Are you planning a trip to Seattle, in Washington state, or stopping during a Pacific Northwest coastal cruise? If you’re looking for things to do in the Seattle area, this guide has you covered.
Seattle, Washington, is a seaport city on the United States’ northwest coast. It gained the nickname, “emerald city” due to the fact that it’s surrounded by greenery. Like Vancouver to the north, it’s known for its diverse foods, active lifestyle, together with its picturesque scenery.
Many attractions are within walking distance of Seattle Center or downtown Seattle, making it easy to get around. Alternatively, the Seattle Center Monorail can cut back on your footsteps.
Here are my recommendations for attractions in Seattle.
1. Browse Pike Place Market
- Location: First Avenue and Pike Street | Open: 9 am to 5 pm
Pike Place Market is a must-visit, built on the edge of a very steep hill overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront. Established in 1907, it racks up a staggering 10 million visitor’s a year. It makes a great indoor activity if it’s raining in Seattle.
Inside, the bustling market is a feast for the eyes with fresh produce, beautiful flowers, fresh from the sea seafood, and specialty foods. Additionally, visitors can purchase handcrafted jewelry, homemade preserves, vintage records, and one-of-a-kind items.
With over 500 businesses in a multi-leveled historic building, the journey through the market becomes a multisensory overload. Street musicians and entertainers perform for the crowds and add a friendly vibe to the day’s event.
Be sure to stop at Pike Place Fish Co to witness the “flying fish.” As the name suggests, customers’ orders are regularly hurled across the shopping area before wrapping up the sale. What started as a prank by one employee has now become a store tradition.
2. Take A Harbor Tour
- On Seattle’s Waterfront, Pier 55 at 1101 Alaskan Way
Seattle is best seen from the ocean. Argosy Cruises offers one-hour narrated tours with stunning views of downtown, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains, plus insights into the city’s history.
For a longer option, their two-hour lock cruise sails through the Ballard Locks, transitioning from saltwater to Lake Union’s freshwater.
3. Have A Brew At The First Starbucks
- Location: 1912 Pike Place | Open: 6:30 am to 7 pm
If you can’t start the day without a cup of coffee, then check out Pike Place Starbucks. It’s renowned for being the very first coffee shop opened for the famous coffee chain.
While its currently in its second location, the shop itself has maintained its original appearance. In 2008, Starbucks created the Pike Place Blend commemorating its first store opening in Seattle.
The quaint coffee shop attracts a crowd every day, who are willing to line up around the block for their daily brew. They don’t come just for the coffee but for the experience of seeing the humble beginnings of a coffee giant. On occasion, street entertainers pleasantly entertain the crowd.
4. See Olympic Sculpture Park
- Location: 2901 Western Ave
An offshoot of the Seattle Art Museum, the Olympic Sculpture Park houses contemporary and modern-day sculptures. Its most iconic artwork is a large red eagle, entitled “Eagle,” which stands out on the waterfront.
It’s free to visit the park, which is open year-round and makes an ideal stop for those not wanting to pay admission to the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
5. Stick Some Gum On A Wall
- Location: 1428 Post Alley near Pike Place Market
Located near Pike Place Market, Seattle’s Gum Wall is a quirky attraction covered in multi-colored chewing gum. The tradition began in the 1990s, and while it may seem gross, it’s undeniably unique.
In 2015, the city removed over 2,000 lbs. of gum to clean the wall, but it quickly started collecting gum again. Voted one of the germiest tourist spots in 2009, it’s best avoided by germophobes.
6. Visit A Troll
- Location: N 36th Street, under the George Washington Memorial Bridge
Seattle’s George Washington Memorial Bridge is home to a giant troll beneath its north end. This 18-foot sculpture, created by four local artists, was built to deter dumping.
In one hand, the troll holds a life-sized Volkswagen Beetle. Tourists love climbing on it, making the troll an Instagram sensation. To celebrate, Seattle renamed a nearby street Troll Avenue.
7. Visit The Space Needle
- Location: 400 Broad Street | Open: Mon to Thurs 12 to 5 pm, Fri 12 to 6 pm, Sat 11 am to 6 pm, Sun 11 am to 5 pm
The Seattle Space Needle, a World Fair landmark built in 1962, is one of the world’s most photographed structures. Standing 605 feet tall, it recently underwent renovations, offering access to both observation levels with one ticket.
New floor-to-ceiling glass provides stunning views of Mount Rainier and the Pacific Ocean, and visitors can step onto The Loupe, the first glass revolving floor. Nearby attractions include the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children’s Theater, and the “Neototems of Whales” sculpture.
8. Admire Art At Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Location: 305 Harrison Street | Open: Daily 12 to 5 pm
Located underneath the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass is a must-visit for art lovers, seasoned photographers, or anyone interested in glass. The garden is a horticultural symphony of shrubs, trees, and hand-blown glass structures by Tacoma native Dale Chihuly.
Eight galleries, a large glasshouse, and a lush outer area provide backdrops for his awe-inspiring glassworks. On a bright sunny day, the garden shines in all its glory. However, at night, the illuminated glass sculptures come alive against the dark skies.
Having previously admired Chihuly’s chandeliers in Houston’s Hilton Hotel and Las Vegas’ Bellagio, seeing more of his works left me at a loss for words. As I admired his breathtaking work, I couldn’t help but wonder about the complexity of assembling a chandelier made from numerous delicate pieces.
In one gallery, his float boats are an explosion of color with individual works of art contained within a wooden vessel.
Around the country, Dale Chihuly’s work is found in the Bellagio, Las Vegas, The Hilton Hotel in Houston, Vinoy Renaissance, and St. Petersburgh, Florida, to name a few. If you haven’t seen Chihuly’s work, you should go.
9. Visit The Seattle Pinball Museum
- Location: 508 Maynard Ave S | Open: Friday to Monday 12 pm to 6 pm
The Pinball Museum charges an entry fee, giving you unlimited play on over 50 machines, some from the 1960s. The games are arranged chronologically, offering a pinball history tour.
The museum occasionally swaps machines, so there’s always something new to try. Craft beer, vintage soda, and cider are available to enjoy while playing. It’s a perfect spot to visit on a rainy day.
10. Ride Seattle’s Great Wheel
- Location: 1301 Alaskan Way at Pier 57 | Open: Daily 11 am to 9 pm except for Fridays and Saturdays 11 am to 10 pm
Seattle’s Great Wheel is a giant Ferris wheel on the waterfront, almost like a baby London Eye. At 175 feet tall, it is the tallest Ferris wheel on the west coast of the United States. While it doesn’t have quite the London Eye’s impressive views, it does tend to be void of a long queue.
Its 41 regular white gondolas can hold up to 8 riders, although VIP tickets are available if you prefer a private cabin. The ride lasts approximately 12 minutes and offers excellent views of the city and the pier.
There is one unique VIP cabin with red leather bucket seats, a stereo system, and a glass-bottom floor, which can accommodate four guests. The gondolas have both heating and air conditioning, so they are perfect for riding regardless of the weather.
After the Great Wheel ride, explore the Seattle waterfront, which runs from the historic Pioneer Square to the Olympic Structure Park. In fact, the harbor is a great place to enjoy some seafood at the Crab Pot, Elliott’s Oyster House, The Salmon Cooker, or Ivar’s Pier 54 Fish bar.
11. Take An Underground Tour
- Location: Southwest of the I5 Express, and between Columbia Street and King Street
Pioneer Square, Seattle’s historic birthplace, offers exhibits showcasing its 19th-century boom, when 40,000 residents lived here. During the Klondike Gold Rush, prospectors passed through on their way to Alaska, and a Tlingit totem pole honors that connection.
The area’s architecture, including the Pioneer Building arches and Interurban Building stonework, reflects its rich past. After the 1889 fire, streets were regraded and raised 10 feet. Today, visitors can explore the underground tunnels on a “beneath the streets” tour.
12. Explore The Arboretum
- Location: 2300 Arboretum Drive E | Open: Daily 10 am to 4 pm
The Washington Park Arboretum provides an ideal place to stroll or walk your dog. The narrow park includes some walking trails, the Graham Visitor Center, and Seattle Japanese Garden. All areas are free except the latter.
The park offers workshops on gardening, lawn care, watercolor painting, and micro-gardening. If you have children, there are nature-inspired programs suited for every age.
If you’re not afraid of the dark, consider taking a night hike with a guide, and learning about the creatures who prefer to hunt at night.
13. Get Inspired At The Museum of Pop Culture
- Location: 325 5th Avenue N | Open: Daily 10 am to 5 pm
This strikingly unusual museum (previously called the EMP Museum) showcases contemporary popular culture. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen founded it as the Experience Music Project. Outside, the museum’s exterior is incredibly striking with its fluid shape and shiny panels.
Three-thousand panels, made from 21 thousand stainless steel pieces, cover the building. It’s by far one of the most striking buildings in Seattle, Washington, or anywhere else for that matter.
You can reach the museum by using the Seattle monorail. This Seattle museum will appeal to families with kids of all ages and older rock and rollers.
Inside, the museum takes you behind the scenes of the most significant filmmakers, musicians, and innovators of our time. Additionally, Gamers will love the video game section and the opportunity to play unreleased games too.
One of the most unique items is the tornado of guitars, a towering cylindrical cone of stringed instruments.
14. Check Out Discovery Park
- Location: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd
Overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park encompasses 534 acres of natural environment. The park includes streams, beaches, and the West Point Lighthouse. If you like walking or biking, you have many trails to choose from.
Before the park, the area was once the home of the US Army base, Fort Lawton. The army operated the fort from 1900 and later donated it to the city of Seattle in 1972. Today, the park attracts wildlife such as migratory birds, and sometimes coyotes.
15. Visit The Museum Of Flight
Whether you like planes or not, the Seattle Museum of Flight is a must-visit. Located near the King County International Airport, the non-profit museum is the largest space and air museum in the world.
The hangers hold over 150 aircraft, including a Concorde, the world’s first jetliner, and the first pressurized sailplane. In a restoration building, you can see over 25 planes under rejuvenation.
In addition to the larger planes and spacecraft, the museum has smaller artifacts. These include aircraft parts, instruments, flight gear, and more.
16. Visit Alki Beach
From downtown Seattle, you can reach Alki Beach by taking a Seattle water taxi to West Seattle. Located in a residential neighborhood, the beach provides a great place to enjoy the views of Puget Sound.
If the weather is nice, take to the waters in a kayak, to savor a different perspective.
Like Vancouver to the north, Seattle is a beautiful and robust city with plenty to do and see. While it’s a popular tourist destination in summer, some of these activities serve you well in winter too.
To save money, the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass offer a combination ticket. Alternatively, a Seattle Citypass costs USD 99 and includes an Argosy Harbor tour, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Aquarium, Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture.
