttles between Langley and the Clinton Ferry, as well as shuttles between Oak Harbor and Langley, and extra ferry trips on the Clinton to Mukilteo run routinely at several hours.
Buy
1st St and 2nd St are lined with art galleries and boutique craft shops.
Eat
Eat Ikaika Grill
Permanent food truck serving delicious fish and chips and Hawaiian-inspired fare.
Nearby
Clinton
City / town · 19 listings · 5 mi away
Freeland
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
Greenbank
City / town · 7 listings · 9 mi away
Mukilteo
City / town · 16 listings · 10 mi away
Hansville
City / town · 18 listings · 10 mi away
Everett
City / town · 42 listings · 11 mi away
Camano Island
City / town · 11 listings · 11 mi away
Marysville
City / town · 11 listings · 12 mi away
My experience
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